FOND DU LAC, WI – Eight former and current Dock Spiders were selected in the 2022 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, tied for the most selections in a single draft (also 2019).
Five of the eight selections went during the first 10 rounds, a franchise record. 2021 Northwoods League co-MVP Chandler Simpson headlined the selections. Simpson was selected in the second round with the 70th pick by the Tampa Bay Rays. Simpson’s selection was the highest for a Dock Spider, surpassing outfielder John Rhodes, who was selected in the third round with the 76th overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles in 2021. 92 former and current Northwoods League players were selected in the draft. The Dock Spiders had the third-most selections, trailing the Waterloo Bucks (12) and Mankato MoonDogs (9).
In addition to Simpson, Ryan Ritter (2020), Victor Scott (2020-21), Derek Diamond (2020), Tim Elko (2019-20), Jackson Loftin (2021-22), Justin Bench (2020) and Tommy Stevenson (2022) were all selected.
Of the eight draft picks, Simpson, Loftin, and Elko were all named a Northwoods League Post-Season All-Star during their time in Fond du Lac. Simpson and Loftin represented the Dock Spiders in the 2021 Northwoods League All-Star Game.
Two current Dock Spiders, Jackson Loftin and Tommy Stevenson were both selected. This season, Loftin stole 13 bases in 13 games, and Stevenson tallied a .403 OBP in 17 games with the Dock Spiders.
Since 2017, the first year of the Dock Spiders, 28 former players have been drafted, including current Miami Marlins catcher Nick Fortes. Since the MLB First-Year Player Draft was shortened from 40 rounds to 20 during the 2021 season, the eight selections mark the most in a draft since the change.
The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 28th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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 280 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. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit dockspiders.com download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Dock Spiders as your favorite team.
