David Bote

David Bote
Free agent
Infielder
Born: (1993-04-07) April 7, 1993 (age 31)
Longmont, Colorado, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 21, 2018, for the Chicago Cubs
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.234
Home runs36
Runs batted in156
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

David C. Bote (/ˈboʊtiː/ BOH-tee, born April 7, 1993) is an American professional baseball infielder who is a free agent. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2018 for the Chicago Cubs.

Amateur career

Bote attended Erie High School in Erie, Colorado, as a freshman and later transferred to Faith Christian Academy in Arvada, Colorado.[1] As a senior in 2011, Bote led Faith Christian to the 3A Colorado state title in baseball. Bote enrolled at Liberty University to play college baseball as a walk-on, but after a semester, transferred to Neosho County Community College in Kansas.[1][2] During his lone collegiate season, he hit .419.[3]

Professional career

The Chicago Cubs selected Bote in the 18th round, with the 554th overall selection, of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.[4] After Bote signed with the Cubs for $100,000 plus college tuition, he was assigned to the Arizona League Cubs where he batted .232 with one home run, 14 RBIs and seven doubles in 38 games.[5] He spent 2013 with the Daytona Cubs, Kane County Cougars, and Boise Hawks, posting a combined .227 batting average with seven home runs and 38 RBIs in 90 total games between the three teams, and 2014 with Kane County, Boise, and the Iowa Cubs, compiling a combined .235 batting average with four home runs and 40 RBIs in 99 games. In 2015, he played for the South Bend Cubs where he slashed .251/.328/384 with six home runs and 41 RBIs, and in 2016, he spent time with Iowa, the Tennessee Smokies, and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, batting a combined .328 with seven home runs and 45 RBIs with an .892 OPS.

In 2017, Bote played for the Tennessee Smokies where he was named a Southern League All-Star.[2] After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League and was selected to play in the Fall Stars Game.[6][7] The Cubs added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[8] In the minor leagues, Bote had played at every position except catcher.[2]

Bote made his major league debut on April 21, 2018, taking the place of Ben Zobrist who was placed on the disabled list.[9] Bote filled in for a week at third for an injured Kris Bryant. He had 19 at bats with five hits, five RBIs, one stolen base and a batting average of .263 before being sent back to the Iowa Cubs. On July 26, 2018, Bote hit a game-tying, two-run home run with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning against Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brad Boxberger, which was immediately followed by a walk-off solo home run by teammate Anthony Rizzo.[10] On August 12, 2018, Bote hit a pinch hit, two-out, two-strike walk-off grand slam off Washington Nationals pitcher Ryan Madson to give his team a one-run victory, which had not been done since Roger Freed in 1979, giving the Cubs a 4–3 victory and a two-out-of-three series win,[11] marking the second time in Major League Baseball history that a player hit a walk-off grand slam to win by a score of 4–3.[12] On August 24, 2018, Bote hit his 2nd career walk-off home run off Cincinnati Reds pitcher Raisel Iglesias.[13] The Cubs won that game 3–2.

On April 3, 2019, Bote signed a five-year, $15 million extension with the Cubs.[14] He recorded his third walk-off hit, a single off of Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley on April 21, 2019.[15] On June 5, Bote had a four-hit, seven RBI game in a 9–8 win against the Colorado Rockies.[16] He finished the 2019 season slashing .257/.362/.422 with 11 home runs and 41 RBIs over 127 games.[17]

In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Bote slashed .200/.303/.408 with seven home runs and 29 RBIs in 45 games. In 2021, Bote limped to a .199/.276/.330 batting line with eight home runs and 35 RBIs in 97 games. In November 2021, following the season, Bote underwent left shoulder surgery, with an expected recovery time of six months.[18][19]

Bote began the 2022 season on the 60-day injured list as he recovered from shoulder surgery, and was activated on June 24.[20] The Cubs optioned Bote to Iowa on August 4.[21] In 41 games for the Cubs in 2022, he batted .259/.315/.431 with four home runs and 12 RBI. On November 10, Bote was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Iowa.[22] Bote spent the entirety of 2023 with Iowa, playing in 99 games and hitting .258/.361/.456 with 14 home runs, 61 RBI, and 7 stolen bases.[23]

Bote began the 2024 season with Triple–A Iowa, hitting .259/.342/.546 with seven home runs and 15 RBI across 28 games. On June 2, 2024, the Cubs selected Bote's contract, adding him to their active roster.[24] In 37 games for Chicago, he slashed .304/.333/.391 with six RBI. Bote was designated for assignment by the Cubs on August 23.[25] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Iowa on August 25.[26] He became a free agent after the 2024 season.[27]

Personal life

Bote is married to Rachel Bote, his high school sweetheart.[28] The married couple have three children.[29] Bote is a born again Christian. Bote initially wanted to become a pastor after high school.[28] He grew up a Colorado Rockies fan.[30]

References

  1. ^ a b Lindenstein, Joshua (June 6, 2012). "Former Erie standout David Bote drafted by Cubs". Digital First Media. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Fleser, Dan (June 16, 2017). "Smokies' David Bote takes winding route to being All-Star". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  3. ^ "Three Panthers selected in Major League Baseball Draft". June 7, 2012.
  4. ^ Rosenthal, Ken. "Rosenthal: How David Bote, the 554th pick of the 2012 draft, worked and willed his way to the Cubs". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Lindenstein, Joshua (June 29, 2012). "Bote signs with Cubs". Digital First Media. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  6. ^ Mitchell, Bill (October 23, 2017). "David Bote Finding Power Stroke In The AFL". Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  7. ^ Gonzales, Mark. "Prospects Adbert Alzolay, Jake Stinnett, David Bote named to Arizona Fall League's Stars Game". Chicago Tribune.
  8. ^ Gonzales, Mark. "Cubs add pitching prospects Adbert Alzolay, Oscar De La Cruz to 40-man roster". Chicago Tribune.
  9. ^ Gonzales, Mark (April 22, 2018). "Cubs' David Bote treasures major league debut with family, teammates". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  10. ^ Gonzales, Mark. "Anthony Rizzo's walk-off homer after David Bote's 2-run blast gives Cubs 7-6 victory". Chicago Tribune.
  11. ^ Greenstein, Teddy. "David Bote's walk-off grand slam stuns Nationals, sends Cubs to wild 4-3 victory". Chicago Tribune.
  12. ^ "Ultimate slam: game over - The Hardball Times". www.fangraphs.com. September 11, 2013.
  13. ^ Rogers, Phil. "David Bote does it again: Walk-off home run gives the Cubs a 10th-inning win over the Reds". Chicago Tribune.
  14. ^ "David Bote 5-year contract extension". Mlb.com. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  15. ^ Sullivan, Paul (April 21, 2019). "David Bote delivered another walk-off hit for the Cubs. Then he rushed to O'Hare for a flight to Colorado, where his wife is about to give birth". chicagotribune.com.
  16. ^ Gonzales, Mark (June 6, 2019). "David Bote's 7 RBIs vault the Cubs to a 9-8 win over the Rockies, extending their win streak to 3 games". chicagotribune.com.
  17. ^ "Cubs 2020 roster outlook: Willson Contreras' health is critical to team's success | RSN". Nbcsports.com. March 19, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  18. ^ "David Bote Recently Underwent Left Shoulder Surgery, Recovery Timetable Unknown". November 10, 2021.
  19. ^ "Chicago Cubs: David Bote's spring could be in jeopardy after surgery". November 10, 2021.
  20. ^ "Cubs activate INF David Bote from 60-day IL; INF Jonathan Villar designated for assignment". MLB.com.
  21. ^ Montemurro, Meghan (August 4, 2022). "With an infield logjam and an eye on future, the Chicago Cubs option David Bote to Iowa and aim to prioritize younger players". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
  22. ^ "Cubs Outright Seven Players". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  23. ^ "The Des Moines Register Subscription Offers, Specials, and Discounts". The Des Moines Register.
  24. ^ "Cubs Select David Bote, Option Nick Madrigal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  25. ^ "Cubs Claim Gavin Hollowell, Designate David Bote". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
  26. ^ "Cubs Outright David Bote". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  27. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2024). "Minor League Free Agents 2024". Baseball America. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  28. ^ a b Andrews, Malika. "David Bote believes his winding road to the Cubs was a product of his faith. Without it, he would have quit long ago". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  29. ^ Yellon, Al. "Cubs roster move: David Bote returns from paternity list, Alec Mills to Iowa". MSN. Archived from the original on May 6, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2019.
  30. ^ Musick, Tom (June 10, 2019). "Cubs infielder David Bote takes things one day at a time". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved July 10, 2022.