It may be only a matter of days before the Thunder Bay Border Cats have an alumnus who can call himself a major leaguer.
Eight former Cats are playing at the AAA level in baseball’s minor leagues, and at least one, infielder Matt Mangini, looks like a no-brainer as a September call-up.
Mangini, 24, is tearing up the Pacific Coast League these days, extending his hitting streak to 11 games on Thursday night with a three-hit performance for the Tacoma Rainiers, in a 3-1 loss to Colorado Springs.
The Seattle Mariners prospect has raised his batting average to .316 and he has a team-leading 136 hits to go with 18 homeruns and 61 RBI.
Major League teams are allowed to increase their rosters from 25 to 40 starting Sept. 1, though with the Rainiers in the heart of a PCL pennant race, it remains to be seen how soon Mangini will hear the call and possibly become the first Cats graduates to make the big leagues.
Mangini could have competition from an original Border Cat.
Former Thunder Bay closer Jon Hunton, he of the imposing 6-foot-9 stature, is proving effective in a relief role, posting a 6-6 record in 49 appearances to go along with a 3.54 ERA.
Infielder Matt Camp, meanwhile, has 13 stolen bases and a .267 average for the Iowa Cubs, the top farm team of the Chicago Cubs.
Another first-year Border Cat, right-hander Eric Wordekemper, is making the most of his time in AAA, after spending much of the first half of the season one rung down the baseball ladder. The Iowa native has a 2-0 record, a 3.34 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 29 innings with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.
Meanwhile pitcher Scot Drucker is 4-5 with a 5.61 ERA tossing for the Toledo Mud Hens, the No. 1 farm team of the Detroit Tigers.
In Omaha, Neb, third baseman Marc Maddox is making a name for himself with the Royals AAA squad, hitting .262 with a pair of homeruns and 36 RBI in his first season in the minor’s top level.
Last, but not least, shortstop Jonathan Diaz has made the jump to AAA and has a .263 average and three doubles in 24 games with the Las Vegas 51s, one step short of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Other Cats in the minors include pitchers Reid Mahon (Mobile, AA), Drew Erwin (Gulf Coast League Phillies, Rookie), A.J. Schugel (Orem, Rookie) and Craig Heyer (Tampa, A), second baseman Dale Mollenhauer (Birmingham, AA), outfielder Brandon Tripp (Jacksonville, AA), third baseman Chris Curley (Myrtle Beach, A).