Kevin Orie
Encyclopedia
Kevin Leonard Orie is a former Major League Baseball
third baseman
. He is an alumnus of Indiana University
, where he was a standout for the Hoosiers
baseball team.
. It was in his rookie year of 1997 that Orie would put up his best career statistics. In 114 games played, Orie compiled a .275 batting average
with 8 home run
s and 44 RBI
. Orie was a finalist in the 1997 MLB Rookie of the Year Award
balloting, losing out to the eventual winner, Scott Rolen
.
Orie had a role in Kerry Wood
's near perfect game on May 6, 1998, where he threw a one-hit, no walk, 20-strikeout shutout against the Houston Astros, tying Roger Clemens' record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game and breaking Bill Gullickson's single-game rookie record of 18 strikeouts in 1980. Wood allowed only two baserunners: an infield single by Ricky Gutierrez, and he hit Craig Biggio. The single went off third baseman Orie's glove.
for Felix Heredia
and minor leaguer Steve Hoff.
After concluding the 1998 season with the Marlins, Orie would remain with Florida for the entire season, tallying a .254 batting average with 6 home runs and 29 RBI while appearing in 77 games.
making Orie expendable. On November 12, 1999, the Marlins sent Orie to the Los Angeles Dodgers
as part of a conditional deal. Although Orie put together an impressive spring training
with the Dodgers prior to the season, the club already had two established third basemen on their roster: Adrián Beltré
& Dave Hansen. Thus, the Dodgers released Orie on March 29, 2000, days before the season would begin.
Two months later, on June 15, 2000, Orie signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Royals
, only to be released two months later. The next suitor for Orie turned out to be the New York Yankees
, who signed Orie two days after his Royals release. He would remain in the Yankees minor league system the entire 2000 season, without making a single appearance at the major league level.
After the 2000 season, Orie would once again be released. He would sign another free agent contract prior to the season with the Philadelphia Phillies
, and once again spend the length of the season in the minor leagues. He would then be released.
On November 19, 2001, Orie would be signed by one of his old teams, the Chicago Cubs. He would appear in 13 games with the Cubs in , serving as a backup to starting third baseman Bill Mueller
. On March 12, , Orie's second stint with the Cubs would end.
Over the next three years, Orie would be signed by three more teams: the Cleveland Indians
, Houston Astros
, and Milwaukee Brewers
. He would not appear in the majors with any of the teams.
. Orie retired after the first game of the season.
2008–Present
Kevin Orie is now an associate specializing in retail with real estate management firm Grubb Ellis in Pittsburgh.
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...
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...
. He is an alumnus of Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, where he was a standout for the Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers are the athletic teams for the Bloomington campus of Indiana University . Athletic teams sponsored by IU Bloomington include cross country, track, baseball, golf, tennis, rowing, volleyball, soccer, football and basketball...
baseball team.
Chicago Cubs
Orie made his Major League Baseball debut on April 1, , as a member of the Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. It was in his rookie year of 1997 that Orie would put up his best career statistics. In 114 games played, Orie compiled a .275 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 :...
with 8 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 and 44 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...
. Orie was a finalist in the 1997 MLB Rookie of the Year Award
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
balloting, losing out to the eventual winner, Scott Rolen
Scott Rolen
Scott Bruce Rolen is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Cincinnati Reds. He is an eight-time Gold Glove winner and seven-time All-Star.-Philadelphia Phillies:...
.
Orie had a role in Kerry Wood
Kerry Wood
Kerry Lee Wood is a National Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Wood recorded over 200 strikeouts in four out of his first five seasons, with a high of 266 in 2003....
's near perfect game on May 6, 1998, where he threw a one-hit, no walk, 20-strikeout shutout against the Houston Astros, tying Roger Clemens' record for strikeouts in a nine-inning game and breaking Bill Gullickson's single-game rookie record of 18 strikeouts in 1980. Wood allowed only two baserunners: an infield single by Ricky Gutierrez, and he hit Craig Biggio. The single went off third baseman Orie's glove.
Florida Marlins
Through the first 64 games of the season, Orie got off to a dismal start, compiling only a .181 batting average in over 200 at-bats. Subsequently, on the last day before the July 31 trading deadline, the Cubs sent Orie and minor leaguer Todd Noel to the Florida MarlinsFlorida 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...
for Felix Heredia
Félix Heredia
Félix Heredia Pérez is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher who currently plays for Dorados de Chihuahua of the Mexican League. On October 18, 2005, he became the 11th MLB player to be suspended for testing positive for steroids...
and minor leaguer Steve Hoff.
After concluding the 1998 season with the Marlins, Orie would remain with Florida for the entire season, tallying a .254 batting average with 6 home runs and 29 RBI while appearing in 77 games.
Free agency
After the 1999 season, the Marlins needed to make room for their future third baseman, Mike LowellMike Lowell
Michael Averett Lowell is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball third baseman. During a 13-year career, Lowell played for the New York Yankees , Florida Marlins , and the Boston Red Sox...
making Orie expendable. On November 12, 1999, the Marlins sent Orie to the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
as part of a conditional deal. Although Orie put together an impressive 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...
with the Dodgers prior to the season, the club already had two established third basemen on their roster: Adrián Beltré
Adrián Beltré
Adrián Beltré Pérez is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Texas Rangers.The youngest player in the National League when he made his major league debut, he has also played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , the Seattle Mariners , the Boston Red Sox , and the Texas Rangers . He bats and...
& Dave Hansen. Thus, the Dodgers released Orie on March 29, 2000, days before the season would begin.
Two months later, on June 15, 2000, Orie signed a free agent contract with 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...
, only to be released two months later. The next suitor for Orie turned out to be 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...
, who signed Orie two days after his Royals release. He would remain in the Yankees minor league system the entire 2000 season, without making a single appearance at the major league level.
After the 2000 season, Orie would once again be released. He would sign another free agent contract prior to the season with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, and once again spend the length of the season in the minor leagues. He would then be released.
On November 19, 2001, Orie would be signed by one of his old teams, the Chicago Cubs. He would appear in 13 games with the Cubs in , serving as a backup to starting third baseman Bill Mueller
Bill Mueller
William Richard Mueller is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. Mueller's playing career was spent with the San Francisco Giants , Chicago Cubs , Boston Red Sox , and Los Angeles Dodgers . He won the American League batting title in 2003, and helped the Red Sox win the 2004 World Series...
. On March 12, , Orie's second stint with the Cubs would end.
Over the next three years, Orie would be signed by three more teams: 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...
, 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...
, and Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. He would not appear in the majors with any of the teams.
2006
Spring training in preparation for the 2006 season would find Orie once again in camp with the Houston Astros. Although Orie had played in only 13 major league games since the 1999 season concluded, he compiled impressive numbers every year in the minor leagues. Many thought that Orie still had the potential to stick in the major leagues and serve as a valuable backup third baseman for a number of teams. Orie didn't make the Astros and was assigned to the Triple-A Round Rock ExpressRound Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
. Orie retired after the first game of the season.
2008–Present
Kevin Orie is now an associate specializing in retail with real estate management firm Grubb Ellis in Pittsburgh.
External links
- Kevin Orie
- http://grubb-ellis.com/Company/OurPeople/DisplayProfile.aspx?id=111837