Blake Lalli
Blake Lalli | |
---|---|
First baseman / Catcher | |
Born: Gibsonia, Pennsylvania | May 12, 1983|
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
May 18, 2012, for the Chicago Cubs | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 29, 2016, for the Atlanta Braves | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .135 |
Home runs | 0 |
Runs batted in | 5 |
Teams | |
Blake Thomas Lalli (born May 12, 1983) is an American former professional baseball catcher and first baseman, former manager of the Kane County Cougars, and current manager of the Jackson Generals. He has also played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, and Atlanta Braves, and was a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.
Career
Amateur
Lalli graduated from Pine-Richland High School in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, in 2001.[1] He attended Gardner–Webb University from 2002 through 2006, where he played for the school's baseball team.[2] Lalli was named to the All-Atlantic Sun Conference's first team as a third baseman in 2005 and as a catcher in 2006.[2] In 2005, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3]
Chicago Cubs
Undrafted out of college, Lalli signed with the Chicago Cubs as a free agent in 2006. He was named a Southern League All-Star in 2009, 2010, and 2011.[4] The Cubs promoted Lalli to MLB on May 18, 2012, and he made his MLB debut that day.[4] He became the first GWU alumni to appear in MLB.[2]
Oakland Athletics
On August 27, 2012, the Athletics acquired Lalli from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for catcher Anthony Recker.[5]
Milwaukee Brewers
On November 14, 2012, the Milwaukee Brewers signed Lalli to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.[citation needed] On April 9, 2013, Lalli's contract was purchased and he was added to the Major League roster by the Brewers.[citation needed] He was designated for assignment on September 19, 2013 and became a free agent on October 1.[6]
Arizona Diamondbacks
Lalli signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks in October 2013. He became a minor league free agent after the 2014 season and on November 26, 2014, he signed a minor league deal to return with the team.[citation needed]
Atlanta Braves
On September 11, 2016, Lalli was called up from AAA Gwinnett Braves to the Atlanta Braves.[7] He was released on May 13, 2017.[8]
Second Stint With Diamondbacks
On June 7, 2017, Lalli signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.[9]
Retirement
For the 2018 season, Lalli was named the manager for the Kane County Cougars, the single-A affiliate of the Diamondbacks.[10]. After one year in the Chicago suburbs, he left to become manager of the Jackson Generals for the 2019 season.
Personal
Lalli resides in Boiling Springs, North Carolina during the baseball offseason.[2]
References
- ^ <<<=theobj.bylinetime>>>. "Pine-Richland pals Neil Walker and Blake Lalli find way to Pirates, Cubs | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Post-gazette.com. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Catcher Lalli first GWU player ever to get 'The Call' from the Cubs | ever, contract, thousands - The Star Online: The Newspaper of Cleveland County". Shelbystar.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
- ^ "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- ^ a b "Cubs select contract of Blake Lalli, Option Chris Volstad to Iowa | cubs.com: News". Chicago.cubs.mlb.com. May 18, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
- ^ foxsports (August 27, 2012). "Cubs, A's agree to Recker-Lalli deal". FOX Sports. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
- ^ "October 2013 minor league transactions". Milb.com. February 28, 2017. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
- ^ "Blake Lalli celebrating AAA series win when called to big leagues". Ajc.com. September 11, 2016. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
- ^ "Minor League Transactions: May 13–19". BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
- ^ "Transactions". Arizona Diamondbacks.
- ^ Miles, Bruce (February 9, 2018). "Former Cubs catcher starting new chapter as manager of Kane County Cougars".
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- 1983 births
- Living people
- Baseball coaches from Pennsylvania
- Baseball players from Pennsylvania
- Major League Baseball catchers
- Chicago Cubs players
- Milwaukee Brewers players
- Atlanta Braves players
- Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs baseball players
- Harwich Mariners players
- Iowa Cubs players
- Boise Hawks players
- Peoria Chiefs players
- Daytona Cubs players
- Tennessee Smokies players
- Caribes de Anzoátegui players
- Sacramento River Cats players
- Nashville Sounds players
- Reno Aces players
- Gwinnett Braves players
- Pine-Richland High School alumni
- Sportspeople from the Pittsburgh metropolitan area
- People from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
- People from Boiling Springs, North Carolina
- Minor league baseball managers