Published On: August 23rd, 2013

Petricka is the 111th former Northwoods League Player to debut in MLB

Rochester, MN – Former Mankato MoonDog Jake Petricka was called up by the Chicago White Sox on Saturday, August 17. Petricka is the 111th former Northwoods League player to reach the Major League level.

Petricka, who played collegiately at Indiana State University, played for the Mankato MoonDogs during the 2009 season, and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 2nd round of the 2010 MLB draft. 

During the 2009 season with the MoonDogs Petricka went 2-3 with a 3.29 ERA in 12 games. He also struck out 44 batters in 68.1 innings pitched.

Petricka began his minor league career in 2010 at Rookie level Bristol in the Appalachian League and was promoted towards the end of the season to lo A Kannapolis in the South Atlantic League. He went a combind 2-5 with a 3.05 ERA over 17 games. He also struck out 48 batters in 44.1 innings pitched.

Petricka spent the 2011 season in rookie ball with Bristol, lo A with Kannapolis and in the hi A Carolina League with Winston-Salem. Between the three teams he went 7-8 with a 3.65 ERA in 23 games. Petricka also struck out 99 batters in 113.1 innings pitched.

In 2012 Petricka started the season in hi A with Winston-Salem before being promoted after 19 games to AA Birmingham in the Southern League. Over 29 games he went a combined 8-8 with a 5.39 ERA. His high strikeout rate continued as a he posted a 7.1 k/9 innings pitched for the season.

During the 2013 season Petricka started the year in AA with Birmingham and was promoted to AAA Charlotte after 21 games. Petricka was a combined 5-0 with a 1.81 ERA in 31 games before being called up. He also had increased his strikeout rate to 9.5 k/9 innings pitched.

In his Major League debut on Thursday, August 22, Petricka entered the game against the Royals with one out in the bottom of the 11th inning. He was able to get Salvador Perez to ground into a double play to end the inning. With Conor Gillaspie homering for the White Sox in the top of the 12th inning and Addison Reed securing the save in the bottom of the 12th inning, Petricka was awarded his first Major League win.

The Northwoods League has more teams, plays more games, and draws more fans than any other Summer Collegiate League in North America. The 2013 season marks the 20th season of Northwoods League baseball. 111 former players have gone on to play Major League baseball. Notable alumni of the league include Curtis Granderson (Yankees), Chris Sale (White Sox), Max Scherzer (Tigers), Josh Willingham (Twins) and Jordan Zimmermann (Nationals).

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