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Josh Vitters

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Josh Vitters
Vitters with the Peoria Chiefs
Third baseman/ Left fielder
Born: (1989-08-27) August 27, 1989 (age 35)
Anaheim, California, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 5, 2012, for the Chicago Cubs
Last MLB appearance
October 3, 2012, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
Batting average.121
Home runs2
Runs batted in5
Teams

Joshua Warren Vitters (born August 27, 1989) is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs in 2012.

Amateur career

Vitters was an AFLAC All-American Prep Third Baseman for Cypress High School in Cypress, California.[1][2] He was also named the Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year for California in 2007.[2] Vitters committed to attend Arizona State University on a scholarship, to play for the Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team.[3]

Professional career

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs drafted Vitters with the third overall selection of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft.[2][4][5][6] He made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Arizona Cubs of the Arizona League.[7] Vitters split the 2008 season between the Low-A Boise Hawks and the Single-A Peoria Chiefs, logging a .322/.357/.495 slash line with 5 home runs and 38 RBI in 65 games.

Vitters was selected to appear in the 2009 All-Star Futures Game.[8] In mid-2009, the Cubs promoted Vitters from the Peoria Chiefs of the Single-A Midwest League to the Daytona Cubs of the High-A Florida State League.[8] He spent the 2010 season with Daytona and the Tennessee Smokies of the Double-A Southern League.[9] He returned to Tennessee for the 2011 and hit .283 with 14 home runs.

The Cubs promoted Vitters and fellow prospect Brett Jackson from the Iowa Cubs of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League on August 5, 2012.[10] He made his Major League debut later that day as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers[11] On August 7, 2012, Vitters pinch hit for pitcher Jeff Beliveau and collected his first MLB hit, a double against the San Diego Padres in the seventh inning, scoring both Steve Clevenger and Darwin Barney. His first major league home run was on August 20, 2012, in the fifth inning against Mark Rogers of the Milwaukee Brewers.[12] On October 11, 2012, he was started playing in Venezuelan Professional Baseball League with the Leones del Caracas and appeared 2 games. Vitters split the 2013 season between Iowa and the AZL Cubs, slashing .267/.368/.475 in 33 games between the two teams. He spent the entire 2014 season in Iowa as well, batting .213/.268/.339 with 11 home runs and 38 RBI in 112 games. On October 29, 2014, Vitters was outrighted off of the 40-man roster.[13] On November 4, he was granted free agency.

Bridgeport Bluefish

On March 15, 2016, Vitters signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 80 games with Bridgeport, Vitters batted .226/.302/.343 with 5 home runs and 25 RBI.

Sioux City Explorers

On March 16, 2017, Vitters signed with the Sioux City Explorers of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. He was released on June 21, 2017 after posting a slash line of .185/.220/.254 in 50 games.

Québec Capitales

On April 12, 2018, Vitters signed with the Québec Capitales of the Can-Am League. He was released on June 24 after hitting .247/.326/.346 with 1 home run and 6 RBI in 25 games.

York Revolution

On March 10, 2020, Vitters signed with the York Revolution of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[14] He did not play a game for the team because of the cancellation of the ALPB season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and became a free agent after the year. On April 26, 2021, Vitters re-signed with the Revolution for the 2021 season.[15] In 20 games with York, Vitters slashed .157/.254/.157 with no home runs and 5 RBI. On June 24, Vitters again announced his retirement from professional baseball.[16]

Personal

Josh's brother, Christian, played minor league baseball.[3]

References

  1. ^ AFLAC All American, Josh Vitters - 2007 Archived October 22, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b c "Cubs select third baseman Josh Vitters with third pick of First-Year Player Draft". Chicago Cubs. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  3. ^ a b "SI.com - Writers - With power to all fields, Vitters a natural at the plate - Wednesday April 25, 2007 1:10PM". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Archived from the original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  4. ^ "2007 Draft Tracker". MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  5. ^ Draft Report for Josh Vitters
  6. ^ 2007 MLB.com Draft Tracker
  7. ^ "Notes: Vitters adjusting to pro game | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. May 24, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Chicago Cubs' prospect Josh Vitters playing it California cool - ESPN Chicago". ESPN. July 4, 2009. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  9. ^ "Vitters out to accelerate climb to big leagues - Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. October 31, 2010. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  10. ^ "Cubs call up Vitters, Jackson". Chicago Tribune. August 5, 2012. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  11. ^ "MLB.com Gameday | MLB.com: Gameday". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved August 3, 2013.
  12. ^ "Vitter's first career homer". mlb.com. MLB/Cubs. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  13. ^ "Outrighted: Kalish, Valaika, Vitters, Meek".
  14. ^ "Atlantic League Professional Baseball: Transactions".
  15. ^ "Revs Add Big League Experience at the Corners, Big Arm to the Staff". April 27, 2021.
  16. ^ "Atlantic League Professional Baseball: Transactions".
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