Eli Whiteside
Encyclopedia
Dustin Eli Whiteside is a Major League Baseball
catcher
for the San Francisco Giants
.
in the sixth round of the 2001 MLB Draft. In , after injuries to catchers Javy Lopez
and Geronimo Gil
, the Orioles called up Whiteside for a few games. He made his major league debut on July 5, 2005. Whiteside was also called up in September. After 2007, he filed for free agency, having played in only nine major league games during his six years with the Orioles.
. However, he only played in 8 games with the AAA Rochester Red Wings
before getting released on April 30.
signed Whiteside. He spent the rest of the year with the AAA Fresno Grizzlies
. The next season, he started the year at Fresno again. However, after an elbow injury prevented Pablo Sandoval
from catching, the Giants called up Whiteside to be the backup catcher for Bengie Molina
on May 24, 2009. The same day, he played his first major league game in four years (and his first for a National League
team). He finished the game with a hit and an RBI in three at-bats.
On July 10, 2009, Bengie Molina
was scheduled to catch, but was unable to because his wife was having a baby. Whiteside caught in his place, and Jonathan Sanchez
, starting in place of the injured Randy Johnson
, threw a no-hitter
against the San Diego Padres
.
He hit a grand slam
, his first Major League home run, against Brian Moehler
of the Houston Astros
in a 10-6 Giants victory on August 5, 2009. He finished the year with 29 hits in 49 games (126 at-bats) and 2 home runs. In 2010, for the first time in his career, Whiteside made an MLB team (the Giants) out of spring training
. He finished the regular season with a .238 batting average, appearing in 73 games, and was on the team's World Series roster, although he did not appear in any games.
In 2011, Whiteside again began the year as the backup catcher. However, following Buster Posey
's season-ending foot injury on May 25, 2011, he moved into a more prominent role, splitting starting time with Chris Stewart
.
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...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
for 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....
.
Baltimore Orioles (2001-2007)
Whiteside was drafted by the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in the sixth round of the 2001 MLB Draft. In , after injuries to catchers Javy Lopez
Javy López
Javier López Torres is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Atlanta Braves , Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed...
and Geronimo Gil
Gerónimo Gil
Gerónimo Gil is a Major League Baseball first baseman and catcher who currently plays in the Triple-A Mexican League for the Mexico City Red Devils. He bats and throws right-handed.-Playing career:...
, the Orioles called up Whiteside for a few games. He made his major league debut on July 5, 2005. Whiteside was also called up in September. After 2007, he filed for free agency, having played in only nine major league games during his six years with the Orioles.
Minnesota Twins (2008)
Before the 2008 season, Whiteside signed a contract with the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota 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...
. However, he only played in 8 games with the AAA 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...
before getting released on April 30.
San Francisco Giants (2009-present)
Five days after getting released by the Twins, the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
signed Whiteside. He spent the rest of the year with the AAA Fresno Grizzlies
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
. The next season, he started the year at Fresno again. However, after an elbow injury prevented Pablo Sandoval
Pablo Sandoval
Pablo E. Sandoval , nicknamed Kung Fu Panda, is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. Sandoval is a 5'11", 237 pound switch hitter. He was born left handed, but did not want to have to play outfield all of his career. He therefore...
from catching, the Giants called up Whiteside to be the backup catcher for Bengie Molina
Bengie Molina
Benjamin José "Bengie" Molina , nicknamed "Big Money", is a former Major League Baseball catcher.He is the older brother of major league catchers José Molina and Yadier Molina....
on May 24, 2009. The same day, he played his first major league game in four years (and his first for a National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
team). He finished the game with a hit and an RBI in three at-bats.
On July 10, 2009, Bengie Molina
Bengie Molina
Benjamin José "Bengie" Molina , nicknamed "Big Money", is a former Major League Baseball catcher.He is the older brother of major league catchers José Molina and Yadier Molina....
was scheduled to catch, but was unable to because his wife was having a baby. Whiteside caught in his place, and Jonathan Sanchez
Jonathan Sanchez
Jonathan O. Sánchez is a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals....
, starting in place of the injured Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 22-year career, he pitched for six different teams....
, threw a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
against 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 hit 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...
, his first Major League home run, against Brian Moehler
Brian Moehler
Brian Merritt Moehler is a starting pitcher, who is currently a free agent.Moehler pitched for the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and was selected by the Detroit Tigers in the sixth round of the draft, who assigned him to the Niagara Falls Rapids...
of the Houston Astros
2009 Houston Astros season
The Houston Astros' 2009 season is the 48th season for the franchise in the National League in Houston, Texas and their 10th season at Minute Maid Park...
in a 10-6 Giants victory on August 5, 2009. He finished the year with 29 hits in 49 games (126 at-bats) and 2 home runs. In 2010, for the first time in his career, Whiteside made an MLB team (the Giants) out of 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...
. He finished the regular season with a .238 batting average, appearing in 73 games, and was on the team's World Series roster, although he did not appear in any games.
In 2011, Whiteside again began the year as the backup catcher. However, following Buster Posey
Buster Posey
Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey III is a catcher for the San Francisco Giants. He was drafted by the Giants fifth overall in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft....
's season-ending foot injury on May 25, 2011, he moved into a more prominent role, splitting starting time with Chris Stewart
Chris Stewart
Chris Stewart or Christopher Stewart may refer to:*Chris Stewart , former member of British band Genesis*Chris Stewart , U.S major league baseball player...
.