Brennan Boesch
Encyclopedia
Brennan Philip Boesch is an American professional baseball
outfielder
with the Detroit Tigers
of ajor League Baseball. He is 6' 4" and weighs 235 pounds. Boesch won the American League Rookie of the Month Award the first two full months he was in the major leagues.
in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
, alongside future major leaguer Josh Satin
. As a junior, Baseball America
ranked him one of the top 25 prospects in the country. In his senior year he batted .490 with seven home runs.
from 2004–06. He was awarded All-Pac-10 first team honors as a sophomore. He was co-winner of the 2005 Clint Evans Award as the team's most valuable player (along with his former high school teammate who joined him at Berkeley, Josh Satin).
by the Detroit Tigers
. Boesch also spent time in the Cape Cod League in the summers of 2004 and 2005.
Boesch began his minor league career in 2006 with the short season Oneonta Tigers
. He spent full seasons with the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps
in 2007 and the Lakeland Flying Tigers in 2008. Boesch played for the Double-A Erie SeaWolves
in 2009 and led the Eastern League in home runs (28), and finished third in RBIs (93) and strikeouts (127). He also added 15 assists from right field and was named to the Eastern League's mid and postseason All-Star teams. Boesch was added to the Tigers 40-man roster and started the 2010 season with the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens
before he was called up early in the season.
on April 23, 2010. Boesch made his major league debut the same day in a game against the Texas Rangers
. Boesch hit a double off the left-field wall on the first pitch in his first major league at-bat.
Boesch hit his first major league home run
—a grand slam
off Los Angeles Angels pitcher Joel Pineiro
—on April 30. Coming in the same inning as Scott Sizemore
's first career home run, it was the first time two Tigers had hit their first career home runs in the same inning since Pop Dillon
and Kid Elberfeld
did it in 1901.
Boesch was named the American League Rookie of the Month for May and June 2010.
While Boesch had a hot start to his rookie season, he ended the second half in a slump. In the second half of the season, he had a .216 batting average with two home runs and 18 runs batted in, compared to his first half, where he batted .342 with 12 home runs and 49 runs batted in. On defense, in 2010 he led all major league outfielders in errors, with 10.
. He started off hot and only slowed down slightly, putting together a decent second half until he injured his thumb, which eventually required surgery, ending his season. He played in 115 games, batting with more power at .283 with 16 home runs and 54 runs batted in.
On June 6th in a game against the Texas Rangers
at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, he went 5 for 6 with two home runs and five runs batted in. We was awarded with the 6th "Top Game Ranking" award on ESPN
's website.
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...
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...
with 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...
of ajor League Baseball. He is 6' 4" and weighs 235 pounds. Boesch won the American League Rookie of the Month Award the first two full months he was in the major leagues.
High School Career
Boesch played high school baseball at Harvard-Westlake SchoolHarvard-Westlake School
Harvard-Westlake School is an independent, co-educational university preparatory day school consisting of two campuses located in Los Angeles, California with approximately 1,600 students enrolled in grades 7 through 12....
in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
North Hollywood is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California, along the Tujunga Wash. It is bounded on the south by Moorpark Street and the Ventura Freeway, on the southwest by Burbank Blvd...
, alongside future major leaguer Josh Satin
Josh Satin
Joshua Satin is an American second baseman for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball, who also plays first base and third base.He was a First Team College All American at the University of California, Berkeley...
. As a junior, 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...
ranked him one of the top 25 prospects in the country. In his senior year he batted .490 with seven home runs.
College Career
Boesch played three years of college baseball at the University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
from 2004–06. He was awarded All-Pac-10 first team honors as a sophomore. He was co-winner of the 2005 Clint Evans Award as the team's most valuable player (along with his former high school teammate who joined him at Berkeley, Josh Satin).
Minor Leagues
Following his junior season, he was drafted in the third round of 2006 Major League Baseball Draft2006 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 6 and 7. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.-First Round Selections:...
by 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...
. Boesch also spent time in the Cape Cod League in the summers of 2004 and 2005.
Boesch began his minor league career in 2006 with the short season Oneonta Tigers
Oneonta Tigers
The Oneonta Tigers were a minor league baseball team located in Oneonta, New York. They were members of the New York - Penn League. The Tigers were the Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, and played their home games at Damaschke Field...
. He spent full seasons with the Single-A West Michigan Whitecaps
West Michigan Whitecaps
The West Michigan Whitecaps are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Detroit Tigers, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home games are played in Comstock Park, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids.-Franchise history:...
in 2007 and the Lakeland Flying Tigers in 2008. Boesch played for the Double-A Erie SeaWolves
Erie SeaWolves
The Erie SeaWolves are a minor league baseball team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball club....
in 2009 and led the Eastern League in home runs (28), and finished third in RBIs (93) and strikeouts (127). He also added 15 assists from right field and was named to the Eastern League's mid and postseason All-Star teams. Boesch was added to the Tigers 40-man roster and started the 2010 season with the Triple-A 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...
before he was called up early in the season.
2010
The Tigers called up Boesch from the Mud Hens to replace the injured Carlos GuillénCarlos Guillén
Carlos Alfonso Guillén is a Major League Baseball second baseman and switch-hitter....
on April 23, 2010. Boesch made his major league debut the same day in a game against the 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...
. Boesch hit a double off the left-field wall on the first pitch in his first major league at-bat.
Boesch hit his first major league 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...
—a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
off Los Angeles Angels pitcher Joel Pineiro
Joel Piñeiro
Joel Alberto Piñeiro is a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball starting pitcher. He is 6'1" tall and weighs 200 pounds. He is right-handed and made his major league debut on August 8, .-Career:...
—on April 30. Coming in the same inning as Scott Sizemore
Scott Sizemore
Scott Daniel Sizemore is a Major League Baseball second baseman/third baseman for the Oakland Athletics.-Minor leagues:...
's first career home run, it was the first time two Tigers had hit their first career home runs in the same inning since Pop Dillon
Pop Dillon
Frank Edward "Pop" Dillon was a Major League Baseball first baseman with the Pittsburgh Pirates , Detroit Tigers , Baltimore Orioles , and Brooklyn Superbas...
and Kid Elberfeld
Kid Elberfeld
Norman Arthur "Kid" Elberfeld , nicknamed "The Tabasco Kid," was a shortstop in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies , Cincinnati Reds , Detroit Tigers , New York Highlanders , Washington Senators , and Brooklyn Robins...
did it in 1901.
Boesch was named the American League Rookie of the Month for May and June 2010.
While Boesch had a hot start to his rookie season, he ended the second half in a slump. In the second half of the season, he had a .216 batting average with two home runs and 18 runs batted in, compared to his first half, where he batted .342 with 12 home runs and 49 runs batted in. On defense, in 2010 he led all major league outfielders in errors, with 10.
2011
At the start of the 2011 Season, Boesch won the starting job at right field, sharing time with Casper WellsCasper Wells
Casper Charles Wells V is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Seattle Mariners. Casper stands at 6'2 and weighs 210 pounds.-Early life:...
. He started off hot and only slowed down slightly, putting together a decent second half until he injured his thumb, which eventually required surgery, ending his season. He played in 115 games, batting with more power at .283 with 16 home runs and 54 runs batted in.
On June 6th in a game against the 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...
at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, he went 5 for 6 with two home runs and five runs batted in. We was awarded with the 6th "Top Game Ranking" award on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's website.