By Reporter Staff

The Toronto Blue Jays promoted former Kentwood High School star Matt Hague on Monday to the major leagues.

Toronto, which is one-half game behind the New York Yankees for first place in the American League East Division, called up Hague, 29, from its Triple-A Buffalo Bisons team where the corner infielder tore up opposing pitchers.

Hague, a 2004 Kentwood graduate, leads the International League in batting average at .348 (35 points higher than the second-best average); 83 RBI, 223 total bases and a .427 on-base percentage. He is third in doubles with 30, fourth in runs scored with 67 and second in walks with 57.

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the ninth round of the 2008 draft out of Oklahoma State University, Hague has 72 major league at bats from when he played with the Pirates in 2012 and 2014.

Toronto reportedly plans to use Hague, who is 6 feet 3 inches tall and 225 pounds, as a reserve first baseman or possibly a pinch-hitter in its series with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Blue Jays picked up Hague off of waivers from the Pirates a year ago.