Grafton, WI – Of the 1,215 total picks in this year’s MLB draft, 180 players—almost 15 percent— appeared in the Northwoods League. The Chinooks contributed 9, bringing the total of Chinook draftees since their 2012 inception to 67.  

While this draft didn't equal the historic 2015 numbers for Lakeshore when 17 former or current Chinooks had MLB offers on the table—there was certainly no shortage of talent.

Greg Deichmann. Infielder.  Louisiana State

Diechmann was the first Chinook off the board when the Oakland A’s selected him in the second round, 43rd overall. Diechmann appeared on the 2015 roster following an injury-plagued freshman season at Louisiana State which limited him to only 8 at-bats in 10 games. He recovered in time to get some valuable work in during the Northwood League summer by hitting .239 with 5 homers and 32 RBI’s in 230 at-bats.

That experience vaulted him into his sophomore season as the everyday first baseman. He hit .288, added 11 homers, and was named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Baton Rouge regional. He hit another level in 2017, knocking 19 homers with a .320 average.

Zac Lowther. Left-Handed Pitcher. Xavier

As part of the competitive balance round, Lowther was selected 74th overall by the Baltimore Orioles and made history as highest pick in the annals of Xavier baseball. Lowther was on the Chinooks in 2015 where he threw 49.2 innings and had a 5.00 ERA. He had a breakout sophomore campaign, 84 strikeouts in 102 innings. This spring at Xavier, he struck out 123 in 83 innings and posted an impressive 2.92 ERA.

Mark Kolozvary. Catcher. Florida

Kolozvary was scooped up in the 7th round, 197th pick, by the Cincinnati Reds. As a Chinook, Kolozvary hit .214 over 29 games and showed unmatched work ethic and determination. That, along with injuries in the Gator infield, propelled him from third string Florida catcher to key contributor in 2017. This spring, he hit .270 with 26 RBI and a .994 fielding percentage.

Evan Kruczynski. Left-Handed Pitcher. East Carolina

Kruczynski, picked in the 9th round, 274th overall by the St. Louis Cardinals, was the only Chinook selected this year to appear on the 2014 League Championship roster. Though some fans might not remember him vividly, he finished with a team high 55 innings and a dominant 2.78 ERA. During his 2017 senior spring with the Pirates, he threw 56 innings and accrued an ERA of 4.47.

Colby Fitch. Catcher. Louisville

Fitch was selected in the 13th round, 383rd pick, by the Philadelphia Phillies and was the fourth player to play on the Chinooks’ 2015 roster. That summer, he hit .264 over 37 games.

Marshall Kasowski. Right-Handed Pitcher. West Texas A&M

Kasowski, the only two-year Chinook vet on the list, was picked in the 13th round, 400th overall, by the Los Angeles Dodgers. But in Mequon, he’ll never be known as a Dodger, instead, he’ll live on as a folk hero. After a starting at Panola Junior College, he transferred to Houston. However, a serious car accident jeopardized his baseball career and set him back collegiately. Yet, he found tremendous success with the Chinooks that culminated in being named the 2016 Northwoods League Pitcher of the Year.

“The Chinooks was where a majority of my college innings were pitched,” Kasowski said.  “I’m super thankful for the opportunity to play for the organization underneath a great coaching staff and administration. They really care about you individually and worked to help you become the best player and product on the diamond as well as preparing you for the next level experience”

During two seasons, he had a 7-1 record, 2.02 ERA and team record 150 strikeouts over 106.2 career innings. In fact, his performance, personality and story were so loved in Mequon, he earned himself a bobblehead giveaway during the 2017 season.

“Being drafted meant the world to me, it was a very surreal experience being able to take my step into a childhood dream, I look forward to the challenges and new opportunities and I'm ready to compete at the top level!”

The final three selected were Shea Murray, 18th round, 538th pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Keenan Bartlett, 31st round 936th pick of the San Francisco Giants, and Liam Jenkins, 40th round, 1206th pick of the San Francisco Giants.