A former Thunder Bay Border Cats player has made their Major League Baseball debut.
Billy Cook became the 15th player in franchise history to hit the major league, following his debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.
He finished with two hits with a double and a pair of runs batted in during the Pirate’s 7-3 victory over the Nationals.
Cook was drafted in the 10th round of the 2021 MLB draft by the Baltimore Orioles and was traded to the Pirates this July.
During his time in Thunder Bay, Cook appeared in a total of 91 games and led the team in runs in his second season on his way to an All-Star Game appearance.
He was one of three former Northwoods League players to make their major league debut on Sunday joined by Isaac Collins and Lake Bachar.
The Northwoods League is a developmental league geared towards college baseball players.
It’s been operating for 31 seasons and is seen as a training ground for coaches, umpires, and front-office staff.
Since the league’s creation, 372 players have advanced to the majors.
