Jake Elmore

Jake Elmore
Elmore with the Durham Bulls
Infielder
Born: (1987-06-15) June 15, 1987 (age 37)
Pleasant Grove, Alabama, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 11, 2012, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Last MLB appearance
September 29, 2019, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Batting average.215
Home runs4
Runs batted in37
Teams

Jacob David Elmore (born June 15, 1987) is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, and Pittsburgh Pirates. While most often a shortstop, Elmore is one of a handful of MLB players who have played pitcher and catcher in the same game. Elmore was also the 14th player in MLB history to play all nine positions throughout a season with the Houston Astros (2013).

Early life

Elmore grew up in Pleasant Grove, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham, and played baseball at Pleasant Grove High School. He attended Wallace State Community College in 2006 and 2007, where he played as a second baseman.[1] Elmore transferred to Arizona State University, where he continued his college baseball career with the Arizona State Sun Devils.

Professional career

Arizona Diamondbacks

Elmore was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 34th round, 1038th overall, of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft. After signing, Elmore made his professional debut with the rookie-level Missoula Osprey, slashing .296/.390/.464. In 2009, Elmore played for the Single-A South Bend Silver Hawks, posting a .258/.365/.351 slash line with 3 home runs and 38 RBI. The next year, he played for the Double-A Mobile BayBears, logging a .278/.374/.345 slash line with 2 home runs and 31 RBI. Elmore returned to Mobile for the 2011 season, playing in 121 games and batting .270/.362/.349 with 3 home runs and 41 RBI. In 2012, Elmore began the year with the Triple-A Reno Aces, hitting .344/.442/.465 with 1 home run and a career-high 73 RBI.[2]

Elmore was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the majors for the first time on August 11, 2012.[3] On August 16, 2012, he recorded his first career hit, and finished the game 2-for-4 with a double. Elmore finished his rookie season with a .191 batting average with 0 home runs, 7 runs batted in 30 games.

Houston Astros

Elmore with the Houston Astros in 2013.

On November 1, 2012, Elmore was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros.[4] He began the 2013 season with the Triple-A Oklahoma City RedHawks of the Pacific Coast League. He was recalled by the Astros on June 25.[5]

On August 19, 2013, Elmore became the 14th player in MLB history to catch and pitch in the same game.[6] After replacing Carlos Corporan as the catcher in the fourth inning of a game against the Texas Rangers, Elmore was again called upon in the eighth inning, but this time to pitch. He retired the Rangers in order on 11 pitches. Commenting on the feat, manager Bo Porter said, "Elmore should probably be in the icetub, icing every part of his body."[6]

Chicago White Sox

On November 20, 2013, Elmore was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox.[7] The White Sox designated Elmore for assignment on February 26, 2014.[8]

Oakland Athletics

Elmore was traded to the Oakland Athletics on February 27, 2014.[9] Elmore was then optioned to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats and spent the first two and a half months of the 2014 season on the DL due to a strained left quadriceps.[10][11] Oakland designated Elmore for assignment on July 31, 2014.[12]

Cincinnati Reds

On August 2, 2014, Elmore was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds, and sent to the Triple-A Louisville Bats.[13] On November 5, 2014, the Reds re-signed Elmore after outrighting him to Louisville on November 3.

Tampa Bay Rays

On November 7, 2014, Elmore was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the Reds.[14] The Pirates designated him for assignment on January 20, 2015.[15] He declined his outright assignment, became a free agent, and subsequently signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays on February 9, 2015.[16] Elmore was called up to the Rays on April 22 due to injuries.[17] He split the year between the Triple-A Durham Bulls and Tampa Bay, slashing .206/.263/.284 with 4 RBI in 51 major league games. On November 6, 2015, he was outrighted off of the 40-man roster and elected free agency.[18]

Milwaukee Brewers

On December 14, 2015, Elmore signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers purchased his contract from the Colorado Springs Sky Sox on June 28, 2016, and Elmore made his first start for Milwaukee that day at second base.[19] He appeared in 59 games for the Brewers, mostly as a pinch hitter. After hitting .218/.371/.244 on the season, Milwaukee chose to outright Elmore to Triple-A on October 28, 2016. Elmore rejected the assignment and opted for free agency.[20]

Toronto Blue Jays

On February 9, 2017, Elmore signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays that included an invitation to spring training.[21] He was later assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. In 94 games with Buffalo, Elmore batted .231/.321/.273 with 1 home run and 36 RBI.

Miami Marlins

On August 14, 2017, Elmore was traded to the Miami Marlins organization, and assigned to the Triple-A New Orleans Baby Cakes.[22] In 16 games for New Orleans, Elmore went 14-for-52 with 5 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.[23]

Chicago White Sox (second stint)

On February 8, 2018, Elmore signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox organization.[24] He spent the season with the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, posting a .289/.397/.359 slash line with one home run and 27 RBI in 101 games. Elmore elected free agency following the season on November 2.[25] Elmore re-signed with the White Sox on a new minor league deal on January 14, 2019.[26]

Pittsburgh Pirates

Elmore was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 28, 2019, and was assigned to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians.[27] His contract was selected by the Pirates on May 13.[28] After going 1-for-20 at the plate in just under two weeks with the Pirates, Elmore was designated for assignment on May 26.[29] He cleared waivers and was outrighted back to Triple-A three days later.[30] On September 17, the Pirates selected Elmore's contract and he hit .345 after being recalled. Elmore was outrighted off the Pirates roster on October 25 and elected free agency on October 31. Elmore resigned with the Pirates organization during the off-season but was released on June 9, 2020.[31]

Cleveland Indians

On July 3, 2020, Elmore signed a minor league deal with the Cleveland Indians organization.[32] He spent time at the alternate training site that was set up because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Indians released Elmore on September 4, 2020.[33]

Philadelphia Phillies

On June 13, 2021, Elmore signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies organization.[34] Elmore appeared in 15 games for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, hitting .225 with 0 home runs and 9 RBI's. On August 24, 2021, Elmore was released by the Phillies.[35]

Post-playing career

On February 22, 2022, Elmore was hired by the Philadelphia Phillies organization to serve as the hitting coach for the club's Low-A affiliate, the Clearwater Threshers.[36]

References

  1. ^ Shields, Brandon (February 7, 2007). "Lions looking to defend ACCC crown » Top Sports » CullmanTimes.com - Cullman, Alabama". CullmanTimes.com. Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  2. ^ "Jake Elmore Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com".
  3. ^ "Diamondbacks recall P Shaw and select INF Elmore". Foxnews.com. August 11, 2012. Archived from the original on February 23, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  4. ^ Smith, Brian T. (November 1, 2012). "Astros claim Demel, Elmore off waivers from D-Backs". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  5. ^ "Astros Recall Wallace and Elmore From Triple-A Oklahoma City". The Canadian Press. June 25, 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
  6. ^ a b Tesfatsion, Master (August 20, 2013). "Elmore 14th in MLB history to catch, pitch". MLB.com. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  7. ^ "White Sox claim Jake Elmore off waivers from Houston; Add Carlos Sanchez and outfielder Trayce Thompson to 40-man roster". MLB.com. November 20, 2013. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  8. ^ "White Sox claim RHP Cleto off waivers from Royals". Associated Press. February 26, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  9. ^ Slusser, Susan (February 27, 2014). "A's add Jake Elmore, designate Andy Parrino for assignment". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  10. ^ Fordin, Spencer (April 3, 2014). "A's place Elmore on DL with quadriceps strain". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  11. ^ "A's reinstate IF Jake Elmore from the DL and option him to Sacramento". MLB.com. June 16, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  12. ^ "A's Option Billy Burns to Sacramento; Designate Jake Elmore for Assignment". MLB.com. July 31, 2014. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  13. ^ Sheldon, Mark (August 2, 2014). "Reds claim Elmore off waivers, send him to Triple-A". MLB.com. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  14. ^ Singer, Tom (November 7, 2014). "Bucs beef up bench options with Elmore claim". MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2014. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  15. ^ "MLB notebook: Colby Rasmus signs $8 million deal with Astros". Edmonton Sun. January 20, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  16. ^ Berry, Adam (February 9, 2015). "Rays sign Elmore to Minor League deal". MLB.com. Archived from the original on February 13, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2015.
  17. ^ Sanford, Adam (April 22, 2015). "Rays set roster for Joe Kelly, promote Jake Elmore". SBNation.com. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  18. ^ "Outrighted: Ruggiano, Heisey, Wilson, Perez, Beliveau, Elmore, Perez, Sadler, Cumpton - MLB Trade Rumors". November 6, 2015.
  19. ^ Rosiak, Todd (June 28, 2016). "Brewers call up utilityman Jake Elmore, send out OF Alex Presley". Journal Sentinel. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  20. ^ Powell, Jonathan (November 2, 2016). "Milwaukee Brewers outright four, Jake Elmore opts for free agency". Outside Pitch Sports Network. Archived from the original on November 16, 2016. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  21. ^ Adams, Steve (February 9, 2017). "Blue Jays Sign Jake Elmore To Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  22. ^ "International League Transactions". MiLB.com. p. August 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  23. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2017". baseballamerica.com. November 7, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  24. ^ "Non-Roster Invitees". Archived from the original on April 24, 2016.
  25. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2018". baseballamerica.com. November 6, 2018. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  26. ^ "FutureSox on Twitter".
  27. ^ Dreker, John (March 28, 2019). "Pirates Acquire Jake Elmore from Chicago White Sox". piratesprospects.com. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  28. ^ Todd, Jeff (May 13, 2019). "Pirates Place Jung Ho Kang On IL, Select Jake Elmore". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  29. ^ Byrne, Connor (May 26, 2019). "Pirates Designate Jake Elmore, Select Jacob Stallings, Place Francisco Cervelli On 7-Day IL". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  30. ^ "Pirates' Jake Elmore: Clears waivers". CBS Sports Fantasy. May 31, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  31. ^ "Charlie Tilson, Jake Elmore, Luis Escobar Among Pirates' Minor League Releases - MLB Trade Rumors". June 10, 2020.
  32. ^ "Indians Sign David Hernandez, Jake Elmore, Steven Baron - MLB Trade Rumors". July 3, 2020.
  33. ^ "Indians Outright Domingo Santana, Release Jake Elmore - MLB Trade Rumors". September 4, 2020.
  34. ^ "Minor MLB Transactions: 6/22/21 - MLB Trade Rumors". June 22, 2021.
  35. ^ "Jose Alvarado, Seranthony Dominguez make rehab appearances for IronPigs in Tuesday night's loss to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. - The Morning Call". August 25, 2021.
  36. ^ "Clearwater Threshers Hire Jake Elmore as Hitting Coach". February 24, 2022.