Nick Rickles | |
---|---|
![]() Rickles with the Beloit Snappers in 2013 | |
Catcher | |
Born: Fort Lauderdale, Florida | February 2, 1990|
Bats: Right Throws: Right |
Nicholas Jay Rickles (born February 2,1990) is an American-Israeli [1] coach for the Milwaukee Brewers organization,and a former professional baseball and current Team Israel catcher. [2]
As a high school senior,Rickles was voted Florida All-State. At Stetson University,he was named a TPX Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball ,and in his junior year in 2011 was named First Team All-Atlantic Sun Conference and a College Baseball All America Honorable Mention. Rickles was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 14th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft.
In 2011,he was voted a New York-Pennsylvania League mid-season All Star while playing for the Vermont Lake Monsters. Rickles was voted Midwest League Player of the Week on July 29,2013,while playing for the Beloit Snappers. He missed the entire 2014 season after suffering a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder. In February 2016,Rickles signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. He played that season for the Double–A Eastern League Harrisburg Senators,and the Triple–A International League Syracuse Chiefs.
Rickles played on Team Israel during the qualifying round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic,the qualifying round for the 2017 World Baseball Classic in September 2016,and for Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic main tournament. In 2019,Rickles became a coach for the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He played for Team Israel at the 2019 European Baseball Championship. He also played for the team at the Africa/Europe 2020 Olympic Qualification tournament in Italy in September 2019,which Israel won to qualify to play baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics. He was the designated hitter for Team Israel at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo in the summer of 2021.
Rickles was born in Fort Lauderdale,Florida,grew up in Loxahatchee,Florida,and is Jewish. [3] [4] [5] His parents are Linda and Ken Rickles. He has a younger brother,Andrew,who is a U.S. Army Veteran. Nick Rickles is married to Jessyka Rickles (Virdell) of Washington state. [4] [6] In January 2018,he launched a blog,My Life &Baseball,to share his journey with the fans. [7]
He attended Palm Beach Gardens Community High School in Palm Beach Gardens,Florida. [8] [6] As a senior,when Rickles became a catcher,he batted .512 (third in Palm Beach County) with an .869 slugging percentage and 5 home runs and 32 RBIs (both second in Palm Beach County),while throwing out 80% of attempted base stealers,and was voted All-State. [6] [9] He was voted First Team All-Conference and All-Area as both a junior and a senior,and named "Player to Watch" by the Palm Beach Post . [6]
Rickles played college baseball for Stetson University,where he majored in Sports Management. [10] [6] In 2009 as a freshman,he started all 57 games and was second in the league in runners thrown out stealing with 19. [6] He was named a TPX Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball ,and voted to the Atlantic Sun Conference All-Freshman Team. [6] In 2010 as a sophomore he played in all 58 games,had a .997 fielding percentage at catcher,threw out 19 runners attempting to steal and also picked off 7 runners,and was on the Johnny Bench Award Watch List. [6]
In his junior year in 2011,his last season in college,Rickles hit .353,with 20 doubles (3rd in the Atlantic Sun Conference),3 triples (8th),12 home runs,and 62 RBIs (5th),and had an OPS of 1.008. [11] [12] [10] [13] That season he had a streak of 178 at bats without striking out,led the Stetson Hatters into the NCAA Regionals,and was named First Team All-Atlantic Sun and a College Baseball All America Honorable Mention. [10] [13] [9] [14]
Rickles was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 14th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft. [10] He used his $60,000 signing bonus to buy himself a Chevy Avalanche pickup truck,and also received payment for his final year of college if he chooses to finish his degree. [10] [15]
He made his professional debut in 2011 playing for the Rookie Arizona League Athletics and the Low-A New York-Penn League Vermont Lake Monsters,for whom in 47 aggregate games Rickles batted .310/.370/.458 with 2 home runs and 35 RBIs,and 6 stolen bases himself in 7 attempts,while throwing out 42% of stolen base attempts. [10] [16] [12] He was voted a 2011 New York-Pennsylvania League mid-season All Star while playing for Vermont,and co-winner of the 2011 Tom Racine Award (the fans' choice for the most valuable player of the Monsters). [16] [17]
Rickles spent the 2012 season with the Single-A Midwest League Burlington Bees,for whom he threw out 43% of attempted base stealers. [16] [4] In 2013,he played for the Class A Midwest League Beloit Snappers (for whom the threw out 42% of attempted base stealers) and the Double-A Texas League Midland RockHounds. [4] He was voted Midwest League Player of the Week on July 29,2013. [16]
He missed the entire 2014 season after suffering a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder during spring training in February 2014,that necessitated surgery on May 5,2014. [18] [19] [20] Rickles returned in 2015 with the Class A-Advanced California League Stockton Ports,Midland (throwing out 46% of attempted base stealers),and the Triple-A Pacific Coast League Nashville Sounds. [16] [18] Midland RockHounds manager Ryan Christenson said:
"Any time you have a catcher that can control the running game,it’s real important. He does more than just throw out base runners though. He’s very adept at throwing behind runners trying to pick guys off and keep them honest. He handles the pitching staff well." [18]
He was released by the Athletics after the season,in October 2015. [16]
On February 1,2016,Rickles signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals. [16] He played in 2016 for the Double-A Eastern League Harrisburg Senators (catching 30% of attempted base stealers),and the Triple-A International League Syracuse Chiefs. [16] [21]
On May 25,2017,the Nationals traded Rickles to the Philadelphia Phillies. [22] He hit .274/.310/.484 in 95 at bats and caught 44% of attempted basestealers for the Reading Fightin Phils of the Double–A Eastern League,and then played 9 games for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs of the Triple-A International League. [23] [24] He elected free agency following the season on November 6. [25]
On December 23,2017,Rickles re-signed a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. Rickles played the entire 2018 season for the IronPigs in Triple-A. [26] Rickles batted .245/.271/.394 in 188 at bats,with 7 home runs and 26 RBI. [24] On November 2,2018,he elected free agency. [27]
Through 2018,in seven minor league seasons Rickles batted .246/.279/.377 with 34 home runs and 186 RBI in 1,420 at bats,playing 355 games at catcher and 12 games at first base. [24] On defense,he caught 42% of attempted base stealers. [24]
Rickles,who is Jewish,played on the Israeli national baseball team during the qualifying round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic. [28] Rickles only appearance in the tournament was as a late-inning defensive replacement,and he did not record any at bats. [29]
Rickles again played for Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifier in September 2016. [30] During the opening game he went 1 for 3 with a strikeout,as the DH,before being pinch hit for by Ike Davis, [31] and Rickles did not play in the final two games.
Rickles played for Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic. [32]
He played for Team Israel at the 2019 European Baseball Championship. [33] [2] Rickles also played for the team at the Africa/Europe 2020 Olympic Qualification tournament in Italy in September 2019,which Israel won to qualify to play baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. [34] In the tournament he caught every game,batted .316/.409/.632,and was tied for second in home runs (2) and tied for third in runs (5). [35]
He was the designated hitter for Team Israel at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo in the summer of 2021. [36]
In January 2019,Rickles retired as a player and became a coach for the rookie-level Rocky Mountain Vibes in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. [37] [38]
Earl Jesse Battey,Jr. was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1955 to 1967,most prominently for the Minnesota Twins where he was a five-time All-Star player and was an integral member of the 1965 American League pennant-winning team.
Dustin Eli Whiteside is an American former professional baseball catcher who is currently a roving catching instructor for the San Francisco Giants. He stands 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall,weighs 220 pounds (100 kg). He batted and threw right-handed. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles,San Francisco Giants,and Chicago Cubs.
Dane Kealoha A. A. Sardinha is an American former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the Cincinnati Reds,Detroit Tigers,and Philadelphia Phillies between 2003 and 2011.
Sean John Rodriguez is an American former professional baseball utility player who currently serves as a player development instructor for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels,Tampa Bay Rays,Pittsburgh Pirates,Atlanta Braves,Phillies,and Miami Marlins. Rodriguez was drafted out of high school by the Angels in the third round of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft. He made his major league debut in 2008. While he played more second base than any other position,Rodriguez played at every position in his MLB career except for catcher.
Nicholas John Hundley is an American former professional baseball catcher and current front office executive. He is currently a special assistant to the general manager for the Texas Rangers. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres,Baltimore Orioles,Colorado Rockies,San Francisco Giants,and Oakland Athletics. He was drafted in 2005 by the Padres in the second round,and made his major-league debut in 2008.
Erik Floyd Kratz is an American former professional baseball catcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates,Philadelphia Phillies,Toronto Blue Jays,Kansas City Royals,Houston Astros,Milwaukee Brewers,San Francisco Giants,Tampa Bay Rays,and New York Yankees during an 11-year career. Kratz was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 29th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft.
Matthew Hagerty McBride is an American former professional baseball first baseman and catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies and Oakland Athletics.
Ryan Cole Lavarnway is an American-Israeli former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox,Baltimore Orioles,Atlanta Braves,Oakland Athletics,Pittsburgh Pirates,Cincinnati Reds,Miami Marlins,and Cleveland Indians. In international competition,he plays for Team Israel,and competed for them in the World Baseball Classic and in the Olympics.
Christopher Ryan Herrmann is an American former professional baseball catcher and outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins,Arizona Diamondbacks,Seattle Mariners,and Oakland Athletics. He played college baseball at the University of Miami.
Jorge Mario Alfaro Buelvas is a Colombian professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies,Miami Marlins,San Diego Padres,Colorado Rockies,and Boston Red Sox. Alfaro signed with the Texas Rangers as a free agent in 2010,was traded to the Phillies in 2015,and made his MLB debut in 2016.
Zachary Borenstein is an American former professional baseball outfielder.
Tyler Patrick Kelly is an American-Israeli former professional baseball utility player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets. He plays for Team Israel.
Curtis Michael Casali,is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays,Cincinnati Reds,San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners. Casali played college baseball at Vanderbilt University,and was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the 10th round of the 2011 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2014 with the Rays.
Garrett Patrick Stubbs is an American professional baseball catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Houston Astros. Stubbs attended the University of Southern California (USC),and played college baseball for the USC Trojans. While there,he won the 2015 Johnny Bench Award as the nation's best collegiate catcher.
Scott Hunter Burcham is an American-Israeli former professional baseball shortstop. He also plays for Team Israel.
Michael Meyers is an American scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks,and a former professional baseball outfielder.
Andrew Jacob Yerzy is a Canadian professional baseball catcher and first baseman who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.
Andrew Robert Knizner is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers.
Nicholas Carl Dini is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals in 2019.
Patrick Bailey is an American professional baseball catcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball at North Carolina State University and was selected 13th overall by the Giants in the first round of the 2020 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in May 2023.