Wesley Wright facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wesley Wright |
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Wright with the Texas Rangers in 2017
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: January 28, 1985 Montgomery, Alabama, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| March 31, 2008, for the Houston Astros | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 4, 2015, for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 10–18 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.16 | ||
| Strikeouts | 295 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Dequam LaWesley Wright, born on January 28, 1985, is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for several teams, including the Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
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Early Life and High School
Wesley Wright was born in Montgomery, Alabama. He grew up in a community called Grady, which is part of Montgomery County. For his high school education, he attended Goshen High School.
Starting a Professional Baseball Career
Joining the Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers chose Wesley Wright in the 7th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft. He had an offer to play college baseball at the University of South Alabama. However, he decided to sign with the Dodgers organization instead.
Wright began his professional career in 2004 with the Ogden Raptors. They played in the Pioneer League. In 2005, he played for the Columbus Catfish and the Vero Beach Dodgers. As a relief pitcher for Columbus, he played in 30 games and had a very good 1.93 ERA.
In 2006, Wright pitched in 25 games for Vero Beach, achieving a 1.48 ERA. He was then moved up to the Jacksonville Suns. He started the 2007 season with the Suns before being promoted to the Las Vegas 51s in the middle of the year.
Playing for the Houston Astros
In December 2007, the Houston Astros picked Wright from the Los Angeles Dodgers. This happened during the Rule 5 draft, which allows teams to select players from other teams' minor league systems. Wright made the Astros' Opening Day roster in 2008. He was the only left-handed pitcher in their bullpen.
On March 31, 2008, Wright made his first appearance in a major league game. He pitched against the San Diego Padres and threw one-third of an inning without giving up any runs. He earned his first major league win on April 4 against the Chicago Cubs. Again, he pitched one-third of a scoreless inning. On July 29, he recorded his first major league save against the Cincinnati Reds. He came into the game in the 9th inning with two outs and got the final out.
On July 16, 2009, Wright was called to pitch in a game against the Cubs. This happened in the second inning after the starting pitcher, Roy Oswalt, had to leave due to a back strain. Later that night, it was reported that Wright was taken to the hospital. He was diagnosed with dehydration.
Moving to the Tampa Bay Rays
On August 12, 2013, Wesley Wright was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays sent cash to the Astros for him. With Tampa Bay, Wright played in the playoffs for the first time in 2013. He appeared in two games during the Rays' ALDS series against the Boston Red Sox. After the season, the Rays did not offer him a new contract, making him a free agent.
Time with the Chicago Cubs
On December 4, 2013, Wright agreed to a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. The contract was worth $1.425 million and became official on December 16. After the 2014 season, the Cubs also did not offer him a new contract, and he became a free agent again on December 2, 2014.
Playing for the Baltimore Orioles
On December 16, 2014, Wright signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles. He played in two games for the Orioles. However, on April 11, 2015, he was placed on the injured list because of a strain in his left trapezius muscle. He struggled during his rehab games, and the Orioles later released him on July 22.
Final MLB Team: Los Angeles Angels
On July 30, 2015, Wright signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He pitched well for their Triple-A team, the Salt Lake Bees. In 12 games, he had a 1.42 ERA. On September 1, the Angels added him to their main roster. He played in 9 games for the Angels, finishing with a 3.18 ERA.
Retirement and Scouting Career
After his playing career, Wesley Wright decided to retire from baseball. On November 11, 2017, it was announced that he would take a job as a professional scout for the Minnesota Twins.
