Wynton Bernard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wynton Bernard |
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Bernard with the Rockies in 2022
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| Free agent | |||
| Outfielder | |||
| Born: September 24, 1990 San Diego, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 12, 2022, for the Colorado Rockies | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2022 season) |
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| Batting average | .286 | ||
| Home runs | 0 | ||
| Runs batted in | 3 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Wynton Allen Bernard (born September 24, 1990) is an American professional baseball outfielder. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies. Wynton is known for his long journey through minor league baseball before reaching the big leagues.
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Early Baseball Days
Bernard grew up in San Diego, California. He went to Rancho Bernardo High School. After high school, he earned a scholarship to play college baseball at Niagara University.
College Career Changes
As a freshman, Wynton played well. He had a .293 batting average. He also led his team in stolen bases. After his first year, he moved to Riverside Community College. This was to be closer to his family. His father had a stroke, and Wynton wanted to support them.
After his father passed away, Wynton returned to Niagara University. During his college years, he played 140 games. He had a .279 batting average. He also stole 72 bases.
Professional Baseball Journey
Wynton Bernard's path to Major League Baseball was long. He played for many different teams.
Starting with the Padres
In 2012, the San Diego Padres picked Bernard in the baseball draft. He started playing in the minor leagues. He played for several different Padres minor league teams. In 2013, he played 51 games. He had a .251 batting average. The Padres released him in early 2014.
Playing for the Tigers
In March 2014, Bernard signed with the Detroit Tigers. He played for the West Michigan Whitecaps. He had a fantastic year! He was named the Most Valuable Player of the Midwest League. He hit .324 and stole 45 bases. He also broke the team's record for hits in a season.
Because of his great play, the Tigers added him to their 40-man roster. This meant he was closer to playing in the MLB. In 2015, he played for the Erie SeaWolves. He continued to play well, hitting .302. He also stole 43 bases. He later played for the Toledo Mud Hens. He left the Tigers organization in late 2016.
Moving to Other Teams
After the Tigers, Bernard signed with the San Francisco Giants.
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He played for their Triple-A team, the Sacramento River Cats. He played 82 games there.
Then, he joined the Chicago Cubs organization in 2018. He played for their Double-A and Triple-A teams. He played 98 games that year. He stole 25 bases. He re-signed with the Cubs in 2019. He played 52 games before being released.
Independent League Baseball
In 2019, Bernard joined the Sugar Land Skeeters. This team was in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. This is an independent league, not connected to MLB teams. He played very well, hitting .314. He also stole 32 bases. He re-signed with the Skeeters for 2020.
The 2020 Atlantic League season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bernard still played for the Skeeters in a special league.
Finally, the Rockies!
In 2021, Bernard signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies. He played for their Triple-A team, the Albuquerque Isotopes. He played 100 games. He hit 7 home runs and stole 23 bases. He re-signed with the Rockies in 2022.
In 2022, he had an amazing year with the Isotopes. He hit .333. He also hit a career-high 21 home runs! He stole 30 bases.
MLB Debut
On August 11, 2022, Wynton Bernard got the exciting news. He was being called up to the Major Leagues for the first time! He made his MLB debut the very next day. He got a hit, stole a base, and scored a run in his first game. At 31 years old, he became the oldest player since 1907 to get a hit and a stolen base in their first MLB game. He played 12 games for the Rockies. He hit .286 and stole 3 bases.
More Teams and Journeys
After his time with the Rockies, Bernard signed with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2023. He played 60 games for their Triple-A team. He then returned to the Colorado Rockies for a second time in 2023. He played 66 games for the Albuquerque Isotopes.
In 2023, he signed with the Chicago White Sox. He played 41 games for their Triple-A team. In July 2024, he signed with the Minnesota Twins. He played 32 games for their Triple-A team before being released.
Playing Around the World
Besides playing for teams in the United States, Wynton Bernard has also played baseball in other countries. He has played professionally in Mexico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and Australia.
Family Life
Wynton Bernard has two older brothers. His brother Walter played football in college and professionally. His brother Wayne played professional basketball in Europe.
In 2011, Wynton and his brother Walter appeared on the TV game show Family Feud.
Images for kids
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Bernard with the Rockies in 2022
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Bernard with the Sacramento River Cats in 2017
