Mankato, Minn. – Just like many players in the Northwoods League, several members of this year’s Mankato MoonDogs will be transferring from their current two-year programs to new locations across the country. The four MoonDogs from Central Arizona (Kenny Held, Adam Jung, Jimmy Patterson and Xorge Carillo) and Taylor Black of Spartanburg Methodist will all be donning new uniforms for Division I programs in the spring of 2010.

Patterson (Tempe, Ariz.) and Carrillo (Tempe, Ariz.) will be moving just up the road from their current Central Arizona College home to the confines of Tempe and Arizona State University. Carillo has played in 19 games, scoring eight runs and driving in seven thus far for the MoonDogs. Patterson has been a force on the mound and at the plate this summer, as he leads the team with three home runs and has posted 16 RBI. On the mound, Patterson has yet to allow a run in five appearances, striking out nine in 7.2 innings.

Both Carillo and Patterson were draft picks in this year’s MLB Draft, as Carillo went in the 29th round to the Cleveland Indians, while Patterson went in the 34th round to the Boston Red Sox.

Held (Tucson, Ariz.) is the third of four Vaqueros donning new colors, as he will play for the New Mexico Lobos of the Mountain West Conference. He is currently hitting .200 with eight runs and four RBI for the MoonDogs, playing in 19 games thus far.

Jung (North Saainch, B.C.) rounds out the cast of Central Arizona characters, as he will pitch for the South Alabama Jaguars of the Sun Belt Conference next season. Jung just clinched the MoonDogs second playoff berth in franchise history with a save on June 29th at Eau Claire, and has been a steady force out of the bullpen all season. He is 2-0 with a 1.71 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 21 innings pitched.

Taylor Black (Easley, S.C.) is the final MoonDog mover, as he will transfer from Spartanburg Methodist to SEC power Kentucky. Black, a slick-fielding infielder, helped lead SMC to a berth in the NJCAA I World Series this past season, and has played in 15 games for the MoonDogs, driving in two runs and stealing two bases.

The MoonDogs just clinched the North Division first half title for the second straight season, securing a spot in the Northwoods League playoffs. This is the eighth season the MoonDogs have been in existence, and the 16th season of Northwoods League baseball. 14 teams make up the league, with franchises in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan and Thunder Bay, Ontario.