Durham, N.C. — The contract of St. Paul Saints catcher and 2015 American Association Player of the Year Vinny DiFazio was purchased by the Los Angeles Dodgers organization, the league announced on Tuesday.
DiFazio is the second Saints player in two weeks to have his contract sold to the Dodgers, and the third from the team to join a major-league organization this off-season. Los Angeles added all-star 1B Angelo Songco last Monday, while the Baltimore Orioles purchased the contract of RHP and 2015 Rookie of the Year Mike Zouzalik in September.
In his first full season with the Saints, DiFazio led the league with a .361 batting average, third-highest in Saints franchise history, to go along with a .462 on-base percentage and .592 slugging percentage, both league highs. In addition, the 29-year-old tied teammate Songco for the American Association lead and set a St. Paul franchise record with 82 RBI, and tied for third with 17 home runs.
DiFazio also earned league All-Star honors at catcher in a season that saw the Saints steamroll to a 74-26 record, winning the North Division by 26.5 games. The native of Hampton, N.J., joined St. Paul late in the 2014 season after playing most of the year with the Grand Prairie AirHogs. Prior to the American Association, DiFazio spent four seasons in the Texas Rangers’ organization after being chosen in the 12th round of the 2009 draft out of the University of Alabama.
DiFazio is the first member of the Saints, as well as the first catcher, to be chosen as Player of the Year in American Association history.
