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GENEVA – Ernie De La Trinidad was watching film Friday when Cougars manager Blake Lalli called him into his office.
The TV Show “Paw Patrol” was the scheduled theme night, and the Cougars’ jerseys with the children’s show embroidered on it hung on each locker. Players were enjoying a pre-game meal, checking Snapchat or playing dominoes on a small table.
Business as usual. It was supposed to be like any Friday night.
Tweets and a conversation with Lalli changed everything.
The news that De La Trinidad, outfielder Gabriel Maciel and Friday night’s starting pitcher, Jhoan Durán, had been traded was so fresh that De La Trinidad didn’t even know what major leaguer he had been dealt for from the Minnesota Twins when interviewed for comment.
On Friday, De La Trinidad, Maciel and Durán each confirmed an hour before the game started to the Kane County Chronicle that they have been traded.
Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan initially reported the Twins sent infielder Eduardo Escobar to Arizona for the three now-former Cougars. The Diamondbacks organization has since officially confirmed of the trade via their team Twitter account.
Maciel was supposed to start in center field and De La Trinidad in right field. Yan Sanchez and Luis Silverio instead took their places.
Tyler Keele, with one start in Kane County since arriving three days prior, started for Duran. “Honestly, getting traded, especially for a big-leaguer, is a good thing,” De La Trinidad said. “It’s bittersweet. It’s comfortable here. I love this organization – they’re the ones that drafted me, and gave me the opportunity to be here. I’m forever grateful for that.”
“It’s a new journey; [It] starts now,” De La Trinidad said.
A Twins scout was in Kane County at various times throughout the season, and attended Thursday night’s 2-1 loss to Beloit.
As De La Trinidad met with Lalli, his phone was continuously blowing up. His family was calling, as they apparently learned the news of the trade the way most of the baseball world did – via social media.
In college at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, De La Trinidad said the Twins were among the teams that talked with him leading up to the draft. De La Trinidad leaves the Cougars after 91 games, eight home runs and a team-high 56 RBI and .311 batting average.
Durán, 5-4 in 15 starts this season, learned of the trade through Lalli as did Maciel.
“It’s obviously a new opportunity,” Durán said through translator and Cougars pitcher, Abraham Almonte, moments after he learned he was traded.
“[I’m] ready to move forward and keep going,” Durán continued via Almonte.
Durán “wasn’t expecting” the move, and has since talked to his wife and family on the impending move.
Maciel, in the middle an 18-game hitting streak dating back to July 1, said via Google Translator: “It does not matter what team I will [play for in order to reach the Major Leagues]. My dream is to just play in [the major leagues].”
Maciel, originally from Brazil, speaks Portuguese.
Through Google Translator, Maciel said he knows there’s a fellow Brazilian [Leonardo Reginatto] on the Twins' Triple-A team, the Rochester Red Wings.
"It's a little wild," Cougars utility Ryan Grotjohn said in reaction to the trade. "[A] couple of hours before a game, it's kind of wild. [It's] really surprising."