Another former Northwoods League player is now in the big leagues. Jerad Head made his Major League Debut Sunday afternoon for the Cleveland Indians in their 2-1 loss to Kansas City at Progressive Field. The 6-foot, 210-pound outfielder got the start in left field for Cleveland and batted ninth. The right-handed hitter picked up an infield single in the first at-bat of his career, sending a slow roller past Royals’ starting pitcher Bruce Chen towards the second baseman in the second inning. Head finished 1-for-3 in the game.
He was added to the roster Sunday when it was announced that Indians’ outfielder Michael Brantley would miss the rest of the 2011 season with an injury. The Indians enter play Monday 6 ½ games behind Detroit in the American League Central.
Head played in the Northwoods League for the inaugural Brainerd Blue Thunder squad in 2005. Joining the Blue Thunder for the final three weeks of that season, Head put up some big numbers including a .338 (27-for-80) batting average, 10 stolen bases, and 12 runs scored in 18 games played. Head becomes the third player from the 2005 Brainerd Blue Thunder team to reach the Major Leagues. Right-handed pitchers Dillon Gee (New York Mets) and Sam LeCure (Cincinnati Reds) also were on that team. Head becomes the 82nd former Northwoods League player to reach the Major Leagues overall and the 45th to play this season.
Head has never been a top prospect but has been putting up good numbers in the minor leagues the last few years. In 114 games at Triple-A Columbus this year, Head was hitting .284 with 28 doubles, 24 home runs and 70 RBIs. He boasted a .299 batting average between Double-A and Triple-A in 2010 and hit a combined 50 home runs over the 2009-10 seasons at those levels. The Topeka, Kansas native went undrafted out of Washburn University before being signed by Cleveland in 2006.
The Northwoods League has more teams, plays more games, and draws more fans than any Summer Collegiate Baseball League in North America.
