Mike Olt | |
---|---|
Third baseman | |
Born: New Haven, Connecticut, U.S. | August 27, 1988|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
August 2, 2012, for the Texas Rangers | |
Last MLB appearance | |
October 4, 2015, for the Chicago White Sox | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .168 |
Home runs | 16 |
Runs batted in | 43 |
Teams | |
Michael George Olt (born August 27,1988) is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers,Chicago Cubs,and Chicago White Sox. He played college baseball at the University of Connecticut.
Olt attended Branford High School in Branford,Connecticut,where he played for the school's baseball team. He started at shortstop for the school's varsity baseball team in all four years at Branford. [1] In 2006,Branford won the Connecticut state championship. [2] After graduating high school,Olt was not selected in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. [1]
Olt enrolled at the University of Connecticut in Storrs,Connecticut,where he played college baseball for the Connecticut Huskies. He was named a freshman All-American. [3] Olt played for the New England Collegiate Baseball League's Danbury Westerners in 2008. In 2008 and 2009,he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League. [4] [5] [6]
The Rangers drafted Olt in the supplemental first round,with the 49th overall selection,of the 2010 MLB Draft. [7] After he signed,Olt played for the Spokane Indians of the Low–A Northwest League. [8] In 2011,Olt played for the High–A Myrtle Beach Pelicans,where he batted .267 with 14 home runs. [9] He broke his collarbone in a collision in June,and missed ten weeks of the season. [10] [11] Olt participated in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) after the 2011 season. [12] Olt led the AFL with 13 home runs. [9]
Before the 2012 season,MLB.com ranked him as the 43rd best prospect in baseball. [13] Olt began the season with the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double–A Texas League,and was named to appear in the 2012 All-Star Futures Game. [14] After he batted .287 with 27 home runs and 81 runs batted in (RBI) for Frisco,the Rangers promoted Olt to the major leagues on August 2. [15] In his debut,Olt recorded a hit in his first at-bat,and went 1-for-3. [16] On August 11,he hit a pinch hit walk-off single to beat the Tigers,2-1. [17]
The Rangers optioned Olt to the Round Rock Express of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League (PCL) during spring training in 2013. [18] He struggled to begin the season,batting .139 through April 25. He reported problems with depth perception, [19] which specialists indicated could be the result of a concussion. [20] When it was discovered that a lacrimal gland wasn't producing tears,he was given eye drops,which corrected the vision problem. [21] He returned to Round Rock on June 3. [19]
After batting .213 at Round Rock, [22] the Rangers traded Olt to the Chicago Cubs on July 22,2013,with Justin Grimm,C. J. Edwards,and a player to be named later (Neil Ramirez),in exchange for Matt Garza. Olt reported to the Iowa Cubs of the PCL. [23] He batted .168 in 152 plate appearances with Iowa. He attempted to find a new way to treat his vision problem,as the eye drops he was given raise the chances of developing glaucoma. [22]
At the start of spring training in 2014,Olt reported that his vision problems had been resolved. [24] Olt competed for the starting third base job with the Cubs. [25] He made the Cubs' Opening Day roster,though Cubs' manager Rick Renteria suggested that Olt would split playing time at third base with Luis Valbuena. [26] Olt hit his first major league home run on April 3, [27] and his first grand slam on May 8. [28] Olt was demoted back to Iowa on July 23,2014 after posting a .139 batting average for the 2014 season. [29] Twelve of his 31 hits were home runs by the time he was demoted,setting an all-time MLB season record for most home runs hit by a batter with an average below .170. [30]
With Valbuena traded in the offseason, [31] the Cubs opened the 2015 season with Olt as their starting third baseman,and top prospect Kris Bryant starting the year in Iowa. [32] On April 17,Olt was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a hairline fracture in his right wrist, [33] and Bryant was called up to replace him. [34] [35] He was moved to the 60-day disabled list four days later. [36] Olt returned to play with Iowa [37] [38] and was designated for assignment on August 31. [39]
The Chicago White Sox claimed Olt off of waivers on September 5,2015, [40] and inserted him into their lineup at third base the next day. [41] Olt batted .203 in 24 games for the White Sox. [42] On September 16,Olt hit a home run,becoming the only player in MLB history to hit a home run for both Chicago MLB teams in the same season. [43]
During the 2015-16 offseason,the White Sox acquired Todd Frazier as their third baseman. They designated Olt for assignment during spring training, [44] after he had batted 1-for-10 in spring training games. The White Sox released Olt on March 15. [45]
On March 17,2016,Olt signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres organization. [46] He played primarily for the Double–A San Antonio Missions,as well as three games for the Triple–A El Paso Chihuahuas. In 49 games for San Antonio,Olt batted .255/.373/.404 with five home runs and 25 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 7. [47]
Olt signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox on February 7,2017. [48] He played in 113 games for the Double–A Portland Sea Dogs,hitting .245/.332/.436 with 16 home runs and 57 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 6. [49]
Olt signed a new minor league contract with Boston on December 27,2017. [50] He played in 74 games between Portland and the Triple–A Pawtucket Red Sox,accumulating a .214/.346/.412 with 11 home runs and 28 RBI. Olt elected free agency following the season on November 3,2018. [51]
Olt signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins on January 28,2019. He was released on March 27.[ citation needed ] On April 23,Olt signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He was released on June 20.[ citation needed ] In 24 games he hit a horrific .082/.198/.096 with 0 home runs and 5 RBIs.
On July 6,Olt signed with the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League. He was released on July 15. Olt announced his retirement on October 25,2019. [52] In 8 games he struggled going 5-29 (.172) with 0 home runs and 0 RBIs.
Olt's brother,Brad,was a teammate of Mike's with the Huskies. [3] Brad also played baseball professionally for the Bad Homburg Hornets in the German Bundesliga. [53]
Alexis Israel Ríos is an American former professional baseball right fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays,Chicago White Sox,Texas Rangers,and Kansas City Royals. A World Series champion with the Royals in 2015,Rios is a two-time MLB All-Star. In 2007,he was a Fielding Bible Award winner for right fielders. In 2013,he hit for the cycle and achieved six hits in one game. Rios is a three-time World Baseball Classic participant with the Puerto Rico national baseball team.
Marlon Jerrard Byrd is an American former professional baseball outfielder,who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies,Washington Nationals,Texas Rangers,Chicago Cubs,Boston Red Sox,New York Mets,Pittsburgh Pirates,San Francisco Giants,Cincinnati Reds,and Cleveland Indians. He was an All-Star in 2010 with the Cubs.
Michael Anthony Napoli is an American former professional baseball first baseman,catcher,and first base coach.
Matthew Scott Garza is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2006 with the Minnesota Twins,and also played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Rays,Chicago Cubs,Texas Rangers and Milwaukee Brewers. With the Rays,Garza was named the American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player in 2008,and threw a no-hitter on July 26,2010.
Geovany Soto is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball catcher. He played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB),most prominently as a member of the Chicago Cubs,where he appeared in the MLB All-Star Game and was named the National League Rookie of the Year in 2008. He also played for the Texas Rangers,the Oakland Athletics,the Los Angeles Angels and the Chicago White Sox.
Maximiliano R. Ramírez is a Venezuelan former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for numerous teams.
Austin Jarriel Jackson is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers,Seattle Mariners,Chicago Cubs,Chicago White Sox,Cleveland Indians,San Francisco Giants and New York Mets. Prior to playing professionally,he attended Billy Ryan High School.
William Dion Venable is an American professional baseball coach and former player. He is the manager of the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB as an outfielder for the San Diego Padres,Texas Rangers,and Los Angeles Dodgers. He also was a coach for the Chicago Cubs. He is the son of former MLB outfielder Max Venable and is the older brother of former National Football League player Winston Venable.
Eric John Hosmer is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals,San Diego Padres,Boston Red Sox,and Chicago Cubs.
Leonys Martín Tápanes,nicknamed "Ikadi",is a Cuban-American professional baseball center fielder for the Conspiradores de Querétaro of the Mexican League. He signed with the Texas Rangers in 2011,and made his MLB debut later that season. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners,Chicago Cubs,Detroit Tigers,and Cleveland Indians and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chiba Lotte Marines.
Jorge Carlos Soler Castillo is a Cuban professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs,Kansas City Royals,Atlanta Braves,Miami Marlins,and San Francisco Giants.
Billy Rayshun Hamilton is an American professional baseball center fielder for the Charros de Jalisco of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds,Kansas City Royals,Atlanta Braves,New York Mets,Chicago Cubs,Miami Marlins,Minnesota Twins,and Chicago White Sox. The Reds selected Hamilton in the second round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft,and he made his MLB debut in 2013.
Leury García is a Dominican professional baseball utility player who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox. While primarily used as an infielder and center fielder,Garcia has experience at every position except catcher and first base.
Trayce Nikolas Thompson is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox,Los Angeles Dodgers,Oakland Athletics,and San Diego Padres. Thompson also played for the Great Britain National Team in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Kristopher Lee Bryant,nicknamed "KB",is an American professional baseball third baseman and outfielder for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants. Prior to playing professionally,Bryant attended the University of San Diego,where he played college baseball for the Toreros.
Clint Jackson Frazier is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees,Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox.
Yoán Manuel Moncada Olivera is a Cuban professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox. He made his MLB debut for the Red Sox in 2016,and was traded to the White Sox during the 2016–2017 offseason. He is one of the first active MLB players to represent the Cuban national team in international competition.
Carson Franklin Kelly is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals,Arizona Diamondbacks,Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers.
Eloy Arturo Jiménez Solano is a Dominican professional baseball designated hitter and outfielder who is currently a free agent. Jiménez signed with the Chicago Cubs in 2013 as an international free agent. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2019 with the Chicago White Sox and won the Silver Slugger Award in 2020 before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 2024.
Patrick Ian-Cashel Wisdom is an American professional baseball third baseman and first baseman for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the Saint Mary's Gaels. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft and he made his MLB debut in 2018. He previously played in MLB for the Cardinals and Texas Rangers.