PHOENIX, Ariz. – After five years in the minor leagues, former Portland Pilot baseball player and major league catcher Cooper Hummel has earned a call up with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is the first Pilot that will earn MLB experience since Austin Bibens-Dirkx in 2017.

"To be honest, it hasn't really hit me yet," Hummel said. "Sitting here in the dugout right now just watching the opening day graphics along the scoreboard, it's starting to hit and I'm sure as soon as I walk out onto that field tonight for the opening day festivities it'll really hit home. It's been a long journey and it feels pretty good to know that I've fought my whole life for something and it's right here finally."

In his minor league career, Hummel put up a slash line of .259/.394/.437 (BA/OBP/SLG) with 42 home runs and 200 RBI's. He was also an MiLB.com All-Star in both 2018 and 2019. With the Carolina Mudcats in 2018 he hit .260 with eight home runs and 50 RBI's, and with the Biloxi Shuckers in 2019 he hit .249 with 17 home runs and 56 RBI's.

"Cooper is a big leaguer. Every baseball kid grows up with that dream," Portland head coach Geoff Loomis said. "One thing I'll say about Cooper while he was at Portland is that he was a great talent hitting from both sides of the plate and had a strong belief in himself. All that work, combined with talent and belief, it's a great story."

At the University of Portland, Hummel played three seasons from 2014 to 2016 before being drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 18^th round in 2016. That season, Hummel batted .320 with five home runs and 29 RBI's, posting an OPS of .912. His led the Pilots in RBI's, hits (62) and runs (37) and added 14 doubles, two triples and seven stolen bases.

Hummel is one of nine Pilots in program history who have officially made an MLB roster. He was the first Pilot from the Geoff Loomis era to be drafted to the major leagues and the first who will get to play for an MLB team. Loomis and his staff have helped get five different players drafted, with Chad Stevens most recently being taken in the 11^th round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros.