The Northwoods League experienced another successful Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.  The 2010 MLB Draft saw the most Northwoods League players ever drafted in a single draft class.  There were 162 former NWL players drafted in the 50 round draft this past week.  Of all the 162 players, 26 more draftees then 2009, 15 were taken in the first 5 rounds.

Former La Crosse Logger, Chris Sale, was the highest pick of NWL player’s in the 2010 draft going to the Chicago White Sox at 13^th overall in the first round. Former Mankato MoonDog and Brainerd Area Lakes Lunker, Mike Kvasnicka, was drafted with the 33^rd pick by the Houston Astros as a compensation pick of the 1^st round.  The 2^nd round saw three players drafted including former Alexandria Beetle Ryan LaMarre (Cincinnati-62), Mankato MoonDog Jacob Petricka (Chicago WS-63) and Duluth Huskie Jordan Smyly (Detroit-68).  This marks the seventh consecutive draft that a Northwoods League alumnus has been selected in either the first round or the compensation round that followed.

Past NWL Most Valuable Player award winners Corey Jones and Kole Calhoun were drafted in the 7^th and 8^th rounds, respectively.  Jones, a former Rochester Honker in 2009, was drafted by the Detroit Tigers with the 223^rd pick overall (7^th round).  Calhoun, a 2007 co-MVP for the Eau Claire Express, was picked by the LA Angels in the 8^th round.

The Rochester Honkers had 21 former players selected in the draft.  The highest Honker selected was right-fielder, Austin Wates (2008), who was selected 90^th overall in the 3^rd round.  The Mankato MoonDogs had 20 players drafted while the Duluth Huskies had 19.

Another notable NWL alum selected was former 2009 Batting Champion and La Crosse Logger, Rob Brantly, who was selected by the Detroit Tigers with the 100^th pick overall in the 3^rd round.

A complete list of draftees is included with this press release.

The Northwoods League plays more games than, draws more fans than, and plays in venues superior to any Summer Collegiate Baseball League in North America.  The NWL’s 17^th season is currently underway