Northwoods Thunder Bay Border Cats

Diaz to Big Leagues

June 30, 2013 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Thunder Bay Border Cats News Release


DIAZ REACHES BIG LEAGUES

Former Border Cats shortstop Jonathan Diaz made his Major League debut Saturday for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. The 28-year old Miami native went 0-3 with a run scored in the Red Sox 6-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. He was robbed of his first big league hit in his second at-bat after a diving catch by Blue Jays centre fielder Colby Rasmus. The Red Sox signed Diaz last December as a minor league free agent after he spent six years in the Toronto organization. Boston manager John Farrell and his coaching staff were very familiar with Diaz after their time together with the Blue Jays. Diaz was selected in the 12th round by the Blue Jays out of the North Carolina State in 2006.

Diaz was a member of the 2005 Border Cats NWL Championship team and becomes the second former Thunder Bay player to make it to the big leagues. His teammate on that 2005 Border Cats club, third baseman Matt Mangini, reached the majors with the Seattle Mariners in 2010.

Diaz played in 763 minor league games over his eight-year professional career before getting his shot with Boston. He played in 55 games this season for the Red Sox Triple "A" club in Pawtucket, where he batted .242 with two home runs, 21 runs batted in and 30 runs scored.

BLUE ANCHORS SINK CATS

The Alexandria Blue Anchors scored in every inning, but the 6th, and they went on to beat the Border Cats 13-6 before 850 fans Saturday night at Subway Field. Jordan Church (Sam Houston State) took the loss to fall to 0-3. Tyler Duplantis (Nicholls State University) Joey Hawkins (MIssouri State University), Philip Lyons (Nicholls State University) and Ty Stetson (Murray State University) all had two hits as the Cats first half record dropped to 11-20. The Cats and Blue Anchors play the middle game of their three-game series today at 5:05pm. Caleb Smith (Rice University) will get the start on the mound for Thunder Bay. The righthander has appeared in five games and is 1-0 with a 3.11 ERA.



Northwoods League Stories from June 30, 2013


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