Chase Headley
Encyclopedia
Chase Jordan Headley is a major league baseball
player currently playing for the San Diego Padres
. He plays third base
, and formerly played left field. He is a switch-hitter. Headley is also known for his mental "makeup" and intensity, having been a high school class valedictorian
and academic All-American.
in Fountain, Colorado
, in 2002. He distinguished himself in two sports, receiving four varsity letters in both baseball
and basketball
. In baseball, he was a three-time Colorado All-State player, and was named to the South Metro All-League team for all four of his seasons. Other high school honors included being named 2002 Player of the Year by the Colorado Springs Gazette, 2002 Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year by Rotary International
/KRDO-TV
, and 2002 Male Athlete of the Year by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
. He was selected to play in the 2002 Colorado Rockies
Senior All-Star Game, in which he hit a home run
in his first time at bat. He also played two seasons with the Colorado Rockies Select Scout Team, and in the National Baseball Congress
World Series. In basketball, he was named to the All-Conference squad for two seasons.
Headley continued to play baseball in college, playing shortstop
for the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California
, and only transitioning to third base
, which would become his primary position, when he transferred to the University of Tennessee
in 2003. His sophomore year at Tennessee was difficult for him, as he had meniscus
surgery on his knee, and a hamstring
injury. He recovered, however, and worked out 62 walks
(breaking Todd Helton
's 1995 school record), approached the college's single-season mark for on base percentage
, and was named the 2004 team Most Valuable Player
. He also did not neglect his studies, becoming an Academic All-American
with a 3.63 GPA, majoring in Sports Management. He was drafted
by the San Diego Padres
in the second round of the First-Year Player Draft in June 2005.
Headley first played professionally with the Eugene Emeralds
, where he was described as a team "mainstay," then for the Lake Elsinore Storm
, where he was called "one of the top prospects in the Padres' organization." In 2006, he was one of seven players representing the Padres organization in the Arizona Fall League
, playing for the Peoria Saguaros
. He was the only one who had not played in a Class AA league before.
The San Diego Union-Tribune called Headley the Padres' best eventual prospect to fill the third base position, though it theorized it would take two years.
Headley says:
Headley was named the 2007 Texas League
Player of the Year, after hitting .330/.437/.580 and leading the league in fielding for third basemen. He did strike out 114 times, though, in just 443 at bats.
Headley hit well in spring training in 2008, .371 with a team-leading 12 RBIs, but was sent to the AAA Portland Beavers
to get more experience playing left field. In 65 games in Portland, he hit 13 HRs and 24 doubles, batted .305/.383/.556, and was then called up to the Padres.
, after hitting .357, and because of an injury to Padres third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff
. He made his major league debut against the Chicago Cubs
at Wrigley Field
. His first major league hit came on June 17; a single to center field in the second inning against Rich Hill of the Cubs.
. He batted .269/.337/.420, with 104 strikeouts in 331 at bats.
's no-hitter, reaching on an error by Juan Uribe
, and ending the perfect game
bid after 22 straight retirements.
to the Oakland Athletics
, moving Headley back to third base, his original position.
On April 16, Headley hit a walk-off 3-run HR off of Diamondbacks pitcher Juan Gutierrez
, snapping the Padres 2 game losing streak. On May 4, Chase Headley hit a walk-off single off Rockies' relief pitcher Franklin Morales
driving in
Lance Zawadzki
. This was his 2nd walk-off hit of the season.
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...
player currently playing for the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. He plays third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
, and formerly played left field. He is a switch-hitter. Headley is also known for his mental "makeup" and intensity, having been a high school class valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
and academic All-American.
High school and college
Headley graduated as valedictorian from Fountain-Fort Carson High SchoolFountain-Fort Carson High School
-Rivalries:Florence High School: Florence & FFCHS were, throughout much of the 1950s through the 1990s, longtime rivals that competed in the old Pikes Peak League - often challenging for league supremacy in football and basketball....
in Fountain, Colorado
Fountain, Colorado
The city of Fountain is a Home Rule Municipality located in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Fountain is located just ten miles south of Colorado Springs and just east of Fort Carson. Fountain and the Colorado Springs suburbs Security and Widefield make up the "Fountain Valley" community....
, in 2002. He distinguished himself in two sports, receiving four varsity letters in both 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...
and basketball
Basketball
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...
. In baseball, he was a three-time Colorado All-State player, and was named to the South Metro All-League team for all four of his seasons. Other high school honors included being named 2002 Player of the Year by the Colorado Springs Gazette, 2002 Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year by Rotary International
Rotary International
Rotary International is an organization of service clubs known as Rotary Clubs located all over the world. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help...
/KRDO-TV
KRDO-TV
KRDO-TV, virtual channel 13, is the ABC-affiliated television station in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. The station broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 24. The station is owned by Pikes Peak Television, a subsidiary of the News-Press & Gazette Company of St...
, and 2002 Male Athlete of the Year by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is a non-profit interdenominational Christian organization founded in 1954 and that has been based in Kansas City, Missouri since 1956. It falls within the tradition of Muscular Christianity. Although established by evangelical Protestants, the concept has...
. He was selected to play in the 2002 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...
Senior All-Star Game, in which he hit a 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...
in his first time at bat. He also played two seasons with the Colorado Rockies Select Scout Team, and in the National Baseball Congress
National Baseball Congress
The National Baseball Congress of Wichita, Kansas is an organization of 15 amateur and semi-professional baseball leagues operating in the United States and Canada...
World Series. In basketball, he was named to the All-Conference squad for two seasons.
Headley continued to play baseball in college, playing shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
for the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California
Stockton, California
Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city...
, and only transitioning to third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
, which would become his primary position, when he transferred to the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
in 2003. His sophomore year at Tennessee was difficult for him, as he had meniscus
Meniscus
The meniscus is the curve in the upper surface of a liquid close to the surface of the container or another object, caused by surface tension. It can be either convex or concave. A convex meniscus occurs when the molecules have a stronger attraction to each other than to the material of the...
surgery on his knee, and a hamstring
Hamstring
In human anatomy, the hamstring refers to any one of the three posterior thigh muscles, or to the tendons that make up the borders of the space behind the knee. In modern anatomical contexts, however, they usually refer to the posterior thigh muscles, or the tendons of the semitendinosus, the...
injury. He recovered, however, and worked out 62 walks
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...
(breaking 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....
's 1995 school record), approached the college's single-season mark for on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
, and was named the 2004 team Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
. He also did not neglect his studies, becoming an Academic All-American
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
with a 3.63 GPA, majoring in Sports Management. He was drafted
Draft (sports)
A draft is a process used in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Russia and the Philippines to allocate certain players to sports teams. In a draft, teams take turns selecting from a pool of eligible players...
by the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in the second round of the First-Year Player Draft in June 2005.
Minor league career
Eugene Emeralds
The Eugene Emeralds is a minor league baseball team in Eugene, Oregon, United States. They are a short-season Class A team in the Northwest League, and have been a farm team of the San Diego Padres since 2001....
, where he was described as a team "mainstay," then for the Lake Elsinore Storm
Lake Elsinore Storm
The Lake Elsinore Storm is a minor league baseball team in Lake Elsinore, California, USA. It is a Class A - Advanced team in the California League, and is a farm team of the San Diego Padres. The Storm plays its home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond...
, where he was called "one of the top prospects in the Padres' organization." In 2006, he was one of seven players representing the Padres organization 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...
, playing for the Peoria Saguaros
Peoria Saguaros
The Surprise Saguaros are a baseball team that plays in the West Division of the Arizona Fall League. They play their home games at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona....
. He was the only one who had not played in a Class AA league before.
The San Diego Union-Tribune called Headley the Padres' best eventual prospect to fill the third base position, though it theorized it would take two years.
Headley says:
Headley was named the 2007 Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
Player of the Year, after hitting .330/.437/.580 and leading the league in fielding for third basemen. He did strike out 114 times, though, in just 443 at bats.
Headley hit well in spring training in 2008, .371 with a team-leading 12 RBIs, but was sent to the AAA Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
to get more experience playing left field. In 65 games in Portland, he hit 13 HRs and 24 doubles, batted .305/.383/.556, and was then called up to the Padres.
Major league career
2007
On June 15, 2007, he was called up for eight games from AA San AntonioSan 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...
, after hitting .357, and because of an injury to Padres third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff
Kevin Kouzmanoff
Kevin Kouzmanoff is an American professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent.Kouzmanoff had trouble with various sports in high school. He got special help for batting practice, just to learn how to swing a bat for three years, implementing a swing...
. He made his major league debut 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...
at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
. His first major league hit came on June 17; a single to center field in the second inning against Rich Hill of the Cubs.
2008
Headley was again called up on June 17, 2008, and went 2–4 with two strikeouts against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Headley picked up his first major league home run the following night, an eighth inning shot off Kyle FarnsworthKyle Farnsworth
Kyle Lynn Farnsworth is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently the closer for the Tampa Bay Rays.-High school and college:...
. He batted .269/.337/.420, with 104 strikeouts in 331 at bats.
2009
Headley began the 2009 season as the Padres' starting left fielder. On July 10, he was the only player to reach base during Jonathan SanchezJonathan Sanchez
Jonathan O. Sánchez is a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals....
's no-hitter, reaching on an error by Juan Uribe
Juan Uribe
Juan C. Uribe Tena is a Dominican Republic professional baseball infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. He began his career in 1997 when he was signed to the Colorado Rockies, and played with the team until December 3, 2003 when he was traded to the Chicago White Sox...
, and ending the perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
bid after 22 straight retirements.
2010
In early January 2010, the Padres traded third baseman Kevin KouzmanoffKevin Kouzmanoff
Kevin Kouzmanoff is an American professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent.Kouzmanoff had trouble with various sports in high school. He got special help for batting practice, just to learn how to swing a bat for three years, implementing a swing...
to the 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....
, moving Headley back to third base, his original position.
On April 16, Headley hit a walk-off 3-run HR off of Diamondbacks pitcher Juan Gutierrez
Juan Gutiérrez (baseball)
Juan Carlos Gutiérrez nicknamed the goot is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Baseball career:...
, snapping the Padres 2 game losing streak. On May 4, Chase Headley hit a walk-off single off Rockies' relief pitcher Franklin Morales
Franklin Morales
Franklin Miguel Morales is an Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. A power-throwing left-hander, Morales was seen as one of the leading prospects in the Rockies farm system. He has a very good fastball, but his control is still developing...
driving in
Lance Zawadzki
Lance Zawadzki
Lance Frederick Zawadzki is an American professional baseball shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball.-Amateur career:...
. This was his 2nd walk-off hit of the season.