Nick Green (baseball)

Nick Green
Nick Green
	Nick Green with The Red Sox in 2009
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 21
	Infielder
	Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
	May 15, 2004, for the Atlanta Braves
Career statistics ; (through July 6, 2010)
Batting average	.238
Home runs	16
Runs batted in	96
	Stats at Baseball Reference
	Managerial record at Baseball Reference
Teams
	Atlanta Braves (2004); Tampa Bay Devil Rays (2005–2006); New York Yankees (2006); Seattle Mariners (2007); Boston Red Sox (2009); Los Angeles Dodgers (2010); Toronto Blue Jays (2010–present);

Nicholas Anthony Green (born September 10, 1978, in Pensacola, Florida) is a Major League Baseball infielder for the Toronto Blue Jays. He also played in the International Baseball League of Australia before his MLB debut.^[1]

Career

Atlanta Braves

Green was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 32nd round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft after playing at Duluth High School and Georgia Perimeter College. After spending 5 1/2 seasons in the minors, he made his Major League debut on May 15, 2004 against the Milwaukee Brewers. His first hit came in his third at-bat of the game, in the Top of the 5th against Brooks Kieschnick, an RBI single to center. He hit .273 with the Braves. On July 2, 2004, Green hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 12th inning to lead the Braves to victory over the Boston Red Sox. He played in two games for the Braves in the 2004 National League Division Series, but had no at-bats.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Prior to the 2005 season, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays received Green in a trade with the Braves in return for right-handed pitcher Jorge Sosa. He hit .239 in 111 games for the Devil Rays in 2005 and then after appearing in only 17 games with them in 2006 he was designated for assignment on May 17th.

New York Yankees

On May 24, the New York Yankees acquired him for cash considerations. The Yankees assigned him to their Triple-A squad, the Columbus Clippers.

On July 2, 2006, Green made his first start for the Yankees, at second base. He contributed at the plate and in the field, hitting his first Yankee home run and throwing out a runner at the plate on a strong relay throw. He elected to become a free agent on October 17, 2006.

Seattle Mariners

After starting the season with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in 2007, Green was traded to the Seattle Mariners on June 20, 2007, and assigned to their Triple-A affiliate the Tacoma Rainiers. On September 4, Green was called up to the major league club. He appeared in six games for the Mariners and had 7 at-bats, without recording a hit.

Boston Red Sox

After spending the 2008 season back in the Yankees farm system, he signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Boston Red Sox, and won a spot on the opening day roster. After teammates Julio Lugo and Jed Lowrie were both placed on the DL early in the season, Green became the Red Sox's starting shortstop.

On June 21, 2009, Green hit a first pitch walk-off home run to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 6-5 victory over the Braves. Green's only other career walk off home run was ironically against the Red Sox while he was playing for the Braves.

On August 27, 2009, Green made his Major League pitching debut against the Chicago White Sox. After starter Junichi Tazawa struggled in early innings, Red Sox manager Terry Francona told Green that he would pitch the 8th inning. Green went into the dugout cages and pitched to outfielder Rocco Baldelli who reported that Green had a full repertoire of pitches, including a two-seam fastball and surprisingly enough a slider. Green was confused at first as to why he was pitching the eighth, and who would be pitching the ninth. With the Red Sox not scoring enough runs to warrant a new pitcher, Francona made the decision to pitch Green in the ninth inning as well.^[2] During his two innings of scoreless relief, Green walked 3 batters and allowed no hits and no runs on 35 pitches. He topped out at 90 mph on his fastball. He also threw one slider in the game.^[3] Green was the first Red Sox position player to go at least two innings of relief and not give up a hit since 1944. Green was also the first Red Sox position player to pitch multiple innings in a game since David McCarty did it in 2004.

Los Angeles Dodgers

On January 11, 2010, Green signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.^[4]

On April 4, 2010 he was the last man cut from Spring Training; he accepted a berth with the Albuquerque Isotopes, the Dodger's AAA franchise. He was promoted to the Dodgers on May 4, when Rafael Furcal was placed on the disabled list. On May 28, he was designated for assignment, and returned to the Isotopes. He was released by the Dodgers on June 16.

Toronto Blue Jays

On June 18, 2010, he signed a major league deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Mike McCoy was sent down to make room for him. On July 17, 2010 he was designated for assignment to make room for pitcher Shaun Marcum.

References

^ Flintoff and Dunn Alamanac
^ Green pitches in for Red Sox bullpen
^ http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2009/08/28/greens_fresh_arm_lends_a_hand/ "Green's fresh arm lends hand" (Boston Globe, Aug. 28, 2009)
^ http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2010/01/green_signs_wit.html

External links

Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs

[1] Flintoff and Dunn Alamanac

[2] Green pitches in for Red Sox bullpen

[3] ttp://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2009/08/28/greens_fresh_arm_lends_a_hand/ "Green's fresh arm lends hand" (Boston Globe, Aug. 28, 2009)

[4] ttp://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2010/01/green_signs_wit.html

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]