Andrew Toles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Andrew Toles |
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Toles taking batting practice in 2016
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| Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| Outfielder | |||
| Born: May 24, 1992 Decatur, Georgia, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 8, 2016, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 30, 2018, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .286 | ||
| Home runs | 8 | ||
| Runs batted in | 35 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Alvin Andrew Toles (born May 24, 1992) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers team.
Toles played college baseball for the University of Tennessee and Chipola College. The Tampa Bay Rays picked him in the 2012 baseball draft. He played for their minor league teams until 2015. After that, he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers. He played for the Dodgers in the major leagues starting in 2016. Even though he hasn't played a game since 2018, he is still officially part of the Dodgers organization.
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Early Baseball Days
Andrew Toles went to Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Georgia. After high school, the Florida Marlins chose him in the 2010 baseball draft. But Toles decided not to sign with them. Instead, he chose to go to college.
He went to the University of Tennessee to play college baseball. In 2011, he was named to the SEC All-Freshman team. This means he was one of the best new players in his college league. Later that year, he left the team. His coach said that all players needed to follow certain rules.
After leaving Tennessee, Toles went to Chipola College in Florida. He also left their baseball team in 2012. This was because he did not follow team rules.
Playing Professional Baseball
With the Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays picked Andrew Toles in the third round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with them and got a bonus of $369,700. In his first year, he played for the Princeton Rays. He had a batting average of .281. Baseball America magazine called him the "Best Athlete" and "Fastest Baserunner" in the Rays' organization.
In 2013, Toles played for the Bowling Green Hot Rods. He was the best hitter in his league. He also had the most hits. He won several awards, including the Rays' Minor League Player of the Year.
In 2014, Toles played for the Charlotte Stone Crabs. His manager had some concerns about his effort during games. Toles later left the team for "personal reasons." He missed two months of the season. He played a few games in August for another team, the Gulf Coast Rays.
In 2015, Toles went to spring training with the Rays. But he was released from the team before the season started. This was due to not following team rules. He did not play professional baseball that year.
With the Los Angeles Dodgers
After the 2015 season, Andrew Toles signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He started the 2016 season with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. During the year, he moved up to the Tulsa Drillers and then the Oklahoma City Dodgers.
The Dodgers called him up to the major leagues on July 8, 2016. Toles played his first MLB game as the starting center fielder. He got a double in his very first time at bat. On August 22, he hit his first home run. On August 31, he hit his first grand slam. A grand slam is a home run hit when all three bases are full of runners. This scores four runs.
Toles finished his first season with a .314 batting average. He played in 48 games, hitting three home runs and getting 16 RBIs. His manager, Dave Roberts, said Toles's first season was like a "dream." In the playoffs, he hit .364.
In 2017, Toles was part of the Dodgers' starting lineup on Opening Day. He was often the first batter and played left field. However, on May 9, he hurt his right knee. He tore a ligament and needed surgery. This injury ended his season early. In 31 games, he hit .271 with five home runs and 15 RBIs.
In 2018, Toles played in 17 games for the Dodgers. He spent most of that season with the Oklahoma City Dodgers. There, he hit .306 in 71 games.
Toles did not go to spring training in 2019. The Dodgers said he was dealing with a "personal matter." He was placed on the team's "restricted list." This means he was still part of the team but not actively playing. He briefly returned to camp in April but left again in May. He did not play any games in 2019.
Personal Challenges
Andrew Toles has faced some personal challenges that have affected his baseball career. While playing in the minor leagues, he sometimes had trouble sleeping. This led to him being late or making mistakes on the field. He later left the Rays team and spent time getting help.
Between 2015 and 2016, Toles even worked in a grocery store for a short time. The Dodgers have continued to sign Toles to contracts every year since 2018. These contracts do not pay him a salary. But they allow him to have access to the team's health insurance. This shows the team's support for him.
Personal Life
Andrew Toles was born in Decatur, Georgia. His father is Alvin Toles. Alvin Toles also played sports. He played college football at the University of Tennessee. Then, he played in the National Football League.
See also
In Spanish: Andrew Toles para niños
