Mankato, MN – The 2015 MLB Entry Draft again saw several MoonDogs be selected. Out of the 198 former Northwoods League players selected 14 called The Frank and Mankato home for a summer. While no active 2015 MoonDog was selected the MoonDogs continue to move on to pro ball, highlighted by five who were a part of the 2014 North Division Championship team.
Tyler Mark (Concordia University Irvine) was the top MoonDog selected in the sixth round, 166th overall, by the Arizona Diamond Backs. Mark came off one of the most dominant seasons in NAIA in 2015 as he had a 1.24 ERA with a 5-1 record, 70 strikeouts in 51 innings, and set a conference record with 24 saves. For the MoonDogs in the summer of 2014 he also showed his dominance of the Northwoods League as he had 0.65 ERA over 27 2/3 innings pitched with 45 strikeouts. In 2015 Mark had a 1-1 record over 12 innings with 7 strikeouts for the Class A Hillsboro Hops.
Four other 2014 MoonDogs that were selected. Tyler Sullivan (Pacific University) in the 14th round, 412th overall by the Chicago White Sox. Sullivan also had a solid campaign in the summer of 2014 as he set several single season MoonDogs records. He hit .352 in 69 games, with 10 doubles, two triples, one homerun and 23 RBI’s. In 2015 Sullivan hit .303 in 34 games with 12 RBI’s for the Rookie AZL White Sox.
James McMahon (Southern Mississippi) was selected in the 24th round, 707th overall pick by the Colorado Rockies. In 2015 for the Rookie Ball Grand Junction Rockies McMahon has a 2-2 record over 28 1/3 innings with 24 strikeouts.
Levi Scott (Texas – Arlington) was taken in the 28th round, 842nd overall by the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2015 for the Rookie GCL Blue Jays Scott has a .206 average in 37 games, with one homerun and 15 RBI’s.
Mitchell Traver (Texas Christian University) was taken in the 28th round, 851st pick overall by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Five 2013 MoonDogs had their names called at this summer’s draft. Zach Zehner (Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo) was selected in the 18th round, 543rd overall by the New York Yankees. Tim Arakawa (Oklahoma State) was taken in the 23rd round, 705th overall by the Los Angeles Angels. Jon Perrin (Oklahoma State) was taken in the 27th round, with the 811th pick by the Milwaukee Brewers. Quinnton Mack (New Mexico State) was selected in the 35th round, with the 1036th pick by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Bryan Bonnell (UNLV) was selected in the 36th round, 1078th pick by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Zehner in 2015 has a .212 average with three homeruns and 17 RBI’s in 38 games for the Class A Staten Island Yankees. Arakawa has a .289 average through 40 games for the Class A Burlington Bees, with four homeruns and 21 RBI’s. Perrin has a 3-3 record with a 3.63 ERA over 39 2/3 innings pitched and 31 strikeouts for the Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Mack has a .203 average in 27 games with one homerun and seven RBI’s for the Class A Kane County Cougars. Bonnell owns a 1-0 record with a 4.50 ERA over 26 innings with 14 strikeouts for the Rookie Princeton Rays.
Three 2012 MoonDogs were selected they were, Trevor Belicek (Texas A&M Chorpus Christi) 16th round, 480th pick by the Atlanta Braves, Audie Afenir (Oral Roberts) 25th round, 753rd pick by the New York Yankees, and Trevor Allen (Arizona State) 25th round, 765th pick by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Belicek in 2015 owns a 3-0 record with a 3.03 ERA in 32.2 innings with 33 strikeouts for the Rookie Danville Braves. Afenir has a .287 average in 43 games with 11 doubles, and 25 RBI’s for the Rookie Pulaski Yankees. Allen has a .235 average in 39 games, with five homeruns and 15 RBI’s for the Class A Burlington Bees.
“The Mankato MoonDogs are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website."