Adam Melhuse
Encyclopedia
Adam Michael Melhuse is a former Major League Baseball
catcher
.
and baseball
. He played college baseball as a UCLA Bruin
.
, Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics
, and Texas Rangers
. He throws right-handed and is a switch-hitter.
on August 24, , in the 12th inning
of an unusual game between the Rockies and Atlanta Braves
. Out of pitchers, Rockies manager
, Buddy Bell
, asked injured catcher
, Brent Mayne
, who was unable to swing a bat due to a sprained left wrist, if he could pitch
. Mayne pitched the 12th inning and held the Braves scoreless. The following inning, with two outs
and the bases loaded, Melhuse, pinch hitting
for Mayne, singled over the shortstop's head to win the game.
.
Adam's career as a Texas Ranger was short-lived.The Rangers traded for Jarrod Saltalamacchia
(a catcher) on July 31, 2007, which lessened Melhuse's playing time. Melhuse was designated for assignment on August 23, 2007, and would later be released.
with the Texas Rangers. He made the team out of spring training as a backup to starting catcher Gerald Laird
, but injured his hand in a game against the Detroit Tigers
on April 24, resulting in his release.
to replace Yorvit Torrealba
who was placed on the DL
.
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
.
High school, college years
Melhuse attended Lincoln High School in Stockton, California and was a student and a letterman in basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. He played college baseball as a UCLA Bruin
UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles . The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I as part of the Pacific-12 Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation . For football, they are in the Football Bowl Subdivision of Division I...
.
Major League Baseball career
Previously, Melhuse played with the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, and Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. He throws right-handed and is a switch-hitter.
Colorado Rockies
Melhuse collected his first career hitHit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
on August 24, , in the 12th inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
of an unusual game between the Rockies and Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. Out of pitchers, Rockies manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
, Buddy Bell
Buddy Bell
David Gus "Buddy" Bell is a former third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. After an 18-year career with four teams, most notably the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers, he managed the Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies and Kansas City Royals for three seasons each...
, asked injured catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
, Brent Mayne
Brent Mayne
Brent Danem Mayne is a former Major League Baseball catcher who has played with the Kansas City Royals , New York Mets , Oakland Athletics , San Francisco Giants , Colorado Rockies , Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers...
, who was unable to swing a bat due to a sprained left wrist, if he could pitch
Pitch (baseball)
In baseball, a pitch is the act of throwing a baseball toward home plate to start a play. The term comes from the Knickerbocker Rules. Originally, the ball had to be literally "pitched" underhand, as with pitching horseshoes. Overhand throwing was not allowed until 1884.The biomechanics of...
. Mayne pitched the 12th inning and held the Braves scoreless. The following inning, with two outs
Out (baseball)
In baseball, an out occurs when the defensive, or fielding, team effects any of a number of different events, and the umpire rules a batter or baserunner out. When a player is called out, he is said to be retired...
and the bases loaded, Melhuse, pinch hitting
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
for Mayne, singled over the shortstop's head to win the game.
Oakland Athletics
On January 5, 2007 Melhuse signed a minor league contract with the Oakland AthleticsOakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
Texas Rangers
On June 9, , Melhuse was traded by the Athletics to the Texas Rangers for cash.Adam's career as a Texas Ranger was short-lived.The Rangers traded for Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Jarrod Scott Saltalamacchia , nicknamed "Salty" is an American professional baseball catcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.His last name is the longest in Major League Baseball history...
(a catcher) on July 31, 2007, which lessened Melhuse's playing time. Melhuse was designated for assignment on August 23, 2007, and would later be released.
Oakland Athletics Again
He resigned with the Athletics for his second stint in 2007 on September 1 when rosters were expanded. Despite being on the Athletics for a second go around in September, Melhuse sat on the bench the whole time and did not get into a game. He declared free agency on October 8, 2007, though not before being outrighted to the minors on October 5.Texas Rangers Again
on January 11, Melhuse signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring trainingSpring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
with the Texas Rangers. He made the team out of spring training as a backup to starting catcher Gerald Laird
Gerald Laird
Gerald Lee Laird III is an American professional baseball catcher for the Detroit Tigers. He graduated La Quinta High School in 1998, and played college baseball at Cypress College...
, but injured his hand in a game against the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
on April 24, resulting in his release.
Colorado Rockies Again
In late June 2008, Melhuse signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies and was called up on August 14, 2008. On August 30, 2008, Melhuse was called up to the Rockies from the Triple-A Sky SoxColorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
to replace Yorvit Torrealba
Yorvit Torrealba
Yorvit Adolfo Torrealba is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Texas Rangers. He previously played for the San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies and San Diego Padres. He bats and throws right-handed.-San Francisco Giants:...
who was placed on the DL
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
.
Texas Rangers Again
Melhuse signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers in January . However, he was released on April 4.Pittsburgh Pirates
On May 8, 2009, he signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.