Last year, Michael Rockett didn’t enjoy his summer baseball experience. Playing in a college league in Texas, an erratic schedule, due in part to heavy rains, and a gung-ho on-field staff made Rockett a little skeptical about what he would experience this summer in the Northwoods League.

“Once I got here, it was exactly the opposite (of last summer),” Rockett said. “It’s great competition, great group of guys. The staff makes sure to put the player first. It’s been a lot of fun, I’m having a blast.”

A blast is exactly what the MoonDogs have gotten from Rockett, a speedy centerfielder and leadoff batter and nearly certain to be a Northwoods League All-Star when the teams are announced today.

“He has gap-to-gap power,” manager Jason Nell said. “He has good speed, a better arm. In my four years, he’s the best fielder we’ve had (in the outfielder). As he goes, we go.”

When major-league scouts are evaluating talent, they look for “five-tool” players: hitting for average, hitting for power, arm strength, defensive ability and speed. Rockett, a native of Sugarland, Texas, who plays at Texas-San Antonio, gets a check for all five, ranking along with Tim Smith (2006) as the most all-around talented outfielder to play for the MoonDogs.

At 6-foot-1 and 165 pounds, he doesn’t look like a power hitter, but he’s hit 12 doubles, three triples and two home runs. A free swinger, having drawn only five walks in 148 at-bats, he’s still hitting .318 with a team-high 30 RBIs. He leads the Northwoods League in hits (50) and runs scored (28), ranks second in doubles and third in RBIs.

“That’s not the body you’d expect (in a power hitter),” Nell said. “But that shows you that you don’t have to be 6-4 and 220 pounds to get it done. He’s the total package.”

Defensively, Rockett plays a shallow center field, which made Nell nervous at first, but his speed allows him to cover the gaps, take away the bloopers and get back to the fence when necessary. He’s made four errors this summer, but he’s also thrown out several runners on the bases.

“Coaches are always telling me defense is my best (asset),” Rockett said.

Rockett said he’s still working on being more patient and selective at the plate. If he can draw more walks, he can add to his seven stolen bases. If he makes the pitcher work, a belt-high fastball might be coming, and when he hits the baseball squarely, it shoots off his bat.

A .lot of times, I’m overly aggressive,” Rockett said. “Sometimes, it pays off.”