Eric Sogard
Encyclopedia
Eric Sidney Sogard aka Harry Potter The Wizard of the Baseball Diamond (born May 22, 1986 in Tempe, Arizona
) is an infielder for the Oakland Athletics
. From Arizona State University
, Sogard was selected by the San Diego Padres
in the 2nd Round (81st overall) of the 2007 amateur draft. Sogard's father, Rudy, was also a collegiate baseball player and set the Home Run record for Depaul University in 1975. He is one of the few baseball players to wear spectacles.
. He previously attended Thunderbird High School in Phoenix
.
Sogard was the first Sun Devil to be selected in the 2007 Major League Draft, going in the second round, 81st overall, to the San Diego Padres
. In 2008, Sogard was selected for the Topps' Class-A All-Star Team. In 2009, playing for the San Antonio Missions, Scout.com ranked him as one of the top hitting prospects in the Padres organization.
On January 16, 2010, Sogard was traded along with Kevin Kouzmanoff
to the Oakland Athletics
in exchange for Scott Hairston
and Aaron Cunningham
. Sogard ended the 2010 season as one of Sacramento's more consistent players, earning a promotion to Oakland in September. On August 23, 2011, Sogard hit his first career home run off New York Yankees
pitcher Bartolo Colon
.
Tempe, Arizona
Tempe is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, with the Census Bureau reporting a 2010 population of 161,719. The city is named after the Vale of Tempe in Greece. Tempe is located in the East Valley section of metropolitan Phoenix; it is bordered by Phoenix and Guadalupe on the west, Scottsdale...
) is an infielder for 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....
. From Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, Sogard was selected 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 2nd Round (81st overall) of the 2007 amateur draft. Sogard's father, Rudy, was also a collegiate baseball player and set the Home Run record for Depaul University in 1975. He is one of the few baseball players to wear spectacles.
Education
Sogard majored in Kinesology at the Arizona State UniversityArizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
. He previously attended Thunderbird High School in Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
.
Career
Until June 2007, Sogard played for the Arizona State Sun Devils, having been ranked as the number 7 high school prospect in the state of Arizona in 2004. He played for the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies scout teams in 2002 and '03 respectively.Sogard was the first Sun Devil to be selected in the 2007 Major League Draft, going in the second round, 81st overall, to 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 2008, Sogard was selected for the Topps' Class-A All-Star Team. In 2009, playing for the San Antonio Missions, Scout.com ranked him as one of the top hitting prospects in the Padres organization.
On January 16, 2010, Sogard was traded along with 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...
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....
in exchange for Scott Hairston
Scott Hairston
Scott Alexander Hairston is an outfielder in Major League Baseball. Hairston bats and throws right-handed.-High school years:...
and Aaron Cunningham
Aaron Cunningham
Aaron Roe Ward Cunningham is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the San Diego Padres.-Baseball career:Cunningham was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the sixth round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft...
. Sogard ended the 2010 season as one of Sacramento's more consistent players, earning a promotion to Oakland in September. On August 23, 2011, Sogard hit his first career home run off 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...
pitcher Bartolo Colon
Bartolo Colón
Bartolo Colón is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He played in Major League Baseball from 1997 to 2009 and again in 2011...
.