Wausau, WIS – Eleven former Woodchucks were selected in the final day of the 2014 MLB Draft on Saturday. In total, 16 former Woodchucks were selected in the 2014 MLB Draft.
The first former Woodchuck selected on Saturday was Michael Gerber, who was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 15th round. Gerber, who was with the Woodchucks in the 2011 summer, batted .263 and was second on the team with six home runs.
Matt Ditman was also drafted in the 15th round by the St. Louis Cardinals. Ditman started eight games on the mound in 2013 for the Woodchucks, including one complete game. Ditman had an astonishing strikeout-to-walk ratio in which he struck out 43 batters while walking only six batters.
Along with Ditman, four other members of the 2013 Woodchucks’ team were drafted. Damek Tomscha was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 17th round. Koby Gauna was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 20th round. Austin Diemer was picked by the Minnesota Twins in the 28th round. Josh Goossen-Brown, known for hitting two grand slams in one week, was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 31st round.
Jack Fischer, the 2012 Northwoods League Pitcher of the Year, was selected in the 26th round by the Detroit Tigers. Two of Fischer’s 2012 teammates were selected on Saturday. Austin Pettibone was selected in the 24th round by the Texas Rangers. Nate Irving was selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 34th round.
Two current Woodchucks were selected in the 2014 MLB Draft. Logan Sawyer was selected in the 29th round by the Colorado Rockies. Paul DeJong was selected in the 38th round by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Wisconsin Woodchucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwood’s League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwood’s 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 115 Northwood’s League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwood’s League YouTube channel. For more information, visit woodchucks.com.
