EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Since joining the Northwoods League in 2005, the Eau Claire Express have had 104 players drafted by Major League Baseball organizations and continued their professional baseball careers. Throughout the 2017-2018 offseason, we will showcase these Express Alumni still playing professionally, either in independent baseball leagues, for Minor League Affiliates, or for Major League Baseball teams.
Philip Walby | RHP | Dunedin Blue Jays (A Adv. Affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays)
Played for Express in 2012 | Drafted: Round 12 (2013, NYY)
| YEAR | TEAM | LG | LEVEL | W | L | ERA | G | GS | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | AVG | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | SI | NYP | A(Short) | 3 | 1 | 2.75 | 14 | 4 | 36.0 | 24 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 30 | 37 | .186 | 1.50 |
| 2014 | 2 teams | – | Minors | 2 | 4 | 4.21 | 40 | 0 | 51.1 | 37 | 30 | 24 | 0 | 42 | 61 | .194 | 1.54 |
| 2015 | 2 teams | – | Minors | 3 | 1 | 3.92 | 33 | 0 | 43.2 | 48 | 20 | 19 | 0 | 27 | 42 | .281 | 1.72 |
| 2016 | 2 teams | – | Minors | 2 | 1 | 3.50 | 36 | 0 | 43.2 | 42 | 20 | 17 | 0 | 24 | 43 | .253 | 1.51 |
| 2017 | 2 teams | – | Minors | 2 | 2 | 5.58 | 41 | 0 | 59.2 | 62 | 41 | 37 | 6 | 29 | 47 | .266 | 1.53 |
| Minors Career | 6 teams | Minors | 12 | 9 | 4.15 | 164 | 4 | 234.1 | 213 | 123 | 108 | 7 | 152 | 230 | .239 | 1.56 |
Roman Collins | LF | Wilmington Blue Rocks (A Adv. Affiliate of Kansas City Royals)
Played for Express in 2013 | Drafted: Round 5 (2015, KC)
| YEAR | TEAM | LEVEL | G | AB | R | H | TB | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | IDF | ROK | 68 | 267 | 49 | 78 | 116 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 45 | 36 | 34 | 11 | 4 | .292 | .375 | .434 | .809 |
| 2016 | 2 teams | Minors | 111 | 426 | 56 | 103 | 154 | 16 | 4 | 9 | 41 | 42 | 74 | 13 | 6 | .242 | .311 | .362 | .673 |
| 2017 | WIL | A(Adv) | 131 | 480 | 48 | 109 | 167 | 24 | 5 | 8 | 53 | 44 | 117 | 4 | 2 | .227 | .292 | .348 | .640 |
| Minors Career | 3 teams | Minors | 310 | 1173 | 153 | 290 | 437 | 54 | 15 | 21 | 139 | 122 | 225 | 28 | 12 | .247 | .319 | .373 | .691 |
Sam Haggerty | 2B | Lynchberg Hillcats (A Adv. Affiliate of Cleveland Indians)
Played for Express in 2013 | Drafted: Round 24 (2015, CLE)
| YEAR | TEAM | LEVEL | G | AB | R | H | TB | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | CS | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | MV | A(Short) | 16 | 53 | 8 | 15 | 24 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 0 | .283 | .361 | .453 | .813 |
| 2016 | LC | A(Full) | 100 | 344 | 56 | 79 | 110 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 39 | 45 | 105 | 12 | 2 | .230 | .323 | .320 | .642 |
| 2017 | LYN | A(Adv) | 112 | 427 | 72 | 108 | 170 | 27 | 13 | 3 | 32 | 67 | 103 | 49 | 13 | .253 | .355 | .398 | .754 |
| Minors Career | 3 teams | Minors | 228 | 824 | 136 | 202 | 304 | 46 | 16 | 8 | 78 | 119 | 222 | 64 | 15 | .245 | .342 | .369 | .711 |
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The Eau Claire Express are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Entering its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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, more than 185 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (LAD) and Lucas Duda (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.eauclaireexpress.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Express as your favorite team.
