Quintin Berry

Quintin Berry

Berry with the Baltimore Orioles
Free agent
Outfielder
Born: (1984-11-21) November 21, 1984
San Diego, California
Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
May 23, 2012, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
(through 2015 season)
Batting average .265
Hits 80
Home runs 3
Runs batted in 33
Stolen bases 27
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Quintin Lonell Berry (born November 21, 1984) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Chicago Cubs.

Early career

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 current Baltimore Orioles 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]

Minor league career

Philadelphia Phillies

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 4½ seasons before being designated for assignment on July 12, 2010.[5]

San Diego Padres

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

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

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

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]

Before Opening Day 2013, Berry was sent down to the Triple-A Toledo. On June 2, 2013, Berry was designated for assignment by the Tigers.[8] He was then claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Royals, who optioned him to Triple-A Omaha.[9]

Major League career

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.[10] He made his debut the same day, replacing an injured Austin Jackson in centerfield and batting leadoff.[11] His first MLB hit came in the form of a rare bunt double.[12]

Berry became the first Detroit Tigers player since 1918 to hit safely in his first six games as a Tiger.[13] 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.[14]

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.[15]

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.[16]

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.[17][18]

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.[19] 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.[20]

Boston Red Sox

On August 27, 2013, Berry was traded to the Boston Red Sox for Clayton Mortensen.[21] 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.[22]

Baltimore Orioles

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.[23]

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

Chicago Cubs

Berry signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs on August 25, 2015.[24]

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Berry signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on December 2, 2015.[25] He was released on August 23, 2016.[26]

Toronto Blue Jays

Berry signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on September 1, 2016, and was assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.[27] Berry was released by the Bisons on September 7.[28]

References

  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. (subscription required (help)).
  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. 1 2 3 "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. "Twitter / tigers: Tigers optioned Turner to". Twitter.com. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  8. ↑ Sipple, George (June 2, 2013). "Tigers acquire Francisco Martinez from Seattle, designate Quintin Berry for assignment". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Retrieved June 2, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Royals claim Quintin Berry on outright waivers from Tigers". Kansascity.royals.mlb.com. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Jackson could be DL bound; Berry recalled". Detroit.tigers.mlb.com. Retrieved June 5, 2012.
  11. ↑ "Berry completes six-year trek to big leagues". Detroit.tigers.mlb.com. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  12. ↑ Beck, Jason. "Miscues, missed opportunities doom Tigers". MLB.com. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
  13. ↑ Windsor, Shawn (May 28, 2012). "Tigers outfielder Quintin Berry turns heads with his bat, speed". freep.com. Retrieved June 17, 2014. (subscription required (help)).
  14. ↑ "Quintin Berry's play keeps Brennan Boesch off Tigers' playoff roster | Detroit Tigers". freep.com. October 7, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  15. ↑ http://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_stba.shtml
  16. ↑ "Giants top Tigers in 10th for World Series sweep". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 28, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  17. ↑ "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.
  18. ↑ "Tigers option Berry to Toledo; Don Kelly makes team". Wxyz.com. February 15, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  19. ↑ Iott, Chris (June 2, 2013). "Detroit Tigers trade for Francisco Martinez, designate outfielder Quintin Berry for assignment". MLive.com. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Royals claim Quintin Berry off waivers from Tigers". Hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. April 29, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  21. ↑ Macpherson, Brian (August 27, 2013). "Red Sox acquire pinch-runner Quintin Berry". The Providence Journal Co. Retrieved August 27, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Orioles claim catcher Lavarnway off waivers from Cubs". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 23, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Minor league baseball player Quintin Berry runs bases, slides into home after being ejected". USA Today. June 12, 2014. Retrieved June 14, 2014.
  24. ↑ Nocco, Joseph (August 25, 2015). "Cubs Add Minor League Base Stealer Quintin Berry". todaysknuckleball.com. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  25. ↑ . December 5, 2015 http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/angels-quintin-berry-signs-minor-league-deal-with-angels. Retrieved December 5, 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  26. ↑ "Quintin Berry: Released by Angels". cbssports.com. August 23, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  27. ↑ "Blue Jays' Quintin Berry: Inks minor league deal with Blue Jays". September 1, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  28. ↑ "International League Transactions". MiLB.com. p. September 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
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