Mankato MoonDogs

Mankato MoonDogs
Logo
Information
League	Northwoods League  (Great Plains West, 2019-present) (North Division, 1999-2018)
Location	Mankato, Minnesota
Ballpark	ISG Field (1999–present)
Division championships	3 (2011, 2012, 2014)
Former name(s)	Mankato Mashers (1999–2001)
Colors	Black, Orange, White
Ownership	Chad Surprenant and Kyle Smith
Management	Ben Kapanke (Vice President)
President	Chris Goodell
General manager	Walker Regier
Manager	Danny Kneeland, Bethany Lutheran College
Website	www.mankatomoondogs.com

The Mankato MoonDogs are an American 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] Several former Mankato players have gone on to play in Major League Baseball, including Curtis Granderson, Brandon Crawford, Alex Vesia, and Jacob Wilson. ^[2]

History

The team started play in 1999 as the Mankato Mashers and were renamed in 2002 when the franchise was acquired by Joe Schwei. ^{[3] [4]} The Moondogs were again sold in January 2013 to Mark Ogren. ^[5] The current ownership group of Chad Superenant and Kyle Smith took over the club in 2018. ^[6]

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. ^[7]

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
2023	38	30	3rd of 5	DNQ
2024	38	32	3rd of 5	DNQ
2025	38	32	3rd of 5	Won sub-division series vs St. Cloud Rox Lost division finals vs Duluth Huskies

Notable alumni (played in MLB)

Name	MLB debut team	Mankato year(s)	MLB accolades
Jack Hannahan	Detroit Tigers	1999
Paul McAnulty	San Diego Padres	2001
Curtis Granderson	Detroit Tigers	2001	All-Star (3x), Silver Slugger, Roberto Clemente Award
Tommy Everidge	Oakland Athletics	2002
Neil Wagner	Oakland Athletics	2004/2005
Cole De Vries	Minnesota Twins	2004
Brandon Crawford	San Francisco Giants	2005	All-Star (3x), Silver Slugger, Gold Glove (4x), WS Champion (2x)
Tyson Brummett	Philadelphia Phillies	2005/2006
Cody Decker	San Diego Padres	2007
Sean Halton	Milwaukee Brewers	2006
Erik Hamren	San Diego Padres	2008
John Brebbia	St. Louis Cardinals	2009
Jake Petricka	Chicago White Sox	2009
Tyler Naquin	Cleveland Indians	2010	AL Rookie of the Month (2x)
Sam Selman	San Francisco Giants	2010/2011
Nick Goody	New York Yankees	2011
Kyle McGrath	San Diego Padres	2012
Sam Clay	Washington Nationals	2013
Alex Vesia	Miami Marlins	2016	World Series Champion
Joey Gerber	Seattle Mariners	2017
Ryan Kreidler	Detroit Tigers	2017
Garrett Mitchell	Milwaukee Brewers	2018
Brandon Pfaadt	Arizona Diamondbacks	2018
Andre Granillo	St. Louis Cardinals	2020
Jacob Wilson	Oakland Athletics	2021	All-Star, AL Rookie of the Month

Staff

The team's General Manager, Walker Regier, 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. ^[8] 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. "Northwoods League Alumni in Major League Baseball" (PDF). northwoodsleague.com.
3. McKenna, Tim (June 4, 1999). "Mankato welcomes its Northwoods team". Post-Bulletin .
4. Millea, John (July 27, 2004). "Fielding big dreams". Star Tribune .
5. Reichard, Kevin (January 10, 2013). "Mankato Moondogs sold". Ballpark Digest. August Publications.
6. Courrier, Chad (January 11, 2018). "New ownership, logo creates MoonDogs fever". The Free Press .
7. Wellens, Matt (August 19, 2014). "Morgan's 'special' summer ends with Northwoods League title". Duluth News Tribune .
8. "Muttnik - Mankato MoonDogs". Mankato MoonDogs. Retrieved April 21, 2015.

External links

• Mankato MoonDogs official site