Former Boise Hawks catcher, Josh Donaldson, was one of the four members of the Chicago Cubs sent to the Oakland Athletics as part of a blockbuster six-player trade, announced yesterday by Major League Baseball.Donaldson, who hit .346 with nine home runs and 35 RBI last year, joined three members of the Cubs 40-man roster - pitcher Sean Gallagher, utility player Eric Patterson, and outfielder Matt Murton, in heading for the A's for All-Star pitcher Rich Harden and left-handed reliever, Chad Gaudin.
The move has also filtered down to the Hawks, who made multiple roster moves prior to leaving for their five-game series in Eugene.
Catcher Luis Flores, along with first-baseman Rebel Ridling, and second-baseman Jake Opitz, were all promoted to the Peoria Chiefs in the Midwest League. Of the three, Ridling's departure will hurt the Hawks the most, as he ranks among the Northwest League's best in batting average, home runs, doubles, and RBI.
The Hawks, however, will have one player join their club from the rookie-level Mesa Cubs, middle-infielder Dwayne Kemp. Kemp, from Rotterdam, Netherlands, hit .283 this season in Mesa, after being signed by the Cubs out of Major League Baseball's European Academy. His father, Adonis, played for the Dutch baseball team in the 1996 Olympics.
The Hawks open up their five-game series with the Eugene Emeralds at historic Civic Stadium tonight at 8:05 p.m. with Josh Whitlock meeting the Ems Pablo Menchaca. Pre-game coverage begins with Hawk Talk at 7:05 on 1350 KTIK-AM, The Ticket.
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