Former Mainer Alu Makes Big League Debut
Release Courtesty of Sanford Mainers
SANFORD, Maine – The Sanford Mainers made it to the big stage of Major League Baseball for the ninth time in team history Tuesday night.
Former infielder for the Mainers, Jake Alu of the 2018 squad, was called up by the Washington Nationals on Monday following the injury of star center fielder Victor Robles. On Tuesday, Alu earned the start in the Nationals lineup in left field. Alu hit ninth in the Nationals lineup against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. However, is still searching for his first hit after going 0-for-4 at the plate.
“Jake was an exemplary player for us,” Mainers General Manager Aaron Izaryk said. “He was a professional before he was a professional, bringing a work ethic and competitive nature to the park every day all while being a positive influence on his teammates.”
During the Mainers 2018 season, Alu led all Mainers hitters with a .327 batting average in 30 games for the Moose. His success earned him a spot on the North Division roster for the New England Collegiate Baseball League’s All-Star Game.
The Hamilton, New Jersey native and Boston College standout was drafted by the Nationals in the 24th round in 2019. His debut makes history for the organization, as Alu becomes the lowest drafted position player in the team’s history to make an appearance at the Major League level.
According to MLB Pipeline, Alu was the Nationals No. 27 prospect before being called up, holding a .282 batting average in his brief Minor League career. He concluded the 2022 season with a 14-game hitting streak, while also earning the Nationals Way Award after he led the organization’s Minor League system in batting average (.298), slugging percentage (.507), OPS (.872), doubles (40), extra-base hits (62) and total bases (252). This past spring training, he hit .286 for the Nationals.
“We are proud of every one of our alumni,” Izaryk said. “But, it’s an obvious moment of pride and reflection for our organization when one of our guys achieves his dream of Major League Baseball.”
Alu is the second former NECBL alum to make his MLB debut this week, and the fifth this season, bringing the league total to 224.
First baseman Matt Mervis collected his first Major League Baseball (MLB) hit and RBI last Friday evening as the former NECBL’er debuted in the big leagues with the Chicago Cubs.
Mervis, who played for the New Bedford Bay Sox in 2017, was called up by the Cubs and made his debut, hitting 7th on Friday against the Miami Marlins. He went 1-4 and drove in a run in that game, a 4-1 Cubs victory, then had an identical stat line Saturday in a 4-2 win for the North Siders.
