Billy Ashley
Encyclopedia
Billy Manual Ashley in Trenton, Michigan
, is a former Major League Baseball
outfielder
.
Ashley was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers
in the 3rd round of the 1988 MLB Draft
. He started his professional career with the Gulf Coast Dodgers
in 1988 and 1989. Played with the Bakersfield Dodgers in 1990, Vero Beach Dodgers in 1991, San Antonio Missions
in 1992 and Albuquerque Dukes
for most of 1992-1994. A big time home run threat in the minors, Ashley hit 24 homers with San Antonio, 26 with the Dukes in 1993 and 37 in 1994. He was a Triple-A All-Star &Pacific Coast League
All-Star in 1993 and in 1994 he repeated those honors and also was selected as Baseball America
1st team Minor League All-Star in 1994, Pacific Coast League
Most Valuable Player in 1994, Los Angeles Dodgers
Minor League Player of the Year in 1994 and AAA Player of the Year.
He made his major league debut on September 1, 1992 against the Chicago Cubs
and recorded his first major league hit on September 6 against the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
Ashley made the Dodgers opening day roster as a full-time player for the 1995 season and for the next three seasons was a spot starter/pinch hitter for the Dodgers. He tied the Dodgers single-season record for pinch hit homers in 1996. But due to his inability to hit for a high average, his high strikeout frequency, and his poor defensive play, the Dodgers released him before the beginning of the 1998 season.
He was signed as a free agent by the Boston Red Sox
. He spent most of the season with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox
but played in 13 games with the major league team. His most productive day with the Red Sox was on July 3, 1998 when went 3 for 4 and hit a grand slam home run against the Chicago White Sox
.
He spent 1999 with the Toledo Mud Hens
in the Detroit Tigers
farm system and then retired from baseball.
Throughout his Minor League
career, Ashley was a highly touted power-hitting prospect. However, his success in the Minors did not transfer to the big league level, and he did not accumulate a batting average
higher than .237 or hit more than 9 home run
s in a season.
His career concluded with 144 total hits and 236 total strikeouts.
Currently, Billy is making a name for himself in television. Billy is featured in Fox Reality Channel
's original series Househusbands of Hollywood
.
Trenton, Michigan
Trenton is a small city in Wayne County in the southeast portion of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 18,853...
, is a former Major League Baseball
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...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
.
Ashley was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los 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...
in the 3rd round of the 1988 MLB Draft
MLB Draft
The First-Year Player Draft, also known as the Rule 4 Draft, is Major League Baseball's primary mechanism for assigning amateur baseball players, from high schools, colleges, and other amateur baseball clubs, to its teams. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, with...
. He started his professional career with the Gulf Coast Dodgers
Gulf Coast Dodgers
The Arizona League Dodgers are the Rookie Level minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They were formerly known as the Gulf Coast Dodgers and played in Vero Beach, Florida, at Dodgertown . Dodgertown includes Holman Stadium, which is also the former spring training home to the Brooklyn...
in 1988 and 1989. Played with the Bakersfield Dodgers in 1990, Vero Beach Dodgers in 1991, San Antonio Missions
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
in 1992 and Albuquerque Dukes
Albuquerque Dukes
The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.-History:The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class-D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs,...
for most of 1992-1994. A big time home run threat in the minors, Ashley hit 24 homers with San Antonio, 26 with the Dukes in 1993 and 37 in 1994. He was a Triple-A All-Star &Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
All-Star in 1993 and in 1994 he repeated those honors and also was selected as Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
1st team Minor League All-Star in 1994, Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
Most Valuable Player in 1994, Los Angeles Dodgers
Los 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...
Minor League Player of the Year in 1994 and AAA Player of the Year.
He made his major league debut on September 1, 1992 against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
and recorded his first major league hit on September 6 against the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh 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...
.
Ashley made the Dodgers opening day roster as a full-time player for the 1995 season and for the next three seasons was a spot starter/pinch hitter for the Dodgers. He tied the Dodgers single-season record for pinch hit homers in 1996. But due to his inability to hit for a high average, his high strikeout frequency, and his poor defensive play, the Dodgers released him before the beginning of the 1998 season.
He was signed as a free agent by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. He spent most of the season with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
but played in 13 games with the major league team. His most productive day with the Red Sox was on July 3, 1998 when went 3 for 4 and hit a grand slam home run against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
.
He spent 1999 with the Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
in 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...
farm system and then retired from baseball.
Throughout his Minor League
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
career, Ashley was a highly touted power-hitting prospect. However, his success in the Minors did not transfer to the big league level, and he did not accumulate a batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
higher than .237 or hit more than 9 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s in a season.
His career concluded with 144 total hits and 236 total strikeouts.
Currently, Billy is making a name for himself in television. Billy is featured in Fox Reality Channel
Fox Reality Channel
Fox Reality Channel was an all reality television channel available on cable and satellite television in the United States. It was launched on May 24, 2005 and was owned by the Fox Entertainment Group. It featured many shows that were previously on the Fox network...
's original series Househusbands of Hollywood
Househusbands of Hollywood
Househusbands of Hollywood was a Fox Reality Channel series that documented the lives of five househusbands and their wives who provide the primary household income, while they tend to their homes, and in some cases, their children.-Billy Ashley:...
.