University of St. Thomas Athletics
Baseball
- Title:
- Volunteer Assistant Coach
Trey Vavra returns to the St. Thomas baseball coaching staff in 2023 as a volunteer assistant coach. He spent the 2022 season on the Minnesota coaching staff after coaching with the Tommies from 2019-21.
During his lone season with the Gophers, Vavra helped the team to a .965 fielding percentage and cut down its errors by 20 percent from the 2021 season. The Gophers improved both its fielding percentage and ERA from the previous year with the help of Vavra.
Vavra previously served on the Tommie Baseball coaching staff from 2019-21, helping the Purple to a 63-28 record (28-11 MIAC). He was part of the program’s 2021 MIAC Championship team that made a run to the NCAA Division III College World Series, where they finished as the national runner-up. Vavra oversaw the St. Thomas defense, served as the lead base running instructor, and assisted Tanner Vavra with the hitters.
The Tommie defense under Vavra was among the best in the country as the squad finished the 2021 season with a .975 fielding percentage. He developed Sam Kulesa into an ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division II Gold Glove selection after posting a .994 fielding percentage in 2021, recording just one error in 181 chances with 25 double plays turned. Vavra oversaw six Tommie regular that posted fielding percentages above .980 on the season, leading to the sixth best ERA nationally.
As a professional in affiliated minor league baseball, Vavra hit .319 with 22 extra base hits and 34 RBIs in his first season for the Elizabethton Twins of the Appalachian Rookie League in 2014. He continued his torrid hitting in the following years while being named a Midwest League All-Star and Florida State League All-Star, in addition to taking third at the 2016 FSL Home Run Derby. Vavra finished his last three years as a professional playing for the Sioux Falls Canaries and the Chicago Dogs of the American Association.
Vavra played collegiately at Madison Area College for two seasons, playing for Head Coach Mike Davenport, where he earned the Madison College Sportsperson of the Year in 2012 and was the NJCAA National Defensive Player of the Year in both 2011 and 2012. He then played a season at both Eastern Illinois and Florida Southern before being drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 2014 MLB Draft (33rd Round).
The native of Menomonie, Wis., was a three-sport athlete at Menomonie High School where he was named the 2010 Big Rivers Conference Player of the Year, MVP, and earned Wisconsin All-State honors.
Vavra is the second oldest of three boys in the Vavra family to Lesa and Joe Vavra. His father, Joe, served as quality control coach and hitting coach under Ron Gardenhire and Paul Molitor for the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers. His older brother, Tanner, is currently the top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of St. Thomas. He also played professionally with the Minnesota Twins from 2013-2015. His younger brother, Terrin, is in his second season with the Baltimore Orioles.
