Jacks Notebook: 70 Northwoods League players chosen in MLB Draft

BATTLE CREEK - College baseball players come to Battle Creek to play for the Battle Jacks for a chance to be seen by scouts in the summer time.

The same is true throughout the summer collegiate organization called the Northwoods League.

Proving all those innings under the hot sun in small towns across the Midwest is worth it came in the form of the 70 former Northwoods League players that were chosen in the recent 2024 Major League Baseball Draft.

The 2024 Major League First-Year Player Draft was held July 14-16. This year’s draft was 20 rounds with 70 Northwoods League players selected.

The highest Northwoods League alum picked in this year’s draft was Charlie Condon, a junior outfielder from the University of Georgia. Condon was picked in the first round by the Colorado Rockies with the third overall pick. Condon played for the St. Cloud Rox in 2022. His selection was the highest pick ever by a former Northwoods League player.

The Northwoods League had three first round picks overall. J.J. Wetherholt, an alum of the Madison Mallards from 2022, was selected seventh overall by the St. Louis Cardinals and former Kalamazoo Growlers shortstop Griff O’Ferrall was selected 32nd overall by the Baltimore Orioles.

One former Battle Creek Battle Jacks player was selected in Jake Jekielek, taken in the 10th round by the Texas Rangers. Jekielek, who played at Northwood University, was on the roster for the Battle Jacks in 2023.

All-Star Break

The 2024 Northwoods League All-Star Game will be played on Tuesday at 8:05 p.m. at ISG Field in Mankato, Minnesota. Alex Fernandes, Mason Hamlin and Adrian Rubio were named as Northwoods League All-Stars as representatives of the Battle Creek Battle Jacks.

Part of the All-Star Game festivities will be a Home Run Challenge and a featured Northwoods League softball game between the La Crosse Steam and the Mankato Habaneros to promote the league's first-year venture into softball.

The All-Star Game break will be Monday-Wednesday this week. Battle Creek were 7-12 in the second half, prior to Sunday's game heading into the All-Star break. After a good first half, the Jacks have also slipped under .500 for the season at 26-29 heading in Sunday. The Battle Jacks return for a home game Thursday against Kenosha.

Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.