THUNDER BAY – SPORTS – The 2015 Major League First-Year Player Draft was held June 8 through June 10 and the Northwoods League was once again very well represented. A total of 194 current Northwoods League players and alumni were selected in this year’s draft.
“The talent level in the Northwoods League continues to rise at a never before seen rate, at least in terms of Summer Collegiate Baseball,“ said Northwoods League President, Dick Radatz, Jr. “I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
The highest pick in this year’s draft was Alex Young, a junior left handed pitcher at TCU. Young was picked in the 2nd round by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 43rd overall pick. He appeared in 4 games with the Lakeshore Chinooks in 2013. Young had a 2.33 ERA and struck out 21 batters in 19.1 innings pitched that summer.
The Battle Creek Bombers had a league high 19 players drafted this year and the Madison Mallards, La Crosse Loggers and Lakeshore Chinooks each had 17 players selected.
The highest pick for the Bombers came in the fourth round, when catcher Kade Scivicque from LSU was taken 130th overall by the Detroit Tigers. Scivicque played for the Bombers in 2013 and hit .256 in 54 games.
The Mallards highest pick came in the fourth round when the Boston Red Sox selected Missouri State CF Tate Matheny with the 111th overall pick. Matheny was with the Mallards during the 2013 season.
The Loggers highest pick in the 2015 draft occurred in the 2nd round when Pittsburgh selected former La Crosse shortstop Kevin Kramer from UCLA with the 62nd overall pick. Kramer played for the Loggers in 2012.
The full list of 2015 NWL draftees can be found by going to www.northwoodsleague.com and clicking the about NWL link at the top of the page and then select Draft Results.
