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Utility player (baseball)

January 01, 1970

In baseball, a utility player or superutilityman is a player who typically has the ability to play at every position (or most). They are put in to provide improved defense when their team is winning.

Brock Holt has played for several teams in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a utility player.

Description edit

Utility infielders typically play both second base and shortstop, sometimes also third base, and more rarely first base. A "fourth outfielder" is likewise an outfielder who can play all three outfield positions but does not have the hitting skills to be a starting player. Some utility players have the defensive ability to play in both the infield and outfield—recent players in Major League Baseball (MLB) fitting this description include Marwin González, Brock Holt, Cory Spangenberg, and Ben Zobrist.

Playing time for fourth outfielders has been called "erratic and unpredictable".[1] Often, fourth outfielders are outfield prospects who have not settled on one outfield position when arriving in the major leagues,[2] veteran players seeking additional playing time to extend their careers,[3][4] or part-time position players who double as designated hitters.[1] Often, the fourth outfielder can be a platoon system against certain pitchers; for example, one outfielder will play only when the starting pitcher is a right-handed pitcher and the other plays only when the starting pitcher is a left-handed pitcher, if one player's performance is better against certain types of pitchers.

Notable utility players edit

 
César Tovar played every position during his MLB career.

Within MLB, César Tovar,[5] Cookie Rojas,[6] Bert Campaneris,[7] Shane Halter,[8] Don Kelly, Jose Oquendo[9] Scott Sheldon,[10] and Andrew Romine all played every position (including pitcher) during their respective careers, with Tovar, Campaneris, Halter, Sheldon, and Romine all doing it in one game.

Luis Sojo is considered to be the classic modern utility player in baseball, as he was a natural shortstop, but could also play third base, second base, first base, and even left field. It was said[according to whom?] that in emergency situations, he could even play a bit of catcher.

In 1991, the Detroit Tigers' Tony Phillips was the first player to start 10 games at five different positions in the same season.[11]

In 2005, Chone Figgins started 48 games at third, 45 in center field and 36 at second, and finished 17th in American League Most Valuable Player balloting.[12]

Second baseman Ben Zobrist of the Chicago Cubs has played first base, second base, third base, shortstop and outfield; José Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays has played first base, second base, third base, and outfield; and Josh Harrison of the Pittsburgh Pirates has played second base, shortstop, third base, outfield, and pitcher. All three have been named All Stars while playing multiple positions in their All-Star seasons.[13] Zobrist and Bautista both finished in the top 10 in MVP voting while starting at least 40 games at two different defensive positions.

In 2015, Brock Holt of the Boston Red Sox was the first player ever to be selected to the All Star Game after starting at seven or more positions before the All-Star break.[14]

Willians Astudillo of the Minnesota Twins has played every position except for shortstop in his brief major league career, despite having less than a half-season of cumulative experience.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Doyle, Al (October 1997). "Fourth Outfielder, Valuable Insurance for Contenders". Baseball Digest. 56 (10). Lakeside: 60–63. ISSN 0005-609X.
  2. ^ D'Angelo, Tom (March 25, 2010). . The Palm Beach Post. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  3. ^ "Mariners' outfielder doing it his way". Lynnwood Enterprise. March 25, 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2010.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ McTaggar t, Brian (March 23, 2010). "Sullivan in contention for last outfield spot". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  5. ^ "Cesar Tovar Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  6. ^ "Cookie Rojas Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  7. ^ "Bert Campaneris Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  8. ^ "Shane Halter Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  9. ^ "Jose Oquendo Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  10. ^ "Scott Sheldon Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2017-07-31.
  11. ^ Kent, Milton (1994-04-29). "Stretching One's Earning Power". The Baltimore Sun.
  12. ^ "Chone Figgins Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  13. ^ "José Bautista - Toronto Blue Jays - Career Statistics - MLB". Yahoo.com. Retrieved 2013-12-16.
  14. ^ BLUM, RONALD (July 14, 2015). "Holt 1st All-Star to start at 7 positions before break". The Washington Times. Associated Press.

January 01, 1970
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In baseball a utility player or superutilityman is a player who typically has the ability to play at every position or most They are put in to provide improved defense when their team is winning Brock Holt has played for several teams in Major League Baseball MLB as a utility player Contents 1 Description 2 Notable utility players 3 See also 4 ReferencesDescription editUtility infielders typically play both second base and shortstop sometimes also third base and more rarely first base A fourth outfielder is likewise an outfielder who can play all three outfield positions but does not have the hitting skills to be a starting player Some utility players have the defensive ability to play in both the infield and outfield recent players in Major League Baseball MLB fitting this description include Marwin Gonzalez Brock Holt Cory Spangenberg and Ben Zobrist Playing time for fourth outfielders has been called erratic and unpredictable 1 Often fourth outfielders are outfield prospects who have not settled on one outfield position when arriving in the major leagues 2 veteran players seeking additional playing time to extend their careers 3 4 or part time position players who double as designated hitters 1 Often the fourth outfielder can be a platoon system against certain pitchers for example one outfielder will play only when the starting pitcher is a right handed pitcher and the other plays only when the starting pitcher is a left handed pitcher if one player s performance is better against certain types of pitchers Notable utility players edit nbsp Cesar Tovar played every position during his MLB career Within MLB Cesar Tovar 5 Cookie Rojas 6 Bert Campaneris 7 Shane Halter 8 Don Kelly Jose Oquendo 9 Scott Sheldon 10 and Andrew Romine all played every position including pitcher during their respective careers with Tovar Campaneris Halter Sheldon and Romine all doing it in one game Luis Sojo is considered to be the classic modern utility player in baseball as he was a natural shortstop but could also play third base second base first base and even left field It was said according to whom that in emergency situations he could even play a bit of catcher In 1991 the Detroit Tigers Tony Phillips was the first player to start 10 games at five different positions in the same season 11 In 2005 Chone Figgins started 48 games at third 45 in center field and 36 at second and finished 17th in American League Most Valuable Player balloting 12 Second baseman Ben Zobrist of the Chicago Cubs has played first base second base third base shortstop and outfield Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays has played first base second base third base and outfield and Josh Harrison of the Pittsburgh Pirates has played second base shortstop third base outfield and pitcher All three have been named All Stars while playing multiple positions in their All Star seasons 13 Zobrist and Bautista both finished in the top 10 in MVP voting while starting at least 40 games at two different defensive positions In 2015 Brock Holt of the Boston Red Sox was the first player ever to be selected to the All Star Game after starting at seven or more positions before the All Star break 14 Willians Astudillo of the Minnesota Twins has played every position except for shortstop in his brief major league career despite having less than a half season of cumulative experience See also editTwo way player BaseballReferences edit a b Doyle Al October 1997 Fourth Outfielder Valuable Insurance for Contenders Baseball Digest 56 10 Lakeside 60 63 ISSN 0005 609X D Angelo Tom March 25 2010 Marlins outfield injuries mouting Cody Ross Brett Carroll out The Palm Beach Post Archived from the original on 18 July 2011 Retrieved 25 March 2010 Mariners outfielder doing it his way Lynnwood Enterprise March 25 2010 Retrieved 25 March 2010 permanent dead link McTaggar t Brian March 23 2010 Sullivan in contention for last outfield spot Major League Baseball Retrieved 25 March 2010 Cesar Tovar Statistics and History Baseball Reference Sports Reference LLC Retrieved 2010 05 14 Cookie Rojas Statistics and History Baseball Reference Sports Reference LLC Retrieved 2010 05 14 Bert Campaneris Statistics and History Baseball Reference Sports Reference LLC Retrieved 2010 05 14 Shane Halter Statistics and History Baseball Reference Sports Reference LLC Retrieved 2010 05 14 Jose Oquendo Statistics and History Baseball Reference Sports Reference LLC Retrieved 2010 05 14 Scott Sheldon Statistics and History Baseball Reference Sports Reference LLC Retrieved 2017 07 31 Kent Milton 1994 04 29 Stretching One s Earning Power The Baltimore Sun Chone Figgins Statistics and History Baseball Reference Sports Reference LLC Retrieved 2010 05 14 Jose Bautista Toronto Blue Jays Career Statistics MLB Yahoo com Retrieved 2013 12 16 BLUM RONALD July 14 2015 Holt 1st All Star to start at 7 positions before break The Washington Times Associated Press Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Utility player baseball amp oldid 1208318168, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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