Brad Eldred
Encyclopedia
Bradley Ross Eldred is a Major League Baseball
first baseman
in the San Francisco Giants
organization. He is nicknamed "Big Country" by minor league teammates because of his size (6'5", 270 pounds) and his home run power.
Eldred was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates
out of Florida International University
in the 6th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
. In , the Pirates named him their minor-league player of the year after he hit .301 with 38 home runs and 137 RBI for the Single-A Lynchburg Hillcats
and the Double-A Altoona Curve
.
He was promoted to the Pirates' major league roster on July 21, 2005, after he hit .297 with 28 home runs and 75 RBI for the Curve and the Indianapolis Indians
. With the Pirates, he hit .221 with 12 home runs and 77 strikeouts in 55 games. After the season was over, the Pirates sent him to play in the Arizona Fall League
so he could work on his plate discipline.
Eldred got injured in the first week of the season, and was unable to play for the rest of the year. After a strong Spring Training
in , in which he began playing the outfield to increase his versatility, he was added to the Pirates' Opening Day Roster. However, he played poorly in Pittsburgh, hitting only .119 through May 19, and was demoted to Indianapolis on May 20. He was briefly recalled in mid-June, but spent only one day on the roster before returning to the minor leagues.
On January 5, 2008, he signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox
. For the AAA Charlotte Knights, he hit 38 home runs and 100 RBIs, leading the International League in both categories. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
In November 2008, he signed with the Washington Nationals
. Playing for the AAA Syracuse Chiefs, he hit .269, .344 on base percentage, 17 home runs and 59 RBIs.
On March 2, 2010, he signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies
. He was called up on July 7, 2010 when Todd Helton
went on the DL.
On January 14, 2011, Eldred signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants
with an invite to spring training.
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...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
in the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
organization. He is nicknamed "Big Country" by minor league teammates because of his size (6'5", 270 pounds) and his home run power.
Eldred was drafted by 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...
out of Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
in the 6th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
. In , the Pirates named him their minor-league player of the year after he hit .301 with 38 home runs and 137 RBI for the Single-A Lynchburg Hillcats
Lynchburg Hillcats
The Lynchburg Hillcats are a minor league baseball team in Lynchburg, Virginia. They are a Class High-A team in the Carolina League, and currently are a farm team of the Atlanta Braves. They had been a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1995, with the Cincinnati Reds fulfilling the final...
and the Double-A Altoona Curve
Altoona Curve
The Altoona Curve are a minor league baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve . The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club...
.
He was promoted to the Pirates' major league roster on July 21, 2005, after he hit .297 with 28 home runs and 75 RBI for the Curve and the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
. With the Pirates, he hit .221 with 12 home runs and 77 strikeouts in 55 games. After the season was over, the Pirates sent him to play in the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
so he could work on his plate discipline.
Eldred got injured in the first week of the season, and was unable to play for the rest of the year. After a strong Spring Training
Spring 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...
in , in which he began playing the outfield to increase his versatility, he was added to the Pirates' Opening Day Roster. However, he played poorly in Pittsburgh, hitting only .119 through May 19, and was demoted to Indianapolis on May 20. He was briefly recalled in mid-June, but spent only one day on the roster before returning to the minor leagues.
On January 5, 2008, he signed a minor league deal with 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...
. For the AAA Charlotte Knights, he hit 38 home runs and 100 RBIs, leading the International League in both categories. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
In November 2008, he signed with the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. Playing for the AAA Syracuse Chiefs, he hit .269, .344 on base percentage, 17 home runs and 59 RBIs.
On March 2, 2010, he signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. He was called up on July 7, 2010 when Todd Helton
Todd Helton
Todd Lynn Helton is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Colorado Rockies. He is a five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, four-time National League Player of the Month, and three-time Gold Glove winner....
went on the DL.
On January 14, 2011, Eldred signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
with an invite to spring training.
Career statistics
| Major/Minor League Baseball | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Age | Team | League/Level | G Games played Games played is a statistic used in team sports to indicate the total number of games in which a player has participated ; the statistic is generally applied irrespective of whatever portion of the game is contested.-Baseball:In baseball, the statistic applies also to players who, prior to a game,... |
AB At bat In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance... |
R Run (baseball) In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured... |
H Hit (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.... |
2B Double (baseball) In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice.... |
3B Triple (baseball) In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice.... |
HR 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... |
RBI Run batted in Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI... |
SB Stolen base In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate... |
AVG 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 :... |
OBP | SLG | SO Strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters.... |
BB Base on balls A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08... |
| 2002 | 21 | Williamsport Crosscutters Williamsport Crosscutters The Williamsport Crosscutters are a Short-Season A classification minor league baseball team based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, in the United States... |
NYPL/Low A | 72 | 276 | 43 | 78 | 22 | 3 | 10 | 48 | 10 | .283 | .338 | .493 | 74 | 18 |
| 2003 | 22 | Hickory Crawdads Hickory Crawdads The Hickory Crawdads are a Minor League Baseball team in Hickory, North Carolina, USA. They are a Class A team in the South Atlantic League, and have been a farm team of the Texas Rangers since 2009. Previously, they were a Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Crawdads play home games... |
SAL South Atlantic League The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States... /A |
115 | 420 | 62 | 105 | 22 | 0 | 28 | 80 | 7 | .250 | .326 | .502 | 142 | 38 |
| 2004 | 23 | Lynchburg Hillcats Lynchburg Hillcats The Lynchburg Hillcats are a minor league baseball team in Lynchburg, Virginia. They are a Class High-A team in the Carolina League, and currently are a farm team of the Atlanta Braves. They had been a farm team of the Pittsburgh Pirates since 1995, with the Cincinnati Reds fulfilling the final... |
CARL Carolina League The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth... /High A |
91 | 335 | 54 | 104 | 22 | 1 | 21 | 77 | 5 | .310 | .397 | .570 | 97 | 35 |
| 2004 | 23 | Altoona Curve Altoona Curve The Altoona Curve are a minor league baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve . The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club... |
EL/AA | 39 | 147 | 24 | 41 | 9 | 0 | 17 | 60 | 0 | .279 | .329 | .687 | 51 | 6 |
| 2005 | 24 | Altoona Curve Altoona Curve The Altoona Curve are a minor league baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve . The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club... |
EL/AA | 21 | 84 | 22 | 28 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 27 | 1 | .333 | .387 | .869 | 25 | 8 |
| 2005 | 24 | Indianapolis Indians Indianapolis Indians The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis... |
IL International League The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States... /AAA |
53 | 194 | 31 | 55 | 13 | 1 | 15 | 48 | 4 | .284 | .338 | .593 | 57 | 14 |
| 2005 | 24 | 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... |
MLB | 55 | 190 | 23 | 42 | 9 | 0 | 12 | 27 | 1 | .221 | .279 | .458 | 77 | 13 |
| 2006 | 25 | Indianapolis Indians Indianapolis Indians The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis... |
IL International League The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States... /AAA |
18 | 62 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 1 | .226 | .310 | .484 | 18 | 8 |
| 2007 | 26 | Indianapolis Indians Indianapolis Indians The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis... |
IL International League The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States... /AAA |
86 | 311 | 37 | 65 | 10 | 2 | 15 | 45 | 9 | .209 | .275 | .399 | 90 | 20 |
| 2007 | 26 | 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... |
MLB | 19 | 46 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | .109 | .128 | .261 | 16 | 1 |
| 2008 | 27 | Charlotte Knights Charlotte Knights The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League... |
IL International League The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States... /AAA |
114 | 427 | 62 | 104 | 22 | 1 | 35 | 100 | 3 | .244 | .305 | .546 | 144 | 28 |
| 2009 | 28 | Syracuse Chiefs | IL International League The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States... /AAA |
106 | 353 | 53 | 95 | 26 | 0 | 17 | 59 | 6 | .269 | .344 | .487 | 96 | 30 |
| 2010 | 29 | Colorado Springs Sky Sox Colorado 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... |
PCL 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... /AAA |
106 | 394 | 67 | 104 | 27 | 1 | 30 | 84 | 6 | .264 | .327 | .566 | 119 | 33 |
| 2010 | 29 | Colorado Rockies Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains... |
MLB | 11 | 24 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | .250 | .333 | .417 | 10 | 2 |
| Career | |||||||||||||||||