Boog Powell Dealt to the Rays

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

On Saturday morning, the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays completed a trade that sent Ben Zobrist and Yunel Escobar to Oakland. In return, the Rays acquired catcher John Jaso and two Athletics prospects. One of these prospects is Boog Powell.

No Orioles fans. He is not the same Boog Powell who played first base as an Oriole for 14 years and had 339 career home runs and 1187 career runs batted in.

This Boog Powell is a 21 year old outfielder who has been in the Athletics’ farm system for the past three years.

This California native’s real first name is not even “Boog.” His real name is Herschel Mack Powell IV. And he is not related to the Orioles legend. He used to be called “Little Mack,” but because his grandfather was a big Boog Powell fan, the nickname “Boog” stuck.

Nicknames aside, Powell is a good player. In 2014 alone, he batted .343/.451/.435 with three home runs, 18 extra-base hits, 28 RBI and 16 stolen bases. In the Midwest League All-Star Game, he went 1-for-3 with a two-run double, three runs scored and a pair of stolen bases, including a steal of home in the Western Division’s 7-0 win.

He was awarded for his performance by being named the Midwest League All-Star Most Valuable Player. Soon after, he was promoted to High-A ball with the Stockton Ports.

Unfortunately, Powell was tested positive for an amphetamine in direct violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. He was suspended 50 games without pay immediately after testing positive.

Powell was the 36th player to be suspended in 2014 for violating the Minor League drug program.