Jacoby Ellsbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jacoby Ellsbury |
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Ellsbury with the New York Yankees in 2015
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| Center fielder | |||
| Born: September 11, 1983 Madras, Oregon, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 30, 2007, for the Boston Red Sox | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 30, 2017, for the New York Yankees | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .284 | ||
| Home runs | 104 | ||
| Runs batted in | 512 | ||
| Stolen bases | 343 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Jacoby Ellsbury is a former professional baseball player. He was a center fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Boston Red Sox from 2007 to 2013. Then, he played for the New York Yankees from 2014 to 2017.
Jacoby Ellsbury is a member of the Colorado River Indian Tribes. He is the first Native American of Navajo descent to play in Major League Baseball.
He was first picked by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 2002 MLB draft. However, he decided not to sign with them. After playing college baseball at Oregon State University, the Red Sox drafted him in 2005. He made his big league debut in 2007.
In 2011, Ellsbury had an amazing year. He was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year. He also became an All-Star and won both a Gold Glove Award for his great fielding and a Silver Slugger Award for his hitting. That year, he was the first Red Sox player to join the 30–30 club. This means he hit 30 home runs and stole 30 bases in the same season. He finished second for the American League Most Valuable Player Award.
Ellsbury led the American League in stolen bases three times. He helped the Red Sox win the World Series in 2007 and 2013. After the 2013 season, he signed a big contract with the Yankees. He played for them until 2017. Injuries kept him from playing in 2018 and 2019. He was released by the Yankees in November 2019.
Contents
Early Life and College Baseball
Jacoby Ellsbury was born on September 11, 1983. His parents are Jim and Margie Ellsbury. He is the oldest of four children. His family lived on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation for a while. They later moved to Madras, Oregon, when Jacoby was very young.
Jacoby's mother, Margie, is a full-blooded Navajo. Her family has a history of skilled artists. His father, Jim, has English and German roots.
When he was a kid, Ellsbury often played baseball with older teammates. At Madras High School, he was a star in five different sports. In his senior year of baseball, he hit very well and stole 65 bases. He was also great at basketball and football.
He went to Oregon State University for college. There, he was named an All-American in baseball. He also shared the Pac-10 Conference Co-Player of the Year award. In 2005, the Boston Red Sox drafted him in the first round.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting in the Minor Leagues
Jacoby Ellsbury began his professional baseball journey in 2005. He played for the Lowell Spinners, a minor league team. He quickly showed off his speed, stealing 23 bases in just 35 games.
In 2006, he continued to impress. He played for the Wilmington Blue Rocks and the Portland Sea Dogs. He stole many bases and was known for his excellent defense. The Red Sox even named him their Minor League Defensive Player of the Year.
By 2007, experts saw Ellsbury as one of the best young players in baseball. He started the season with the Pawtucket Red Sox, a higher-level minor league team. He hit incredibly well, batting .452 in 17 games. This led to his first call-up to the big leagues.
Playing for the Boston Red Sox
2007: Rookie Season and World Series Win
Jacoby Ellsbury made his Major League Baseball debut on June 30, 2007. He played center field for the Red Sox. He got his first big league hit in that game. He also stole his first base and scored a memorable run from second base on a wild pitch.
He was sent back to the minor leagues a few times. But by September, he was back with the Red Sox for good. On September 2, he hit his first major league home run. Fans and reporters quickly noticed his speed and energy. He was named the American League Rookie of the Month for September.
During the 2007 postseason, Ellsbury became a key player. He started in center field for the final games of the playoffs. In the 2007 World Series, he made history. He was the first rookie to hit two doubles in the same inning of a World Series game. He also became only the third rookie ever to get four hits in a World Series game. The Red Sox won the World Series, giving Ellsbury his first championship ring.
2008: Leading the League in Steals
Ellsbury started the 2008 season as the Red Sox's main center fielder. He showed off his incredible speed by stealing 25 bases in a row without being caught. He broke the Red Sox rookie record for stolen bases, which had stood for 100 years.
He finished the season with 50 stolen bases. This was the most in the American League. He was also third in the Red Sox's all-time list for most stolen bases in a single season. He finished third in the voting for the American League Rookie of the Year award.
2009: Setting New Records
In 2009, Ellsbury continued to be a defensive star. He played 179 straight games without making an error. This broke a Red Sox record for outfielders. He also set a new team record for most errorless chances by a center fielder.
He broke another Red Sox record by stealing his 55th base on August 25. He ended the season with 70 stolen bases, leading the American League again. He also led the league with 10 triples. He was named the Defensive Player of the Year by MLB.com.
2010: Dealing with Injuries
Before the 2010 season, Ellsbury changed his uniform number to 2. He also moved to left field, as the team signed another center fielder.
Early in the season, Ellsbury had a collision with a teammate. This caused hairline fractures in his ribs. He spent a lot of time on the disabled list that year. He tried to come back a few times but kept re-injuring his ribs. He did not play again after August 2010.
2011: An Amazing Comeback Season
Ellsbury had an incredible comeback season in 2011. In August, he hit game-winning home runs in back-to-back games. On September 25, he made history for the Red Sox. He hit two home runs in a game to become the first Red Sox player to join the 30–30 club. This means he had 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in one season.
He finished the season with career highs in many areas. He hit 32 home runs, had 212 hits, and drove in 105 runs. He also had a great batting average of .321. He won his first Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense. He also won a Silver Slugger Award for his hitting. He was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year. He finished second in the voting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award.
2012-2013: More Injuries and Another World Series
In 2012, Ellsbury injured his right shoulder in April. He missed a lot of time on the disabled list. He returned in July but only played in 74 games that season.
In 2013, Ellsbury set a new Red Sox record. He stole five bases in a single game on May 30. Later that season, he hurt his right foot. However, he recovered quickly and returned to play in September.
Ellsbury played very well in the 2013 postseason. He helped the Red Sox win another World Series. This was his second championship with the team. After the season, his contract with the Red Sox ended. He became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.
Joining the New York Yankees
On December 3, 2013, Jacoby Ellsbury agreed to a big contract with the New York Yankees. It was a seven-year deal worth $153 million.
2014-2017: Time with the Yankees
On April 22, 2014, Ellsbury played his first game at Fenway Park against his old team, the Red Sox. He was booed by the fans. In his first year with the Yankees, he played in 149 games. He hit 16 home runs and stole 39 bases.
In 2015, Ellsbury started the season well. But he injured his right knee in May and missed almost two months. When he returned, he struggled at the plate.
In 2016, Ellsbury made a rare play. He stole home plate against the Tampa Bay Rays. This was his second time stealing home in his career. He also set a new MLB record that year. He reached base 12 times because of "catcher's interference." This happens when the catcher gets in the way of the batter's swing.
In 2017, Ellsbury hit his first career grand slam, which was also his 100th career home run. Later, he suffered a concussion after hitting his head on the outfield wall. When he returned, he had lost his starting job to another player. On his 34th birthday, he broke another record. He reached base via catcher's interference for the 30th time in his career, breaking Pete Rose's record.
2018-2019: More Injuries and Release
Ellsbury faced more injuries in 2018. He had an oblique strain and a hip problem. He needed surgery on his left hip in August and missed the rest of the season.
In 2019, he continued to deal with injuries, including a foot injury and a shoulder problem. He was ruled out for the entire season.
The Yankees released Ellsbury on November 20, 2019. He was still owed a lot of money on his contract. The Yankees tried not to pay him, saying he got medical care without their permission. However, the players' association fought for him, and an independent group decided the Yankees had to pay. Many people in sports described his contract as one of the worst in Yankees history because of his injuries.
Life Outside Baseball
Jacoby Ellsbury was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He married Kelsey Hawkins in December 2012. They have four children together.
In 2010, Ellsbury released his own wine called "ZinfandEllsbury." All the money he made from the wine went to three different charities. These charities included the Navajo Relief Fund and Project Bread.
In 2014, Ellsbury gave $1 million to his college, Oregon State University. This money helped to renovate the baseball stadium. The new home locker room for the Oregon State Beavers baseball team was named the Jacoby Ellsbury Locker Room in his honor.
Major Accomplishments
- 2× World Series champion (2007, 2013)
- 2007 AL Rookie of the Month (September)
- 2008 Red Sox rookie single season stolen bases record
- 2008 AL stolen base leader
- 2009 all-time Red Sox single season stolen bases record
- 2009 MLB stolen base leader
- 2011 AL Comeback Player of the Year
- 2011 All-Star
- 2013 all-time Red Sox single game stolen base record
- 2013 MLB stolen base leader
See also
In Spanish: Jacoby Ellsbury para niños
- List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual triples leaders
