On Saturday, the San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds were involved in a five-player trade, highlighted by a swap of aces in former All-Star Edison Volquez and Mat Latos.
However, one of the other three players joining Volquez in the trade to San Diego was none other than former USC ace Brad Boxberger (11-12 with a 3.81 ERA in his Trojan career).
In 2011, Boxberger (who is now a relief pitcher) was downright impressive for the Reds' Double-A affiliate, the Carolina Mudcats. The former Trojan pitched over 34 innings for the Mudcats, allowing just 16 hits while recording an ERA of 1.31 to go along with 57 strikeouts.
For his efforts, Boxberger (pictured above by the OC Register) was not only named to the Southern League All-Star Game, but was promoted mid-season to Cincinnati's Triple-A affiliate in Louisville. Against some of the top-notch prospects in the country, Boxberger continued to shine, making 25 appearances with an ERA of 2.93.
The move back to Southern California will likely be an enjoyable one for Boxberger, who grew up in Tustin, CA.
