Bobby Scales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bobby Scales |
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Scales with the Orix Buffaloes
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| Left fielder / Third baseman / Second baseman | |||
| Born: October 4, 1977 Southfield, Michigan, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: May 5, 2009, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| NPB: July 7, 2011, for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: October 3, 2010, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| NPB: September 26, 2012, for the Orix Buffaloes | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .248 | ||
| Home runs | 3 | ||
| Runs batted in | 17 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .262 | ||
| Home runs | 14 | ||
| Runs batted in | 53 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Bobby Leon Scales (born October 4, 1977) is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He played as a second baseman, third baseman, and left fielder. Bobby was a switch hitter, meaning he could bat from both sides of the plate, and he threw with his right hand.
He played college baseball for the University of Michigan. After college, he was chosen by the San Diego Padres in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft. Bobby Scales played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs. He also played in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and the Orix Buffaloes.
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Playing Career
Starting in the Minor Leagues
When Bobby Scales first started playing professional baseball, he was in the minor leagues. These are teams where players develop their skills before reaching the big leagues. After three years, he felt like giving up because he wasn't playing much.
However, his coach, Tony Franklin, convinced him to keep going. Soon after, another player got injured, and Bobby finally got his chance to start playing regularly. He later signed with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Red Sox minor league teams. In 2008, he joined the Chicago Cubs organization.
Making it to Major League Baseball
Bobby Scales was called up to the Chicago Cubs' main team on May 4, 2009. This was a big moment for him! He made his first Major League appearance on May 5, 2009, playing at second base. He was 31 years old at the time.
In that first game, he got his very first Major League hit against a famous pitcher named Tim Lincecum. Just a few days later, on May 8, 2009, Bobby hit his first Major League triple. Then, on May 12, 2009, he hit his first Major League home run! He continued to play well, even hitting two doubles and bringing in four runs in another game.
Playing Baseball in Japan
After his time with the Chicago Cubs, Bobby Scales decided to play baseball in Japan. He signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters on June 27, 2011. He later returned to the Chicago Cubs for a short time in 2012.
After that, he signed with the New York Mets minor league team. However, he was released by the Mets in May 2012. He then went back to Japan to play for the Orix Buffaloes.
After Playing Baseball
After his playing career ended, Bobby Scales continued to work in baseball. On November 9, 2012, he was hired by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. His job was to be the director of player development, which means he helped younger players improve their skills.
In 2019, he joined the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. There, he worked as an assistant fielding coordinator, helping players with their defensive skills. More recently, in 2023, Bobby Scales became a part-time analyst for the Detroit Tigers Radio Network. He helps explain the games to listeners.
Personal Life
Bobby Scales is married to Monica, who has a special degree in health communication. In 2005, he was recognized as the Portland Beavers Community Player of the Year. This award showed how much time and effort he put into helping the community in Portland. During the baseball offseason, he also works as a substitute teacher at Milton High School in Milton, Georgia.
