Tyler Naquin

Tyler Naquin
Naquin with the New York Mets in 2022
Free agent
Outfielder
Born: (1991-04-24) April 24, 1991 (age 33)
Spring, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 5, 2016, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.263
Home runs61
Runs batted in237
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Tyler Wesley Naquin (/ˈnɒkæn/ NOK-an;[1][2] born April 24, 1991) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, and Chicago White Sox. Prior to playing professionally, Naquin played college baseball for the Texas A&M Aggies.

Early life and amateur career

Naquin attended Klein Collins High School in unincorporated Harris County, Texas,[3] where he played for the school's baseball team. He lettered in baseball for three years. He was twice honored as All-State, three times honored as All-District, and three times named All-Greater Houston.[4] Naquin grew up a Houston Astros fan.[5]

The Baltimore Orioles selected Naquin in the 33rd round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. After considering signing with the Orioles, Naquin decided to enroll at Texas A&M University, to play college baseball for the Texas A&M Aggies baseball team.[6][7] Naquin was named the Big 12 Conference Baseball Player of the Year in 2011.[8]

Professional career

Cleveland Indians

Naquin batting for the Cleveland Indians in 2019

The Cleveland Indians selected Naquin in the first round, with the 15th overall selection, of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.[9] He signed and made his professional debut that season with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the Rookie-level New York-Penn League, batting .270 in 36 games.

Naquin played for the Carolina Mudcats of the High-A Carolina League and the Akron Aeros of the Double-A Eastern League in 2013, hitting a combined .269 with ten home runs, 48 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases in 126 total games between both teams. After the 2013 season, the Indians assigned Naquin to the Arizona Fall League, and he participated in the Fall Stars Game.[10] Naquin began the 2014 season with Akron, but suffered a broken hand in July.[11] He required surgery, and missed the remainder of the 2014 season. In 76 games for Akron before his injury, he was batting .313 with four home runs and 30 RBIs. Naquin began the 2015 season with Akron.[12] In June, the Indians promoted him to the Columbus Clippers of the Triple-A International League.[13] However, a concussion and soreness in his right hip limited him to 50 games played with Columbus.[14] In 84 games between Akron and Columbus, he slashed .300/.381/.446 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs. After the 2015 season, the Indians added Naquin to their 40-man roster.[15]

After the 2015 season, Naquin remained at the Indians' facility in Arizona to engage in strength training.[14] He competed for a spot on the Indians' 25-man roster during spring training in 2016,[16] and was named to the Opening Day roster.[17] Naquin was named the American League Rookie of the Month for June and July 2016.[18][19] On August 19, Naquin hit a walk-off inside-the-park home run to lead the Indians to a 3–2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. He became the first Indians batter to hit a walk off inside-the-park home run since Braggo Roth, who accomplished the feat in 1916.[20] In 116 games, he hit .296 with 14 home runs, 43 RBIs and 18 doubles.

Naquin began 2017 with Cleveland. However, he was hampered with injuries and struggled with the Indians, and he only appeared in 19 games for Cleveland in which he hit .216. He spent the majority of the year with Columbus, where he slashed .298/.359/.475 with ten home runs and 51 RBIs in 80 games.[21] He played in 61 games for the Indians in 2018, hitting .264/.295/.356 with 3 home runs and 23 RBI.

In 2019 with Cleveland, Naquin played in 89 games, slashing .288/.325/.467 with 10 home runs, 34 RBI, and 4 stolen bases.[22] Overall with the 2020 Cleveland Indians, Naquin batted .218 with four home runs and 20 RBIs in 40 games.[23] Naquin was not tendered a contract for the 2021 season by the December 2, 2020, deadline, making him a free agent.[24]

Cincinnati Reds

On February 18, 2021, Naquin signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds organization that included an invitation to spring training.[25] On March 29, 2021, Naquin was selected to the 40-man roster.[26]

Naquin appeared in 127 games with Cincinnati in 2021, finishing with a .270 batting average, 19 home runs, and 70 RBIs.[27]

In 2022, Naquin appeared in 56 games for Cincinnati, posting a batting line of .246/.305/.444 with 7 home runs and 33 RBI.

New York Mets

On July 28, 2022, the Reds traded Naquin and Phillip Diehl to the New York Mets for minor league prospects Jose Acuña and Hector Rodríguez.[28] He played in 49 games for the Mets down the stretch, slashing .203/.246/.390 with four home runs and 13 RBIs.

Milwaukee Brewers

On February 21, 2023, Naquin signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers organization.[29] In 40 games for the Triple–A Nashville Sounds, he hit .284/.333/.432 with 6 home runs and 21 RBI.[30]

Chicago White Sox

On August 7, 2023, Naquin was traded to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for cash considerations.[31] In 28 games for the Triple–A Charlotte Knights, he batted .217/.294/.371 with 3 home runs and 9 RBI. On September 26, 2023, the White Sox selected Naquin's contract to the major league roster after Luis Robert Jr. suffered an injury.[32] Appearing in 5 games for Chicago, he went hitless in 8 at-bats. Naquin was released by the White Sox on October 3 following the waiver claim of Alex Speas.[33]

References

  1. ^ Joey Votto correctly pronouncing Tyler Naquin's surname, Cincinnati Reds on Twitter, Monday, April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  2. ^ Nightengale, Bobby. "People have mispronounced Tyler Naquin's name throughout his entire career," The Cincinnati Enquirer, Wednesday, July 7, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  3. ^ "Tyler Naquin". Baseball-Reference.com. Philadelphia: Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  4. ^ "Ultimate Spring". Ultimate Spring Tx. Houston. May 21, 2011. Archived from the original on June 16, 2013. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  5. ^ Admin. "Interview with Cleveland Indians 1st Round Pick Tyler Naquin". topprospectalert.com. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  6. ^ Zwerneman, Brent (June 3, 2011). "A&M provides room for Naquin's big bat and bigger arm". Houston Chronicle. Houston: Hearst Corporation. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  7. ^ "Carlton: Texas A&M's Tyler Naquin big hit streak a result of swinging easy". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas: A. H. Belo Corporation. May 4, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  8. ^ "2011 All-Big 12 Baseball Awards Announced". Big 12 Conference. Irving, Texas: NCAA. May 24, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  9. ^ "Indians select Texas A&M outfielder Tyler Naquin with 15th pick | indians.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. June 4, 2012. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  10. ^ "Bernie Pleskoff: Indians prospect Naquin has top-of-order ability". Cleveland.indians.mlb.com. November 11, 2013. Archived from the original on November 13, 2013. Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  11. ^ Plain Dealer Staff (July 4, 2014). "Akron RubberDucks lose Naquin, Wendle to hand surgeries -- Cleveland Indians Class AA Insider". Cleveland.com. Cleveland: Advance Publications. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  12. ^ "No. 5 Cleveland Indians prospect Tyler Naquin records third straight multi-hit game for Akron RubberDucks - MiLB.com News - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 29, 2015.
  13. ^ Massie, Jim (June 9, 2015). "Tyler Naquin to make triple-A debut with Clippers". The Columbus Dispatch. Columbus, Ohio: New Media Investment Group. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  14. ^ a b Hoynes, Paul (March 24, 2016). "How Tyler Naquin added muscle, pop this off-season: Cleveland Indians briefing". Cleveland.com. Cleveland: Advance Publications. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  15. ^ Meisel, Zack (November 21, 2015). "Cleveland Indians add 5 players to 40-man roster, part ways with reliever C.C. Lee". Cleveland.com. Cleveland: Advance Publications. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  16. ^ "Cleveland Indians prospect Tyler Naquin homers twice against the Kansas City Royals". MiLB.com. March 23, 2016. Retrieved March 28, 2016.
  17. ^ Meisel, Zack (March 25, 2016). "Tyler Naquin's sterling spring pays dividends; he'll be on the Opening Day roster". Cleveland.com. Cleveland: Advance Publications. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  18. ^ "Danny Salazar, Tyler Naquin win AL awards". MLB.com. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  19. ^ "Is Tyler Naquin the frontrunner for AL Rookie of the Year? (video)". Cleveland Plain Dealer. August 5, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  20. ^ "Indians walk off vs. Blue Jays on Tyler Naquin's inside-the-park home run". USA Today. August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  21. ^ "Tyler Naquin Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  22. ^ "Tyler Naquin Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More".
  23. ^ "Tyler Naquin Stats, Fantasy & News | Cincinnati Reds". MLB.com.
  24. ^ Hoynes, Paul (December 2, 2020). "Cleveland Indians and Tyler Naquin part ways; former No.1 pick not offered contract for 2021". Cleveland.com.
  25. ^ "Reds Sign Tyler Naquin to Minor League Deal".
  26. ^ "Reds Select Tyler Naquin, Cam Bedrosian".
  27. ^ "Tyler Naquin Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  28. ^ "Naquin trade presents Mets more lineup combos". MLB.com.
  29. ^ "Brewers' Tyler Naquin: Gets minors deal from Milwaukee". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  30. ^ "White Sox's Tyler Naquin: Acquired by White Sox". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  31. ^ "Milwaukee Brewers Trade Outfielder Tyler Naquin to Chicago White Sox". si.com. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  32. ^ "White Sox's Tyler Naquin: Added to big-league roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  33. ^ @whitesox (October 3, 2023). "The #WhiteSox have claimed right-handed pitcher Alex Speas off waivers from the Texas Rangers and released outfielder Tyler Naquin" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
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