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Waterloo, Iowa – Former Waterloo Bucks right-handed pitcher Christian McGowan has been placed on the Scottsdale Scorpions roster in the Arizona Fall League for professional baseball’s off-season. McGowan, 
a prospect of the Philadelphia Phillies, played for Waterloo in 2020.
A product of Eastern Oklahoma State Junior College, McGowan posted a 2-1 record, a 2.93 ERA, and 16 strikeouts with one save on the Bucks’ 2020 Minnesota-Iowa Region Champion squad. The hurler was taken in the 7th round of the 2021 draft with the 205th overall pick by the Philadelphia Phillies.
This past season, McGowan played for four minor league teams in Phillies farm system, appearing in nine games and finishing the year with a combined 3.86 ERA and 28 strikeouts to go along with a 0-1 record. In 2022, McGowan went through Tommy John surgery after appearing in two games for the Jersey Shore BlueClaws (High A; South Atlantic League).
Starting this week, 29 former Northwoods League players will be competing over the next two months in Arizona against the top players in Minor League Baseball. There are six teams in the Arizona Fall League: Scottsdale Scorpions, Mesa Solar Sox, Salt River Rafters, Glendale Desert Dogs, Peoria Javelinas, and the Surprise Saguaros. Each Major League Baseball team sends seven top prospects to the AFL. Approximately 50 percent of all players named to the 2022 MLB All Star Game in Los Angeles are AFL alums. Twelve out of 20 players in the starting lineups for that game (starting pitchers and DH included) once played in the AFL.
More information on the Arizona Fall League can be found here: Arizona Fall League.
The Bucks recently wrapped up their 2023 campaign with a 37-31 record, the second best overall record in the Great Plains East. Bucks team ownership has invested nearly $450,000 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. Now in its’ 30th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 24 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 325 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 and on ESPN+. 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.
