Former Wisconsin Woodchuck LuJames Groover and Former Kalamazoo Growler Ivan Johnson Make MLB Debuts
Rochester, Minn. – The Northwoods League congratulates two more former players on reaching the Major Leagues this season: infielder LuJames Groover (Wisconsin Woodchucks, 2021) and infielder Ivan Johnson (Kalamazoo Growlers, 2018). The pair brings the total number of NWL alumni to debut in MLB to 426 and 427.
LuJames Groover, a native of Morrow, Georgia, who played at North Carolina State, suited up for the Wisconsin Woodchucks in 2021. The Arizona Diamondbacks’ second-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft made his debut on June 5, 2026. He went 0-for-4 in his first game but quickly found his stride, hitting his first career home run (a two-run shot) on June 24 against the Cardinals.
Ivan Johnson, from Atlanta, Georgia, and a Chipola College product, played for the Kalamazoo Growlers in 2018. The Cincinnati Reds’ fourth-round pick in the 2019 MLB Draft made his debut on June 30, 2026, against the Milwaukee Brewers. Johnson appeared as a pinch-hitter and recorded limited action in his first big-league game.
Northwoods League Statistics Highlights:
LuJames Groover (Wisconsin Woodchucks, 2021): Played in 29 games and hit .265 with five doubles, 14 runs scored, 15 RBI, and seven stolen bases.
Ivan Johnson (Kalamazoo Growlers, 2018): Batted .283 with three doubles, two home runs, and 17 RBI in 27 games, demonstrating versatility across the infield and outfield while posting solid offensive numbers.
These debuts further highlight the Northwoods League’s role as a premier development platform for future Major Leaguers.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its’ 33rd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 26 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, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and 425 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion and Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (BAL) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (NYM). League games are viewable live on FloSports.tv.