Hank Conger

Hank Conger

Conger with the Tampa Bay Rays
Free agent
Catcher
Born: (1988-01-29) January 29, 1988
Federal Way, Washington
Bats: Switch Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 11, 2010, for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
MLB statistics
(through July 19, 2016)
Batting average .221
Home runs 31
Runs batted in 114
Teams
Korean name
Hangul 최현
Revised Romanization Choe Hyeon
McCune–Reischauer Ch'oe Hyŏn

Hyun Choi "Hank" Conger (born January 29, 1988) is an American professional baseball catcher who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Houston Astros. He is of Korean descent.

Background

Conger was born in Federal Way, Washington, but raised in Huntington Beach, California. 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.[1] Conger had planned on attending the University of Southern California if he had not been drafted in the first round.[2]

Professional career

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Conger during his tenure with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2011

Conger was drafted 25th overall by the Angels in 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.[3]

He was promoted to the major leagues as part of September call-ups on September 7, 2010.[4] 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.[5] His first home run came off of Jeff Niemann on April 5, 2011.

On July 19, 2011, Conger was optioned to AAA Salt Lake Bees to make room 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.[6]

Houston Astros

On November 5, 2014, he was traded to the Houston Astros in exchange for Nick Tropeano and Carlos Perez.[7] Despite hitting 11 homers in a part time role for the Astros, Conger did not control the running game. Opposing base runners stole 42 out of 43 times off of Conger, the worst in MLB.

Tampa Bay Rays

On December 2, 2015, the Tampa Bay Rays acquired Conger for cash considerations.[8] Conger opened the 2016 season in a platoon with Curt Casali.[9] Conger hit .194 before being optioned to the Durham Bulls on July 11, 2016.[10]

References

  1. "Where are they now featured people". Cooperstown Dreams Park, Inc. 2010. Retrieved 2014-07-12.
  2. Conger's mother marvels at son's MLB dream. MLB.com.
  3. "Hank Conger's 3-run homer lifts U.S. team to Futures win - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. 2010-07-12. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  4. Drellich, Evan (2010-09-06). "Trumbo, Conger among Angels' callups | angelsbaseball.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  5. Spencer, Lyle (2010-09-15). "Conger, Weaver team up to top Indians". MLB. MLB.com. Retrieved 2010-09-15.
  6. Ely, David (2011-08-20). "Conger competing in Halos' catching logjam". MLB. MLB.com. Retrieved 2014-07-12.
  7. "Rays trade LHP Ramos to Angels for minor leaguer". ESPN. Associated Press. 2014-11-05. Retrieved 2014-11-05. Earlier in the day, the Angels traded catcher Hank Conger to Houston for righty Nick Tropeano and minor league catcher Carlos Perez.
  8. Rays trade for Astros catcher Hank Conger. Tampa Bay Times.
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