Waterloo, Iowa – A former Waterloo Buck has been placed on a roster in the Arizona Fall League for professional baseball’s off-season. Owen Puk will take part in the developmental league’s 2026 season, which began on Saturday.
Former Waterloo right-handed pitcher Owen Puk 
will play for the Salt River Rafters. Puk, a prospect of the Washington Nationals, played for the Bucks in 2022. A product of Florida International University, Puk was drafted by Washington in the 18th round of the 2025 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft. A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Puk pitched for the Bucks in 2022 where he appeared in four games and finished with a 0-2 record. Puk ended his season with an 8.16 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 14.1 innings pitched. In two seasons in the Nationals’ farm system, he has compiled a 1-1 record with an 8.64 ERA and seven strikeouts in eight appearances. This past season, Puk suited up for the Fredericksburg Nationals in the Carolina League (Single-A).
Puk will be competing for two months in Arizona against the top players in Minor League Baseball. There are six teams in the Arizona Fall League: the Scottsdale Scorpions, Mesa Solar Sox, Salt River Rafters, Glendale Desert Dogs, Peoria Javelinas and Surprise Saguaros. Over 35 percent of all players named to the 2026 MLB All Star Game in Atlanta were AFL alums. Ten out of 20 players in the starting lineups for that game (starting pitchers and DH included) played in the Arizona Fall League.
More information on the Arizona Fall League can be found here: Arizona Fall League.
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The Bucks recently wrapped up their 2026 campaign and 32nd season of NWL baseball with attendance increasing by 195 per game. Fans are encouraged to shop their online store at https://waterloo-bucks-llc.square.site/ during the offseason.
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 33rd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 26 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, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and over 435 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 (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (BAL) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (NYM). League games are viewable live on FloSports.tv. For more information, visit www.waterloobucks.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Bucks as your favorite team.