Scott Podsednik
| Scott Podsednik | |
|---|---|
 Podsednik at bat with the White Sox |
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| Philadelphia Phillies – No. -- | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: March 18, 1976 West, Texas |
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| Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
| MLB debut | |
| July 6, 2001 for the Seattle Mariners | |
| Career statistics (through 2010 season) |
|
| Batting average | .279 |
| Home runs | 41 |
| Runs batted in | 300 |
| Stolen bases | 301 |
| Hits | 1,036 |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Scott Eric Podsednik (pronounced /pədˈsɛdnɨk/; born March 18, 1976 in West, Texas) is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Podsednik led the major leagues in stolen bases in 2004 with 70.
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[edit] Professional career
[edit] Minor leagues
Podsednik was drafted out of West High School in the 3rd round, 85th overall, in the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft by the Texas Rangers. He began his professional career with the Gulf Coast Rangers in 1994. The Rangers traded him (along with Wilson Heredia) to the Florida Marlins for pitcher Bobby Witt on October 8, 1995. He spent the next two seasons playing for the Marlins class-A affiliates.
On December 15, 1997 he returned to the Rangers in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft. He was promoted to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers in 1998. He remained with Tulsa through the 2000 season when he was granted free agency.
He signed with the Seattle Mariners as a minor league free agent and was placed at the Triple-A level with the Tacoma Rainiers.
[edit] Major leagues
[edit] Seattle Mariners
He made his Major League debut on July 6, 2001 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, pinch-running for Ichiro Suzuki. In his first career major league at-bat, against the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 15, he hit a bases loaded triple.[1]
In 2002, Podsednik played mostly at Triple-A Tacoma, but was activated for 14 Major League games, hitting his first major-league home run during that time.
[edit] Milwaukee Brewers
After the 2002 season, Podsednik was acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers organization from Seattle for $20,000. After experiencing a brief cancer scare, Podsednik rebounded with a fine rookie season in Milwaukee, compiling a .314 batting average, 43 stolen bases, 100 runs scored, 175 hits, 29 doubles, eight triples, nine home runs, 58 runs batted in, 56 walks and a .379 on-base percentage for the Brewers. While only inserted permanently into the starting lineup in mid-May, Podsednik still finished second to the Florida Marlins' Dontrelle Willis in the official Rookie of the Year balloting.[2]
The 2004 season saw Podsednik lead the league with 70 stolen bases.
[edit] Chicago White Sox
In December 2004 Posednik was dealt to the Chicago White Sox (along with Travis Hinton and Luis Vizcaíno) for Carlos Lee. After leading all of the Major Leagues in steals the first half of 2005 he was selected to his first All-Star game via the MLB's All-Star Final Vote. He saw only defensive time in Detroit that year and did not get a chance to bat.
Podsednik ended 2005 with 59 steals (second in the American League) and 23 times caught stealing (leading the major leagues) despite missing several games due to injury. In the post-season he started all 12 games and hit .286 while stealing 6 bases on 9 attempts. In Game 2 of the 2005 World Series, while facing Brad Lidge in the bottom of the 9th inning, with the White Sox and Astros tied at 6, Podsednik hit a 2-1 fastball into the right field stands for a walk-off home run, only the 14th in World Series history. The feat was all the more improbable because Podsednik did not hit any home runs during the regular season in 2005, and had only hit 1 in the ALDS against the Red Sox.
On November 20, 2007, Podsednik was designated for assignment and released on November 28, 2007.[3]
[edit] Colorado Rockies
On February 5, 2008, he signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Colorado Rockies.[4] He appeared in 93 games for the Rockies and hit .253. A free agent at the end of the season, he re-signed with the Rockies on January 14, 2009.[5] But he was released before the 2009 season started.
[edit] Return to Chicago White Sox
On April 14, 2009, Podsednik agreed to return to the White Sox on a minor-league deal, assigning him to the AAA Charlotte Knights. On April 30, the White Sox called Podsednik from Charlotte to play on White Sox 25-man roster. Podsednik was given plenty of playing time upon his recall, with injuries to Sox center fielders DeWayne Wise and Brian Anderson, as well as left fielder Carlos Quentin. He impressed upon his return, batting .319 through his first 45 games back on the South Side.
[edit] Kansas City Royals
On January 8, 2010, Podsednik signed a contract with the Kansas City Royals. He hit .309 in 94 games with the Royals, including stealing 30 bases.
[edit] Los Angeles Dodgers
On July 28, 2010, the Royals traded Podsednik to the Los Angeles Dodgers in return for two minor league players, catcher Lucas May and pitcher Elisaul Pimentel. He appeared in 39 games for the Dodgers, with a .262 batting average and 5 stolen bases. He was shut down for the season in early September because of a foot injury.[6] After the season, he declined his half of a mutual option and became a free agent.
[edit] Toronto Blue Jays
On February 16, 2011, Podsednik signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. He played for the Las Vegas 51s in the Pacific Coast League as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He was released on May 11.[7]
[edit] Philadelphia Phillies
Podsednik signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on May 22, 2011.[8] He was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, and was limited to playing in just 14 games due to injuries.
The Phillies signed Podsednik to another minor league deal on November 30, 2011.[9]
[edit] Personal
He is married to Playboy Playmate Lisa Dergan Podsednik.
[edit] See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball stolen base champions
[edit] References
- ^ Jayson Stark (2001-07-21). "Debut of the week". ESPN.com. http://static.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/stark_jayson/1229239.html. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
- ^ "Baseball Awards Voting for 2003". http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2003.shtml. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
- ^ Scott Merkin (2007-11-20). "Podsednik given his release by Sox". MLB.com. http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071120&content_id=2305432&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
- ^ Thomas Harding (2008-02-05). "Rockies sign Podsednik, Zambrano". MLB.com. http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080205&content_id=2365228&vkey=news_col&fext=.jsp&c_id=col. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
- ^ Troy Renck (2009-01-14). "Rockies re-sign Podsednik on minor-league deal". denverpost.com. http://blogs.denverpost.com/rockies/2009/01/14/rockies-re-sign-podsednik-on-minor-league-deal/. Retrieved 2009-01-14.
- ^ Foot issue keeps Scott Podsednik out
- ^ Blue Jays Release Scott Podsednik, MLBTradeRumors.com, May 11, 2011.
- ^ Phillies Sign Scott Podsednik, MLBTradeRumors.com, May 22, 2011.
- ^ Seidman, Corey. Phils add depth with Podsednik, Misch, Frandsen, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia. Published November 30, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Brad Wilkerson |
Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year 2003 |
Succeeded by Jason Bay |
| Preceded by Jason Jennings |
Players Choice NL Most Outstanding Rookie 2003 |
Succeeded by Jason Bay |
| Preceded by Juan Pierre |
National League Stolen Base Champion 2004 |
Succeeded by José Reyes |
|
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- 1976 births
- Living people
- Seattle Mariners players
- Milwaukee Brewers players
- Chicago White Sox players
- Colorado Rockies players
- Kansas City Royals players
- Los Angeles Dodgers players
- American League All-Stars
- American people of Czech descent
- Baseball players from Texas
- Major League Baseball outfielders
- National League stolen base champions
- People from West, Texas
- Gulf Coast Rangers players
- Hudson Valley Renegades players
- Brevard County Manatees players
- Kane County Cougars players
- Charlotte Rangers players
- Tulsa Drillers players
- Tacoma Rainiers players
- Charlotte Knights players
- Colorado Springs Sky Sox players
- Dunedin Blue Jays players
- Las Vegas 51s players
- Lehigh Valley IronPigs players
