Naquin is the 143rd former Northwoods League player to debut in MLB
Rochester, Minn. – Former Mankato MoonDogs outfielder, Tyler Naquin, made his Major League debut for the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday, April 5, 2016. Naquin is the 143rd former Northwoods League player to reach the Major League level.
Naquin, who played collegiately at Texas A & M University, played for the Mankato MoonDogs in 2010. Naquin was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 1st round of the 2012 MLB draft.
In 2010 with the MoonDogs, Naquin hit .185 over 20 games. He also had three RBI and stole two bases.
Naquin started his Minor League career in 2012 with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in the short-season A New York-Penn League. In 36 games he hit .270 with 11 doubles and two triples. He also drove in 13 runs and had four stolen bases.
Naquin began the 2013 season in the Hi-A Carolina League with the Carolina Mudcats. After 108 games with Carolina he was promoted to the Akron Aeros in AA Eastern League. Between the two teams he hit a combined .269 with 10 home runs, 30 doubles, six triples and 15 stolen bases.
2014 saw Naquin play 76 games in Akron with the Aeros. He hit .313 with 12 doubles and five triples.
Naquin split time between two clubs again in 2015 as he started the season in Akron before being promoted, after 34 games, to the Columbus Clippers of the AAA international League. Between the two clubs he hit .300 with seven home runs and 25 doubles. He also stole 13 bases.
Naquin won a spot on the Indians opening day roster during Spring Training. In his Major League debut against the Boston Red Sox, Naquin entered in the 7th inning as a pinch-hitter for Collin Cowgill. Facing Red Sox reliever Junichi Tazawa he struck out for the second out of the inning.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 22 year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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, over 140 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com.
