Jayson Nix
Encyclopedia
Jayson Truitt Edward Nix (born August 26, 1982 in Dallas, Texas
) is an American
professional baseball
utility player
for the New York Yankees
of Major League Baseball
.
, and still makes his offseason home there. He attended Midland High School
in Midland, Texas
, the hometown of First Lady Laura Bush
, a point that President George W. Bush
made to his wife while meeting with the Olympic team on August 11, 2008, in Beijing
. He is the younger brother of Laynce Nix
, who plays for the Washington Nationals
.
selected Nix as a sandwich pick (44th overall) between the first and second rounds of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
as compensation for not signing their first round pick in the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft
(Matt Harrington
).
. He had played in 17 games and batted .111 with no home run
s. On April 30 he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A.
Nix was batting
.300 with 17 home runs and 49 RBI
for the Sky Sox in when his minor league season ended as a result of his being selected for the 2008 USA Olympic
Baseball Team.
In the team's third game at the Olympics, against Cuba
, Nix hit a solo home run in the eighth inning
. While leading off the eleventh inning with runners on first and second as per Olympic rules, Nix fouled a ball off his left eye. He left the game for the hospital and missed the rest of the Beijing Games. Team USA lost 5-4 to the defending champions in eleven innings.
On October 28, 2008, Nix signed as a free agent
with the Chicago White Sox.
On May 7, 2009 with the White Sox, Nix hit his 1st career home run off of Armando Galarraga
. He followed with his second career home run just five days later. On May 26, Nix homered twice against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
. On the same day, his brother, Laynce
homered against the Houston Astros
. On May 30, 2010 Nix hit his first career grand slam
against the Tampa Bay Rays
.
On June 18, 2010, he was designated for assignment to make room for prospect infielder Dayán Viciedo
.
On June 24, 2010, he was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Indians
, and the team sent down Luis Valbuena
to make room for him.
, hitting a home run. On April 22 Nix was slid into by Rays
second baseman
Sean Rodriguez
and left the game with a left leg injury. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list for a left leg contusion on April 23. He returned from the disabled list on May 18, playing against the Tampa Bay Rays. He was designated for assignment on July 2. He became a free agent at season's end.
on November 23, 2011. He also received an invitation to spring training.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
) is an 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...
utility player
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
for the 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...
of Major League Baseball
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...
.
Early life
Nix was born in Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, and still makes his offseason home there. He attended Midland High School
Midland High School (Midland, Texas)
Midland High School is a public high school located in Midland, Texas and is part of Midland Independent School District. The original Midland High School was built in 1926 and was moved twenty-three years later to a new building in 1949 where it currently sits today...
in Midland, Texas
Midland, Texas
Midland is a city in and the county seat of Midland County, Texas, United States, on the Southern Plains of the state's western area. A small portion of the city extends into Martin County. As of 2010, the population of Midland was 111,147. It is the principal city of the Midland, Texas...
, the hometown of First Lady Laura Bush
Laura Bush
Laura Lane Welch Bush is the wife of the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. She was the First Lady of the United States from January 20, 2001, to January 20, 2009. She has held a love of books and reading since childhood and her life and education have reflected that interest...
, a point that President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
made to his wife while meeting with the Olympic team on August 11, 2008, in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. He is the younger brother of Laynce Nix
Laynce Nix
Laynce Michael Nix is a Major League Baseball outfielder. Nix plays all three outfield positions, but plays most of his games at left field. His younger brother is Jayson Nix, a utility player for the Toronto Blue Jays....
, who plays for the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
.
Professional career
The Colorado RockiesColorado 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...
selected Nix as a sandwich pick (44th overall) between the first and second rounds of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
2001 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Background:The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be...
as compensation for not signing their first round pick in 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...
(Matt Harrington
Matt Harrington
Matt Harrington is a retired professional baseball pitcher and a former first round pick in Major League Baseball's First-Year Player Draft.-Amateur career:...
).
2008-2010
Nix began the season as the Colorado Rockies starting second baseman but over the next month, he saw his playing time diminish. On April 26, 2008, Nix was designated for assignmentDesignated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
. He had played in 17 games and batted .111 with no 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. On April 30 he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A.
Nix was batting
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 :...
.300 with 17 home runs and 49 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...
for the Sky Sox in when his minor league season ended as a result of his being selected for the 2008 USA Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
Baseball Team.
In the team's third game at the Olympics, against Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, Nix hit a solo home run in the eighth inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
. While leading off the eleventh inning with runners on first and second as per Olympic rules, Nix fouled a ball off his left eye. He left the game for the hospital and missed the rest of the Beijing Games. Team USA lost 5-4 to the defending champions in eleven innings.
On October 28, 2008, Nix signed as 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....
with the Chicago White Sox.
On May 7, 2009 with the White Sox, Nix hit his 1st career home run off of Armando Galarraga
Armando Galarraga
Armando Antonio Galarraga is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Galarraga made his Major League Baseball debut with the Texas Rangers on September 15, 2007...
. He followed with his second career home run just five days later. On May 26, Nix homered twice against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
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...
. On the same day, his brother, Laynce
Laynce Nix
Laynce Michael Nix is a Major League Baseball outfielder. Nix plays all three outfield positions, but plays most of his games at left field. His younger brother is Jayson Nix, a utility player for the Toronto Blue Jays....
homered against the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. On May 30, 2010 Nix hit his first career 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...
against the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
.
On June 18, 2010, he was designated for assignment to make room for prospect infielder Dayán Viciedo
Dayán Viciedo
Dayán Viciedo Pérez is a Cuban baseball player in the Chicago White Sox organization...
.
On June 24, 2010, he was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, and the team sent down Luis Valbuena
Luis Valbuena
Luis Adan Valbuena is a Venezuelan professional baseball second baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball.-Career:Valbuena began his professional career in the Seattle Mariners organization in 2005...
to make room for him.
Toronto Blue Jays
On March 29, 2011, he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for future cash considerations. He made his debut on April 2 against 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...
, hitting a home run. On April 22 Nix was slid into by Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Sean Rodriguez
Sean Rodriguez
Sean John Rodriguez is a Cuban American Major League Baseball short stop for the Tampa Bay Rays.-High school career:...
and left the game with a left leg injury. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list for a left leg contusion on April 23. He returned from the disabled list on May 18, playing against the Tampa Bay Rays. He was designated for assignment on July 2. He became a free agent at season's end.
New York Yankees
Nix signed a minor league contract with the New York YankeesNew 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...
on November 23, 2011. He also received an invitation to spring training.