Former Cougar Onto The Big Leagues

Alex Verdugo Hits Homerun for Dodgers

Laura Mejia, Sports Editor

Big news for Sahuaro Baseball! Alex Verdugo, a former Sahuaro Cougar of the graduating class of 2014, is now one of the Los Angeles Dodgers top prospects.

Down in Triple-A for Oklahoma City, Verdugo put up good stats with his batting average at a .314, he had 6 home runs, 62 RBI’s, and 9 steals all within 117 games. On the first of this month he made his big debut for the Dodgers against the Padres. He managed to get his first Major League hit, which was a single down to left field. Although in his attempt to steal second base he was caught in a pickle and got tagged out, the Dodgers were very impressed with him aside from that minor error. It’s very likely he will be promoted up to the big leagues. On the tenth of this month he pinch hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth that went 382 ft towards left field ending the game 8 to 1, Rockies taking the win. As of right now, Verdugo is 3 for 16 in the 9 games he’s played with the Dodgers so far.

Former Sahuaro Baseball Coach, Mark Chandler, coached Verdugo in his 4 years at Sahuaro on the Varsity level. Chandler said, “He had more talent at his age than I’d ever seen before. The indication of him reaching the major leagues was there and he was in luck staying injury free and continuing to work hard has allowed him to reach the point where he’s at right now and to be the 6th overall Cougar to make it to the big leagues.” Verdugo has a very bright career of ahead of him.