Official League Website: www.northwoodsleague.com
2016 Summer Collegiate Top Prospect Index
Northwoods League Top Prospect List (40)
In the seventh year of existence the Wisconsin Rapids Rafter swept the Eau Claire Express in a pair of games to claim the 2016 Northwoods League championship. The Rafters beat their other two playoff opponents, the Lakeshore Chinooks and the Battle Creek Bombers, to advance. Wisconsin Rapids had won both the first and second half in the South Division and completed the regular season with the best overall record, finishing second in the league in team batting (.282) and third in ERA (3.41).
Connor Kopach’s 50 stolen bases set a new single-season record, Danny Pardo’s 75 runs scored were the second most in a single NWL season and Steele Walker’s .406 batting average was the third-best in league history.
For the third consecutive year the Northwoods League – which has the most teams and plays the longest summer season – drew over one million fans. The league will expand by two more teams in 2017, adding Bismarck (N.D.) and Fond du Lac (Wis.) to the North and South divisions respectively.
Year Established: 1994
States Represented: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ontario, Wisconsin
No. of Teams: 18
Regular Season Champion (best overall record): Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, 49-23
Post Season Champion: Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
No. 1 Prospect, 2015: Alex Hermeling, rhp, Battle Creek (SIGNED/Dodgers)
First 2015 Player Selected, 2016 Draft: Griffin Jax, rhp, Eau Claire (Air Force; Twins/3rd round)
Player of the Year: Jake Shepski, of, Mankato (Notre Dame)
Pitcher of the Year: Marshall Kasowski, rhp, Lakeshore (Houston)
BATTING LEADERS
Batting Average: Steele Walker, of, Wisconsin (Oklahoma) (.406)
Slugging Percentage: Griffin Conine, of, La Crosse (Duke) (.592)
On-Base Average: Danny Pardo, of, Willmar (Montevallo) (.485)
Home Runs: Griffin Conine, of, La Crosse (Duke) (16)
RBI: Greg Lambert, 1b, Willmar (Southern Illinois) (66)
Stolen Bases: Connor Kopach, ss, Kalamazoo (Southern Illinois) (50)
PITCHING LEADERS
Wins: Scott Parker, lhp, Wisconsin (San Francisco); Caleb Boushley, rhp, Eau Claire (Wisconsin-La Crosse) (8)
ERA: Luke Lind, rhp, Green Bay (North Dakota State) (1.51)
Saves: Garrett Schilling, rhp, Wisconsin Rapids (Xavier) (18)
Strikeouts: Marshall Kasowski, rhp, Lakeshore (Houston) (87)
BEST TOOLS
Best Athlete: T.J. Friedl, of, St. Cloud (SIGNED/Reds)
Best Hitter: Steele Walker, of, Wisconsin (Oklahoma)
Best Power: Griffin Conine, of, La Crosse (Duke)
Fastest Base Runner: T.J. Friedl, of, St. Cloud (SIGNED/Reds)
Best Defensive Player: T.J. Friedl, of, St. Cloud (SIGNED/Reds)
Best Velocity: Luke Shilling, rhp, Madison (Illinois)
Best Breaking Ball: Luke Shilling, rhp, Madison (Illinois)
Best Command: Garrett Schilling, rhp, Wisconsin Rapids (Xavier)
TOP 20 PROSPECTS
1. Keenan Bartlett, rhp, Lakeshore (Richmond/JR in 2017)
Bartlett began his career at Richmond as a two-way talent, getting more opportunities to contribute with a bat in his hand (55 at-bats) than he did on the mound (16.2 innings). That changed last year, receiving only 36 at-bats (although he did hit .306) while seeing his innings increase to 63 in a swing role. He added 56 more innings this summer, mostly as a starter, and routinely sat in the 93-96 mph range with an electric right arm. He also throws a pretty good slider in the low-80s and a playable changeup that is still developing. While he’s only 6-feet-tall, he is an athletic 175-pounds with room for added strength which could be good news as he continues to gain experience on the mound.
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