Dallas McPherson
Encyclopedia
Dallas Lyle McPherson is an American professional baseball
third baseman
in the Chicago White Sox
organization.
out of Randleman High School (Randleman, NC) in the 44th round (1323rd overall) of the 1998 First-Year Player Draft.
out of The Citadel
in the second round (57th overall) of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft.
affiliate the Cedar Rapids Kernels
. He ended the season with a .277 batting average with 15 homeruns with 30 stolen bases and lead the team with 88 RBI's and 78 bases-on-balls.
for The Citadel from to , McPherson was a second round draft
pick by the Anaheim Angels
in 2001. Midway through his season, he shot up the ranks from Double-A minor league
affiliate Arkansas Travelers
to the Triple-A Salt Lake Stingers
.
After garnering several minor league Player of the Year honors, McPherson was a September call-up by the Angels to fill their 40-man expanded roster. He made his Major League debut on September 10, , against the Chicago White Sox
. With third baseman Troy Glaus
limited to the designated hitter
role due to a shoulder injury, McPherson started 11 games down the stretch beginning on September 20 and was the Angels' starting third baseman in their playoff series versus the Boston Red Sox
. Due to Glaus becoming a free agent
and the bright future of McPherson, the Angels declined to re-sign their All-Star third baseman for the high salary he would have commanded and instead gave the job to McPherson for the season.
His rookie season in 2005 started out sluggishly, with his batting average
usually around or below the Mendoza Line
in April. Approximately one-third into the season, McPherson's bat heated up and he began hitting like he had been projected to do, including knocking in a pair of game-winning home run
s in a series against the Kansas City Royals
. His season was truncated by a hip injury, however. He underwent surgery in August 2005 to remove bone spurs.
Entering spring training
in , McPherson was expected to compete to be the Angels' starting third baseman. However, he did not hit well during the exhibition season, and that job fell to Chone Figgins
, leaving no role on the team for McPherson. As a result, McPherson began the 2006 campaign in the minor leagues
. After re-discovering his home run stroke at Triple-A Salt Lake
, the Angels called McPherson back to the active roster in May.
McPherson spent the entirety of the season on the disabled list after choosing to have back surgery to fuse two vertebrate in his back. McPherson was not offered a new contract by the Angels and became a free agent
on December 12, 2007.
He signed a one-year deal with the Florida Marlins
on January 31, . Playing for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
, he batted .275 with 42 home runs and 98 RBI
. His 42 home runs led the minor leagues in 2008. He was called up on September 1, 2008 and had two hits in 11 at-bats.
On March 31, , McPherson was released by the Marlins.
On April 11, 2009 McPherson was signed to a minor league contract by the San Francisco Giants
.
On November 20, 2009 McPherson was signed to a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics, with an invitation to spring training; He was expected to compete for the starting 3rd base position. But with more injury problems,Mc Pherson found himself playing part-time with the Oakland A's Pacific Coast League affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats.
McPherson signed a minor league contract with the White Sox on November 17, 2010. He had his contract purchased by the White Sox on May 17, 2011. He was designated for assignment on May 30.
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...
third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
in 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...
organization.
High school
McPherson played at Randleman High School under Coach Tommy Price. He was selected by the Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
out of Randleman High School (Randleman, NC) in the 44th round (1323rd overall) of the 1998 First-Year Player Draft.
College
McPherson was selected by the Los Angeles Angels of AnaheimLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
out of The Citadel
The Citadel
-Places:*The Citadel , a 201 m skyscraper in the United Arab Emirates*The Citadel , the old fortified city of Gozo, Malta*The Citadel , a shopping mall in Colorado*The Citadel , a diving spot in Martinique...
in the second round (57th overall) of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft.
Minor League Career
In 2002 McPherson played for the Los Angeles Angels of AnaheimLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
affiliate the Cedar Rapids Kernels
Cedar Rapids Kernels
The Cedar Rapids Kernels are a Class A minor league baseball team based in Iowa. It is affiliated with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and plays in the Midwest League.-Franchise history:...
. He ended the season with a .277 batting average with 15 homeruns with 30 stolen bases and lead the team with 88 RBI's and 78 bases-on-balls.
Professional career
After attending college and playing baseballBaseball
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...
for The Citadel from to , McPherson was a second round draft
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...
pick by the Anaheim Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
in 2001. Midway through his season, he shot up the ranks from Double-A minor league
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
affiliate Arkansas Travelers
Arkansas Travelers
The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Major League club....
to the Triple-A Salt Lake Stingers
Salt Lake Bees
The Salt Lake Bees are a Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Bees serve as the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They play their home games at Spring Mobile Ballpark, known to fans as the Apiary, which was...
.
After garnering several minor league Player of the Year honors, McPherson was a September call-up by the Angels to fill their 40-man expanded roster. He made his Major League debut on September 10, , 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...
. With third baseman Troy Glaus
Troy Glaus
Troy Edward Glaus is a Major League Baseball first baseman and third baseman who is currently a free agent. Previously, Glaus played with the Anaheim Angels , Arizona Diamondbacks , Toronto Blue Jays , St. Louis Cardinals , and the Atlanta Braves . Glaus lettered in baseball while attending UCLA...
limited to the designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
role due to a shoulder injury, McPherson started 11 games down the stretch beginning on September 20 and was the Angels' starting third baseman in their playoff series versus 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"...
. Due to Glaus becoming a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
and the bright future of McPherson, the Angels declined to re-sign their All-Star third baseman for the high salary he would have commanded and instead gave the job to McPherson for the season.
His rookie season in 2005 started out sluggishly, with his 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 :...
usually around or below the Mendoza Line
Mendoza Line
The Mendoza Line is an expression in baseball in the United States, deriving from the name of shortstop Mario Mendoza, whose lifetime batting average is taken to define the threshold of incompetent hitting...
in April. Approximately one-third into the season, McPherson's bat heated up and he began hitting like he had been projected to do, including knocking in a pair of game-winning 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 series against the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. His season was truncated by a hip injury, however. He underwent surgery in August 2005 to remove bone spurs.
Entering 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 , McPherson was expected to compete to be the Angels' starting third baseman. However, he did not hit well during the exhibition season, and that job fell to Chone Figgins
Chone Figgins
Desmond DeChone "Chone" Figgins is an American Major League Baseball third baseman for the Seattle Mariners. Figgins is a utility player, playing all positions except catcher, pitcher, and first base.-Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim:...
, leaving no role on the team for McPherson. As a result, McPherson began the 2006 campaign in the minor leagues
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...
. After re-discovering his home run stroke at Triple-A Salt Lake
Salt Lake Bees
The Salt Lake Bees are a Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Bees serve as the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They play their home games at Spring Mobile Ballpark, known to fans as the Apiary, which was...
, the Angels called McPherson back to the active roster in May.
McPherson spent the entirety of the season on the disabled list after choosing to have back surgery to fuse two vertebrate in his back. McPherson was not offered a new contract by the Angels and became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
on December 12, 2007.
He signed a one-year deal with the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
on January 31, . Playing for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
, he batted .275 with 42 home runs and 98 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...
. His 42 home runs led the minor leagues in 2008. He was called up on September 1, 2008 and had two hits in 11 at-bats.
On March 31, , McPherson was released by the Marlins.
On April 11, 2009 McPherson was signed to a minor league contract by 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....
.
On November 20, 2009 McPherson was signed to a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics, with an invitation to spring training; He was expected to compete for the starting 3rd base position. But with more injury problems,Mc Pherson found himself playing part-time with the Oakland A's Pacific Coast League affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats.
McPherson signed a minor league contract with the White Sox on November 17, 2010. He had his contract purchased by the White Sox on May 17, 2011. He was designated for assignment on May 30.