Hank Conger
Hank Conger | |
---|---|
![]() Conger with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016 | |
Minnesota Twins – No. 35 | |
Catcher/Coach | |
Born: Federal Way, Washington, U.S. | January 29, 1988|
Batted: Switch Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 11, 2010, for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | |
Last MLB appearance | |
July 8, 2016, for the Tampa Bay Rays | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .221 |
Home runs | 31 |
Runs batted in | 114 |
Teams | |
As player
As coach
|
Korean name | |
Hangul | 최현 |
---|---|
Revised Romanization | Choe Hyeon |
McCune–Reischauer | Ch'oe Hyŏn |
Hyun Choi "Hank" Conger (born January 29, 1988) is a Korean American professional baseball catcher and coach. He is the first base and catching coach for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball (MLB). Conger was selected in the first round, with the 25th overall selection, of the 2006 MLB draft. He played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Houston Astros, and the Tampa Bay Rays from 2010 to 2016. Conger coached for the Lotte Giants of the KBO League from 2020 to 2021 before joining the Twins as a coach in 2022.
Early life
[edit]Conger was born in Federal Way, Washington, but was raised in Huntington Beach, California. Conger's mother, Eun, immigrated from South Korea in 1986 and his father, Yun, was adopted from Korea by a United States Navy petty officer and raised in the United States.[1][2]
Conger originally played basketball due to his size, but began playing baseball at the age of eight and turned his focus there instead. Conger graduated from Huntington Beach High School in 2006, where he was a second team All-American and Gatorade Player of the Year.[3] Conger had planned to attend the University of Southern California if he had not been drafted in the first round.[1]
Professional career
[edit]Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/20110917-1504_Hank_Conger.jpg/220px-20110917-1504_Hank_Conger.jpg)
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim selected Conger in the first round, with the 25th overall selection, of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft. He was selected to represent the United States in the 2010 All-Star Futures Game. He hit a three-run home run, earning him MVP honors.[4]
He was promoted to the major leagues as part of September call-ups on September 7, 2010.[5] He made his major league debut on September 11, 2010, as a pinch hitter for Hideki Matsui. His first hit in the major leagues came off of Cleveland Indians pitcher Jeanmar Gómez on September 15, 2010.[6] His first home run came off of Jeff Niemann on April 5, 2011.
On July 19, 2011, Conger was optioned to the Salt Lake Bees of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL) to make room on the Angels' active roster for Tyler Chatwood. At the time, Conger was hitting .194 and opponents had been successful at stealing bases 48 out of 56 attempts against him. On August 18, 2011, the Angels recalled Conger.[7]
Houston Astros
[edit]On November 5, 2014, the Angels traded Conger to the Houston Astros in exchange for Nick Tropeano and Carlos Perez.[8] Despite hitting 11 homers in a part time role for the Astros, Conger did not control the running game.
Tampa Bay Rays
[edit]On December 2, 2015, the Tampa Bay Rays acquired Conger for cash considerations.[9] Conger opened the 2016 season in a platoon with Curt Casali.[10] Conger hit .194 before being optioned to the Durham Bulls on July 11, 2016.[11]
Arizona Diamondbacks
[edit]Conger signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on February 9, 2017.[12] He played in 58 games for the Triple–A Reno Aces, batting .239/.316/.394 with six home runs and 40 RBI.[13] Conger was released by the Diamondbacks organization on July 28.[14]
Pericos de Puebla
[edit]On May 4, 2018, Conger signed with the Pericos de Puebla of the Mexican League. He was released on July 11.
Post-playing career
[edit]Lotte Giants
[edit]On December 24, 2019, Conger joined the coaching staff of the Lotte Giants of the Korea Baseball Organization as the new catching coach.[15]
Minnesota Twins
[edit]On December 10, 2021, the Minnesota Twins hired Conger as the first base and catching coach.[16]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Gonzalez, Alden (May 10, 2013). "Angels catcher Hank Conger's mother marvels at son's MLB dream". Los Angeles Angels. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
- ^ Whicker, Mark (December 25, 2006). "An Angel's life told as an American story". Orange County Register. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
- ^ "Where are they now — featured people". Cooperstown Dreams Park, Inc. 2010. Archived from the original on July 24, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ "Hank Conger's 3-run homer lifts U.S. team to Futures win - ESPN". ESPN. July 12, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
- ^ Drellich, Evan (September 6, 2010). "Trumbo, Conger among Angels' callups | angelsbaseball.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
- ^ Spencer, Lyle (September 15, 2010). "Conger, Weaver team up to top Indians". MLB. MLB.com. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
- ^ Ely, David (August 20, 2011). "Conger competing in Halos' catching logjam". MLB. MLB.com. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ "Rays trade LHP Ramos to Angels for minor leaguer". ESPN. Associated Press. November 5, 2014. Retrieved November 5, 2014.
Earlier in the day, the Angels traded catcher Hank Conger to Houston for righty Nick Tropeano and minor league catcher Carlos Perez.
- ^ Rays trade for Astros catcher Hank Conger. Tampa Bay Times.
- ^ "Fantasy Sports: Football, Baseball, Basketball, Hockey & More - USATODAY.com". USA TODAY.
- ^ "Rays option Conger to Durham". MLB.com.
- ^ McManaman, Bob. "Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Hank Conger out with oblique strain". The Arizona Republic.
- ^ "Minor league update: Former Edison High standout contributing for Jupiter". Daily Pilot. August 5, 2017.
- ^ "Minor MLB Transactions: 7/31/17". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
- ^ KIM HYO-KYUNG, KANG YOO-RIM. "Conger emphasizes focus to Giants’ catchers," Korea JoongAng Daily (April 12, 2020).
- ^ "Press release: Twins add Hank Conger to Major League coaching staff". MLB.com.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Hank Conger on X
- 1988 births
- Living people
- American baseball players of Korean descent
- American expatriate baseball people in South Korea
- American expatriate baseball players in Mexico
- American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela
- American people of North Korean descent
- Arizona League Angels players
- Arkansas Travelers players
- Baseball players from Huntington Beach, California
- Baseball players from King County, Washington
- Cedar Rapids Kernels players
- Durham Bulls players
- Houston Astros players
- Huntington Beach High School alumni
- Los Angeles Angels players
- Lotte Giants coaches
- Major League Baseball catchers
- Major League Baseball first base coaches
- Mesa Solar Sox players
- Mexican League baseball catchers
- Minnesota Twins coaches
- Navegantes del Magallanes players
- Pericos de Puebla players
- Rancho Cucamonga Quakes players
- Reno Aces players
- Salt Lake Bees players
- Scottsdale Scorpions players
- Sportspeople from Federal Way, Washington
- Tampa Bay Rays players