University of Minnesota Athletics
Terrin Vavra Called Up to Big Leagues
7/27/2022 11:26:00 AM | Baseball
Vavra was a First Team ABCA All-American in 2018
The former 2018 draft pick was acquired from the Colorado Rockies at the 2020 trade deadline and is hitting .312 with an .869 OPS in 50 games for Triple-A Norfolk, playing mainly second base or center field. The Rockies selected the former Minnesota standout with the 18th pick in the third round of the 2018 MLB Entry Draft, 96th overall.
The Menomonie, Wis., native has hit two home runs this season and holds a .435 on-base percentage in Triple-A. Vavra, who has played all over the field but has been featured primarily as a second baseman, earned the opportunity at the expense of O's shortstop Jonathan Araúz, who was added to the 10-day injured list this week. Vavra is the organization's 12th-ranked prospect, according to Baseball America.
As a junior, Vavra led the Gophers with a .386 batting average in 58 games. He slugged a team-leading 10 home runs while driving in 59 runs, crossing the plate 55 times, and swiping eight bases in nine attempts. He earned First Team All-America status from Baseball America and a First Team All-Big Ten selection. He also helped lead Minnesota to its first NCAA Regional title in 41 years, landing the title of Minneapolis Regional Most Outstanding Player in 2018 with two wins over UCLA.
He hit .358 in 32 games as a freshman and .308 in 50 games as a sophomore before his breakout junior season. Vavra was the first Gophers position player to earn First Team All-America honors since second baseman Derek McCallum did so in 2009.
The last Minnesota player drafted as early as Vavra was Michael Kvasnicka, a first-round pick in 2010. He's the third Gophers player to make his MLB debut in the past two seasons. Former 2020 No. 3 overall pick Max Meyer made his debut for the Miami Marlins on July 16 while left-handed reliever Lucas Gilbreath first appeared for the Colorado Rockies on May 1, 2021.
All-time, Vavra is the 39th Gopher to play MLB and the first middle infielder since Brent Gates (1999). He will be the first Minnesota position player to appear in an MLB game since Jack Hannahan (2014).
Terrin's father, Joe, coached in Major League Baseball from 2002-20. He served as the Minnesota Twins hitting coach from 2006-17. His older brothers Tanner and Trey both played in college and for several years in the minor leagues. Trey is currently the Golden Gophers' volunteer assistant.