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Published On: August 4th, 2022
Former Duluth Huskies Infielder Terrin Vavra Debuts with the Orioles

Vavra is the 300th former Northwoods League player to debut in MLB

(Editor’s note):  Terrin Vavra played at Port Arthur Stadium against the Thunder Bay Border Cats in the summer of 2015.  He is the son of former Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers coach Joe Vavra.  
 
A total of 12 former Border Cats have reached the major leagues since the franchise debuted in 2003.  Four Border Cats alumni are currently on MLB rosters – third baseman Jason Vosler (San Francisco Giants) catcher Michael Papierski (Cincinnati Reds) pitcher Penn Murfee (Seattle Mariners) and infielder Matt Batten (San Diego Padres).

Rochester, Minn. – Former Duluth Huskies infielder Terrin Vavra made his Major League debut for the Baltimore Orioles on July 29, 2022. Vavra is the 300th former Northwoods League player to reach the Major League level.

 

Vavra, who played collegiately at the University of Minnesota, played for the Huskies in 2015. He was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Rockies.

 

In 2015 with the Huskies, Vavra played in 14 games and hit .269 with two doubles, eight runs scored and five RBI.

 

Vavra began his professional career in 2018 with the Boise Hawks of the Short-Season A Northwest League. In 44 games, he hit .302 with four home runs, four triples and eight doubles. He drove in 26, scored 22 times and stole nine bases.

 

In 2019, Vavra spent the entire season with the Asheville Tourists of the Lo-A South Atlantic League. Over 102 games he hit .318 with 10 home runs, 32 doubles and 79 runs scored. He stole 18 bases and drove in 52.

 

Prior to the 2020 trade deadline Vavra was dealt to the Orioles in a deal that saw Baltimore reliever Mychal Givens traded to Colorado.

 

Vavra played with four different teams in 2021. He began the season with the Orioles Black team in the Florida Complex League. He then moved to their Orange team and then was sent to the Aberdeen IronBirds of the High-A East League. After five games in Aberdeen, he moved up to the Bowie Baysox of the AA Northeast League. For the season he hit a combined .275 in 48 games. He drove in 21, stole seven bases and hit five home runs.

 

Prior to his call-up to the Orioles, Vavra had started the season in Aberdeen and then was promoted, after five games, to the Norfolk Tides of the AAA International League. In 50 games between the two clubs, he was hitting .312 with two home runs, 17 doubles and 19 RBI. In his Major League debut against the Reds, Vavra entered the game in the top of the 9th as a pinch-runner for Trey Mancini. Vavra would advance to third before the inning ended and remain in the game as the designated hitter, but did not get a chance to bat.  On August 1, he recorded his first big league hit against the Texas Rangers and is currently batting .333 (3-for-9) with one double and one RBI through six games with the Orioles.

 

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The Thunder Bay Border Cats are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Now in its’ 29th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, 300 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. For more information, visit www.bordercatsbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Border Cats as your favorite team.