Lehigh University Athletics
McBride called-up to Rockies, will be in Philadelphia this weekend
9/5/2012 3:04:00 PM | Baseball
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The dream continues for Lehigh alumnus and standout baseball star Matt McBride, as he has been called back up to the Colorado Rockies this morning and will be with the team in Atlanta today. McBride was called-up earlier in the season and made his Major League debut on Aug. 4 against the San Francisco Giants after an impressive stint at the Triple-A level. McBride will get a chance to return to his old stomping grounds, but this time on a Major League roster when the Rockies come to Philadelphia on Friday for a three-game set.
In his first Major League start, McBride collected his first big league hit on a line drive to right center in the bottom of the fifth off of Giants starter Madison Bumgarner. McBride would go on to go 2-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored in the game. In nine games with the Rockies, the former Mountain Hawk was hitting .200 with a double and two RBI and was optioned back to Triple-A affiliate Colorado Springs on Aug. 16.
The Bethlehem native and Liberty product has flourished at the Triple-A level this season, batting .344 with 10 home runs and 87 RBI in 108 games for the Sky Sox. His 42 doubles are good for third in the league as is his .344 average and 87 RBI. The former Mountain Hawk has enjoyed success at all levels of the Minor Leagues and after pounding 15 home runs and 26 doubles in 102 games in with Akron, Tulsa and Columbus in 2011, he earned an invitation to Spring Training this past February.
As the Rockies make their way toward the end of the 2012 season, McBride will look to solidify a spot or at least further the attention of management in order to earn a place on the 2013 big league roster.
In 2006, McBride starred at Lehigh and helped the Mountain Hawks capture the Patriot League title as he led the team with a .417 average with 88 hits, 19 doubles, 12 home runs and 61 RBI and earned the Patriot League Triple Crown. He was a two-time first team All-Patriot League catcher in and was the highest of four players selected from the Patriot League in the 2006 Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft.
The Lehigh grad was taken 75th overall in the 2006 draft by the Cleveland Indians and signed his first professional contract on June 14, 2006. McBride was later traded to the Rockies with several other players in exchange for 2010 Cy Young candidate Ubaldo Jimenez in a trade-deadline deal on July 30, 2011.
Photos courtesy of Colorado Rockies Baseball Club
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