Mankato MoonDogs

The Mankato MoonDogs are an amateur baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. Their home games are played at ISG Field in Mankato, Minnesota.[1] The MoonDogs have been active in the Mankato community with frequent player and mascot appearances at local events and through the MoonDogs Fit Program.

Mankato MoonDogs
Information
LeagueNorthwoods League (Great Plains West, 2019-present)
(North Division, 1999-2018)
LocationMankato, Minnesota
BallparkISG Field (1999–present)
Division championships3 (2011, 2012, 2014)
Former name(s)Mankato Mashers (1999–2001)
ColorsBlack, Orange, White
     
OwnershipChad Surprenant and Kyle Smith
ManagementBen Kapanke (Vice President)
Walker Regier (Assistant General Manager)
ManagerMatt Wollenzin, Bethany Lutheran College
General ManagerTyler Kuch
PresidentChris Goodell
Websitewww.mankatomoondogs.com

History

The team started play in 1999 as the Mankato Mashers and were renamed in 2002 when the franchise was acquired by Joe Schwei.[2][3] The Moondogs were again sold in January 2013 to Mark Ogren.[4] The current ownership group of Chad Superenant and Kyle Smith took over the club in 2018.[5]

From 2008 to 2018 the MoonDogs made the playoffs eight of eleven season, making it to the NWL Summer Collegiate World Series on three occasions. In 2014 the MoonDogs were defeated by the Lakeshore Chinooks in a two-game series sweep.[6]

Season-by-season
Season W L Result Playoffs
1999 28 34
2000 27 37
2001 36 28
2002 33 31
2003 27 37
2004 21 43
2005 34 34
2006 32 35
2007 35 32
2008 41 27
2009 39 29 2nd of 7 Lost division finals vs Rochester Honkers
2010 29 41 8th of 8 DNQ
2011 42 28 2nd of 8 Won division finals vs Alexandria Beetles

Lost finals vs Battle Creek Bombers

2012 42 27 1st of 8 Won division finals vs Willmar Stingers

Lost finals vs La Crosse Loggers

2013 38 32 4th of 8 DNQ
2014 42 30 3rd of 10 Won division finals vs Willmar Stingers

Lost finals vs Lakeshore Chinooks

2015 33 39 6th of 9 DNQ
2016 46 26 2nd of 9 Lost division semifinals vs Willmar Stingers
2017 44 28 1st of 10 Won division semifinals vs Eau Claire Express

Lost division finals vs St. Cloud Rox

2018 46 26 3rd of 10 Lost division semifinals vs Willmar Stingers
2019 36 36 4th of 5 DNQ
2020 17 25 4th of 5 DNQ
2021 44 24 2nd of 5 Lost sub-division series vs St. Cloud Rox
2022 40 28 3rd of 5 DNQ

Notable alumni (played in MLB)
Name MLB team Mankato team Mankato year
Jack Hannahan Cincinnati Reds Mashers 1999
Paul McAnulty Los Angeles Angels Mashers 2001
Curtis Granderson New York Mets Mashers 2001
Neil Wagner Toronto Blue Jays MoonDogs 2004
Cole De Vries Minnesota Twins MoonDogs 2004
Brandon Crawford San Francisco Giants MoonDogs 2005
Cody Decker San Diego Padres MoonDogs 2006
Sean Halton Milwaukee Brewers MoonDogs 2006
Erik Hamren San Diego Padres MoonDogs 2008
John Brebbia San Francisco Giants Moondogs 2009
Jake Petricka Chicago White Sox MoonDogs 2009
Nick Goody Cleveland Indians MoonDogs 2011

MoonDogs in the Minor Leagues
Name Current Team Professional Organization Years
Tim Smith Mississippi Braves Atlanta Braves (AA) 2006
Nate Hanson Rochester Red Wings Minnesota Twins (AAA) 2006–2008
Adam Abraham Akron RubberDucks Cleveland Indians (AA) 2007
Sean Nicol Harrisburg Senators Washington Nationals (AA) 2008
Carlos Ramirez Salt Lake Bees Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (AAA) 2008
Jimmy Reyes Round Rock Express Texas Rangers (AAA) 2008
Mike Kvasnicka New Britain Rock Cats Minnesota Twins (AA) 2008–2009
Kyle Knudson New Britain Rock Cats Minnesota Twins (AA) 2008–2009
Brenden Webb Frederick Keys Baltimore Orioles (A+) 2009
Lance Ray New Britain Rock Cats Minnesota Twins (AA) 2009
Jimmy Patterson Durham Bulls Tampa Bay Rays (AAA) 2009
Matt Swynenberg Syracuse Chiefs Washington Nationals (AAA) 2009
Xorge Carrillo Binghamton Mets New York Mets (AA) 2009
Taylor Black Boise Hawks Colorado Rockies (A) 2009
Alex Burgos Jupiter Hammerheads Miami Marlins (A+) 2009–2010
Jeremy Rodriguez Lake Elsinore Storm San Diego Padres (A+) 2010
Eric Wooten Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders New York Yankees (AAA) 2011
Zach Borenstein Reno Aces Arizona Diamondbacks (AAA) 2011
Nick Goody Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders New York Yankees (AAA) 2011
Sam Selman Northwest Arkansas Naturals Kansas City Royals (AA) 2011
Logan Taylor St. Lucie Mets New York Mets (A+) 2011
Alex Glenn Mobile BayBears Arizona Diamondbacks (AA) 2011
Blake Schwartz Potomac Nationals Washington Nationals (A+) 2011
Jordan Remer Billings Mustangs Cincinnati Reds (rookie) 2011
James Stokes Mahoning Valley Scrappers Cleveland Indians (A) 2011
Sam Eberle Salem-Keizer Volcanoes San Francisco Giants (A) 2011
Bryan Haar Fort Myers Miracle Minnesota Twins (A+) 2011
Joe Loftus Hillsboro Hops Arizona Diamondbacks (A) 2011
Blair Moore Arizona League White Sox Chicago White Sox (rookie) 2011–2012
Jorge Flores New Hampshire Fisher Cats Toronto Blue Jays (AA) 2012
John Walter Wilmington Blue Rocks Kansas City Royals (A+) 2012
Kyle McGrath Fort Wayne TinCaps San Diego Padres (A) 2012
Matt Borens Staten Island Yankees New York Yankees (A) 2012
Drew Stankiewicz Lakewood BlueClaws Philadelphia Phillies (A) 2012
Trevor Belicek Danville Braves Atlanta Braves (rookie) 2012
Austin Afenir Pulaski Yankees New York Yankees (rookie) 2012
Trever Allen Burlington Bees Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (A) 2012
Chase Simpson West Virginia Power Pittsburgh Pirates (A) 2012–2013
Sam Clay Cedar Rapids Kernels Minnesota Twins (A) 2013
Zack Zehner Staten Island Yankees New York Yankees (A) 2013
Tim Arakawa Burlington Bees Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (A) 2013
Jon Perrin Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Milwaukee Brewers (A) 2013
Quinnton Mack Kane County Cougars Arizona Diamondbacks (A) 2013
Bryan Bonnell Princeton Rays Tampa Bay Rays (rookie) 2013
Brock Dykxhoorn Quad Cities River Bandits Houston Astros (A) 2013–2014
Jake Yacinich Burlington Bees Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (A) 2014
Trevor Lubking AZL Brewers Milwaukee Brewers (rookie) 2014
Tyler Mark Hillsboro Hops Arizona Diamondbacks (A) 2014
Tyler Sullivan Arizona League White Sox Chicago White Sox (rookie) 2014
James McMahon Grand Junction Rockies Colorado Rockies (rookie) 2014
Levi Scott GCL Blue Jays Toronto Blue Jays (rookie) 2014

Staff

The team's General Manager, Tyler Kuch, is a native of Mankato, Minnesota, Walker Regier, the team's Assistant General Manager is from Southern Minnesota, he previously interned for the Willmar Stingers, another Northwoods League team.

The MoonDogs also have summer internships available for students looking for possible careers in sports. The positions include Media Relations, Promotions/Community Relations, Marketing, Sales, and Camera / Video Operations.

Muttnik

Listed at 6'3" and 210 lbs, the MoonDogs mascot throws and bats right pawed.[7] Muttnik can be seen mingling with the crowd during games or at various community events throughout the year.

References
  1. Christensen, Joe (August 2, 2018). "Out of the backwoods: Northwoods League no longer a sleepy little summer outpost". Star Tribune.
  2. McKenna, Tim (June 4, 1999). "Mankato welcomes its Northwoods team". Post-Bulletin.
  3. Millea, John (July 27, 2004). "Fielding big dreams". Star Tribune.
  4. Reichard, Kevin (January 10, 2013). "Mankato Moondogs sold". Ballpark Digest. August Publications.
  5. Courrier, Chad (January 11, 2018). "New ownership, logo creates MoonDogs fever". The Free Press.
  6. Wellens, Matt (August 19, 2014). "Morgan's 'special' summer ends with Northwoods League title". Duluth News Tribune.
  7. "Muttnik - Mankato MoonDogs". Mankato MoonDogs. Retrieved April 21, 2015.
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