Joe Borchard

Joe Borchard
Borchard, with the Marlins in June 2007
Outfielder
Born: November 25, 1978 (1978-11-25) Panorama City, Los Angeles, California
Batted: Switch	Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 2, 2002 for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
August 5, 2007 for the Florida Marlins
Career statistics
Batting average	.205
Home runs	26
Runs batted in	77
Teams
Chicago White Sox (2002–2005) Seattle Mariners (2006) Florida Marlins (2006–2007)

Medal record
Men’s baseball
Competitor for United States
Baseball World Cup
Silver	2001 Taipei	National team

Joseph Edward Borchard (born November 25, 1978) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He last played in the major leagues in 2007. Borchard was the 12th pick of the first round in the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft out of Stanford University by the Chicago White Sox. In high school he won a division III state football championship at Adolfo Camarillo High School as the starting quarterback. He also played quarterback for Stanford and took a $5.3 million signing bonus to play for the White Sox. The signing bonus was the highest ever given to a player for a minor league contract until Justin Upton received $6.1 million to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2005. Drafted for his blend of talent and baseball intellect, Borchard posted extremely impressive numbers while at Stanford University, both as an outfielder and a quarterback.^{[citation needed]}

Borchard's career with the White Sox was less than impressive, as he struggled to make consistent contact, which has continued to plague him throughout his career. Borchard's most significant big league playing time came in the 2004 season, where he received 201 at-bats. He hit .174 that year with 9 home runs and 20 RBI. Borchard's most notable feat was setting the US Cellular Field home run distance record, yet to be eclipsed at 504 feet off Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brett Myers. Chicago White Sox general manager Kenny Williams believes that Borchard still has a great professional baseball career ahead of him if he can "get the football mentality out of him."^{[citation needed]} To which Borchard replied, "have you ever won a state championship for football?"

Borchard was traded to the Seattle Mariners on March 20, 2006, for Matt Thornton, a left-handed relief pitcher. On May 3, 2006, the Florida Marlins claimed Borchard off waivers.

The Atlanta Braves signed Borchard to a minor league contract during the 2007 MLB winter meetings in Nashville, Tennessee.

On May 28, 2008, Borchard had season ending Tommy John surgery, but was re-signed by the Braves for the 2009 season. However, on April 24, Borchard was released.

On May 28, 2009 Borchard signed with the Giants. He played for the organization's AAA affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies, for the next two years. On May 3, 2010, he became the second Grizzly to hit for the cycle (joining Nate Schierholtz) when he went five for six in the Grizzlies' 14–4 victory over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.

On March 25, 2011 Borchard signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. On June 2, 2011, he announced his retirement from baseball.

Personal

Born in the Panorama City neighborhood of Los Angeles, Borchard attended Adolfo Camarillo High School in Camarillo, California.

External links

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