Pfaadt is the 322nd former Northwoods League player to debut in MLB
Rochester, Minn. – Former Mankato MoonDog Brandon Pfaadt made his Major League debut for the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Pfaadt is the 322nd former Northwoods League player to reach the Major League level.
Pfaadt, who played collegiately at Bellarmine University, played for the MoonDogs in 2018. He was drafted in the 5th round of the 2020 MLB draft.
In 2018 with the MoonDogs, Pfaadt appeared in 25 games and was 6-2 with a 1.79 ERA. He struck out 64 batters in 45.1 innings while walking 15.
Pfaadt started his professional career in 2021 with the Visalia Rawhide of the Low-A West League. After seven games he was sent to the Hillsboro Hops of the High-A West League. He would appear in nine games with the Hops before another promotion, to end the season, to the Amarillo Sod Poodles of the Double-A Central League. For the season he was a combined 8-7 with a 3.21 ERA. He had 160 strikeouts in 131.2 innings.
In 2022, Pfaadt started the season in Amarillo. After 19 games he was promoted to the Reno Aces of the AAA Pacific Coast League. Between the two clubs he appeared in 29 games and was 11-7 with a 3.93 ERA. He struck out a whopping 218 batters in 167.0 innings.
Prior to his call-up to the Diamondbacks, Pfaadt had appeared in five games with Reno and was 2-1 with a 3.91 ERA. He pitched 25.1 innings and had 30 strikeouts. In his Major League debut against the Texas Rangers Pfaadt started the game and went 4.2 innings, striking out three while walking one.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now entering its’ 30th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 24 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 320 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.