{{Short description|Collegiate summer baseball team in Wisconsin}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox baseball team | name = Wausau Woodchucks | logo = WausauWoodchucks.png | league = Northwoods League (1994-present) | division = Great Lakes Conference-West Division: 2019-present)<br />(South Division: 1998-2018 | location = Wausau, Wisconsin | stadium = Athletic Park | founded = 1994 | league_champs = {{hlist|2001|2003}} | series = Division | series_champs = {{hlist|2001|2003}} | former_names = Wisconsin Woodchucks (1999–2021)<br />Wausau Woodchucks (1994–1998) | former_leagues = | former_ballparks = | colors = Navy, light blue, light green, brown, white<ref name="trucolor">{{cite web |title=Northwoods League Official Colors (1994 through present) |url=https://www.trucolor.net/portfolio/northwoods-league-official-colors-1994-through-present/ |website=TruColor.net |access-date=12 October 2025}}</ref><br />{{Color box|#0C2340}} {{Color box| #00A9E0}} {{Color box|#84BD00}} {{Color box|#A7662B}} {{Color box|white}} | owner = Mark Macdonald | management = Ryan Treu (GM) | manager = | media = [https://www.wausaudailyherald.com/ Wausau Daily Herald] | website = [http://www.woodchucks.com/ woodchucks.com] }} The '''Wausau Woodchucks''' are an American baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. They play their home games at Athletic Park in Wausau, Wisconsin. [[File:Wausau Athletic Park baseball field.jpg|thumb|right|Athletic Park baseball field]] ==History== The Woodchucks began play in 1994 as one of the five original franchises in the Northwoods League, along with the Rochester Honkers, Manitowoc Skunks, Kenosha Kroakers, and Dubuque Mud Puppies. Only the Woodchucks and Honkers continue to play in their original cities to this day.
The Woodchucks filled the void left by the Wausau Timbers of the Class A Midwest League, who relocated after the 1990 season to Geneva, Illinois, to become the Kane County Cougars.
The team was known as the '''Wausau Woodchucks''' from 1994 to 1998, but the team name was changed to '''Wisconsin Woodchucks''' for the 1999 season, as they were the only remaining team in Wisconsin in the league at that time.
The Woodchucks' manager for the 2007–2009 seasons was Jim Gantner, a former Milwaukee Brewer who attended college at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh. Gantner had never managed a team previously, and the Woodchucks appealed to him as he had spent time in the area at a second home.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sports::Woodchucks Introduce Gantner as New Manager |url=http://www.waow.com/Sports/index.php?ID=4716 |access-date=June 22, 2007 |work=WAOW |date=October 24, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927045234/http://www.waow.com/Sports/index.php?ID=4716 |archive-date=September 27, 2007}}</ref> Gantner became the team's president of baseball operations in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-01 |title=25 Years of Woodchucks Baseball |url=https://northwoodsleague.com/wausau-woodchucks/2018/05/01/25-years-of-woodchucks-baseball/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=Wausau Woodchucks |language=en-US}}</ref>
On February 2, 2022, the Woodchucks announced their return as the Wausau Woodchucks, with a new logo and color scheme.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 2, 2022 |title=Woodchucks Renovations go Full Circle with Brand Update |url=https://northwoodsleague.com/wausau-woodchucks/2022/02/02/woodchucks-renovations-go-full-circle-with-brand-update/ |access-date=February 2, 2022 |website=Wausau Woodchucks}}</ref>
==Woodchucks in MLB== The following is a list of former Woodchucks to appear in Major League Baseball.<ref>{{cite web |title=Northwoods League Alumni in Major League Baseball |url=https://assets.northwoodsleague.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/NWL-Alumni-in-MLB-2025.pdf |website=Northwoods League |access-date=September 29, 2025}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" ! Name ! Year(s) with Woodchucks ! MLB accolades |- | Justin Berg | 2003 | |- | Lance Broadway | 2004 | |- | Jay Buente | 2004/2005 | |- | J. D. Davis | 2012 | |- | Paul DeJong | 2014 | All-Star |- | Zach DeLoach | 2018 | |- | Daniel Descalso | 2006 | World Series champion |- | Parker Dunshee | 2014 | |- | Jerad Eickhoff | 2010 | |- | Sam Freeman | 2007 | |- | Dave Gassner | 1998 | |- | Mike Gerber | 2011 | |- | Brent Headrick | 2018 | |- | Tyler Heineman | 2011 | |- | Casey Janssen | 2001 | |- | C. J. Kayfus | 2021 | |- | Taylor Kohlwey | 2014/2015 | |- | Bryan Lavastida | 2018 | |- | Nick Loftin | 2018 | |- | Mark Lowe | 2002/2003 | |- | Nate Mondou | 2014 | |- | Jon Moscot | 2010 | |- | Pat Neshek | 2000 | All-Star (2x) |- | Wes Obermueller | 1998 | |- | Jared Oliva | 2015/2016 | |- | Kevin Pillar | 2010 | |- | Chris Reed | 2009 | |- | Darin Ruf | 2007 | |- | Brock Stassi | 2010 | |- | Ka'ai Tom | 2014 | |- | Pat Venditte | 2007 | |- | Steele Walker | 2016 | |- | Danny Young | 2013 | |- | Ben Zobrist | 2003 | All-Star (3x), World Series champion (2x), WS MVP |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.woodchucks.com/ Wausau Woodchucks] – official site * [http://www.northwoodsleague.com Northwoods League] – official site
{{NWL}} {{Wisconsinsports}}
Category:Northwoods League teams Category:Sports in Wausau, Wisconsin Category:Amateur baseball teams in Wisconsin