Michael Choice facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Michael Choice |
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Choice with the Texas Rangers in 2014
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: November 10, 1989 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: September 2, 2013, for the Oakland Athletics | |||
| KBO: July 29, 2017, for the Nexen Heroes | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: June 24, 2015, for the Texas Rangers | |||
| KBO: August 5, 2018, for the Nexen Heroes | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .188 | ||
| Home runs | 9 | ||
| Runs batted in | 36 | ||
| KBO statistics | |||
| Batting average | .282 | ||
| Home runs | 28 | ||
| Runs batted in | 78 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Michael Blair Choice (born November 10, 1989) is an American former professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder. Michael Choice played in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was part of the Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers teams. He also played in the KBO League for the Nexen Heroes.
Choice played college baseball at the University of Texas at Arlington. The Athletics picked him in the first round of the 2010 draft. He started playing in MLB with the Athletics in 2013. He then played for the Rangers in 2014 and 2015.
Contents
Michael Choice's Early Baseball Days
High School Baseball Achievements
Michael Choice went to Mansfield Timberview High School. This school is in Arlington, Texas. He played on the school's baseball team. He was a catcher and a pitcher. In his final year, he had a great batting average of .506.
College Baseball Career at UTA
Many universities looked at Choice for their teams. However, only the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) offered him a scholarship. He played college baseball for the Texas–Arlington Mavericks team. They were part of the Southland Conference.
Choice played as a center fielder in college. This was because the team already had many catchers. In 2008, as a freshman, he led his team. He had a .376 batting average, seven home runs, and 51 runs batted in (RBIs). That year, he was named a top freshman outfielder. He also won the Southland Conference Freshman of the Year award.
In 2009, he was chosen as a Southland Conference All-Star Outfielder. He also played for the United States national baseball team. This was during the World Baseball Challenge in the summer of 2009.
As a junior in 2010, Choice continued to play well. He hit .393 with 16 home runs. He also had a .568 on-base percentage and a .704 slugging percentage. He was named a First Team College All-American Outfielder. He also won Southland Conference All-Star Outfielder and Player of the Year. He was a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award. This award goes to the best amateur baseball player. In his three years at UTA, Choice batted .392. He also hit a school-record 34 home runs.
Michael Choice's Professional Baseball Journey
Starting with the Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics chose Michael Choice in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft. He was their first pick, tenth overall. Choice was the first player from UTA to be drafted so high. He was also the highest pick ever from the Southland Conference. This tied the record set by Ben Sheets in 1999.
Choice signed with the Athletics on July 30. He received a $2 million signing bonus. That year, he played for two minor league teams. These were the Arizona League Athletics and the Vancouver Canadians.
In 2011, he played for the Stockton Ports. He batted .283 with 30 home runs and 82 RBIs. In 2012, he played center field for the Midland RockHounds. He batted .264 with six home runs and 43 RBI in 69 games. He was chosen for the 2012 All-Star Futures Game. His season ended early. He broke his hand after being hit by a pitch in July.
Choice spent the 2013 season with the Sacramento River Cats. This is a Triple–A team. He batted .302 with 14 home runs and 89 RBI in 132 games. The Athletics brought him up to the major leagues on September 1, 2013. He played his first major league game the next day.
Time with the Texas Rangers
On December 3, 2013, the Athletics traded Choice. They also traded infielder Chris Bostick. They went to the Texas Rangers. In return, the Athletics got outfielder Craig Gentry and pitcher Josh Lindblom.
Choice made the Rangers' Opening Day team. He hit his first career home run against the Houston Astros. It was off of Kevin Chapman. He was the first Rangers player to hit his first home run as a pinch-hitter. Choice struggled with a .177 batting average. The Rangers sent him to the Round Rock Express in July. The Rangers called him back to the major leagues in August. His season ended when he hurt his hamstring in September. He finished the season batting .182 for the Rangers.
In 2015, Choice tried to become the Rangers' starting left fielder. But he struggled and was sent back to minor league camp. Choice spent the 2015 season with Round Rock. He was removed from the team's roster on August 18.
Playing for Other Teams
The Rangers traded Choice to the Cleveland Indians on August 21, 2015. The Indians sent him to the Columbus Clippers. Choice finished the 2015 season with Columbus. He was later removed from the team's roster on November 25. He then joined Columbus again on November 30.
Choice was invited to spring training in 2016. He played for Columbus that year. He played in 71 games. He batted .246 with 14 home runs and 39 RBI. Choice became a free agent after the season on November 7, 2016.
On February 15, 2017, Choice signed a minor league contract. This was with the Baltimore Orioles. He played in 11 games for the Norfolk Tides. He had only one hit in 26 tries. The Orioles released him on May 2.
On May 5, 2017, Choice signed with the Milwaukee Brewers. He played for the Biloxi Shuckers.
Playing in the KBO League
On July 22, 2017, the Brewers sold Choice's contract. He went to the Nexen Heroes in the KBO League in South Korea. Choice signed again with the Heroes for $600,000 on November 24, 2017. He batted .307 with 17 home runs in 46 games for Nexen. He was signed again for the 2018 season. He batted .258 with 17 home runs in 96 games. Nexen released Choice on August 7, 2018.
Mexican League and Final Teams
On August 16, 2018, Choice signed with the Diablos Rojos del México. This team is in the Mexican League. He became a free agent after that season.
On April 19, 2019, Choice signed with the Tigres de Quintana Roo. This was another Mexican League team. He was released on May 31, 2019.
On June 29, 2019, Choice signed with the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna. This was his third team in the Mexican League.
On December 17, 2019, Choice signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies released him on May 30, 2020.
On April 8, 2021, Choice signed with the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna again. He hit .281 with 5 RBI in 16 games. He was released on June 10.
On June 18, 2021, Choice signed with the Acereros de Monclova. In 3 games, he had 1 hit in 12 tries. He was placed on the inactive list on June 23. He was later released on August 8.
On August 9, 2021, Choice signed with the Lexington Legends. This team is in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 36 games, he batted .328 with 1 home run and 6 RBI. He was released on September 17.
Coaching Career
On September 28, 2023, Michael Choice joined a special program. This program helps former players become scouts and coaches for MLB.
Personal Life
Michael Choice was born in Fort Worth, Texas. His father, Charles, worked as an engineer. His mother, Charea, was a schoolteacher.
Choice married Jade in October 2012. They divorced in July 2022. They have two children together. He remarried Belinda in November 2023.
