Former Hillcat Joey Terdoslavich Makes MLB Debut

In the top of the ninth inning Friday night, with the Atlanta Braves down to their final out in a one-run game against division rival Philadelphia, Dan Baker - the Phillies' Public Address Announcer - rang out over Citizens' Bank Park to announce a pinch hitter.

Joey Terdoslavich jumped on a first-pitch fastball from Jonathan Papelbon and lined it into right field for a two-out single. The Braves would lose the game, but it was a moment that will stay with Terdoslavich for the rest of his life: his first MLB hit.

Terdoslavich, a Lynchburg Hillcat in 2011, got the call to 'the show' on Independence Day to replace Jordan Schafer, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list. Terdoslavich made his big-league debut on July 4 with a pinch hit opportunity but struck out. Friday he got his second chance at the dish and made the most of it.

Terdoslavich became the sixth former Hillcat to reach the majors this year and third to join the Atlanta Braves, joining Evan Gattis and Cory Rasmus..

The 24-year-old Terdoslavich got the call up after 85 games with Triple-A Gwinnett this season. Rated by Minor League Baseball as the Braves fourteenth-best prospect entering this season, Terdoslavich had ranked fifth in the International League in batting with a .318 average as of July 4.

The switch-hitting outfielder was a sixth-round selection out of Long Beach State by Atlanta in 2010 and spent his first full season of pro ball with the Hillcats. He was a Carolina League All-Star, finishing third in batting among qualified hitters in the circuit with a .286 average and was named co-MVP of the Hillcats alongside Andrelton Simmons, who led the Carolina League in batting that season and is currently the Braves' starting shortstop.

Terdoslavich is getting the chance to show what he can do at the big-league level on a team with a young and talented outfield that consists of the Upton brothers and former first-round pick Jayson Heyward. While it is unknown what will happen once Schafer returns from his injury, bear in mind Evan Gattis was supposed to be a "fill-in" until Brian McCann returned... but he still has a spot in Atlanta.