In the 2016 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, the Northwoods League had a record setting draft which included five 1^st round picks, led by three pitchers from the 2014 Waterloo Bucks team. A total of 179 current Northwoods League players and alumni were selected in that year’s draft. Growth in the draft continued for the 2107 season as 181 current and former players were picked.

“The draft is always an exciting indicator of talent, and the evidence continues to grow that the Northwoods League is attracting the finest amateur baseball players,” said Northwoods League President, Gary Hoover at the time.  “This is a tribute to our model and our teams.  We can’t wait to see where it goes from here.”

The highest pick in the 2016 draft was A.J. Puk, a junior left-handed pitcher from Florida. Puk was picked in the 1st round by the Oakland Athletics with the 6th overall pick. Puk played as both a pitcher and infielder with the Waterloo Bucks in 2014.  A Cedar Rapids, Iowa native, Puk appeared in two games, starting both and earned a 2.08 ERA with 10 strikeouts in 8.2 innings pitched for Waterloo. At the plate, Puk played in 11 games, hitting .227 with two doubles and three RBI. Puk is currently on the disabled list after undergoing Tommy John surgery this Spring. He was having a tremendous Spring Training while vying for the Athletics fifth rotation spot before the injury.

With the 27^th overall pick, the Baltimore Orioles selected right-handed pitcher Cody Sedlock. A product of the University of Illinois, Sedlock played with the Bucks in 2014, finishing with the ninth best ERA in the NWL with a 3.27 mark.  In addition, the Sherrard, Illinois native tied for the League lead in starts with 13 and finished the year with a 5-3 record.  Sedlock struck out 53 while walking just 29. Sedlock is currently in Hi-A with the Frederick Keys of the Carolina League.

The third former Buck selected in the first round was right-handed pitcher Dane Dunning who was taken by the Washington Nationals with the 29th overall pick.  Dunning played with Waterloo in 2014, finishing with a 3-3 record and a 3.14 ERA.  In 43 innings pitched, the Fleming Island, Florida native struck out 39 and held batters to a .239 average. Dunning, who is now in the White Sox organization, is in the AA Southern League with the Birmingham Barons.

Here is the complete list of NWL 1st Round picks for 2016:

OVERALL PICK	MLB TEAM	PLAYER	COLLEGE	POS.	B/T	YEAR	NWL TEAM	NWL YEAR
6	OAK	A.J. Puk	Florida	LHP	L/L	JR	Waterloo	2014
16	LAA	Matt Thaiss	Virginia	C	L/R	JR	Madison	2014
22	PIT	Will Craig	Wake Forest	3B	R/R	JR	St. Cloud	2014
27	BAL	Cody Sedlock	Illinois	RHP	R/R	JR	Waterloo	2014
29	WAS	Dane Dunning	Florida	RHP	R/R	JR	Waterloo	2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visit our 25th Season Celebration page to read about other memorable moments previously released.