Chris Basak
Encyclopedia
Christopher Joseph Başak, (born December 6, 1978 in North Platte, Nebraska
) is a former American
professional baseball
infielder
. During his career, he played in the New York Mets
, Minnesota Twins
and New York Yankees
organizations. Basak made five appearances in the major leagues in 2007 with the Yankees, going 0–for–1.
He attended Minooka High School
in Minooka, Illinois
, then went to college at the University of Illinois
, where he played shortstop.
He was drafted in the 6th round (185th overall) of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft
by the New York Mets
.
Through 2006, in his minor league career he had hit .265 with 161 stolen bases in 814 games, primarily at shortstop.
He signed with the Yankees in the 2006-07 offseason, and in the following spring training he hit .311.
Capable of playing third base, shortstop, second base, and a bit of first, Başak also played both corner outfield positions for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, where he had a team-leading 14 doubles in 52 games, and was second on the club with 9 stolen bases. He spent his entire career in the minor leagues, until being called up to the Yankees on June 6, 2007. He saw his first action on June 9, pinch running for (and subsequently replacing) third baseman Alex Rodriguez
. After playing sparingly, he was optioned back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 1, 2007 and replaced by Edwar Ramirez
.
On July 27, he was called up from Triple-A, as Kei Igawa
was optioned down. Başak was optioned back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on August 1. On August 15, he was designated for assignment to make room on the 40 man roster for Andrew Brackman
. On August 16, 2007 he was claimed off waivers by the Twins. He played for the Twins' Triple-A affiliate Rochester Red Wings
and Yankees' Triple-A affiliate Scranton/Wilkes-Barre during the 2008 season. He got claimed off waivers by New York during the season.
He has not played professionally since the end of the 2008 season.
North Platte, Nebraska
North Platte is a city in and the county seat of Lincoln County, Nebraska, United States. It is located in the southwestern part of the state, along Interstate 80, at the confluence of the North and South Platte Rivers forming the Platte River...
) is a former American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional 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...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
. During his career, he played in the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
and New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
organizations. Basak made five appearances in the major leagues in 2007 with the Yankees, going 0–for–1.
He attended Minooka High School
Minooka High School
Minooka Community High School, or MCHS, is a public four-year high school located in Minooka, Illinois, a southwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Minooka Community High School District 111.-History:...
in Minooka, Illinois
Minooka, Illinois
Minooka is a village in Grundy, Kendall, and Will Counties, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,924 at the 2010 census. Minooka currently has two high schools in its district, a campus for juniors and seniors and a newer campus for freshman and sophomores. Minooka School District 201 ...
, then went to college at the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, where he played shortstop.
He was drafted in the 6th round (185th overall) of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft
2000 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Compensation picks:- Background :The Florida Marlins made Adrian Gonzalez of Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, CA the first overall selection in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft...
by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
.
Through 2006, in his minor league career he had hit .265 with 161 stolen bases in 814 games, primarily at shortstop.
He signed with the Yankees in the 2006-07 offseason, and in the following spring training he hit .311.
Capable of playing third base, shortstop, second base, and a bit of first, Başak also played both corner outfield positions for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, where he had a team-leading 14 doubles in 52 games, and was second on the club with 9 stolen bases. He spent his entire career in the minor leagues, until being called up to the Yankees on June 6, 2007. He saw his first action on June 9, pinch running for (and subsequently replacing) third baseman Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
. After playing sparingly, he was optioned back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 1, 2007 and replaced by Edwar Ramirez
Edwar Ramírez
Edwar Emilio Ramírez is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent.-Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: 2002–2005:...
.
On July 27, he was called up from Triple-A, as Kei Igawa
Kei Igawa
is a Japanese left-handed starting pitcher who is currently a free agent, originally from Ōarai, Ibaraki, Japan. He played for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball from to . He led all pitchers in the Central League for strikeouts in , and 2006...
was optioned down. Başak was optioned back to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on August 1. On August 15, he was designated for assignment to make room on the 40 man roster for Andrew Brackman
Andrew Brackman
Andrew Warren Brackman is an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He signed a four-year, $4.55 million-dollar deal with $3.35-million signing bonus as the New York Yankees' first-round choice of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft...
. On August 16, 2007 he was claimed off waivers by the Twins. He played for the Twins' Triple-A affiliate Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
and Yankees' Triple-A affiliate Scranton/Wilkes-Barre during the 2008 season. He got claimed off waivers by New York during the season.
He has not played professionally since the end of the 2008 season.