A look at how Lakeshore Chinook alumni performed throughout baseball in 2017!

 

John Norwood – Lakeshore Chinooks 2013                       

Miami Marlins

2017 was a terrific season for former Chinook and Vanderbilt outfielder John Norwood as the strong and athletic outfielder was selected as both a Southern League All-Star for the Double A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and an Organization All-Star in the Miami Marlins’ farm system. Though undrafted after leading Vanderbilt to the NCAA Championship in 2014, Norwood was signed by the Marlins as free agent and has made steady progress from Class A Batavia in 2014, to Class A Greensboro in 2015, Advanced A Jupiter in 2016, and Double A Jacksonville where he posted his best season batting .285 with 19 home runs, 17 doubles, and 62 RBI. His lofty OPS of .826 and .459 slugging percentage have Norwood poised to make a big move in 2018, with club insiders raving about his progress in 2017.

 

 

Mike Papi – Lakeshore Chinooks 2013             

Cleveland Indians

Lakeshore’s highest drafted player, Mike Papi from the University of Virginia, continues his development after being selected with the 38th pick in the supplemental round of the 2014 MLB Draft by the Cleveland Indians. Papi spent time at both AA Akron and AAA Columbus for the Tribe in 2018 and posted his best offensive numbers of his four-year career hitting .258 with 12 home runs and 55 RBI. Now playing mostly in the outfield and still a clutch hitter with a keen eye at the plate, Papi will look to take another step close to the major league level. Over four years with five teams, Papi has hit .235 with 34 home runs and 176 RBI in 410 games.

 

 

 

 

Jerrick Suiter – Lakeshore Chinooks 2013

Pittsburgh Pirates

The former TCU Horned Frog from Valparaiso, IN proved his worth in 2017 with the Altoona Curve, the Double A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates by being named the team’s Unsung Hero award winner. Drafted in the 26th Round of the 2014 draft, Suiter set a new career high with 10 home runs, tied for the team lead among active players, and led the current roster with 58 RBIs. His .376 on-base percentage was ranked sixth overall in the Eastern League. Suiter spent time playing at first base, left field and right field and posted a .287 batting average and 20 doubles. In his four seasons of minor league ball, Suiter has hit .280 with 19 home runs and 211 RBI.

 

 

 

The Lakeshore Chinooks 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 Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR).  All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.lakeshorechinooks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Chinooks as your favorite team.