Getting to know the Number

 It's that time of year. A time when you'll see double ear flaps on Batting Helmets, sunglasses that look like they were worn by Brett "The Hitman" Hart in 1996, and Uniforms with no name on the back. All of this being nothing new for 1 Ray-Patrick Didder.


Didder, who was born in Aruba, originally signed with the Atlanta Braves in 2013, where he saw his first Big League Spring Training in 2017, and is now entering his first Season in the Marlins Organization after signing a Minor League Contract with the Fish this past November. The 27 year old Shortstop has had quite the journey from Atlanta's system to the Marlins', one which even included a stop in the Italian Baseball League.




The Atlanta Braves. The San Diego Padres. The Los Angles Angels of Anaheim. UnipolSai Fortitudo Bologna?! 2020 may have wiped out a lot of Baseball here in the red, white, and blue. Didder however, who had signed prior to the 2020 Season with San Diego but did not appear in a Professional Game within the Organization because of the Pandemic, found himself in Serie A-1 (Italy's Top Professional Baseball League) by Season's end.



"I couldn't stay at home and do nothing" said Ray-Patrick Didder about 2020. I wanted to play but it all depended what my mom said because Covid was a big issue in Italy (in '20)" Let's just say Mrs. Didder & Ray-Patrick made the right choice, as the Shortstop went on to hit .413, while leading the League in Stolen Bases, all of which culminated in a "Scudetto" for the city of Bologna in Italia 🇮🇹. In other words, a Championship 🏆.

 


The solid work by Didder overseas led to an opportunity in the Angels system in 2021. Followed by seeing At Bats in Big League Spring Training this year with the Marlins, something Didder hadn't seen since 2019. These AB's in '22 have looked comfortable for Ray-Patrick early on might I add, going 2-6 at the dish with a pair of RBI's and a Triple.



Spring Training is quite the unique time. A time which grants you an opportunity to know a little bit of the journey of say someone like Anthony Bender last year, from struggling in Independent Ball to dominating in the Show. Sometimes it's a 27 Year Old out of Aruba, trying to crack the Big Leagues for the first time (Think Luis Marte last year), with a little Italian flavor. They're may not always be a name on the back of the jersey, so let's get to know the number.     


      

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