TORONTO – Drew Millas became the 23rd Missouri State baseball alum to play in the Major Leagues Monday when he was called up by the Washington Nationals for the club's series opener at the Toronto Blue Jays.

Millas debuted by pinch hitting with one out in the top of the ninth inning of Washington's 6-3 loss at Rogers Centre. The switch-hitting catcher, wearing number 81, grounded out to first base to end a six-pitch at bat versus Toronto right-hander Jordan Hicks.

Millas enjoyed a breakout season in the minor leagues this summer, batting .341 in 25 Double-A games with the Harrisburg Senators before moving up to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings in May. In 58 games with Rochester, he hit .270 with three homers and 24 RBI while throwing out 27 percent of potential base stealers.

He was originally drafted by Oakland in the seventh round of the 2019 draft and traded to Washington in July 2021.

In three seasons with the Bears from 2017-19, Millas batted .276 with 13 home runs and 115 RBI. He earned Second-Team All-America honors from the NCBWA after a standout sophomore season in 2018 during which .321 and drove in 61 runs. He helped the Bears to an NCAA Super Regional appearance in 2017 and NCAA Regional in 2018.