Seven NWL alums recognized as pitcher or player of the year in their organization
Rochester, Minn. – It was a record-setting year for Northwoods League alumni throughout the various levels of Minor League Baseball, with a Northwoods League record 39 former players being called up to make their MLB debut in 2025. Over 500 Northwoods League alumni participated in Minor League Baseball during the 2025 season, with several players collecting awards and accolades for their tremendous performances throughout the year. Seven Northwoods League alumni were recognized as their organization’s Minor League Player or Pitcher of the Year and eighteen alumni were honored as post-season All-Stars.
JJ Wetherholt – St. Louis Cardinals – Madison Mallards 2022
The hype train did not slow down whatsoever for JJ Wetherholt during his 2025 Minor League Season. The 7th Overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft completely tore up Double-A Springfield and Triple-A Memphis, while collecting several honors along the way. Wetherholt “The Man from Mars” would record a .306 batting average across both levels, hitting 17 home runs, driving in 59 RBI, logging 125 hits, 28 doubles, and 82 runs scored. During the midway point of the season, Wetherholt was selected to participate in the 2025 Futures Game in Atlanta. Once the Minor League season was over and after impressing at every facet of the game, the awards started rolling in. The former Mallard was named the Texas League MVP, the International League’s Top MLB Prospect of the Year, 1st Team All-MiLB and the St. Louis Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year. Wetherholt is recognized as the #1 prospect in the St. Louis Cardinals farm system and the #5 overall prospect in all Minor League Baseball. He is a promising candidate to make the Cardinals Opening Day roster in 2026.
Zach Cole – Houston Astros – Rochester Honkers 2021
The 2025 season served as one to remember for Zach Cole in the Astros Organization. Coming into the season distinguished as one of the top prospects in the Houston farm system, Cole was a star moving through two levels (Double-A Corpus Christi and Triple-A Sugar Land) hitting .279 with 19 home runs and driving in 65. The former Honker registered 100 hits, 63 runs, and swiped 18 bases over 97 games played. Cole led the Astros farm system in batting average, slugging percentage, OPS and triples. He was named the Astros Upper-Level MiLB Player for the Month of August, as well as Pacific Coast League Player of the Week from September 2nd – 7th. On September 12th, Cole was called up to make his Major League debut with the Houston Astros vs. the Atlanta Braves, making him the 410th Northwoods League alum to make it to the Majors. In his first MLB at-bat and the first pitch he saw, Cole smashed his first career home run. The Rochester outfielder would go on to hit four home runs and drive in 11 over 15 games played with the Houston Astros. Rounding out a stellar 2025 campaign, Cole was recognized as the Houston Astros Minor League Player of the Year by the organization, Baseball America and MLB.com.
Riley Cornelio – Washington Nationals – St. Cloud Rox 2021
Flying through the levels of the Nationals farm system, Cornelio was the premiere arm in the Washington Minor League organization. The former Rox right-hander began his 2025 campaign in High-A Wilmington but was quickly promoted to Double-A after logging a 3.03 ERA over 32.2 innings with 39 punch outs. Spending most of his time in Double-A Harrisburg, Cornelio was flat out dominant, throwing 66.1 innings, striking out 58 batters with an impressive 2.31 ERA. Once again, the former Rox ace was promoted to Triple-A Rochester, adding another 35.1 innings making eight starts and striking out 38 batters. He would lead all Nationals Minor League Pitchers in starts, ERA, opponents’ batting average and ranked second in strikeouts, innings pitched and WHIP. Cornelio finished the season recording 134.1 innings, struck out 135 batters and limited opposing batters to a paltry .205 batting average. The Nationals organization would award Cornelio as their 2025 Minor League Pitcher of the Year, and he will have high expectations to make his Major League debut in 2026.
CJ Kayfus – Cleveland Guardians – Wisconsin Woodchucks 2021
Another Northwoods League alum that was recognized as a Top 100 MLB prospect, Kayfus had a very memorable 2025 season within the Cleveland Guardians organization. The former Woodchuck began in Double-A Akron; however, he was quickly promoted after hitting .364 in 18 games to begin the year. His next stop in Triple-A Columbus, Kayfus continued to dominate at the plate with a .283 average, 13 home runs and drove in 43 runs. He would finish his Minor League season with a .300 average, 14 home runs, 54 RBI, 95 hits and 51 runs scored. For his star-studded performance across two levels, Kayfus was selected to the 2025 Futures Game during the MLB All-Star Break. On August 2nd, Kayfus would receive the call that he was being brought up to the Guardians to make his MLB Debut, making him the 405th Northwoods League alumni to make it to the Major Leagues. The 2023 3rd Round pick would record 27 hits, 10 doubles, four home runs and 19 RBI during 44 games with the big-league club as well as making the Guardian’s Playoff roster. After flying up the ranks of the Cleveland farm system, Kayfus was recognized as the Guardians 2025 Minor League Player of the Year according to MLB.com.
Kemp Alderman – Miami Marlins – Fond du Lac Dock Spiders 2022
A dominant presence at the plate throughout the 2025 Minor League season, Alderman shined across two levels within the Miami Marlins farm system. Playing most of the year in Double-A Pensacola, the former Dock Spider hit .282 with 15 home runs and knocked in 53, earning status as a Double-A All-Star. Alderman would be promoted during the final stretch of the year to Triple-A Jacksonville, where he hit seven home runs and drove in 17 in only 20 games with the Jumbo Shrimp. Recognized as the Marlins #10 Minor League prospect, Alderman finished inside the Top 10 in seven different hitting categories while playing in the Southern League. He also earned Southern League Player of the Week three different times, setting a Pensacola franchise record. Alderman would finish his 2025 season with 22 home runs, 70 RBI, 139 hits, 69 runs scored and added 22 stolen bases to his ledger. After an impressive year at the plate, Alderman was named the Marlins 2025 Minor League Player of the Year and is on the path towards making his MLB debut in 2026.
Otto Kemp – Philadelphia Phillies – St. Cloud Rox 2021
From 2022 being an undrafted free agent into everyday Major League player in a quick three years, Kemp has been a revelation within the Phillies organization, overcoming unprecedented odds and having a stellar 2025 season. The 2021 Northwoods League All-Star Game MVP began his year in Triple-A Lehigh Valley and was nothing short of a superstar. Over 74 games, the Rox alum would record a .310 batting average with 16 home runs, 67 RBI, 88 hits, 64 runs scored, 24 doubles and 13 stolen bases. He led the entire International League in home runs, RBI, total bases, runs, extra-base hits, slugging percentage and OPS. Kemp was awarded International Player of the Month of April and selected as a Triple-A All-Star. By early June, the Philadelphia organization had seen enough and decided that Kemp will be called up to join the Phillies, making his MLB debut on June 7th, the 396th Northwoods League alum to make their debut. Kemp would go on to play 62 games in his first big league season, hitting .234 with eight home runs, 28 RBI, 46 hits and 26 runs scored. Once the year concluded, Kemp was awarded the Phillies Minor League Player of the Year after his dominant stint in Triple-A.
Bob Seymour – Tampa Bay Rays – St. Cloud Rox 2018, Rockford Rivets 2020
Another fearsome power hitter bringing home hardware in 2025, Seymour tore up Triple-A pitching, putting up video game numbers at the plate. Starting the year in Durham, Seymour was one of the best power bats in all of Minor League Baseball. In 105 games played, the former Rox and Rivets alum hit 30 home runs, knocking in 87 runs, adding 21 doubles, 106 hits and 70 runs scored. Seymour’s 30 home runs were tied for the Minor League lead before his MLB promotion in August. He also led the International League in total bases and was tied for the lead in extra-base hits. He earned the first International League Player of the Week Award of his career after his performance through June 9th – 15th. On August 15th, Seymour was called up to make his MLB debut with the Tampa Bay Rays, making him the 406th Northwoods League alum to be called up and make their debut. He hit his first career Major League home run on August 20th. After an incredible stat-filled Minor League season, Seymour was recognized as the Tampa Bay Rays Minor League Player of the Year.
Notable 2025 Northwoods League Alumni Awards
1st Team All-MiLB:
JJ Wetherholt – St. Louis Cardinals – Madison Mallards 2022
Hayden Harris – Atlanta Braves – Wisconsin Rapids Rafters 2021
2nd Team All-MiLB:
Tyson Neighbors – Baltimore Orioles – Mankato MoonDogs 2022
International League (Triple-A) Top MLB Prospect of the Year:
JJ Wetherholt – St. Louis Cardinals – Madison Mallards 2022
Texas League (Double-A) MVP:
JJ Wetherholt – St. Louis Cardinals – Madison Mallards 2022
Triple-A All-Stars:
Otto Kemp – Philadelphia Phillies – St. Cloud Rox 2021
Joe Boyle – Tampa Bay Rays – Kalamazoo Growlers 2018
Andre Granillo – St. Louis Cardinals – Mankato MoonDogs 2020
Carson Seymour – San Francisco Giants – Rockford Rivets 2020
Double-A All-Stars:
Jack Wenninger – New York Mets – Wausau Woodchucks 2022
Kemp Alderman – Miami Marlins – Fond du Lac Dock Spiders 2022
Tommy Troy – Arizona Diamondbacks – Traverse City Pit Spitters 2020
JJ Wetherholt – St. Louis Cardinals – Madison Mallards 2022
LuJames Groover – Arizona Diamondbacks – Wisconsin Woodchucks 2021
Brycen Mautz – St. Louis Cardinals – Waterloo Bucks 2021
High-A All-Stars:
Charlie Szykowny – San Francisco Giants – Madison Mallards 2021, Eau Claire Express 2022
Cole Messina – Colorado Rockies – Fond du Lac Dock Spiders 2022
Braylen Wimmer – Colorado Rockies – La Crosse Loggers 2020
Low-A All-Stars:
Jakob Christian – San Francisco Giants – Willmar Stingers 2022
Ryan Jackson – San Diego Padres – St. Cloud Rox 2022
Harold Coll – Los Angeles Angels – Battle Creek Bombers 2021
Marshall Toole – New York Yankees – Traverse City Pit Spitters 2022
Jackson Strong – Detroit Tigers – Green Bay Rockers 2022
Arizona Fall League All-Stars:
Ryan Lasko – Athletics – Fond du Lac 2021
Charlie Condon – Colorado Rockies – St. Cloud Rox 2022
Cade Denton – Colorado Rockies – Wausau Woodchucks 2021, 2022
Arizona Fall League Reliever of the Year:
Cade Denton – Colorado Rockies – Wausau Woodchucks 2021, 2022
Arizona Fall League Sportsmanship Award:
Charlie Condon – Colorado Rockies – St. Cloud Rox 2022
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 32nd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 26 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, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and over 410 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 two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion and Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com) and ESPN+.