Jackson, Wheeler Join Sanchez in 1st Round
Former Logger and River Bat Outfielders Complete NWL Trio
(ROCHESTER, MN) The first round of the 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft will go down as the most successful in Northwoods League history. Outfielders Brett Jackson and Tim Wheeler joined catcher Tony Sanchez as first round picks on Tuesday marking the first draft where multiple NWL alumni were selected in the first round.
The Chicago Cubs drafted former La Crosse Loggers’ outfielder Brett Jackson (California-Berkeley) with the 31st pick of the first round. The Colorado Rockies followed by taking former St. Cloud River Bats’ outfielder Tim Wheeler (Sacramento State) with the 32nd pick to close out this year’s first round. Earlier in the evening former Battle Creek Bombers’ catcher Tony Sanchez (Boston College) became the highest draft pick in Northwoods League history when he was selected 4th overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
All three players were in the Northwoods League during the 2007 season. Sanchez was both a mid-season and postseason all-star, while Wheeler was selected to the mid-season team. Jackson hit for the best batting average of the trio at .343 with 2 home runs, 15 RBI and 9 stolen bases in 42 games. Wheeler filled the stat sheet by batting .299 with 11 doubles, 2 home runs, 27 RBI, and 20 stolen bases in 60 games. Sanchez, in 61 games, hit .269 with 17 doubles, 3 home runs, and 30 RBI.
Northwoods League All-Time First Round Picks:
Tony Sanchez, C (Battle Creek 2007), 4th pick by Pittsburgh in 2009
Thomas Diamond, RHP (St. Cloud 2002-03), 10th pick by Texas in 2004
Max Scherzer, RHP (La Crosse 2004), 11th pick by Arizona in 2006
Jeff Weaver, RHP (Dubuque 1995), 14th pick by Detroit in 1998
Lance Broadway, RHP (Wisconsin 2004), 15th pick by Chicago (AL) in 2005
Brett Jackson, OF (La Crosse 2007), 31st pick by Chicago (NL) in 2009
Tim Wheeler, OF (St. Cloud 2007), 32nd pick by Colorado in 2009
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 league’s 16th season is underway.
