Daniel Nava slams way into Red Sox lore

The buzz started Friday when Nava — a College of San Mateo transfer and graduate of Santa Clara University — was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket. He joined the club Saturday, and the buzz grew to a rumble when it was announced Nava would start for Boston in left field on the Fox Saturday Baseball Game of the Week. The 27-year-old rookie proceeded to set it off on the first pitch of his premier Major League at bat, driving a grand slam into the Red Sox bullpen at legendary Fenway Park.

CSM manager Doug Williams summed it up in one word: "Incredible.”

Like many of Nava’s former teammates and coaches, Williams watched the game on TV, becoming one of a national audience that witnessed Nava – just the fourth player in the history of baseball to hit a grand slam in hit first big-league at bat – being launched into baseball lore.

"To see that play on a nationally televised game on that stage, and at Fenway … that’s beyond dreams what he did,” Williams said.

According to Williams, the CSM Facebook page tabbed 386 hits, including comments and kudos for Nava’s accomplishment. As a fan, Williams, too, enjoyed Nava’s epic home run swing.

"My wife was watching me, and she said: ‘I’ve never seen you react like that, even to your own games,’ ” Williams said.

And, the kid from Redwood City continued to swing it throughout the weekend. Nava later doubled off the Granite City Electric Supply Company sign at the base of The Green Monster, going 2 for 4 in his debut. Yesterday, he also went 2 for 4 with a double.

All this from a player that was snubbed at every baseball level between St. Francis High School and affiliated professional baseball.

He was cut by the Santa Clara University baseball team as a freshman. The only team to welcome him with open arms was CSM, where Nava paced the Bulldogs in hitting for two consecutive years. He transferred back to Santa Clara for his senior year of eligibility, where he won the West Coast Conference batting title in 2006. Yet, the 5-foot-10 switch-hitter went undrafted by MLB.

So, Nava’s pro career began with an unsuccessful tryout for the independent Golden Baseball League. He retooled at CSM as a coach, until the following year when the Chico Bandits of the GBL signed him as a free agent. It proved to be a wise move. Nava was named the league’s MVP, and led the Bandits to a league championship. Then, in 2008, Boston purchased Nava’s contract, which according to Williams cost the Red Sox $1.

Big weekend for CSM alums

Two of Nava’s teammates from the 2005 CSM squad are also making strides in affiliated pro baseball.

Henry Wrigley – a Burlingame High grad who was drafted by Tampa Bay out of CSM in 2005 – started at third base for the Florida State League South All-Stars in Saturday’s midsummer classic for the High-A league. Wrigley played the entire game, going 1 for 5 in the South’s 5-4 win at Space Coast Stadium in Brevard County. Cal grad Josh Satin, who plays with Mets affiliate St. Lucie, won the Top Star Award of the game, going 3 for 5 with a home run and the game-winning hit in the 10th inning.

Also, Kyle Woodruff – a Leland High grad who was drafted by the Giants out of Chico State in 2008 – notched his first save of the California League season with High-A San Jose on Friday night.

In his CSM career, Woodruff posted a 17-1 record between 2005-06. Since going pro, the right-hander has worked exclusively in relief. This season, Woodruff has posted a 2.89 ERA in eight appearances. The interesting thing about Woodruff has been his dominance of left-handed hitters – hitting just .031 against him –  who are having trouble handling the fading changeup from the big righty. This tendency recently drew an interesting comment on the radio from San Jose Giants play-by-play man Joe Ritzo.

"He said I am almost like bringing in a lefty out of the bullpen,” Woodruff said.

During the Fox Saturday Baseball Game of the Week, Woodruff was in the weight room getting ready for San Jose’s game. Later that evening though, he got a chance to catch the highlight reel of his former teammate going yard.

"That was pretty exciting stuff,” Woodruff said. "It couldn’t happen to a better guy.”