Willie Bloomquist
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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|---|---|
| Seattle Mariners — No. 16 | |
| Infielder | |
| Born: November 27, 1977 | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
| 2002 for the Seattle Mariners | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through 2007) |
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| Batting average | .261 |
| Home Runs | 6 |
| Runs batted in | 89 |
| Teams | |
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William "Willie" Paul Bloomquist (born November 27, 1977 in Bremerton, Washington) is a Major League Baseball utility player who plays for the Seattle Mariners. He has played every position, aside from either of the battery positions, during his major league career.
Through 2007, Bloomquist is a career .261 hitter with 6 home runs and 57 stolen bases in 469 games. In his minor league career, he batted .281 with 12 home runs and 99 stolen bases in 387 games.
Bloomquist debuted with the Mariners in the 2002 season at the age of 24. At 5 ft 11 in, 195 lb, he is a versatile player that can play many positions, but is a limited contributor due to his below average offensive and defensive production and prowess. He has above-average speed and good baseball senses, leading him to be often used in late innings as a pinch runner for slower players. He is also used as a defensive specialist, though he does not excel at any given position. He is applauded for his versatility and intangibles.
Bloomquist had his greatest offensive contribution during his brief major league callup at the end of the 2002 season. In 33 at bats, Bloomquist had a batting average of .455 and an on-base plus slugging of 1.102.
Bloomquist was drafted out of South Kitsap High School in Port Orchard, Washington by the Mariners in the eighth round (237th overall) of the 1996 amateur draft, but was not signed. He was drafted again by the Mariners out of Arizona State University in the third round (95th overall) of the 1999 amateur draft and signed.
The Mariners signed Bloomquist to a contract extension through the 2008 season worth $1,875,000[1].
Some fans criticize the the Mariners for overuse of Bloomquist feeling that his overall numbers do not merit for the of playing time that he receives[2].
Due to his success early in his career against the Anaheim Angels, Angels broadcaster Rex Hudler began calling him "The Mighty Bloomquist."
[edit] Trivia
- On June 15, 2007 he accomplished a rare feat of an inside the park home run in Minute Maid Park.
- On June 26, 2007, Bloomquist hit a lead-off home run in the second inning -- on what was his 1,000th career at-bat.
[edit] Notes
- ^ ESPN - Mariners sign Bloomquist to two-year, $1.875M deal - MLB
- ^ A very brief reiteration of our position on Mr. Bloomquist
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
- Baseball Prospectus (statistics)
