Perfect Game USA is a leader in tracking and scouting baseball prospects from across the United States. Here  is the report they filed on the Northwoods League in 2009. Get more info at www.pefectgame.org or www.pgcrosschecker.com.

NORTHWOODS LEAGUETOP 30 PROSPECTS, 2009 
COMPILED BY PATRICK EBERT
In Association with League Managers and Scouts 
Official League Website: www.northwoodsleague.com 
The Northwoods League is already known as the summer league that most-closely resembles the day-to-day grind of the minor leagues, and a majority of the league’s top prospects are first- or second-year college players getting their first taste of what they can expect down the road. This summer will be a springboard again for many, of bigger and better things to come. Look no further than some of the freshmen that have played in the league in recent years. 

Catcher Tony Sanchez played in the Northwoods League in the summer of 2007 after a year at Boston College. He furthered his development in the Cape Cod League last summer, and a big junior year at BC propelled him to the fourth overall pick in this past June’s draft, where he was selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Sanchez, along with outfielders Brett Jackson (Cubs, 31^st overall) and Tim Wheeler (Rockies, 32^nd overall), represented the first trio of NWL alums to be picked in the first round of the same draft. Both Jackson and Wheeler played in the league in 2007. 

Righthander Kyle Blair also pitched in the Northwoods League in 2007 as a fifth-round pick out of a California high school, before he subsequently enrolled at the University of San Diego. After two summers in the Cape League, he projects to be a first-round pick in next year’s draft. Roughly the same scenario is on lefthander Chris Sale’s resume. He was one of the top prospects in the league a year ago as a freshman out of Florida Gulf Coast, and excelled again this summer in a step up to the Cape League. He also projects as a first-round pick in 2010. 

There are no shortage of examples of other top prospects who have played in the Northwoods League in recent years, and moved almost seamlessly on to faster competition, whether it be the Cape Cod League, Team USA’s college national team or pro ball. While only the more-established Cape League is acknowledged as a stronger summer league from a talent standpoint, the Northwoods League has its challenges in identifying the better prospects in the league each summer. It is an unusually difficult league for scouts to cover as there are 14 teams in two divisions, and travel can often be excessive as there are 800 miles between Battle Creek, Mich., on one end to Thunder Bay, Ontario, on the other. 

The evaluation process is further complicated by shorter series, abbreviated home stands and teams not playing one another, so there are few coaching or scouting sources, if any, who are familiar with all the talent in the league. No one can comfortably compare one prospect to any other. Scouts quickly and openly admit that they never have enough time to properly cover the league, and would need at least 3-4 weeks to do so. It didn’t help this year that the league’s all-star game was held in Thunder Bay, a three-day trip given the two full days of travel to get there and back for most scouts that cover the area.  

Though input to assemble the accompanying list of top prospects was pooled from a number of scouts and coaches, it was readily apparent that much of the elite talent in the league this summer played for the champion Rochester Honkers, who celebrated their fifth title in the league’s 16-year history. Nine of the league’s top 30 prospects played for the Honkers, and there were several others that just missed the cut. 

The Northwoods League not only prepares its players for the next level on the field, but the league itself is operated along the same lines of a typical minor league structurally and it enjoyed another solid season at the turnstiles, attracting 796,022 fans. It was led, as always, by the Madison Mallards, who drew nearly 6,000 fans each and every home game. Among other Northwoods League story lines of note this season were three mid-season coaching changes, four no-hitters and veteran Rochester pitcher Zach Robertson setting the league career mark for strikeouts (251) and games started (35). 

FAST FACTSYear League Established: 1994.States Represented in League: Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario (Canada).Level of Competition (1-to-4 Scale, 1 being highest): 2.No. of Teams in League: 14.Regular-Season Champion (best overall record): Rochester Honkers.Post-Season Champion: Rochester Honkers.Teams, PG Crosschecker Summer 25/Final Ranking: No. 7 Rochester Honkers, No. 18 La Crosse Loggers.No. 1 Prospect, 2008 (per PG Crosschecker): Aaron Senne, of, Rochester Honkers (Missouri; Twins/32nd round).First 2008 Player Selected, 2009 Draft: Josh Prince, ss, Green Bay Bullfrogs (Tulane; Brewers/3^rd round). Most Valuable Player: Corey Jones, ss, Rochester Honkers.Most Outstanding Pitcher: Bryce Butt, rhp, Wisconsin Woodchucks.Top Prospect (as selected by league): None selected. BATTING LEADERSBatting Average: Robert Brantly, c, La Crosse Loggers (.346).Slugging Percentage: Corey Jones, ss, Rochester Honkers (.527).On-Base Average: Chris Lewis, of, Battle Creek Bombers (.442).Home Runs: Corey Jones, ss, Rochester Honkers (13).RBIs: Harold Riggins, 1b, Madison Mallards (48).Stolen Bases: Aaron Conway, of, Green Bay Bullfrogs (44). PITCHING LEADERSWins: Bryce Butt, rhp, Wisconsin Woodchucks; Steven Gruver, lhp, La Crosse Loggers (7).ERA: Bryce Butt, rhp, Wisconsin Woodchucks (1.07).Saves: Arik Sikula, rhp, Rochester Honkers (20).Strikeouts: Zach Varce, rhp, Green Bay Bullfrogs (105). BEST TOOLSBest Athlete: Brooks Pinckard, rhp-of, Eau Claire Express.Best Hitter: Robert Brantly, c, La Crosse Loggers.Best Power: Harold Riggins, 1b, Madison Mallards.Fastest Base Runner: Brooks Pinckard, of-rhp, Eau Claire Express.Best Defensive Player: Nate Melendres, of, Duluth Huskies.Best Velocity: Dixon Anderson, rhp, Green Bay Bullfrogs.Best Breaking Ball: Zach Varce, rhp, Green Bay Bullfrogs.Best Command: Zach Robertson, lhp, Rochester Honkers. 

TOP 30 PROSPECTS
 PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL    
1.   Robert Brantly                 C     La Crosse Loggers                 L-R    6-2   200     So.     UC Riverside
SCOUTING REPORT: With Joe Mauer as the poster boy, lefthanded-hitting catchers who win batting titles tend to attract attention, and Brantly garnered the most support from scouts and coaches as the Northwoods League’s top prospect this summer. He hit .346 to win the title by two points, and also drilled six homers while driving in 34 runs. He was also second in slugging (.516) and third in on-base percentage (.411). Perhaps most impressive, he showed a keen eye at the plate, and posted a 21-11 walk-to-strikeout ratio. Brantly also had a solid freshman campaign for UC Riverside, hitting .316-4-23 in 152 at-bats, and had little problem assimilating to wood, employing a quick, compact stroke that enabled him to smoke line drives with backspin from gap-to-gap. “He is one of the best hitting catchers the league has ever seen,” one long-time coach said. “He puts the ball in play, has good power and always seemed to come up with the big hit.” Brantly, a late-round draft pick of the Washington Nationals in 2008, doesn’t quite measure up defensively, with his arm strength the biggest area of concern, but he makes up for some of the deficiency with a quick release and good footwork, and does a nice job blocking balls in the dirt. Brantly also handled pitchers as well as any catcher in the league. Moreover, he received high marks for his conditioning and his professional approach to the game. By just a matter of days, Brantly is eligible for the 2010 draft as a sophomore, and quickly climbing follow lists after his impressive summer. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL    
2.   Dixon Anderson        RHP     Green Bay Bullfrogs               R-R    6-5   225     So.     California
SCOUTING REPORT: The 6-foot-5 Anderson put an exclamation mark on a breakthrough summer season when he tossed a complete-game, five-hit shutout on the second to last day of the regular season to knock the Madison Mallards out of playoff contention. His fastball was a sizzling 94 mph in the ninth inning. “He was getting stronger as the league was getting weaker,” one coach commented on his late-season run. Anderson finished with a 3-2, 1.61 record to go with 56 strikeouts in 56 innings. He began the summer in the bullpen for Green Bay and actually saved seven games on the season, but he was able to show off his four-pitch mix as a starter. Out of the bullpen, he threw mostly fastballs and sliders, and was clocked as hard as 96 mph. As a starter, he mixed in a curveball and a splitter that acted as his changeup. Anderson sat regularly in the 92-94 range as a starter, and his low-80s slider was also a power pitch. Scouts who saw him late in the season were impressed with his ability to attack the lower half of the strike zone with his full repertoire of pitches. Anderson was red-shirted as a freshman at California and went 1-0, 3.98 with three saves last spring, while walking 13 and striking out 37 in 43 innings. His value may skyrocket in the spring if he continues to have success serving as one of California’s weekend starters. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL    
3.   Harold Riggins             1B     Madison Mallards                    R-R    6-3   270     So.     North Carolina State
SCOUTING REPORT: Riggins was no stranger to scouts who covered the Northwoods League, having played at Normal West High in central Illinois. He was a 35^th-round pick of the Chicago White Sox in the 2008 draft. Riggins’ huge frame has always received a lot of attention, but he clearly has made conditioning a big priority and looked like a man-child with the most pro-ready body in the Northwoods League. His power potential was obvious, and he finished first in the league in RBIs (48), second in home runs (nine) and third in slugging percentage (.505), and yet also showed that he could hit for average by batting .308. His big body and aggressive approach, however, combine to produce an equally big swing, and he struck out 67 times in 57 games. He also fanned 30 times in 81 at-bats as a freshman at North Carolina State, while hitting .282-2-16. Riggins will need to do a much better job controlling the strike zone moving forward. As big as he is, Riggins is a good overall athlete and moves surprisingly well for his size. “He’s not just a space eater,” one coach commented on the natural assumption that he is just a one-dimensional player. “He can field at first base, could play left field and showed the ability to make adjustments at the plate.” After his big summer, Riggins is poised to receive regular playing time for NC State in the spring. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL    
4.   Tony Thompson           3B     Rochester Honkers                 R-R    6-5   220     Jr.      Kansas
SCOUTING REPORT: Thompson had a big sophomore season at Kansas, hitting .389-21-82, which led to an invitation to try out for USA Baseball’s national collegiate team. He missed the cut, and didn’t report to Rochester initially. He subsequently appeared in only 20 games for the Honkers, making it difficult for coaches and scouts to get a good look at him. He did not participate in the playoffs as he left for home early with a minor shoulder issue. Thompson hit .293-1-14, and flashed easy power potential to all fields. “He has an electric bat with good leverage,” said one coach who was familiar with Thompson from the Big 12 Conference. “He takes advantage of being pitched away by driving the ball to center and right field.” Scouts were impressed with his intensity and pro-style body. He even elicited a few Troy Glaus-type comparisons, and while he has a strong arm, his actions aren’t as fluid as preferred at the hot corner, leaving some scouts to wonder if he may eventually have to slide across the diamond to first base.
 PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL    
5.   Steven Gruver             LHP     La Crosse Loggers                 L-L     6-2   205     So.     Tennessee
SCOUTING REPORT: After going winless as a freshman at Tennessee, working mostly in relief, Gruver generated wide-spread appeal this summer as a starter in the Northwoods League. He tied for the league lead in wins while going 7-1, 2.23 with 26 walks and 49 strikeouts in 77 innings. Gruver worked consistently in the 89-91 range with his fastball, but it was his arm speed for a lefthanded pitcher that drew the most praise. There was also some deception to his delivery, making him that much more difficult to hit. Gruver showed very good command, especially in his ability to paint the corners, and while he needs to refine both his breaking ball and changeup, he did a good job mixing them in to keep hitters off balance. “(He) works off of his fastball, but his secondary stuff is below average,” said a scout for a National League team. Gruver will be a draft-eligible sophomore at Tennessee in 2010, and will be asked to handle an increased workload for the Volunteers after going just 0-1, 5.93 in 30 innings as a freshman. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL    
6.   Scott McGough          RHP     Rochester Honkers                 R-R    6-0   185     So.     Oregon
SCOUTING REPORT: A Pennsylvania high-school product, McGough was selected in the 46^th round of the 2008 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, yet ended up not signing and playing in college at Oregon. He went 1-0, 5.21 in 18 relief appearances as a freshman for the Ducks, while walking five and striking out 15 in 19 innings. He worked only in relief this summer for Rochester, too, appearing in 29 games, going 5-4, 2.54 with 17 walks and 37 strikeouts in 46 innings. He also played a hand in all three games of the Honkers successful run in the league’s championship series. McGough doesn’t have ideal size for a pitcher, but has a loose, live body and an equally-live and resilient right arm that enables him to throw in the 92-94 mph range every time he takes the mound. He mainly needs to work on his secondary offerings. He has plenty of room to grow and add strength, but should at least enter his sophomore year at Oregon with increased confidence. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL    
7.   Zach Varce                  RHP     Green Bay Bullfrogs               R-R    6-0   190     Jr.      Portland
SCOUTING REPORT: Varce had never enjoyed sustained success in his career prior to joining Green Bay, but blew away the Northwoods League this summer, both figuratively and literally. He led the circuit in strikeouts with 105—25 more than anyone else. He also finished ninth in ERA (1.93) among those pitchers that qualified, and is the second of three Bullfrogs pitchers to rank among the league’s top 20 prospects. Varce pounded the strike zone with an 89-93 fastball while also throwing a plus breaking ball—identified by some as a slider and others as a curveball—and a split-finger fastball. “At his best, he threw a plus fastball, 92-93,” said an American League scout, “and was blowing guys away with his slurvy breaking ball.” Varce worked well down in the zone, and rarely beat himself, walking only 21 in his 75 innings of work. Though he started in only 11 of his 18 appearances this summer, it represented his first real exposure to be being a starting pitcher in some time. He missed his senior year at a Seattle high school with an injury, worked only in relief as a freshman at Portland and made just four starts for the Pilots last spring while going 3-5, 2.69 with nine saves. In 60 innings as a sophomore, he walked 23 and struck out 62. Varce doesn’t have the ideal size for a pitcher, particularly a righthander, but it’s hard to argue with his results. As one coach summed him up “he’s a little guy, but he gets after it.” 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL    
8.   Drew Gagnon             RHP     Rochester Honkers                 R-R    6-2   188     So.     Long Beach State
SCOUTING REPORT: The league champion Honkers didn’t have many pitchers that didn’t draw favorable reviews from scouts that covered the league, and five made this list. Gagnon may have the most upside of any. A 10^th-round pick in the 2008 draft, he has a live, projectable arm, and his fastball sat in the upper-80s to low-90s, although one American League scout saw him better than that at the league all-star game, commenting: “He was the best arm on the North squad, throwing 93-94.” His breaking ball shows considerable promise, too, but lacks consistency. Gagnon made 10 regular-season starts for Rochester, and posted a 4-2, 3.11 record while striking out 55 in 55 innings. He also made a key playoff start for the Honkers, allowing one hit and no earned runs while striking out seven in six innings. Gagnon’s performance this summer was a significant upgrade from his freshman year at Long Beach State, where he was a weekend starter throughout but went just 3-7, 6.32 and allowed 119 base runners (96 hits, 23 walks) in 73 innings, while striking out 44.  
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL    
9.   Drew Smyly                 LHP     Duluth Huskies                        L-L     6-3   190     So.     Arkansas
SCOUTING REPORT: Though he went only 3-1, 4.66 in 14 starts as a red-shirt freshman, Smyly played a crucial late-season role for Arkansas last spring during the team’s impressive run to the College World Series. He arrived late to the Northwoods League as a result, and also left early, and didn’t win a game in seven starts. In 40 innings, he went 0-3, 3.32 and struck out 44 in 39 innings. It was evident that he took a while to alter his approach to attack hitters using wood. “He was a little shell-shocked coming here after facing aluminum bats,” one coach said. Smyly soon got locked in and was throwing his fastball at 90-92 mph downhill, with sink. He has a loose, projectable body and a well-rounded arsenal, and the best is yet to come. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
10.   Aaron Gates          OF/LHP     La Crosse Loggers                 L-L     6-1   192     So.     Pepperdine
SCOUTING REPORT: Gates, a 33^rd-round pick of the Colorado Rockies out of high school, is a talented two-way performer who has good, not great tools across the board. His intangibles actually left a more lasting impression on coaches and even scouts, and he developed a reputation over the summer for coming through in the clutch. He delivered big hit after big hit. “He’s a pain in the (expletive), a good player,” one opposing coach said. “He’s a money player that thrives on pressure. That’s hard to teach.” In 191 at-bats for La Crosse, Gates hit .283-6-30, a significant upgrade from his freshman season at Pepperdine, where he batted .309-2-8 in 94 at-bats. He has a balanced approach at the plate and employs a level, compact swing. He has some speed, but it grades out a shade below average. As a pitcher for the Loggers, he went 1-3, 3.50 with 20 walks and 29 strikeouts in 36 innings (compared to 3-3, 6.14 with 30 walks and 43 strikeouts in 44 innings at Pepperdine). Gates doesn’t throw particularly hard, even for a lefthander, and normally worked in the mid-to-upper 80s. He changes speeds efficiently to keep hitters off balance. Overall Gates is a gutsy, heady young player who clearly was born to play the game. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
11.   Joe Van Meter       RHP/3B     Battle Creek Bombers            R-R    6-3   200     Jr.      Va. Commonwealth
SCOUTING REPORT: Van Meter hardly earned a ripple of interest as a prospect among coaches in the Northwoods League this summer, after hitting just .201-0-26 while playing mostly at third base for Battle Creek. But he was one of the first names brought up by scouts who weighed in on this list. After red-shirting as a freshman at Arizona State in 2007, Van Meter spent the bulk of the next two seasons at Virginia Commonwealth, playing mostly third base, but went undrafted in June despite batting a team-high .347 with three homers and 36 RBIs. Van Meter’s best tool is his arm strength, and though he pitched in just three innings for VCU last spring (0-0, 6.00) and made four brief appearances on the mound this season for Battle Creek (0-0, 1.35), striking out nine in seven innings, that was more than sufficient exposure for scouts to recognize that he might have been miscast as a prospect, that his greater upside might be on the mound. Van Meter convinced scouts of it when he threw 90-92 mph with ease at the scouting workout prior to the league’s all-star game, and it was also determined that he had been clocked as high as 97 mph in the past. He also demonstrated that he can throw a very good overhand curveball. But Van Meter still remains somewhat of a mystery as he has pitched so few innings in his career to date. He could be a name to watch next spring, however, if he makes pitching more of a priority. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
12.   Jay Johnson               LHP     Rochester Honkers                 R-L    6-2   200     Jr.      Texas Tech
SCOUTING REPORT: Though he was drafted in the 25^th round in June by the Baltimore Orioles and his older brother Aaron, a catcher at Illinois, was a returning player to Rochester, Johnson was a bit of an unknown when he joined the Honkers in June. He had played his entire career to that point in Canada—first, growing up in New Brunswick, and later moving on to Alberta, where he played at the Vauxhall Baseball Academy while in high school, and at the Prairie Baseball Academy while in junior college. He helped the latter to a Canadian college championship in 2008 as a freshman, then went 4-1, 2.67 with 26 walks and 43 strikeouts in 37 innings last spring as a sophomore. Johnson worked mostly out of the bullpen for Rochester, and went 2-1, 4.24 in 13 appearances while walking nine and striking out 21 in 17 innings. Because of his relative inexperience and a history of injuries, Johnson remains a work in progress, but he is a big-bodied lefty with a fastball that sat in the 89-92 mph range, and was as high as 95 this summer. He also had good, late-breaking movement on his fastball but was plagued with inconsistent breaking stuff. Johnson has transferred to Texas Tech for his junior year, and pitching for the Red Raiders in the Big 12 could be the platform he needs for him to vault up follow lists. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
13.   Corey Jones             SS/2B     Rochester Honkers                 L-R    6-0   190     Jr.      Cal State Fullerton
SCOUTING REPORT: Jones was named the Northwoods League MVP this summer after finishing first in home runs (13) and slugging average (.527), second in on-base percentage (.418) and tied for third in RBIs (43) for the league champion Honkers. It was a remarkable accomplishment for a player who missed the entire 2009 season at Cal State Fullerton after he shattered his ankle late last summer in a lake accident, shortly after completing play in the New England Collegiate League, when a rope snapped and he plunged into shallow water. The ankle still continued to bother him at times this summer, but he played through the pain. Jones’ bat speed and approach to hitting stand out among his strengths. He has very fast hands, which enabled him to turn on the best fastballs in the Northwoods League, though he still needs to incorporate his lower half into his swing more consistently to be a power hitter at the next level. Some scouts openly questioned his true power potential, and attributed his inflated numbers to Rochester’s small ballpark. There are also concerns about Jones’ ability to hit lefthanded pitching, and other aspects of his game, including his focus, attitude and defense. A second baseman by trade, Jones played out of position at shortstop most of this summer. He lacks the range and arm strength to play there in pro ball, but projects as an offensive-minded second baseman. He should team nicely in the middle infield at Cal State Fullerton in 2010 with shortstop Christian Colon, a projected first rounder. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
14.   Nick Longmire              OF     St. Cloud River Bats               R-R    6-2   210     Jr.      Pacific
SCOUTING REPORT: Longmire had a very successful sophomore season for Pacific, finishing third in the Big West Conference in batting (.385) and fourth in slugging (.596). He posted a respectable .284-4-23 line with a wood bat for St. Cloud, before his summer was cut short due to injury. Longmire stood out this summer mostly for his athleticism and how well his tools translated to game situations. He had a quick bat and intriguing power potential to the pull side. Though he stole just two bases and isn’t a big threat to steal, he runs well for a player his size and covers good ground in the outfield. “Nick is a Cory Vaughn-type player with room to grow,” said one coach, comparing Longmire to one of the league’s top prospects from a year ago. “The sky’s the limit.” 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
15.   Matt Miller                    RHP     Alexandria Beetles                  R-R    6-6   215     Jr.      Michigan
SCOUTING REPORT: The big, physical and projectable Miller auditioned for a closer role this summer at Alexandria by taking over as Michigan’s closer part way through the 2009 season and going 1-2, 3.70 with 43 strikeouts in 41 innings. He pumped his fastball consistently into the low-90s. He was even more dominant for the Beetles, saving 10 games in 22 appearances, limiting batters to a .184 average and striking out 44 in 28 innings. His fastball peaked at 94, and produced good arm-side run. He also mixed in a quality slider that peaked in the low 80s. However, Miller also walked 16 batters, evidence that he needs to improve his command. Miller’s big frame and big fastball grab your attention, and he should easily work in the low-to-mid-90s as he refines his mechanics. He has a strong, professional pitching frame and attacks hitters with a fearless approach. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
16.   Mike Kvasnicka         OF/C     Brainerd Lunkers                    B-R    6-2   210     Jr.      Minnesota
SCOUTING REPORT: On body type and tools alone, Kvasnicka would rank much closer to the top of this list. He was universally heralded for his athleticism and overall potential, and has good baseball genes as his father Jay, also a University of Minnesota product, was an eighth-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in 1988. The younger Kvasnicka hit .341-10-65 for the Golden Gophers as a sophomore, and profiles as a corner outfielder at the next level. He should be a player with good foot speed, average arm strength and power potential from both sides of the plate. While he was among the league leaders this summer in batting at .314, he hit only two home runs and not everyone was sold on his ability to make the necessary adjustments at the plate to become an offensive force with wood. “He has a good body, but I don’t know if I see the long-range potential,” a Northern Division coach said. “His swing is long with a wood bat, and there are three to four holes, making him pitchable.” A National League scout recognized the same flaws yet still likes his profile for more simple reasons: “He’s a switch-hitter with power and a good swing from both sides. He’s obviously a prospect.” 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
17.   Tim Griffin                   RHP     Mankato Moondogs                B-R    6-1   210     Sr.      Rollins (Fla.)
SCOUTING REPORT: Undrafted in June after producing a 7-3, 3.23 record and 94 strikeouts in 84 innings as a junior at Rollins, Griffin opened some eyes this summer by tossing a no-hitter against St. Cloud in front of a throng of scouts. “He had some command issues early,” said a National League scout in attendance, “but his fastball was 92 with sink, and his breaking pitch developed well during the game.” Despite raising issues about his control and the quality of his secondary offerings, Griffin went 4-2, 1.60 and limited opposing hitters to a .185 average. He also struck out 70 in 67 innings, an acknowledgement to just how difficult it was to not only hit his fastball, but hit it hard. There was some effort to his delivery, and his size, stocky frame and limited repertoire may make a move to the bullpen inevitable. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
18.   Brian Flynn                  LHP     Rochester Honkers                 L-L     6-8   245     So.     Wichita State
SCOUTING REPORT: Scouts expected to see a little more from Flynn, a strapping 6-foot-8 lefty who was an 18^th-round pick of the Boston Red Sox in 2008. He led perennial prep power Owasso (Okla.) High to consecutive state championships during his junior and senior years, and was expected to dominate immediately at the college level, but struggled as a freshman at Wichita State (2-5, 4.98, 56 IP, 26 BB/58 SO) in a swing role and was marginally better this summer (6-2, 4.23, 55 IP, 20 BB/42 SO) as a starter. He was hit around more than he is accustomed to, and got himself into trouble most of the time due to inconsistency. His fastball sat in the 86-90 mph range and touched 92, but he needs to improve his command while also improving the bite on his breaking ball. He has plenty of room to improve, though, and Flynn is a name to keep an eye on for the 2011 draft. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
19.   Alex Schmarzo           RHP     Green Bay Bullfrogs               R-R    6-3   185     Jr.      St. Mary’s
SCOUTING REPORT: Once an acclaimed high-school pitching prospect in California, Schmarzo missed his senior season with an arm injury and has little to show for his first two college seasons at St. Mary’s (one win, three saves). At least one coach, though, thought Schmarzo might have been the very best prospect in the Northwoods League this summer. He recorded eight saves in 31 appearances and allowed only 22 hits and nine walks in 37 innings, leading to a 1.70 ERA. His dominant work in the Green Bay bullpen eventually enabled the Bullfrogs to move his pitching mates Dixon Anderson, the best pitching prospect in the league, and Zach Varce, the league strikeout leader, into starting roles. Schmarzo’s fastball was clocked consistently in the low-90s and topped out around 95, and he also had a plus slider. “He was one of the hardest working, most competitive players in the league,” said one coach, while also offering praise for his power stuff and approach. Schmarzo could be poised for a big leap forward in 2010 after posting a 0-2, 6.53 record in 23 appearances at St. Mary’s last spring. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
20.   Troy Channing         3B/1B     Madison Mallards                    R-R    6-0   215     So.     St. Mary’s
SCOUTING REPORT: Channing had a freshman season that was the equal of any first-year player in the country as he hit .379-20-75, and won the West Coast Conference triple crown. But that was with aluminum, and his performance this summer in the Northwoods League dipped noticeably with wood. He still had some of the best power potential in the league as he drilled seven home runs, but his .247 average supported the assertion that Channing has an aluminum-bat swing. He also struck out 46 times, but continued his patient approach at the plate by walking 33 times. However, his upside is somewhat limited due to the lack of impact tools and a questionable body type. “He has incredible power to center field and the gaps,” said one coach who witnessed Channing blast a home run to straight-away center field in Battle Creek, the league’s biggest park. “He needs to watch his weight and improve his D’. If he could only catch, he would a top guy (in the league).” 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
21.   Brooks Pinckard  OF/RHP     Eau Claire Express                  L-R    6-1   175     So.     Baylor
SCOUTING REPORT: Pinckard has an impressive combination of speed, power and arm strength that play on both sides of the ball. The challenge will be to determine whether he’d be better served pursuing his considerable talent to the fullest as a position player or pitcher. He played regularly for Eau Claire as an outfielder this summer, hitting .286-3-24 with 19 extra-base hits and 18 stolen bases. He also worked in seven games as a pitcher, going 2-0, 0.77 with 11 strikeouts in 12 innings. Though his focus was clearly on playing a position, the consensus among scouts was his upside may be greater on the mound. “(Pinckard) was a legit 95 off the mound,” said one coach who saw him pitch. “He broke a bat versus a bunt. He doesn’t have the cleanest swing, but he can really run and his body will get stronger.” Pinckard took a medical red-shirt as a freshman at Baylor in 2008, but earned all-star honors in his first go-around in the Northwoods League last summer as an outfielder (.298-2-29, 22 SB) , and continued to play mostly as a position player last spring at Baylor, though he hit just .255-1-9 and struck out 31 times in 102 at-bats. Pinckard is capable of running the 60 in 6.4-6.5 seconds so his blazing speed would be wasted as a pitcher, but he can also run his fastball up to 93-95 mph with relatively little effort. He will undoubtedly go both ways in 2010 at Baylor, and may just let scouts sort out which way his talent will play at the professional level. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
22.   Ryan Demmin             LHP     Mankato Moondogs                L-L     6-1   210     Sr.      Wisconsin-Oshkosh
SCOUTING REPORT: Demmin isn’t the flashiest of athletes, but earned the reputation of an innings-eater this summer with his strong lower half and polished overall approach on the mound. He went 5-4, 1.36 with 16 walks and 72 strikeouts in 80 innings for Mankato “(Demmin) is going to give you a quality start every night,” said one coach. Demmin gets batters out using a mid-to-upper 80s fastball and a very sharp slider, one of the best breaking balls in the league. He could be a sleeper as a senior sign next summer. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
23.   Kurtis Muller            OF/2B     Madison Mallards                    R-R    5-10 165     Jr.      Iowa
SCOUTING REPORT: Muller is the type of player who wins over supporters quickly because of the way he plays the game. He’s a fast, gritty hustler that makes the most of his opportunities. “He will have to prove himself daily with the bat, but he has plus speed,” one National League scout said. Muller finished third in the league in batting (.335), fifth in on-base percentage (.409) and stole 19 bases in 24 bases. He was also named the MVP of the league’s all-star game after going 3-for-5 with two stolen bases in the South’s 4-2 win over the North. Muller is a very smart and instinctive player, but his smaller stature means he has a limited upside. He homered three times for Madison, but there isn’t much power in his swing and he’ll need to add as much strength as his 5-foot-10 frame will allow. Though he struck out 39 times in 197 at-bats and will need to put the ball in play more consistently for the type of player he is, he proved he can swing a wood bat, and be a threat at the top of a lineup. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
24.   Erik Johnson              RHP     Alexandria Beetles                  R-R    6-3   220     So.     California
SCOUTING REPORT: Johnson was California’s best recruit and began the 2009 season as the Bears closer, saving four games in that role, before he was moved to the rotation and eventually settled in as his team’s No. 1 starter. He went 3-6, 4.41 with 28 walks and 55 strikeouts in his combined effort. Johnson did nothing but start this summer for Alexandria and produced a solid 4-3, 2.61 record with 27 walks and 49 strikeouts in 59 innings. His stuff, though, drew mixed reviews. Some coaches believed Johnson had one of the best arms in the league while others were less impressed, saying his 90-93 mph fastball and hard curveball were hittable, and opponents did touch him up at a .256 clip. His fastball, though, did show good arm-side run and sinking action, at times, and could be a dominant pitch once it becomes more consistent. But he’ll need to refine his command, and also improve his changeup to give him a solid No. 3 pitch. Though he has a solid build and ideal pro body, scouts say Johnson may need to add more deception to his delivery and/or movement to his pitches to become successful at the next level. But between his size, stuff and the success he enjoyed in the Pac-10 as a freshman, there is enough reason to be excited about his future. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
25.   Rance Roundy              OF     Rochester Honkers                 R-R    6-2   195     Sr.      UNLV
SCOUTING REPORT: A solid all-around player with a pro-style, durable body, Roundy has good, though not great tools across the board. While he hit .313-6-34 and was second in the league with 21 doubles, not all coaches or scouts were sold that his bat will translate well at the next level. In fact, he went undrafted in June after producing a .364-3-32 junior season at UNLV. “He has a good body and can run,” said a National League scout, “but he struggles with the bat.”  
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
26.   Chris Lewis                   OF     Battle Creek Bombers            B-R    6-1   205     Sr.      Western Michigan
SCOUTING REPORT: Lewis earned solid support as the league’s most accomplished hitter. He finished second in batting average (.344), runs (49) and hits (77), while leading the circuit in on-base percentage (.442). He has sound plate discipline, and walked 39 times vs. just 23 strikeouts. Lewis has power from both sides of the plate and impressed at least one coach with his ability to hit a changeup 390 feet to straight-away center field at Battle Creek, the league’s largest ball park. “Lewis is the best hitter, from both sides of the plate,” a coach noted. “Unfortunately he doesn’t have the ideal body and doesn’t do much else.” That largely explains why he went undrafted in June, despite batting a collective .351 the last two years at Western Michigan. It may take a huge senior year at the plate to get someone to give him a shot in next year’s draft.. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
27.   R.J. Hively                   RHP     Battle Creek Bombers            R-R    6-2   205     So.     Cal State Fullerton
SCOUTING REPORT: This was Hively’s second summer in a row serving as Battle Creek’s closer, and he notched 12 saves (second in the league) in 29 appearances, while going 5-5, 3.31 and posting a 13-45 walk-to-strikeout ratio in 33 innings. A year ago, he went 5-4, 1.88 with seven saves. In both seasons, he received similar support as one of the league’s best power arms. Hively has a strong, compact frame and somewhat of a max-effort delivery that makes him tailor-made to serve as a short-inning specialist. He can pound the strike zone with a fastball-slider combo. His fastball sat in the 88-92 mph range and had very good, late life in the zone. His aggressive, fearless approach also made ideal to close. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
28.   Zach Robertson          LHP     Rochester Honkers                 L-L     6-1   195     Sr.      Iowa
SCOUTING REPORT: Few players have enjoyed as much success in the Northwoods League as Robertson, who returned for his third summer and set the all-time league marks for games started and strikeouts. He finished second in punchouts this year (80) after finishing first a year ago, and yet showed improvement by cutting down on his walks (20 in 77 innings). He went 5-3, 2.92 and added two more wins in the playoffs as Rochester captured the league title. Robertson doesn’t blow batters away with his raw stuff, but achieves his success by efficiently mixing up a mid-to-upper 80s fastball, solid curveball and polished changeup. He’s mechanically sound and a strong lower half adds to his durability. His success in the Northwoods League the last two summers was in contrast to his disappointing 2009 season at Iowa, where he went 2-3, 12.90, working both as a starter and in relief. A scout with a National League club who followed Robertson over the spring at Iowa and saw him this summer thinks his approach is better suited to facing wood since he can attack the upper half of the strike zone. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
29.   Sean Yost                    RHP     Duluth Huskies                        R-R    6-7   190     So.     Nebraska
SCOUTING REPORT: Yost is a large, lean righthander who is still growing into his body, but his fastball was clocked up to 95 mph at times this summer as a starter for Duluth. He posted a 2.54 ERA, but his team didn’t give him a lot of run support as he went just 2-6. He also went 2-5 as a freshman at Nebraska, though his ERA for the Cornhuskers was 6.02, so Yost made measurable improvement this summer. He also walked 30 and struck out 53 in 74 innings. With his big fastball and very projectable frame, Yost’s potential is obvious, but his future will come quickly as he will be a draft-eligible sophomore in the spring at Nebraska, and could draw some heavy interest. 
PLAYER                                 POS.     TEAM                                        B-T    HT   WT     YR      2010 SCHOOL  
30.   Nate Melendres             OF     Duluth Huskies                        R-R    5-11 185     So.     Miami (Fla.)
SCOUTING REPORT: Melendres was identified as one of the league’s best-kept secrets by one coach, and his modest production (.272-0-9, 9 SB) kept him below the radar much of the summer in the Northwoods League. But he showed indications that he could become a five-tool talent if his game comes together. His raw tools were among the best in the league, although he has plenty of work to do in all phases. He was originally recruited to play in the infield for Miami, but has since moved to the outfield. He relies mostly on his raw athleticism to make some plays in center field, and yet was so impressive that at least one coach felt he was already the league’s best overall defender. He has the natural ability to make the proper adjustments in all phases of his game moving forward, and may have the most work to do at the plate as he struck out 28 times in 128 at-bats. He also hit just .272-1-20 with 43 strikeouts in 195 at-bats as a freshman at Miami.

Any time now, when you log onto www.northwoodsleague.com, you’ll be seeing a slightly different design as a part of the Northwoods League’s move to pointstreak.com. In addition to an all new statistical tracking service, will be the new website. It’ll have a similar look to the current Northwoods League site that has been in place for over two years.

Former St. Cloud River Bats LHP Tom Gorzelanny has been back up with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He earned a win out of relief earlier this week. The Pirates still see his future as a starter, so when their bullpen gets healthier, Gorzelanny is expected to return to the minor leagues and continue working as a starter.

In the latest edition of “Baseball America” three former Northwoods League players were predicted to be drafted in the first round of this June’s Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. All three of the players spent the summer of 2007 in the Northwoods League. Former St. Cloud River Bats’ OF Tim Wheeler (Sacramento State) is slotted to go 15th to Cleveland. Former La Crosse Loggers’ OF Brett Jackson (California) is projected to go 29th to the Yankees. With the next pick, “BA” has the Rays eyeing former Battle Creek Bombers’ C Tony Sanchez (Boston College). Any of the three would be the first position player to be a first round pick after having played in the Northwoods League.

Rick Reilly tells the story of former Wisconsin Woodchucks switch-pitcher (yes, switch-pitcher) Pat Venditte in his latest “Life of Reilly” article on ESPN.com. Venditte was a Northwoods League All-Star for the ‘Chucks in 2007 and has continued his switch-pitching excellence now in his second year of minor league ball with the New York Yankees.

Read the article here.

The two highest Northwoods League draft picks to have advanced to the Major Leagues squared off head to head last night at Dodger Stadium. Jeff Weaver (Dubuque, ‘95) made his first big league start since September 28, 2007 and made it against Max Scherzer (La Crosse, ‘04) who continued the search for his first big league win. Weaver was the 14th overall draft pick in 1998 while Scherzer went 11th overall in 2006.

The veteran Weaver got the better of Scherzer on Tuesday in a 3-1 Dodger victory over the Diamondbacks. Weaver pitched five innings allowing five hits, one run, and striking out six to earn his 94th career victory. Scherzer went six innings, allowing three runs on four hits while striking out four to drop to 0-3 on the season and 0-7 in his brief career. Still Scherzer maintains a 3.16 career ERA despite the unbalanced career record.

Weaver had made one relief appearance since being called up from Triple-A.

Transactions

Angels pitcher Fernando Rodriguez (Duluth, ‘03) has been sent down since making his Major League debut on Saturday.

A few former Northwoods League players that started the season in the minor leagues have been recalled to the big leagues early in the 2009 season.

The Oakland A’s called up infielder Jack Hannahan (Mankato, ‘99) prior to Friday’s game against Tampa Bay to serve as a reserve infielder. He was the team’s regular third baseman for most of the last year and a half while Eric Chavez battled injuries. In his only at-bat of the game on Friday, Hannahan homered against another former Northwood Leaguer, Rays pitcher Joe Nelson (Kenosha, ‘95). Hannahan was hitting just .157 in 13 games at Triple-A Sacramento before his recall.

The Chicago White Sox called up right-handed pitcher Lance Broadway (Wisconsin, ‘04) to take a spot in the bullpen. The former first-round pick was 0-2 with a 5.63 ERA in three starts at Triple-A Charlotte. In 16 innings he had struck out 15 and walked only four.

Jordan Zimmermann picked up a win in his first Major League start on Monday for the Washington Nationals. He threw six innings and allowed two runs against Atlanta. The Nats scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to put the team in front for good to allow Zimmermann to factor into the decision. He starts at New York against the Mets’ Oliver Perez on Sunday.

Jason Jaramillo of the Pirates will be seeing a lot more action suddenly. After a start to the season that seemed to indicate that he wouldn’t play more than once a week as Pittsburgh’s backup catcher, Jaramillo is now the team’s number one catcher. Starter Ryan Doumit will miss at least seven more weeks due to a wrist injury so Jaramillo will have plenty of time to show if he has what it takes to be a starting catcher in the big leagues.

Chris Jakubauskas of the Mariners will get his third start of the season on Monday against John Danks of the White Sox. Jakubasukas is 0-2 in his first two starts in his current fill-in roll as the team’s 5th starter. Because he’s a 30-year old rookie, there might be more pressure on him to succeed now. Because of his age, it’s unlikely that he’s going to get many, if any, more opportunities like this.

Right fielder Andre Ethier of the Dodgers is off to a great start to the season and is currently tied for fourth in baseball with 17 RBI. He’s batting .298 and also has five home runs so far.

After a slow start, Tigers’ centerfielder Curtis Granderson has turned on his productions. He’s in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak and batting .281 with five homers and 10 RBI.

Diamondbacks right-hander Max Scherzer is still looking for his first Major League win. He’s pitched five innings in both of his starts this year and is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA. He’ll try again Saturday against Randy Johnson of the Giants, who he lost to on Sunday.

Chris Jakubauskas will get the spot start tonight for the Seattle Mariners against the Los Angeles Angeles. He’ll start in place of Ryan Rowland-Smith who was recently placed on the disabled list. Jakubauskas, who is 1-0 in two relief appearances, will be making his first Major League start.

Jason Jaramillo has yet to get into a game for the Pirates. Pittsburgh’s backup catcher is waiting patiently as starter Ryan Doumit plays everyday. The game that Jaramillo was going to debut in was rained out last Saturday.

Rain also pushed back the debut of Washington Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann. His scheduled start for Sunday was pushed back one day due to the rainout between the Nationals and Phillies on Wednesday. He’ll start Monday against the Braves.

Opening Day is here for Major League Baseball! A total of 19 Northwoods League alumni have made an opening day roster, although three of those players are currently on the disabled list. One player whose opening day fate wasn’t announced until yesterday afternoon was LHP Daniel Herrera (La Crosse, ‘05) of the Reds who earned a spot on the 25-man active roster as a relief pitcher.

The 19 NWL alumni are listed below. Keep in mind that Washington Nationals RHP Jordan Zimmermann (Eau Claire, ‘06) will push the number to 20 when he’s called up prior to his first start on April 19th as the team’s 5th starter.

Arizona Diamondbacks RHP Max Scherzer (La Crosse, ‘04) 15-Day DL
Baltimore Orioles LHP George Sherrill (Kenosha, ‘97-98)
Cincinnati Reds LHP Daniel Herrera (La Crosse, ‘05)
Colorado Rockies 2B Clint Barmes (Kenosha/Waterloo, ‘98/99)
Colorado Rockies OF Ryan Spilborghs (Madison, ‘01)
Detroit Tigers OF Curtis Granderson (Mankato, ‘01)
Los Angeles Angels 3B Robb Quinlan (Dubuque/St. Cloud, ‘96/98)
Los Angeles Dodgers OF Andre Ethier (Rochester, ‘02)
Los Angeles Dodgers OF Juan Pierre (Manitowoc, ‘96)
Milwaukee Brewers 3B Casey McGehee (St. Cloud, ‘01)
Minnesota Twins LHP Pat Neshek (Wisconsin, ‘00) 60-Day DL
Pittsburg Pirates C Jason Jaramillo (St. Cloud, ‘02)
San Diego Padres C Nick Hundley (Alexandria, ‘04)
Seattle Mariners RHP Chris Jakubauskas (St. Cloud, ‘99)
Seattle Mariners RHP Mark Lowe (Wisconsin, ‘02-03)
Tampa Bay Rays RHP Joe Nelson (Kenosha, ‘95)
Tampa Bay Rays OF Ben Zobrist (Wisconsin, ‘03)
Toronto Blue Jays RHP Casey Janssen (Wisconsin, ‘01) 15-Day DL
Washington Nationals OF Josh Willingham (Austin, ‘98-99)

Jaramillo and Jakubauskas will be making their Major League debut in their first appearance becoming the 51st and 52nd Northwoods League alumni to do so. Zimmermann will then become the 53rd.

Here are some of the final roster moves involving NWL alumni coming in this weekend.

RHP Chris Jakubauskas (St. Cloud, ‘99) has earned an opening-day roster spot with the Seattle Mariners and will begin the season in the bullpen. Much of his success in spring training came as a starter so he’d likely be a candidate to fill in should a spot open in the Mariners starting rotation.

Los Angeles Dodgers RHP Jeff Weaver (Dubuque, ‘95) did not make the opening day roster even though just a few days ago it was expected that he would. Instead he was reassigned to minor league camp. He’ll either have to accept the assignment or become a free agent.

The Oakland A’s optioned 3B Jack Hannahan (Mankato, ‘99) to Triple-A. With a healthy Eric Chavez and newly acquired Nomar Garciaparra on the roster there was no longer a spot for Hannahan who was the everyday third baseman for the A’s in 2008.

Los Angeles Angels RHP Fernando Rodriguez (Duluth, ‘03) has been reassigned to minor league camp after performing very well this spring.

Brief but good news to report today. Pittsburgh Pirates C Jason Jaramillo (St. Cloud, ‘02) has earned the backup catching job behind Ryan Doumit. This opportunity will allow Jaramillo to make his Major League debut next week.

The switch-hitting Jaramillo is in his first year with the Pirates after being traded from the in state rival Phillies in December for catcher Ronny Paulino.

Jaramillo hit .179 in 39 at-bats this spring.