Garrett Whitley (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Garrett Whitley |
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Whitley with the Charlotte Stone Crabs in 2019
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: March 13, 1997 Melrose, Massachusetts, U.S. |
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Garrett Alan Whitley, born on March 13, 1997, is an American baseball player. He plays as an outfielder. He was picked by the Tampa Bay Rays in the first round of the 2015 baseball draft. He is currently a free agent, meaning he can sign with any team.
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Early Baseball Days
Garrett Whitley went to Niskayuna High School in Niskayuna, New York. He was a great player there.
High School Success
When he was a junior, Garrett hit the ball really well. He had a batting average of .474. This means he got a hit almost half the times he batted! He also hit two home runs and helped his team score 25 runs.
In his senior year, he kept playing strong. He hit .356, with three home runs. He also helped his team score 13 runs.
Becoming a Top Prospect
Garrett was seen as one of the best young players for the 2015 Major League Baseball draft. This is where professional teams pick new players. The Tampa Bay Rays chose him as the 13th player overall in the first round. He had planned to play college baseball at Wake Forest University. But he decided to sign with the Rays instead and start his professional career.
Professional Career
Garrett Whitley began his journey in professional baseball after being drafted. He played for several teams in the minor leagues.
Playing for the Tampa Bay Rays
Garrett started his professional career with the Gulf Coast Rays. Later that season, he moved up to the Hudson Valley Renegades. In his first year, he played 42 games. He hit three home runs and helped score 17 runs.
In 2016, he returned to the Hudson Valley Renegades. He played much better that year. He hit .266, had one home run, and helped score 31 runs. He also stole 21 bases, which means he was fast on the field!
The next year, 2017, Garrett played for the Bowling Green Hot Rods. He continued to improve. He hit 13 home runs and helped score 61 runs. He also stole 21 bases again in 104 games.
Playing in Australia
Garrett also played baseball in Australia. He joined the Perth Heat for the 2017-18 Australian Baseball League season.
Injuries and Return
Garrett missed all of the 2018 season because of an injury. But he came back strong in 2019. He played for the Charlotte Stone Crabs. He hit ten home runs and helped score 40 runs in 114 games.
In 2020, he did not play any minor league games. This was because the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, Garrett played for two different teams. He played for the Montgomery Biscuits and the Durham Bulls. He hit 13 home runs and helped score 35 runs. He also stole 12 bases. After this season, he became a free agent. This meant he could look for a new team.
Time with the Milwaukee Brewers
On December 9, 2021, Garrett signed a contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. He played for their minor league teams in 2022. He played 88 games for the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers and the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. He hit 10 home runs and stole 19 bases. After this season, he became a free agent again.
Joining the Philadelphia Phillies
On December 24, 2022, Garrett signed a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He started the 2023 season with the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils. He played 15 games there. He was released by the Phillies on May 25, 2023. He is currently a free agent.
