Catching up with former Nevada Wolf Pack catcher Brett Hayes . . .
Hayes, who will turn 29-years-old on Feb. 13, will head to spring training next month as a member of the Kansas City Royals. The former Nevada Wolf Pack catcher was signed a free agent this off-season after spending his first four major league seasons with the Florida and Miami Marlins.
Hayes is hoping to catch on with the Royals as the backup catcher behind starter Salvador Perez.
Hayes hit .202 with the Marlins in 2012 in 39 games and 114 at-bats. He had six doubles and drove in three runs.
In four major league seasons, all with the Marlins, Hayes is a .217 career hitter in 143 games and 332 at-bats. He has 72 career hits, has scored 37 runs and has hit eight home runs with 22 doubles and 27 RBI.
Hayes is one of the greatest catchers in Wolf Pack history.
He played three seasons with the Wolf Pack (2003-05) and hit .339 in his career for head coach Gary Poweers.
His 237 career hits are eighth in Wolf Pack history, his 699 at-bats are eighth and his 156 RBI are ninth. Hayes also hit 22 home runs and scored 132 runs in his Wolf Pack career while striking out just 93 times and walking 64 times in his three seasons.
He also hit 37 doubles and five triples. The Pack, which played in the Western Athletic Conference during Hayes' career, went 88-80 (.524) in his three seasons.
