Waterloo, Iowa – One current and 10 former Waterloo Bucks were drafted during the 2022 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.  Brycen Mautz, Josh Kasevich, Peyton Williams, Dylan Phillips, Dalton Shuffield, Levi Usher, Jake Christianson, Blaze Pontes, Garrett McGowan, Duncan Davitt, and Skyler Messinger all heard their names called during the three-day draft which began on Sunday of this week.

The first former Waterloo player selected in the 2022 MLB Draft was pitcher Brycen Mautz.  Mautz was taken in the 2^nd round with the 59^th pick by the St. Louis Cardinals.  A product of the University of San Diego, Mautz played for the Bucks in 2021 where the left-handed pitcher posted a 2.08 ERA with 29 strikeouts and three saves.  Originally from San Diego, California, Mautz played in the 2021 Northwoods League Major League Dreams Showcase.

With the 60^th overall pick (2^nd round), the Toronto Blue Jays selected shortstop Josh Kasevich who played with the Bucks in 2021.  A product of the University of Oregon, Kasevich hit .374, the fifth-best mark in team history, with two home runs, 39 RBI, and five stolen bases.  Originally from Eugene, Oregon, Kasevich played in the 2021 NWL Major League Dreams Showcase and was named an NWL Postseason All-Star.

Former Waterloo first baseman Peyton Williams, a University of Iowa product, was taken in the 7^th round with the 218^th pick by the Blue Jays.  Williams played in 33 games for the Bucks in 2020, finishing tied for the team single-season record of home runs with 13 and setting a new team record in slugging percentage with a .687 mark.  Williams also hit .304 with 36 RBI during the 2020 campaign.  Originally from Johnston, Iowa, Williams was named an NWL Postseason All-Star.

Dylan Phillips was taken in the 8^th round with the 238^th pick by the Los Angeles Angels.  A product of Kansas State University, Phillips played for the Bucks in 2019 where the outfielder hit .324 with three home runs, 40 RBI, and nine stolen bases to go along with three triples.  Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Phillips was a midseason NWL All-Star and  played in the 2019 NWL Major League Dreams Showcase.

With the 294^th overall pick (10^th round), the Minnesota Twins selected shortstop Dalton Shuffield who played with the Bucks in 2020.  A product of Texas State University, Shuffield hit .282 with a home run, 14 RBI, and nine stolen bases while in Waterloo.

Current Waterloo outfielder Levi Usher, a University of Louisville product, was taken in the 10^th round with the 295^th pick by the Kansas City Royals.  Usher played with the Bucks in 2020, hitting .264 with a home run, 17 RBI, and four stolen bases.  This season for Waterloo, the Fairfax, Iowa native is hitting .211 with one stolen base.

Jake Christianson was taken in the 15^th round with the 464^th pick by the Tampa Bay Rays.  A product of Feather River College, Christianson suited up for the Bucks in 2019 where the two-way player hit .095 and appeared on the mound for one inning.

With the 484^th overall pick (16^th round), the Oakland Athletics selected pitcher Blaze Pontes who played with the Bucks in 2021.  A product of the University of Hawaii, Pontes finished the season with a 1.93 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 18.2 innings pitched.

Former Waterloo first baseman Garrett McGowan, a Pittsburg State University product, was taken in the 17^th round with the 523^rd pick by the Houston Astros.  McGowan played with the Bucks in 2021, hitting .351 with four home runs, 43 RBI, and 10 stolen bases.  Originally from Blue Springs, Missouri, McGowan was named a midseason and postseason NWL All-Star.

Duncan Davitt was taken in the 18^th round with the 554^th pick by the Rays.  A product of the University of Iowa, Davitt played for the Bucks in 2020 and 2021 where the right-handed pitcher compiled a 7-3 record with a 3.45 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 19 games.  Originally from Indianola, Iowa, Davitt played in the 2021 NWL Major League Dreams Showcase.

With the 566^th overall pick (19^th round), the Colorado Rockies selected third baseman Skyler Messinger who played with the Bucks in 2018.  A product of the University of Texas, Messinger hit .238 with four RBI and three stolen bases while in Waterloo.

The Bucks begin a two-game homestand versus the Duluth Huskies on July 21 at 6:35 pm.  Tickets are available for all games at www.waterloobucks.com or by calling the Bucks Ticket Line at (319) 232-5633.  Cost Cutters Field at Riverfront Stadium, home of the Bucks, welcomed a new state of the art video board in 2016 thanks to a matching grant from the Black Hawk County Gaming Association.  Team ownership has invested nearly $400,000 in stadium improvements since the end of the 2014 season including group outing areas, painted bleachers, public Wi-Fi, sound system, kids zone inflatables, wiffle ball field, and concessions equipment.  Fans are encouraged to stay in touch with the Bucks by utilizing their website at www.waterloobucks.com or utilizing the Northwoods League Mobile App.

 

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The Waterloo Bucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 28^th season, 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 280 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit www.waterloobucks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Bucks as your favorite team.