Five Dock Spiders Selected in 2024 MLB First-Year Player Draft

FOND DU LAC, WI – Five Fond du Lac Dock Spiders players were selected in the recent 2024 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. The first Dock Spider selected this year was Cole Messina (South Carolina). Messina, a catcher on the 2022 Dock Spiders team, was selected in the third round with the 77^th pick by the Colorado Rockies.

In addition to Messina, RHP David Hagaman (2022), OF Nick Mitchell (2022), C Bennett Thompson (2022), and RHP Noah Wech (2024) were all selected. Messina entered the draft as a Top-100 prospect, while Mitchell ranks among team leaders in many offensive categories. Wech, a Manitowoc, Wisc. native and Oklahoma State commit, was selected by Milwaukee to mark the first Dock Spider picked by the Brewers.

Fond du Lac’s five draft selections this year tied for fifth-most in the Northwoods League, behind St. Cloud (7), Mankato (6), Willmar (6), and Wisconsin Rapids (6). The five selections tied for fifth-most with Green Bay, Kenosha, and Madison. The Northwoods League saw 70 league players selected over the three-day draft.

Since 2017, the first year of the Dock Spiders, 43 former players have been drafted including current Miami Marlins catcher Nick Fortes, outfielder Victor Scott and right-handed pitcher Ryan Loutos. Scott and Loutos made their Major League debuts this season with the St. Louis Cardinals. Last year, 10 former Dock Spiders were selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft, the most in team history.

Round   Overall                  Player                                                 MLB Team                          School                    Year with FDL
3             77                           C Cole Messina                                    Colorado                                  South Carolina                    2022
4            133                          RHP David Hagaman                         Texas                                        West Virginia                       2022
4            136                          OF Nick Mitchell                                 Toronto                                    Indiana                                  2022
13           385                         C Bennett Thompson                         Cleveland                                 Oregon                                   2022
19           575                         RHP Noah Wech                                 Milwaukee                               Manitowoc Lincoln HS       2024

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. Entering its’ 31^st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world 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, over 350 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 (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) and World Series Champion 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, 2021 and 2023 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit dockspiders.com or 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.