Preston Claiborne

Preston Claiborne
Claiborne with the New York Yankees
Pitcher
Born: (1988-01-21) January 21, 1988 (age 36)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 5, 2013, for the New York Yankees
Last MLB appearance
June 26, 2017, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record3–2
Earned run average4.05
Strikeouts60
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Preston Michael Claiborne (born January 21, 1988) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers. He attended Tulane University, where he played college baseball for the Tulane Green Wave.

Career

Amateur

Claiborne attended Newman Smith High School in Carrollton, Texas, where he played for the school's baseball team. Selected in the 23rd round of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Claiborne did not sign, opting to attend Tulane University to play for the Tulane Green Wave baseball team.[1] At Tulane, he was used as a relief pitcher, appearing in a total of 84 games from 2007 through 2010.[2] In 2007 and 2008, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3][4][5]

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees selected Claiborne in the 17th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. He signed and reported to the Staten Island Yankees of the Low–A New York–Penn League.[1][6] He was promoted to the Tampa Yankees of the High–A Florida State League that year, in time to pitch for Tampa in the league's playoffs.[7] He returned to Tampa in 2011.

Claiborne started the 2012 season with the Trenton Thunder of the Double–A Eastern League, and made 20 appearances for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees of the Triple–A International League that year.[8]

Claiborne began the 2013 season with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, and was called up to the majors for the first time on May 3, 2013, when the Yankees placed Joba Chamberlain on the disabled list.[2][9] He made his major league debut on May 5, against the Oakland Athletics. During his debut, he pitched two scoreless innings without allowing a baserunner.[10] Claiborne was optioned down to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on August 16.[11] He was then recalled to be the 26th player for a doubleheader against the Toronto Blue Jays on August 20 but was optioned back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre right after the second game. However, he was brought back up on August 22 when infielder Jayson Nix was placed on the disabled list.[12] Claiborne was optioned back to Triple-A on August 26 when the Yankees activated Derek Jeter from the disabled list.[13] He was then brought back up to the Yankees on September 2 after the rosters expanded the previous day.[14] Claiborne was designated for assignment by the Yankees on December 19, 2014.[15]

Miami Marlins

Claiborne was claimed off waivers by the Miami Marlins on December 23, 2014.[16] He missed the entire 2015 season with a shoulder injury.[17] On March 17, 2016, Claiborne was released by the Marlins.[18]

San Francisco Giants

On May 16, 2016, Claiborne signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants. He made 34 appearances out of the bullpen for the Double–A Richmond Flying Squirrels, posting a 2.38 ERA with 49 strikeouts and 3 saves. Claiborne elected free agency following the season on November 7.[19]

Texas Rangers

On February 24, 2017, Claiborne signed a minor league deal with the Texas Rangers.[20] He was promoted to the major league roster on June 22. Claiborne was designated for assignment on July 2.[21]

Cleveland Indians

On January 26, 2018, Claiborne signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians.[22] In 10 appearances split between the rookie–level Arizona League Indians, Double–A Akron RubberDucks, and Triple–A Columbus Clippers, he accumulated a 9.31 ERA with 10 strikeouts across 9+2⁄3 innings pitched. Claiborne elected free agency following the season on November 2.[23]

Post–playing career

Claiborne was named pitching coach of the Hudson Valley Renegades High-A affiliate for the New York Yankees in 2023.

Claiborne was named pitching coach of the Tampa Tarpons the New York Yankees Single-A affiliate for the 2024 season.

Personal life

The first time Claiborne attended a baseball game, which featured the visiting Yankees playing the Texas Rangers, his father encouraged him to play with the "class and respect" of a Yankee. His father died of a stroke during Claiborne's sophomore year at Tulane.[1] He contributes to a website, TheCupCheck.com, which is run by minor league baseball players to give other minor leaguers tips on how to handle life in professional baseball. The Wall Street Journal called Claiborne "one of the site's most prolific contributors."[24]

References

  1. ^ a b c Sherrington, Kevin (June 22, 2010). "Preston Claiborne's dad wanted him to act like a Yankee and now he is one". SportsDayDFW. Dallasnews.com. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Ex-Tulane Pitcher Claiborne Gets Promotion to Yankees". Sportsnola.com. May 2, 2013. Archived from the original on May 8, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  3. ^ "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  4. ^ "2007 Falmouth Commodores". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  5. ^ "2008 Falmouth Commodores". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  6. ^ "Claiborne Becomes Second Player Drafted by New York Yankees in 2010 Draft". Tulanegreenwave.com. June 8, 2010. Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  7. ^ Raskin, Alex. "Yankees strike first in FSL Finals". Milb.com. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  8. ^ "Looks like Claiborne will be called up from Triple-A". The LoHud Yankees Blog. December 1, 2006. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  9. ^ "Yankees will call-up Preston Caliborne on Friday". Riveraveblues.com. May 3, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  10. ^ Greenberg, Jay (May 5, 2013). "Aside from game's outcome, Claiborne's debut perfect". MLB.com. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  11. ^ "Preston Claiborne Shipped Out, Mark Reynolds Arrives". Wall Street Journal. August 16, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  12. ^ "Claiborne returns to Yanks, replaces Nix on roster". MLB.com. August 22, 2013.[dead link‍]
  13. ^ "Yankees activate Jeter". The Sacramento Bee. August 26, 2013. Archived from the original on September 2, 2013. Retrieved September 2, 2013.
  14. ^ "Yanks bolster 'pen with trio of callups, one more on way". MLB.com. September 1, 2013. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013.
  15. ^ "Yankees get reliever Gonzalez Germen from Mets". Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 19, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  16. ^ "Marlins Claim Preston Claiborne From Yankees". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  17. ^ "Minor MLB Transactions: 3/24/16". mlbtradrumors.com. March 24, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  18. ^ "Major League Baseball Transactions in March 2016". MLB.com. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  19. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2016". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  20. ^ "Rangers add Carrollton Newman Smith product Preston Claiborne". Sportsday.Dallasnews.com. February 24, 2017. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  21. ^ "Rangers Acquire Jason Grilli".
  22. ^ Adams, Steve (January 26, 2018). "Minor MLB Transactions: 1/26/18". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  23. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2018). "Minor League Free Agents 2018". Baseball America. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  24. ^ Barbarisi, Daniel (March 21, 2013). "A How-To Guide for Surviving Life in the Minor Leagues". Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. Retrieved May 3, 2013.