Since leaving the University of Hawaii following his junior season of 2009, 10th round draft choice of the Mariners and former All-Conference 3rd baseman Vinnie Catricala has done nothing but quickly climb the ranks of the organization as he was promoted to Double-A last week.
Vinnie has taken his talents to Tennessee along with a little piece of the 808.
To say Vinnie Catricala enjoyed his time in the islands would be a big league understatement and the proof is in his bio.
Upon arriving at rookie league Pulaski in 2009, team officials accidentally listed the Sacramento-native's birth place as Maui - a mistake that Vinnie could have corrected but now believes is his good luck charm.
In three seasons as a pro, Catricala has played at four different levels and through 266 combined games, he's batting .317 with 40 homeruns and 181 runs batted in, giving much acclaim to former Rainbows hitting coach, Keith Komeji.
A 2010 Low-A all-star, Vinnie opened 2011 with the High-A Mavericks of High Desert.
It was there that number 23 made himself one of the brightest prospects in Seattle's organization, earning yet another all-star bid by batting a team-high .351 with 14 homeruns while playing five different positions.
Now after getting the call to Double-A Jackson in Tennessee, Catricala has made quite the first impression - batting .625 with a homerun and 5 RBI's in his debut series.
Double-A Generals have just over two months remaining on the season and according to a West Coast scout - a strong finish will more than likely give the recently-dubbed Maui guy his first taste of the Bigs in spring training.
