NORTHWOODS LEAGUE
TOP 25 PROSPECTS, 2008

Compiled by Patrick Ebert
In Association with League Managers and Scouts

Official League Website: www.northwoodsleague.com

Of all the nation’s summer college leagues, the Northwoods League most closely assimilates a minor-league atmosphere for its players.

From the length of the season schedule (68 games, 12 more than any other league), to the rigorous travel involved, to the way clubs are operated, to even the baseballs that are used, no league prepares college players for what lies ahead of them better than the sprawling 14-team league. The playoff structure is even similar to most minor leagues, with the first- and second-half winners in each division (North and South) advancing to post-season play.

The Thunder Bay (Ontario) Border Cats, the lone Canadian team in the league, were one of three teams to finish with identical 41-27 records overall, but took the NWL crown by winning the second-half North Division title, and then beating Mankato and Madison in post-season play.

In recent years, many of the top prospects in the Northwoods League were players coming off of their freshman years in college, with a few high school graduates sprinkled in. In 2007, the most notable of the prep products in the league were rising University of San Diego freshmen Kyle Blair and Victor Sanchez. Both players, potential first-round draft picks in 2010, moved on the Cape Cod League this summer. Though the Northwoods League generally ranks No. 2 among all the nation’s summer college leagues from a talent standpoint, it continues to lose many of its best prospects in succeeding years to the more established Cape.

An exception may have occurred this summer, though, as the league’s top prospect was rising junior outfielder Aaron Senne (Missouri), a Rochester, Minn., native who spent the first half of the summer competing for a spot on Team USA’s national collegiate team before deciding to play for his hometown team, the Rochester Honkers, when he failed to survive Team USA’s final cut.

The league had three notable high school players that were drafted in June—Andy Burns (Rockies, 25th round), Brian Humphries (Red Sox, 19th round) and Ryan O’Sullivan (Giants, 10th round)—but opted not to sign. Burns is attending college at Kentucky, Humphries at Pepperdine and O’Sullivan at San Diego State.

FAST FACTS
Year League Established: 1994.
States Represented in League: Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario (Canada).
Level of Competition (1-to-4 Scale): 2.
No. of Teams in League: 14.
Regular-Season Champion (best record overall): Thunder Bay Border Cats.
Post-Season Champion: Thunder Bay Border Cats.
Teams, PG Crosschecker Summer 16/Final Ranking: No. 14 Thunder Bay Border Cats; No. 23 Mankato MoonDogs; No. 24 Wisconsin Woodchucks.
No. 1 Prospect, 2007 (per PG Crosschecker): Eric Thames, of, La Crosse Loggers (Pepperdine; Blue Jays ’08, seventh round).
First 2007 Player Selected, 2008 Draft: Brad Holt, rhp, La Crosse Loggers (UNC Wilmington; Mets, supplemental first round).

Most Valuable Player: Carlos Ramirez, c, Mankato MoonDogs.
Most Outstanding Pitcher: None selected.
Top Prospect (as selected by league): None selected.

BATTING LEADERS
Batting Average: Rob Lyerly, of, Madison Mallards (.342).
Slugging Percentage: Carlos Ramirez, c, Mankato MoonDogs (.560).
On-Base Average: Tim Jobe, 1b, Duluth Huskies (.445).
Home Runs: Carlos Ramirez, c, Mankato MoonDogs; Joey Register, of, Waterloo Bucks (10).
RBIs: Eric Stephens, 1b-of, Rochester Honkers (50).
Stolen Bases: Ryan Lee, of, Eau Claire Express (30).

PITCHING LEADERS 
Wins: Ryan Sheldon, rhp, St. Cloud River Bats; Rob Currie, rhp, Wisconsin Woodchucks (8).
ERA: Dan Zehr, lhp, Thunder Bay Border Cats (1.15).
Saves: Jimmy Stanley, rhp, Thunder Bay Border Cats (15).
Strikeouts: Zach Robertson, lhp, Rochester Honkers (97).
Opponent Batting Average: Cole Green, rhp, La Crosse Loggers (.173).

BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter: Derek McCallum, 2b, St. Cloud River Bats.
Best Power: Aaron Senne, of, Rochester Honkers.
Fastest Base Runner: Josh Prince, ss, Green Bay Bullfrogs.
Best Defensive Player: Moises Montero, c, Duluth Huskies.
Best Velocity: James Jones, lhp, Waterloo Bucks.
Best Breaking Ball: Xavier Esquivel, rhp, St. Cloud River Bats.

TOP 25 PROSPECTS

  PLAYER POS. TEAM B-T HT WT YR 2009 SCHOOL
1. Aaron Senne OF Rochester Honkers L-L 6-3 195 Jr. Missouri
SCOUTING REPORT: Senne had a strong sophomore season at Missouri, hitting .347-13-67 and leading the nationally-ranked Tigers in average and RBIs. He began his summer with Team USA, but returned to the Honkers for a second year after he was cut from the national collegiate team. Senne, a product of Rochester’s Mayo High and a 13th-round draft pick of the home-state Twins in 2006, rejoined Rochester just before the Northwoods League all-star break, and as a result didn’t get as much exposure as some of the league’s other top prospects. But one manager, who didn’t see Senne this summer but saw him a year ago, admitted he didn’t need to in naming him the league’s top prospect, quickly noting that “he was the most polished player in the league.” While Senne hit only .226 and didn’t homer in 94 at-bats, many believe that it is only a matter of time before he finds a comfort level swinging a wood bat and the home runs will come. Though he hit only .230 in the league in 2007, his raw power was more in evidence as he tied for the league lead in home runs with nine. With long, strong limbs and a graceful stride in center field, Senne looks like a big leaguer. He has drawn comparisons to ex-big leaguer Paul O’Neill both for his body type and lefthanded swing. He’s going to have to shorten up his swing and learn to lay off breaking stuff away, however, if he aspires to be anywhere near the hitter that O’Neill was. Senne has a strong arm and some speed, giving him solid tools across the board. He had a very strong 2008 season at Missouri and is poised for an even bigger year as a junior. As a lefthanded-hitting center fielder, he could very well find himself selected in the top two to three rounds of next year’s draft.
 


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