(DENVER, CO) Former Northwoods League players continue to break into the Major Leagues over the final stretch of the 2011 season. Former La Crosse Logger Jordan Pacheco made his Major League debut Tuesday night contributing to the Colorado Rockies’ come-from-behind 8-3 victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Pacheco, starting at third base and batting eighth, went 2-for-4 in the game and drove in two runs, including one on his RBI-single in the Rockies’ seven-run eighth inning.
Pacheco was predominantly a shortstop when in played in the Northwoods League for the La Crosse Loggers in 2005. In 62 games he batted .287 with 13 doubles, one triple, two home runs, and 33 RBIs. The Albuquerque native played in La Crosse between his freshman and sophomore years at the University of New Mexico. The 6-foot 1-inch right-handed hitter was the star second baseman for the Lobos during all three of his years with the program. He capped it off by being named the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year following his junior season in 2007 when he batted .397 and drove in 50 runs.
The Colorado Rockies made Pacheco their 9th round selection in the 2007 MLB Draft. Although he began his pro career as a versatile infielder, the Rockies converted Pacheco to a catcher in 2008 and he’s played that position almost exclusively ever since. He played just five games at third base this season in Triple-A for Colorado Springs, where he batted .278 with 21 doubles, three home runs, and 50 RBIs in 97 games for the Sky Sox. Pacheco became an internet sensation this summer when the video of his July 8th broken-bat home run drew more than 2.3 million views on You Tube (http://youtu.be/J8weBic6w_Y).
Pacheco is the 85th former Northwoods Leaguer to reach the Major Leagues and the 48th this season. He becomes the 5th former La Crosse Logger in the big leagues, joining four others who are all currently in the Majors: Max Scherzer (Tigers), Daniel Ray Herrera (Mets), Chris Sale (White Sox), and Eric Thames (Blue Jays).
The Northwoods League has more teams, plays more games, and draws more fans than any other Summer Collegiate Baseball League in North America.
