THUNDER BAY – Former Thunder Bay Border Cats right-hander Matthew Tippie has signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees.
The 22-year-old spent the 2023 season with the Border Cats, posting an 0-1 record with a 3.38 earned run average, striking out 24 batters in 21.1 innings.
The Texas State University product is expected to report to the Yankees minor league complex in Tampa Florida later this week.
Tippie’s signing follows the drafting of two of his former teammates.
Riely Hunsaker was taken in the 16th round of the recent MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs and Peyton Fosher went three rounds later to the Miami Marlins.
A total of 401 former Northwoods League players have reached the major leagues, including 15 former Border Cats.
Currently, reliever Greg Weissert (Boston) and Billy Cook (Pittsburgh) are the two former active Border Cats in the big leagues. Matthew Batten and Penn Murfee are playing AAA ball and Brandon Williamson is on the 60-day injured list with Cincinnati.
