Since the team’s founding in 2012, the Lakeshore Chinooks have produced 82 MLB Draft picks or free agent signings. The team had a franchise high 18 players drafted or signed in 2018, but three have been released. Here is a recap of how the survivors started their careers as they look to make progress during their critical second season in 2019:
Gage Canning/OF/Arizona St./Lakeshore 2016/2018 WAS Nationals – 5th Round
The speedy outfielder who made a brief appearance for the Chinooks in 2016 left ASU and quickly hit .315 in his first 14 games for the Class A Short Season Auburn Doubledays before jumping to the Single A level with the Hagerstown Suns. Before a late season injury, Canning played 31 games for the Suns, batting .223 with 4 home runs and 16 RBI.
Dazon Cole/P/C. Michigan/Lakeshore 2016/2018 LA Angels – 25th Round
Drafted as a pitcher our of Central Michigan, Cole spent all of 2018 with two separate rookie level teams as he made two appearances with 5 innings for the Angels rookie team in Arizona before moving on to the Orem Owlz of the Pioneer League where he went 1-1 in 16 appearances with a 4.71 ERA. He fanned 30 and walked only eight in his 21 innings of work.
Tim Dalporto/C/Kent St./Lakeshore 2016-17/2017 SF Giants – Free Agent
After signing as a free agent midway through the summer, “Dalpo” played in 16 games for the Giants’ Arizona Rookie League team and hit .204 before landing with the Augusta Green Jackets for three final games in which he hit .286.
Nick Gatewood/C/Georgia State/Lakeshore 2017/2018 SD Padres – 11th Round
Armed with a powerful bat, Gatewood launched five home runs and 18 doubles, along with 37 RBI, in 54 games for San Diego’s Arizona Rookie League team. He finished the season with six appearances for the Class A Tri-City Dust Devils.
Austin Havekost/P/Kent St./Lakeshore 2016-17/2018 TOR B’Jays – 17th Round
Havekost spent all of 2018 on the injured list and will look to bounce back from arm surgery. After running his fastball up to 95 mph before leaving Kent State, Havekost came in with high hopes before the setback occurred.
Nick Horvath/P & OF/Florida/Lakeshore 2016/2018 BAL Orioles – 25th Round
Horvath got a late start in 2018 as he played with the Gators during their 2018 run to the College World series. Playing strictly as an outfielder, Horvath hit .238 in 47 games for the Class A Aberdeen IronBirds. He boomed four home runs and eleven doubles, along with 22 RBI.
Tyler Jandron/P/Northwood/Lakeshore 2016-17/2018 AZ D’Backs – Free Agent
The former Division II All-American signed a pro contract immediately after the 2018 draft and was sent to play rookie ball for the Missoula Osprey of the Pioneer League. The crafty lefty went 1-3 in fifteen appearances and must improve upon his uncharacteristically high ERA of 11.68 to get another chance.
Liam Jenkins/P/Arizona St./Lakeshore 2016/2018 CLE Indians – 17th Round
Jenkins left Arizona State after his summer with Lakeshore and made his way to Louisville with a stop at Wabash Valley College before the Indians took a chance on the tall, imposing righty despite an inconsistent ERA of 6.46. Jenkins went 4-0 with a 4.91 ERA in 22 innings for the Indians’ Arizona League Rookie team.
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.
The Lakeshore Chinooks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. 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 200 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.
