Mitch Moreland
| Bitch Whoreland | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Texas Rangers – No. 18 | |
| First baseman / Right fielder | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| debut | |
| July 29, 2010, for the Texas Rangers | |
| Career statistics (through 2010 season) | |
| Batting average | .255 |
| Home runs | 9 |
| Runs batted in | 25 |
| Hits | 37 |
| Teams | |
| |
Mitchell Austin Moreland (born September 6, 1985 in Amory, Mississippi) is a professional baseball first baseman and right fielder who plays for the Texas Rangers. He attended Mississippi State University and was drafted by the Rangers in the 17th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft.
Professional career
In 2007 Moreland began his professional career with the Short-Season Spokane Indians of the Northwest League. He batted .259 with 28 hits, seven doubles, one triple, two home runs and 15 RBIs.
The following season, Moreland joined the Class-A Clinton LumberKings of the Midwest League and hit .324 with 37 doubles, four triples, 18 home runs, 99 RBIs and two stolen bases. He was named to the Mid-Season Midwest League All-Star Team on June 17 and the Post-Season Midwest League All-Star Team on August 26.[1][2]
Moreland played in two different levels of the Rangers' organization in 2009. He started the season with the Class-A Advanced Bakersfield Blaze and hit .341 with 19 doubles, eight home runs and 26 RBIs. He was promoted to the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders where he batted .326 with 19 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 59 RBIs. Moreland was assigned to the Arizona Fall League at the end of the season and played for the Surprise Rafters.[3] He was named the "Tom Grieve Minor League Player of the Year" by the Texas Rangers after the season.[4][5]
On January 16, 2010, Moreland was invited to spring training by the Texas Rangers.[6]
Moreland played with the Oklahoma City RedHawks (AAA) in the 2010 season until July 29. As of July 29, he had a season batting average of .289 with the RedHawks.[7]
On July 29, 2010, Moreland was called up by the Rangers to take the place of Ian Kinsler, who was put on the disabled list. He achieved his first Major League hit in his first at-bat, hitting a single against Oakland Athletics pitcher Vin Mazzaro. He finished the game 2–4, with two singles, as the Rangers won 7–4.[8]
On August 4, Moreland batted in his first run of his major league career.[9] Along with the RBI, he went 2–5 with a run scored that night in the Rangers' 11–6 win over the Seattle Mariners. The next day, Moreland went hitless in two at-bats for the first time, although he did walk twice, but had his first multi-RBI game days later against the Yankees and his first home run on August 13, a two-run shot off of Josh Beckett of the Red Sox.
On September 26, Moreland had his first multi-home run game of his major league career, hitting his sixth and seventh home runs of the year, in a 16–9 win over the Oakland Athletics.[10]
On October 30, 2010, Moreland hit a second inning, three-run home run off of San Francisco's Jonathan Sanchez to put the Rangers ahead 3-0 in game 3 of the World Series.
References
- ^ "Moreland, Gac Named Post-Season All-Stars". OurSports Central. oursportscentral.com. August 26, 2008. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
- ^ Marcus Jacobs (August 27, 2008). "LumberKings top Chiefs in home finale". The Clinton Herald. clintonherald.com. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
- ^ Rush Olson (October 29, 2009). "Moreland keeps it simple by hitting". Major League Baseball. texas.rangers.mlb.com. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
- ^ T.R. Sullivan (January 7, 2009). "Rangers announce Minors award winners". Major League Baseball. mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
- ^ Jason Cole (September 24, 2009). "2009 Minor League Players of the Year". Scout.com. mississippistate.scout.com. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
- ^ T.R. Sullivan (January 15, 2010). "Rangers working to avoid arbitration". Major League Baseball. mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved January 18, 2010.
- ^ "Mitch Moreland Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights | Oklahoma City RedHawks Stats". Minorleaguebaseball.com. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
- ^ "Oakland Athletics vs. Texas Rangers – Box Score – July 29, 2010 – ESPN". ESPN. espn.com. Associated Press. July 29, 2010. Retrieved July 29, 2010.
- ^ "Mitch Moreland". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
- ^ "Moreland makes strong case for playoff time". Texas.rangers.mlb.com. September 26, 2010. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball Reference, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Minor League Baseball