Eric Bruntlett

Eric Bruntlett
Free Agent – No. --
Utility player
Born: March 29, 1978 (1978-03-29)
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 27, 2003 for the Houston Astros
Career statistics (through 2009)
Batting average	.231
Home runs	11
Runs batted in	72
Stolen bases	31
Teams
Houston Astros (2003–2007) Philadelphia Phillies (2008–2009) Washington Nationals (2010 New York Yankees (2010
Career highlights and awards
World Series champion (2008) Unassisted triple play (August 23, 2009)

Eric Kevin Bruntlett (born March 29, 1978, in Lafayette, Indiana) is a former Major League Baseball player most notable for his years as a reserve infielder on the Philadelphia Phillies. Bruntlett also played for in the Houston Astros organization and the New York Yankees organization. He retired from baseball in November 2009 to spend more time with his family.

Early Years

Bruntlett is a 1996 graduate of William Henry Harrison High School in West Lafayette, Indiana where he was a two-time All-Indiana selection in both baseball and football. He attended Stanford University. During his tenure as a Cardinal, Stanford made 3 appearances in the College World Series.

Minor Leagues

Bruntlett was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 9th Round of the 2000 Amateur Entry Draft. He was assigned to the Martinsville Astros. He quickly progressed through the minor league system and reached the major leagues in 2003 with Houston.

Major leagues

Houston Astros

Throush his first years with the Astros, Bruntlett primarily served as a backup to shortstop Adam Everett but also played second base, third base, and the outfield. His best season was in 2006 where he hit .277 in 73 games. During that season, he posted a .412 batting average as a pinch hitter. On November 7, 2007, Bruntlett was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies along with Brad Lidge for Geoff Geary, Michael Bourn, and Mike Costanzo.

Philadelphia Phillies

2008

Bruntlett hit .217 with 46 hits, 2 home runs, and 15 RBIs.

His biggest mark was left in the post-season. He hit a home run in Game 2 of the World Series followed by a game winning run in Game 3 of the World Series. Bruntlett would cap off his World Series performance by scoring the series-clinching run in Game 5, allowing the Phillies to win their first World Series since 1980 and second overall.

2009

Bruntlett batting for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009.

Bruntlett performed the fifteenth unassisted triple play of the modern era in the bottom of the ninth inning on August 23, against the New York Mets at Citi Field, when he caught a line drive from Jeff Francoeur, tagged second base to double off Luis Castillo, and tagged Daniel Murphy as he was running to second base. Both Castillo and Murphy had reached base on misplays by Bruntlett. It was the second game-ending unassisted triple play in Major League Baseball history and the first in the National League, preserving a 9–7 Phillies win. Rather than accepting an assignment to Triple-A, Bruntlett was released by the Phillies on November 16.

Final Season

2010

On December 28, 2009, Bruntlett signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. He also received an invitation to Spring Training. He was reassigned at the end of Spring Training to minor league camp. He was released on June 2, 2010. On June 17, 2010, Bruntlett signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees; he was granted free agency on November 6, 2010. He decided to retire from baseball and be a stay-at-home dad rather than spend another year in AAA.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube