Alumni Update - Blake Lalli (Iowa Cubs)

Blake Lalli didn't get a chance to make a big impression in his first stint in the major leagues.

The Pine-Richland High School graduate spent just 11 days with the Chicago Cubs in May and the catcher played in only six games. However, his ascent to the major leagues was an amazing story.

Lalli, 29, did not get drafted following his senior season of college baseball at Gardner-Webb in 2006. The Cubs signed him as an amateur free agent later that June and he spent seven seasons slowly moving his way through the farm system until being called up to the major leagues.

Lalli went 2-for-15 (.133) with two RBIs for the Cubs. At Class AAA Iowa in the Pacific Coast League, he is hitting .217 with five home runs and 24RBIs in 43 games.

In 610 career minor-league games, Lalli is a .297 hitter with 38 homers and 287 RBIs.