Former Cavalier Brandon Guyer to Make MLB Debut with Tampa Bay

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Former Virginia outfielder Brandon Guyer has been called up from triple-A Durham and will be in uniform tonight for the first time with the Tampa Bay Rays when they visit Baltimore for a 7:05 game at Camden Yards at Oriole Park. Guyer, who played at UVa from 2005-07, is the fourth former Virginia player currently in Major League Baseball and the 27th Cavalier all-time to reach the big leagues.

After moving to the Rays from the Cubs system during the offseason in the Matt Garza trade, Guyer has been tearing up opposing pitching in triple-A. Playing for the Durham Bulls, Guyer was batting .356 with six home runs and 18 RBI in 28 games this year. He currently stands sixth in batting and fifth in home runs in the International League.

The 25-year-old Guyer was named the Chicago Cubs Minor League Player of the Year last season after batting .344 with 13 homers, 39 doubles and 58 RBI for the double-A Tennessee Smokies. He was named a Topps Double-A All-Star following the season.

In the offseason he was acquired by the Tampa Bay Rays along with RHP Chris Archer, catcher Robinson Chirinos, OF Sam Fuld and infielder Hak-Ju Lee from Chicago in exchange for RHP Matt Garza, OF Fernando Perez and LHP Zach Rosscup.

Guyer played at Virginia from 2005-07. As a junior Guyer batted .370 with a team-high eight home runs, 51 runs scored and 84 hits as well as 43 RBI. He earned First-Team All-ACC honors in 2007. Guyer was Virginia’s career leader in doubles (53) until last season when Tyler Cannon supplanted him for the top spot.

Following the 2007 season Guyer was selected in the fifth round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Chicago Cubs.

Guyer joins Ryan Zimmerman (Washington), Mark Reynolds (Baltimore) and Javier Lopez (San Francisco) as former Cavaliers who are currently playing in Major League Baseball.