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Quintin Berry

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Quintin Berry
Berry with the Baltimore Orioles in 2014
Chicago Cubs – No. 33
Outfielder / Third Base Coach
Born: (1984-11-21) November 21, 1984 (age 39)
San Diego, California, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
May 23, 2012, for the Detroit Tigers
Last MLB appearance
October 1, 2017, for the Milwaukee Brewers
MLB statistics
Batting average.262
Home runs3
Runs batted in33
Teams
As player
As coach
Career highlights and awards

Quintin Lonell Berry (born November 21, 1984) is an American former professional baseball outfielder who is the third base coach for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, and Milwaukee Brewers.

Early career

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Berry played prep baseball at Morse High School in San Diego, California, where he also played football and basketball. He was a classmate and teammate of future Major League outfielder Adam Jones, and the two remain good friends.[1]

Berry played one season of baseball at Grossmont Junior College before moving on to San Diego State University (SDSU). Berry's head coach at SDSU was former major leaguer and Baseball Hall of Fame member Tony Gwynn.[2] He was named to the All-Mountain West Conference first team in 2005 and the second team in 2006.[3]

Career

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Philadelphia Phillies

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Berry was originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 25th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft out of high school, but did not sign. He was drafted three years later in the fifth round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies, with whom he signed within 48 hours.[4]

Berry played in the Phillies minor league system for 4+1⁄2 seasons before being designated for assignment on July 12, 2010.[5]

San Diego Padres

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He was claimed on waivers by the San Diego Padres two days later and spent the remainder of the 2010 season playing for the Double-A San Antonio Missions.

New York Mets

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On December 10, 2010, Berry was claimed by the New York Mets from the Padres in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft. The Mets released Berry during spring training in 2011.

Cincinnati Reds

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On April 21, 2011, Berry signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. He spent a majority of the season playing for the Carolina Mudcats in the Double-A Southern League. He made his Triple-A debut that same year, appearing in four games with the Louisville Bats.[6]

Detroit Tigers

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On November 9, 2011, Berry signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers. He was assigned to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens following spring training in 2012.[7]

Berry with the Detroit Tigers.

Berry's contract was purchased by the Tigers on May 23, 2012, and he was added to the 25-man roster.[8] He made his debut the same day, replacing an injured Austin Jackson in centerfield and batting leadoff.[9] His first MLB hit came in the form of a rare bunt double.[10]

Berry became the first Detroit Tigers player since 1918 to hit safely in his first six games as a Tiger.[11] On June 17, 2012, Berry became just the third Tigers rookie to have five hits in a game since 1999. Seven days later, on June 24, 2012, he hit his first big-league home run in a 3–2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Berry was added to the Tigers postseason roster following the conclusion of the 2012 regular season.[12]

Berry was named the 2012 Detroit Tigers Rookie of the Year by the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association. He led the major leagues in stolen base percentage with a 100% success rate (21 for 21 in the regular season and two for two in the playoffs), and he also finished 10th in the American League in triples, with six.[4] The 21 stolen bases set an American League record for most stolen bases in a season without a single caught stealing, surpassing the previous record of 20 set by Paul Molitor in 1994.[13]

Berry participated in the 2012 World Series, which pitted the Tigers against the San Francisco Giants. He played in all four games and was hitless in eight at-bats, drawing a single base on balls[4] as the Giants swept the Tigers.[14]

Before the 2013 season, Berry entered spring training in competition for a spot on the Tigers 25-man roster. On March 27, he was optioned to the Toledo Mud Hens, the Tigers Triple-A minor league affiliate. Berry hit .323 (10-for-31) with seven RBIs, three walks and six strikeouts in Grapefruit League play, but had also missed some time due to patellar tendinitis.[15][16]

Berry began the 2013 season playing for the Toledo Mud Hens. However, Berry was designated for assignment when Detroit traded for Francisco Martínez to make room for Martínez on the 40 man roster.[17] Berry was designated for assignment on June 2, 2013.

Kansas City Royals

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On June 4, the Kansas City Royals claimed Berry off waivers and assigned him to their Triple-A minor league affiliate the Omaha Storm Chasers.[18]

Boston Red Sox

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On August 27, 2013, Berry was traded to the Boston Red Sox for Clayton Mortensen.[19] He appeared in only 13 regular season games for the Red Sox, but hit .625 with a home run, 4 runs batted in and 3 stolen bases, earning him a postseason roster spot for his base-stealing abilities. Berry did not have a plate appearance in the 2013 postseason, but made three pinch-running appearances and went 3 for 3 in stolen base attempts, earning his first career World Series ring when the Red Sox defeated the St. Louis Cardinals for the title. The Red Sox released Berry on December 23, 2013.[20]

Baltimore Orioles

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Berry signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles on January 3, 2014. On June 12, 2014, while playing for the Norfolk Tides, he was ejected by an umpire after hitting a single. Berry proceeded to run the bases, slide into home, and then yell profanities at the umpires. The video of this bizarre incident was played on several sports television shows, including Keith Olbermann's.[21]

Second Stint With Red Sox

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On January 18, 2015, Berry once again signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox. He opted out of his contract and was released by the Red Sox on August 21, 2015.

Chicago Cubs

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Berry signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs on August 25, 2015.[22] He appeared in eight games for the major league club in 2015, mostly as a pinch runner and defensive replacement. He had one plate appearance and two stolen bases at the major league level that season.[23]

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

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Berry signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on December 2, 2015.[24] He was released on August 23, 2016.[25]

Toronto Blue Jays

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Berry signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on September 1, 2016, and was assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.[26] Berry was released by the Bisons on September 7.[27]

Minnesota Twins

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On February 11, 2017, Berry signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins.[28] He was released on May 9, 2017.

Long Island Ducks

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On July 2, 2017, Berry signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

Milwaukee Brewers

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On August 17, 2017, Berry signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.[29] His contract was selected by the Brewers on September 5. He was outrighted to AAA and elected free agency on November 2, 2017. He re-signed with the Brewers on another minor league deal in February 2018.[30] He spent the majority of the season with the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox, posting a .214 average over 42 games played, before he was released on August 23, 2018.

New York Yankees

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Berry signed a minor league deal with the New York Yankees on August 27, 2018, and was assigned to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

Coaching career

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Milwaukee Brewers

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Berry announced his retirement on Twitter on November 9, 2018, and took a coaching job with the Milwaukee Brewers on the same day.[31] On November 4, 2020, it was announced that Berry would be the first base coach for the Brewers in 2021. On October 29, 2024, it was reported that the Brewers were not expected to retain him for the 2025 Major League Baseball season.

Chicago Cubs

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On October 31, 2024, it was reported that Berry would be joining the Chicago Cubs organization as their third-base coach.[32]

References

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  1. ^ Farrell, Perry A. (July 3, 2012). "Tigers' Quintin Berry, Orioles All-Star Adam Jones: Best friends since 7 years old". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  2. ^ "Player Bio: Quintin Berry". Goaztecs.cstv.com. November 21, 1984. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  3. ^ "2006 All-MWC Baseball Team Announced". Themwc.com. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c "Quintin Berry Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  5. ^ "Quintin Berry Latest Updates Fantasy Baseball at CBSSports.com". Fantasynews.cbssports.com. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  6. ^ "Quintin Berry Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. November 21, 1984. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  7. ^ 26 maart (March 26, 2012). "Twitter / tigers: Tigers optioned Turner to". Twitter.com. Retrieved June 5, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Jackson could be DL bound; Berry recalled". Detroit.tigers.mlb.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  9. ^ "Berry completes six-year trek to big leagues". Detroit.tigers.mlb.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  10. ^ Beck, Jason. "Miscues, missed opportunities doom Tigers". MLB.com. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  11. ^ Windsor, Shawn (May 28, 2012). "Tigers outfielder Quintin Berry turns heads with his bat, speed". freep.com. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  12. ^ "Quintin Berry's play keeps Brennan Boesch off Tigers' playoff roster | Detroit Tigers". freep.com. October 7, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  13. ^ "Stolen Bases Records by Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com.
  14. ^ "Giants top Tigers in 10th for World Series sweep". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 28, 2012. Archived from the original on October 29, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  15. ^ "Detroit Tigers option Quintin Berry to Toledo, need to trim three more from roster before Opening Day". MLive.com. March 27, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  16. ^ "Tigers option Berry to Toledo; Don Kelly makes team". Wxyz.com. February 15, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  17. ^ Iott, Chris (June 2, 2013). "Detroit Tigers trade for Francisco Martinez, designate outfielder Quintin Berry for assignment". MLive.com. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  18. ^ "Royals claim Quintin Berry off waivers from Tigers". Hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. April 29, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  19. ^ Macpherson, Brian (August 27, 2013). "Red Sox acquire pinch-runner Quintin Berry". The Providence Journal Co. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  20. ^ "Orioles claim catcher Lavarnway off waivers from Cubs". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 23, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  21. ^ "Minor league baseball player Quintin Berry runs bases, slides into home after being ejected". USA Today. June 12, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  22. ^ Nocco, Joseph (August 25, 2015). "Cubs Add Minor League Base Stealer Quintin Berry". todaysknuckleball.com. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  23. ^ "Quintin Berry". fangraphs.com. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  24. ^ "Angels' Quintin Berry: Signs minor league deal with Angels". December 5, 2015. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
  25. ^ "Quintin Berry: Released by Angels". cbssports.com. August 23, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  26. ^ "Blue Jays' Quintin Berry: Inks minor league deal with Blue Jays". September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  27. ^ "International League Transactions". MiLB.com. p. September 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  28. ^ "Twins' Quintin Berry: Signs minor league contract". cbssports.com. February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2017.
  29. ^ "atlanticleague.com: Statistics". alpb.bbstats.pointstreak.com.
  30. ^ Todd, Jeff (February 12, 2018). "Minor MLB Transactions: 2/12/18". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  31. ^ "13 years ago was my start in professional baseball with the Philadelphia Phillies. Grateful for every opportunity with ever organization throughout my journey. Can't retire in the minors... so I quit! 🤣 New chapter starts now with the Milwaukee Brewers". November 9, 2018.
  32. ^ "Cubs planning to add Quintin Berry to Craig Counsell's coaching staff: Sources". October 31, 2024.
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