Mankato, Minn. – It was a monumental day for the Mankato MoonDogs as 14 former and current MoonDogs went in the second day of the 2009 Major League Baseball amateur draft. That group was highlighted by Carlos Ramirez, who was selected in the eighth round by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Ramirez, last year’s Northwoods League MVP, hit .315 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI for the MoonDogs and followed it up this spring by helping to lead his Arizona State Sun Devils to the College World Series. Ramirez is hitting .349 with 18 home runs and 72 RBI thus far for ASU.

Five other players from last year’s playoff team were also picked up. Michael Rockett was the next MoonDog snatched, as he went in the 13th round to the Detroit Tigers. Rockett (Texas-San Antonio) was named to the North Division All-Star team last year and was the Home Run Derby champ, as he finished his summer with a .290 mark with four home runs and 46 RBI.

Two other All-Stars from last year was taken 20 picks later, as Elon’s Cory Harrilchak was taken in the 14th round by the Atlanta Braves. Harrilchak posted similar numbers to Rockett’s, posting a .283 average, with one home run and 23 RBI to go along with 10 stolen bases. Brendan Lafferty (UCLA) was the other All-Star, as the southpaw posted a 4-1 record with a 3.96 ERA and 41 strikeouts in just over 37 innings.

Dale Dickerson (Nicholls State) and Scott Matyas (Minnesota) rounded out the batch of 2008 MoonDogs selected. Dickerson was taken in the 16th round by the Cleveland Indians, as he was second on the MoonDogs in appearances last season with 28, all in relief. He posted two saves and whiffed 29 batters in 27 innings. Matyas was picked up by the New York Yankees in the 29th round after finishing tops on the MoonDogs staff with seven saves and a stellar 1.59 ERA.

Three 2009 MoonDogs were also taken, with Danny Jimenez (John A. Logan) coming off the board to the Indians in the 23rd round. Jimenez has made two starts this summer and is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA, striking out seven in 10 innings pitched. It was the second time that Jimenez has been drafted as he was taken by the Cardinals in the 37th round last year.

Also getting drafted for the second time was catcher Xorge Carrillo (Central Arizona). Carrillo, signed to Arizona State next fall, has played in nine of the 12 MoonDog games this season, swinging at a .233 clip with one home run, four RBI and eight runs scored. Carrillo was taken in the 2007 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 28th round.

Polishing off the batch of 2009 MoonDogs was pitcher Matt Swynenberg (Black Hawk College). Swynenberg was taken by the Washington Nationals in the 28th round, after he made two appearances for the MoonDogs this summer. He finished his MoonDogs tenure with an 0-1 mark with a 3.86 ERA, and 10 strikeouts in seven innings.

Four others from the 2007 team were taken, as rounds three through 30 were held today with rounds 31-50 will be held tomorrow. Tony Sanchez of Boston College set a Northwoods League best, as he was taken with the fourth overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The catcher was an All-Star in 2007 for the Battle Creek Bombers.

Mankato MoonDogs 2009 Draft Class – Day Two of Three

8th Round (261st) – LAA – Carlos Ramirez – Arizona State – C – Jr. – 2008
13th Round (398th) – DET – Michael Rockett – UT-San Antonio – OF – Sr. – 2008
13th Round (406th) – MIL – Sean Halton – Lewis & Clark State – RHP – Sr. – 2006
14th Round (418th) – ATL – Cory Harrilchak – Elon – OF – Sr. – 2008
14th Round (440th) – CHC – Daniel Keefe – Tampa – RHP – Sr. – 2007
16th Round (472nd) – WSH – Sean Nicol – San Diego – SS – Sr. – 2007
16th Round (485th) – CLE – Dale Dickerson – Nicholls State – RHP – Sr. – 2008
18th Round (542nd) – KCR – Brendan Lafferty – UCLA – LHP – Sr. – 2008
22nd Round (654th) – SDG – Cody Decker – UCLA – 1B – Sr. – 2007
23rd Round (695th) – CLE – Danny Jimenez – John A. Logan – LHP – Fr. – 2009
23rd Round (707th) – PHI – Evan Porter – Nebraska-Omaha – SS – Sr. – 2007
28th Round (832nd) – WSH – Matt Swynenberg – Black Hawk – RHP – So. – 2009
29th Round (875th) – CLE – Xorge Carrillo – Central Arizona – C – So. – 2009
29th Round (885th) – NYY – Scott Matyas – Minnesota – RHP – Sr. – 2008