A look at how Lakeshore Chinook alumni performed throughout baseball in 2016!
Grafton, WI – While former Chinook outfielders Harrison Bader, Zack Granite, and Andrew Stevenson are knocking on the major league door, several Lakeshore infielders and catchers also turned in high level performances in 2016, including Brian Anderson who has been invited to a major league camp for 2017. Here is a quick rundown of their 2016 seasons and their status heading into spring training:
INFIELDERS

Brian Anderson – Jacksonville Suns / credit Roger C. Hoover
Blake Butler (Adv. A): Butler (LAK 14) missed most of August for the Daytona Tortugas after suffering a fractured rib. Playing in 87 games, Butler hit .222 with five home runs and 28 RBI. An important season is approaching for Cincinnati’s 15th round pick out of the College of Charleston in 2015.

Marty Herum – Visalia Rawhide
David Masters (Adv. A): Masters (LAK 12) completed his fourth season in the minors, despite hitting .174 for the Potomac Nationals. Drafted on his defensive potential by the Nationals in the 14th round of the 2013 draft, Masters’ glove, now at third base, has allowed him to steadily progress through each level of the franchise. Whether it will be enough to earn promotion to Double A will be determined this season
Jake Noll (A): After hitting .318 for Auburndale, the 7th round pick out of Florida Gulf Coast completed the 2016 as the second baseman for the Hagerstown Suns in the Washington Nationals’ system. Noll (LAK 14) posted a combined season slash of .275 BA/.401 SLG/.332 OPS and will look to earn a promotion in 2017.
Tyler Wolfe (A): As a late round pick (39th round by Houston) in 2016, Wolfe (LAK 13) split time in 2016 with the Astros’ rookie team in Greenville, TN and the Class A Tri-City ValleyCats. Playing at third base, Wolfe hit .229 with 16 RBI.
Ryan Krill (Rookie): After wrist surgery kept him out until August, “Mr. Chinook” will look to rebound in the Yankees’ system. The former Michigan state Spartan and New York’s 9th round pick in 2015, hit .379 with three home runs and 15 RBI for the Yankees two rookie teams in Florida after his return. Krill (LAK 12, 13, 14) will attempt to build off that solid performance this spring.
CATCHERS:

Mitch Ghelfi – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
Zack Bowers (A): The 24th round selection of the San Francisco Giants in 2015 split 2016 between two Class A affiliates in Augusta, GA and Salem-Keizer, OR, batting .213 with two home runs and 30 RBI. The rugged, physical catcher (LAK 14) out of the University of Georgia will have to avoid the strikeout to improve on his offense.
To follow the progress of any of the Lakeshore alums who are playing professional baseball, click on the Alumni tab under the Team section at the top of this page. Click on a specific player’s name to open a link to view their MiLB bio page.
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