Former Woodchucks player makes Major League debut

ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA – Former Wisconsin Woodchucks player Bryan Lavastida made his Major League Baseball debut for the Cleveland Guardians April 10, the Woodchucks reported this week.

Lavastida is the 275^th former Northwoods League player to reach the Major League level.

Lavastida, who played collegiately at Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, played for the Woodchucks in 2018. He was drafted in the 15^th round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Indians. In 2018, while with the Woodchucks, Lavastida played in eight games and hit .300 with three doubles, three runs scored and five stolen bases. He drove in one and walked five times in 35 plate appearances.

Lavastida began his professional career in 2019 with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the Short-Season A New York Penn League, according to the Woodchucks. After 58 games, he was promoted to the Lake County Captains of the Lo-A Midwest League. He appeared in one game with Lake County and for the season hit a combined .335 with two home runs, three triples and 19 doubles. He drove in 38 runs, scored 40 times and stole three bases

Lavastida started the 2021 season with the Captains, and then was promoted, after 48 games to the Akron RubberDucks of the AA Northeast League. After 29 games with Akron, he moved up again to the Columbus Clippers of the AAA East League. In 84 games, he hit .289 with nine home runs, 19 doubles and one triple. He drove in 51, scored 50 times and stole a career-high 16 bases.

In his Major League debut against the Kansas City Royals, Lavastida started the game at catcher and went 0 for 4 at the plate with a walk.

The Woodchucks 29^th season starts May 30 on the road.