Six Gophers Selected for MLB Dreams Showcase

Rochester, Minn. -- The Northwoods League has announced the rosters for the 2022 Major League Dreams Showcase, which includes six current Minnesota Golden Gophers. The six players are the most of any collegiate team represented at the Showcase.

Brett Bateman (So., OF), Brady Counsell (Fr., INF), George Klassen (RFr., RHP), Boston Merila (So., Utility), Tucker Novotny (Fr., LHP) and Will Semb (So., RHP) were the Minnesota athletes selected.

The annual Showcase, which will be hosted by the La Crosse Loggers, will consist of a double-header featuring the top players from the Northwoods League who were selected by a panel of Major League Baseball Scouts.  The players will participate in a day of workouts in front of scouts which will be followed by the double-header at Copeland Park on Tuesday, August 2.

The first game will start at 4:00 p.m. and will match two teams featuring a mix of players from the Great Plains and Great Lakes Divisions. The players on the visiting team in this game will primarily come from Battle Creek, Duluth, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, Waterloo, and Minnesota. The home team will be made up of players mainly from Fond du Lac, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Rockford, and St. Cloud. Marcus Pointer of the Duluth Huskies will skipper the visiting team while Dale Varsho of the Eau Claire Express will manage the home team.

The second game will again be played by two teams of Great Lakes and Great Plains players. The visiting team for this game will be made up of players mostly from Willmar, Lakeshore, Kokomo, Kenosha, and Bismarck. The home team will have players from La Crosse, Madison, Mankato, Rochester, Wausau, and Wisconsin Rapids. Freddy Smith of the Willmar Stingers will be the Field Manager for the visiting team. Mallards Field Manager and former MLB catcher Donnie Scott will be in the dugout for the home team.

Proceeds from the Major League Dreams Showcase will benefit the Northwoods League Foundation.  The Northwoods League Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that serves as a vehicle to transform a shared passion for baseball into positive change and support for communities. Of the many needs the foundation may address through grants, scholarships or donations, one ongoing focus will be to view its member communities and look upon the baseball programs they have in place with a harmonious goal of making them all finer places to live.

Tickets for the event are still available and can be purchased at loggersbaseball.com.