James Loney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids James Loney |
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Loney with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2013
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| First baseman | |||
| Born: May 7, 1984 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: April 4, 2006, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| KBO: July 27, 2017, for the LG Twins | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: October 2, 2016, for the New York Mets | |||
| KBO: August 25, 2017, for the LG Twins | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .284 | ||
| Home runs | 108 | ||
| Runs batted in | 669 | ||
| KBO statistics | |||
| Batting average | .278 | ||
| Home runs | 3 | ||
| Runs batted in | 12 | ||
| Teams | |||
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James Anthony Loney (born May 7, 1984) is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Tampa Bay Rays. He also played in the KBO League for the LG Twins.
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Early Baseball Days
James Anthony Loney was born in Houston, Texas, on May 7, 1984. His father, Tony, was a computer programmer. His mother, Annie, worked as a teacher. James also has a younger brother named Anthony.
James played baseball in a program called Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities. He was coached by Rick Carpenter at Elkins High School. Rick is the father of another famous baseball player, Matt Carpenter.
In his final year of high school, James's team was ranked number one in the country. They won the 5A state championship. James was a great pitcher that season, with a 12–1 record. He also hit very well, with a .500 batting average and eight home runs. He was named Player of the Year by Powerade and Gatorade.
Many professional teams were interested in James for his pitching skills. But the Los Angeles Dodgers chose him as a position player in the 2002 MLB draft. He was the 19th player picked overall. James had planned to play college baseball at Baylor University, but he decided to sign a professional contract instead.
Playing Professional Baseball
Starting with the Dodgers
James Loney began his professional career in 2002. He played for the Great Falls Dodgers and hit very well. He was seen as a top young player in the league. He then moved to the Vero Beach Dodgers.
In 2004, James was praised for his excellent defense. He was even named to the All-Prospect Team in the Arizona Fall League. He played for the Jacksonville Suns and helped them win the Southern League Championship in 2005.
By 2006, James was playing for the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s. He had the best batting average in all of baseball that year, hitting .380. He was named the Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year.
Making it to the Major Leagues
James Loney made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on April 4, 2006. He played for the Dodgers against the Atlanta Braves. He got his first major league hit against a famous pitcher, John Smoltz.
On September 28, James had an amazing game against the Colorado Rockies. He got 9 runs batted in (RBIs), which tied a Dodgers record from 56 years ago!
James started the 2007 season in Triple-A. But he was called back to the Dodgers in June. He became the main first baseman for the team.
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In September 2007, James hit nine home runs. This set a new Dodgers record for a rookie in one month. He was named the National League Rookie of the Month. He was also chosen for the 2007 Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team.
In 2008, James had a 15-game hitting streak. He finished the season with a .289 batting average and 90 RBIs. He led the team in RBIs all year. In the playoffs, he hit a grand slam against the Chicago Cubs.
James continued to play well for the Dodgers in 2009 and 2010. In 2010, he signed a new contract that greatly increased his salary. In 2011, he had a career high with five hits in one game.
In 2012, James's performance started to decline. He began sharing his first base position with another player.
Moving to Other Teams
On August 25, 2012, James was traded to the Boston Red Sox. He played in 30 games for them.
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In December 2012, James signed a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. This was a great move for him and the team. He had his best season since 2007, hitting .299 with 13 home runs. In 2013, he also got his 1,000th career hit. Because of his good performance, he signed a three-year contract with the Rays.
In 2015, James played fewer games due to injuries. The Rays released him in April 2016.
After leaving the Rays, James signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres. He was then traded to the New York Mets in May 2016. He played 100 games for the Mets that season.
James also signed minor league contracts with the Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, and Atlanta Braves in 2017. However, he did not play many games for their major league teams.
Playing in South Korea
In July 2017, James signed a contract to play for the LG Twins in the KBO League in South Korea. He played in 23 games there before deciding to return to the United States.
Retirement from Baseball
On February 5, 2019, James signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters. He was going to be an infielder, pitcher, and coach for the team. But after only 11 games, James announced his retirement from professional baseball on May 7, 2019.
Personal Life
James Loney married his wife, Nadia, in 2013. They have two sons together. During the off-season, they live in Los Angeles, California.
See also
In Spanish: James Loney para niños
