CINCINNATI - Xavier baseball senior catcher Nate Soria signed a professional contract with the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, giving XU a third player with the opportunity to play at the next level this summer.
Soria was named to the Johnny Bench Award Watch List twice in his career and hit .270 with eight homers and 26 RBI as a senior. He also led the team in stolen bases, going 13-for-14 in steal attempts.
A two-time BIG EAST Champion, Soria was a .265 hitter in his career. The Homer Glen, Ill. native was a lineup mainstay over his four years, appearing in 213 games and collecting 21 homers and 111 RBI.