SAN DIEGO – Another former Thunder Bay Border Cats player can now call himself a big-leaguer.
Matt Batten, an infielder who played for the Cats in 2015, got the call on Thursday by the San Diego Padres.
Batten entered the game as a pinch runner for Luke Voit and took over at second base.
The 27-year-old earned his first major league at bat in Saturday's game against the Dodgers, pinch-hitting for Nomar Mazara in the ninth inning of a 7-2 loss, and fouled out.
Batten sent the past two seasons in AAA ball in the Padres system, and was hitting .299 with 10 home runs and 31 RBI in 59 games in 2022.
As a Border Cat seven years ago, Batten played 69 games, hitting .231 with six triples and seven doubles in 69 appearances.
He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University and was drafted in the 32nd round by the Padres in 2017.
Batten is the 294th former Northwoods League player to make the major leagues.
Other former Cats playing big league ball this season include Seattle reliever Penn Murfee, who has a 1-0 record and 1.99 ERA in 31.2 innings. In San Francisco, Jason Vosler has four home runs and is hitting .268 in 56 at bats. Catcher Michael Papierski is hitting .150 in nine games split between San Francisco and Cincinnati.
