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 was born on January 28, 1985. He is an American former professional baseball player. He was a relief pitcher, which means he came into games to pitch after the starting pitcher. Wesley Wright played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These teams included the Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
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Early Life and Baseball Start
Wesley Wright was born in Montgomery, Alabama. He grew up in a community called Grady in Montgomery County. He went to Goshen High School. After high school, the Los Angeles Dodgers chose him in the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft. He had a chance to play college baseball at the University of South Alabama. However, he decided to sign with the Dodgers in June 2003 to start his professional career.
Playing in the Minor Leagues
Wesley Wright started his professional baseball journey in 2004. He played for the Ogden Raptors in the Pioneer League. In 2005, he played for two teams: the Columbus Catfish and the Vero Beach Dodgers. As a relief pitcher for Columbus, he had a very good earned run average (ERA) of 1.93 in 30 games.
In 2006, he continued to play well for Vero Beach. He had a 1.48 ERA in 25 games. Because of his good performance, he moved up to the Jacksonville Suns. He started the 2007 season with the Suns. Later that year, he was promoted again to the Las Vegas 51s.
Major League Baseball Career
Houston Astros: Making His MLB Debut
In December 2007, the Houston Astros chose Wesley Wright in the Rule 5 draft. This meant he had a chance to play in the major leagues. Wright made the Astros' team for opening day in 2008. He was the only left-handed pitcher in their bullpen.
On March 31, 2008, Wesley Wright played in his first Major League Baseball game. He pitched for the Astros against the San Diego Padres. He pitched for a short time and did not let the other team score any runs. A few days later, on April 4, 2008, he earned his first major league win. This happened against the Chicago Cubs. On July 29, 2008, he got his first major league save against the Cincinnati Reds. He came into the game and got the last out to secure the win.
In 2009, Wesley Wright had an interesting moment. He was pitching in a game against the Cubs. He even got his first Major League hit, a single! Later that night, he had to go to the hospital because he felt sick. Doctors found out he was very dehydrated.
Tampa Bay Rays: Playoff Experience
On August 12, 2013, Wesley Wright was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays. With the Rays, he got to play in the playoffs for the first time in his career. He appeared in two games during the Rays' series against the Boston Red Sox. After the season, he became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team.
Chicago Cubs: A New Team
On December 4, 2013, Wesley Wright agreed to a one-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. He officially joined the team on December 16, 2013. He played for the Cubs for one season.
Baltimore Orioles: Facing Challenges
On December 16, 2014, Wesley Wright signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles. He played in two games for the Orioles. However, he was placed on the injured list in April 2015 because of a muscle strain in his neck. After trying to recover and play in minor league games, he was released by the Orioles in July.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Back in MLB
On July 30, 2015, Wesley Wright signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He played well for their Triple-A team, the Salt Lake Bees. In 12 games, he had a very low ERA of 1.42. Because of his strong performance, the Angels added him to their main roster on September 1. He pitched in 9 games for the Angels, finishing the season with a 3.18 ERA.
Later Career and Retirement
After his time with the Angels, Wesley Wright signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks in December 2015. However, he was released before the season started in March 2016. In April, he signed with the Boston Red Sox and played for their Triple-A team, the Pawtucket Red Sox. He played in 19 games before being released in July.
In January 2017, Wright signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. He played in 30 games for their Triple-A team, the Round Rock Express. On November 11, 2017, Wesley Wright announced that he was retiring from playing baseball. He decided to take a new job as a professional scout for the Minnesota Twins. A scout helps teams find new talented players.
Images for kids
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Wesley Wright pitching for the Texas Rangers in 2017
