Terrin Vavra Bio
Terrin Thomas Vavra (born May 12, 1997) is an American professional baseball second baseman and outfielder. A native of Menomonie, Wisconsin, he has spent time in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Baltimore Orioles and briefly in the Seattle Mariners organization, while also playing in the Colorado Rockies farm system and the Mexican League. He currently stands as a free agent after a journeyman professional career that began when he was drafted in 2018.
Known for his contact hitting and versatility across the middle of the diamond, Vavra has appeared at every minor league level. He reached the majors for the first time in 2022 with the Orioles and contributed a memorable first career home run on the final day of that season.
Early Life and Background
Terrin Thomas Vavra was born on May 12, 1997, in Menomonie, Wisconsin. He grew up in a baseball household, as his father, Joe Vavra, is a professional baseball coach, an environment that helped shape his early understanding of the game.
Vavra attended Menomonie High School, where he lettered in both baseball and ice hockey. In 2015, his senior year, he earned All-State honors in baseball, establishing himself as one of the top amateur players in the state.
After going unselected in the 2015 MLB Draft, Vavra chose to attend the University of Minnesota, where he played college baseball for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. He would go on to become one of the program’s most accomplished hitters of his era.
Path to Professional Baseball
Vavra’s college career was marked by steady progression. As a freshman in 2016, he appeared in 32 games before a back injury cut his season short, batting .358 with one home run and 20 runs batted in (RBI). He returned as a sophomore in 2017 to play 50 games, hitting .308 with two home runs and 19 RBI, and that summer he joined the Cotuit Kettleers of the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League.
His junior season in 2018 was his breakthrough. Vavra started 58 games and slashed .386/.455/.614 with 10 home runs and 59 RBI, earning unanimous All-Big Ten First Team honors and First Team All-American recognition. That performance made him one of the most coveted position players in the 2018 draft class.
Terrin Vavra Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
The Colorado Rockies selected Vavra in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft, and he signed quickly with the organization. He made his professional debut that summer with the Boise Hawks of the Low-A Northwest League and was named an All-Star after batting .302 with four home runs and 26 RBI over 44 games.
In 2019, Vavra moved up to the Asheville Tourists of the Single-A South Atlantic League, where he again earned All-Star honors and was named the SAL Player of the Month for June after hitting .350. Over 102 games he slashed .318/.409/.489 with 10 home runs, 52 RBI, and 18 stolen bases, taking home South Atlantic League Most Valuable Player honors. He did not play a minor league game in 2020 after the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2020–2023)
On August 30, 2020, the Rockies traded Vavra, Tyler Nevin, and a player to be named later to the Baltimore Orioles for reliever Mychal Givens. He was assigned to the Bowie Baysox of the Double-A Northeast in 2021 but missed nearly two months with a back injury. On November 19, 2021, the Orioles added him to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
After beginning 2022 with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, Vavra was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on July 26, 2022. He made his MLB debut on July 29, 2022, and recorded his first hit, an infield single off Texas Rangers starter Jon Gray, on August 1. On October 5, the final day of the regular season, he hit a three-run home run off Mitch White to lift the Orioles past the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4, a defining early moment in his career.
In 2023, Vavra appeared in 27 games for the Orioles, batting .245/.315/.245 with five RBI. A right shoulder strain suffered at Triple-A Norfolk sent him to the injured list in mid-June, and he was transferred to the 60-day injured list in September before being removed from the 40-man roster in November.
Wander Years and Return to Baltimore (2024–2025)
Vavra started 2024 at Norfolk, hitting .269 with two home runs and 19 RBI across 31 games. The Orioles selected his contract on July 30, 2024, but designated him for assignment on August 21 without a major league appearance. Two days later, on August 23, 2024, the Seattle Mariners claimed him off waivers. He appeared in three games for Triple-A Tacoma before being designated for assignment on August 31 and electing free agency on September 5.
On September 7, 2024, Vavra returned to the Baltimore Orioles organization on a minor league contract. He re-signed a new minor league deal on February 5, 2025, and batted .317/.388/.450 with one home run, seven RBI, and three stolen bases across 22 appearances for Norfolk. The Orioles added him to the active roster on May 24, 2025, but designated him for assignment the following day without an appearance. After clearing waivers, he was outrighted to Norfolk, added back to the roster on August 1 for one game, and again designated for assignment on August 3 before electing free agency on September 29.
International Stints (2026)
On April 14, 2026, Vavra signed with the Piratas de Campeche of the Mexican League and made five appearances, batting .368/.500/.421 with three RBI. He later signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies on April 28, 2026. He also represented the Czech Republic national baseball team at the 2026 World Baseball Classic, a fitting opportunity given his Czech heritage through his great-grandfather.
Notable Events and Milestones
Vavra’s signature big-league moment came on October 5, 2022, when his first career home run, a three-run shot off Toronto’s Mitch White, sealed a 5-4 win for Baltimore on the final day of the season. He is also a former South Atlantic League Most Valuable Player, a unanimous All-Big Ten First Team selection, and a First Team All-American from his junior year at the University of Minnesota.
Terrin Vavra Career Highlights
Across the minor leagues, Vavra established himself as a polished contact hitter, highlighted by a .318 average in 2019 with Asheville that earned him league MVP honors. He has also been a two-time minor league All-Star and a former South Atlantic League Player of the Month.
MLB Career Statistics
Through the 2025 season, Vavra’s major league line stands at .252/.315/.295 with 1 home run and 17 RBI. His first hit, an infield single against Texas, and his first home run, a three-run shot off Toronto, both came during his rookie 2022 season, while his 2023 campaign was shortened by a shoulder injury.
Terrin Vavra Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Vavra’s father, Joe Vavra, is a professional baseball coach, providing his son with an early and detailed understanding of the game. That coaching pedigree helped shape Terrin’s defensive versatility across second base and the outfield.
Personal Life
Vavra is married to his wife, Carlie, and the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, in August 2022, the same summer he made his major league debut with the Orioles. His Czech roots through his great-grandfather later led him to represent the Czech Republic at the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
2025 Season Performance
Vavra’s 2025 season was spent almost entirely in Triple-A Norfolk, where he posted a .317/.388/.450 line with one home run, seven RBI, and three stolen bases across 22 games. That strong play at the plate earned him two brief recalls to Baltimore’s active roster, on May 24 and August 1, though he appeared in only one major league game and went 0-for-1 with two innings played at second base.
Each time he returned to the minors, Vavra was sent outright to Norfolk after clearing waivers. The Orioles’ willingness to keep shuttling him between Triple-A and the majors reflected his value as a versatile depth piece, even as roster math worked against him.
Following the 2025 season, Vavra elected free agency on September 29, 2025, opening the door to his next chapter. With his bat returning to form and his defensive flexibility intact, he remained an attractive option for organizations seeking middle-infield and corner-outfield depth heading into 2026.