Tyler Naquin becomes 14th MoonDog to make MLB Debut
MANKATO, MN – Former MoonDogs’ outfield, Tyler Naquin, made his Major League Baseball debut with the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday, April 6, 2016 against the Boston Red Sox. Naquin becomes the 14th MoonDog and 143rd Northwoods Leaguer to reach to Major Leagues.
Naquin, the ninth overall prospect in the Cleveland Indians’ system, entered Tuesday afternoon’s game as a pinch hitter for Colin Cowgill, making the first Major League appearance of his career. He struck out against the Red Sox’s Junichi Tazawa in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Texas A&M product entered the field as the Indian’s center fielder the following inning, recording his first Major League putout: a fly-out by Mookie Betts.
The 15th overall pick of the 2012 MLB draft spent four seasons in the minors for Cleveland, hitting .287 with 21 home runs, 14 triples, and 118 RBIs.
During his college career at Texas A&M, Naquin hit .348 with seven home runs, 49 doubles, 13 triples, and 112 RBIs over three years. During Tyler’s sophomore year he won the Big 12 Player of the Year award while also being named a First Team All-American by College Baseball Insider. As a junior, Naquin was a finalist for USA Baseball’s Golden Spikes Award.
In 20 games with the MoonDogs, Tyler hit .185 with six runs scored and two stolen bases. Two things stuck out during Naquin’s time in Mankato: “He (Naquin) had good bat speed, but a plus arm,” said MoonDogs VP Kyle Mrozek. “I remember him fielding a ball in right field and throwing a strike to third base in a game. Our third baseman didn’t move his glove from the bag. Tyler definitely had a hose for an arm.”
The MoonDogs home opener is scheduled for Friday, June 3rd at 7:05 p.m. against the Rochester Honkers at Franklin Rogers Park. Season tickets are now on sale, call 507-625-7047 or visit the MoonDogs’ office at 1221 Caledonia Street in Mankato for more information.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 23-year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 140 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com
The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 140 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.mankatomoondogs.com
