Willmar’s Brett Bateman, Wausau’s Ethan Pecko and La Crosse’s Jack Ralston
Rochester, Minn. – The Northwoods League is excited to celebrate three more alumni who have reached Major League Baseball in recent weeks bringing the League total to 435 players that have debuted in MLB: Brett Bateman (#433), Ethan Pecko (#434), and Jack Ralston (#435). Their debuts continue the league’s strong tradition of developing elite collegiate talent into big-league contributors.
Brett Bateman – Toronto Blue Jays
Brett Bateman, who played for the Willmar Stingers in 2021 and 2022, made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays on August 7, 2026. The left-handed-hitting outfielder, selected by the Chicago Cubs in the eighth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Minnesota, was traded to Toronto as part of the Kevin Gausman deal. In his debut against the Philadelphia Phillies, Bateman recorded a double on the first pitch he saw and finished 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. With the Stingers, Bateman was a standout, batting .330 with 26 stolen bases in 2022 while appearing in 54 regular-season games. He also hit .353 in limited action in 2021.
Ethan Pecko – Houston Astros
Ethan Pecko, a former Wausau Woodchuck, made his MLB debut with the Houston Astros on August 19, 2026. The right-handed pitcher, selected by the Astros in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Towson University, started against the Los Angeles Angels and tossed 3.2 innings with four strikeouts. In the Northwoods League with Wausau in 2023, Pecko posted a dominant 1.04 ERA over five starts (26 innings), striking out 36 batters while walking only eight.
Jack Ralston – Miami Marlins
Jack Ralston, who pitched for the La Crosse Loggers in 2015 and 2016, made his MLB debut with the Miami Marlins on August 23, 2026. The right-hander, originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of UCLA, entered in relief and recorded a strikeout in his first appearance. With the Loggers, Ralston appeared in 11 games (two starts) in 2015, going 1-1 with a 5.59 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 27.1 innings. In 2016 he went 3-2 with a 6.40 ERA over 12 appearances (four starts) and 32.1 innings.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed 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 435 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.