Laynce Nix
Encyclopedia
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
.
in Midland, Texas
, where he played both football
and baseball
. In addition to starting at quarterback
for the football team, Nix was named to the All-Permian Basin Baseball Team before graduating in 2000.
Nix was selected in the fourth round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft
by the Texas Rangers
. He made his debut on July 10, , in a game against the Minnesota Twins
. In that game, he recorded his first major league hit
, and also scored a run
.
Through , Nix hit 28 home run
s with 108 RBI
. His 2005 season was cut short when he elected to have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
After a slow start in and the return of Gary Matthews, Jr.
from injury, Nix was optioned to the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma RedHawks
.
On July 28, 2006, Nix was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers
along with Francisco Cordero
, Kevin Mench
, and Julian Cordero for Carlos Lee
and Nelson Cruz.
Hampered by an injury, Nix spent most of with Milwaukee's Triple-A Nashville Sounds
. He was a September call-up, but went hitless in ten games with the Brewers. In December, Nix cleared waivers and was reassigned to Nashville, where he spent the entire 2008 season.
In December 2008, Nix signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds
.
He was re-signed to a minor league contract by the Reds on December 19, 2009.
November 9, 2010 the Reds released him.
On February 3, 2011 Nix signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals. He also received a spring training invite along with his contract. Despite hitting a career high 16 home runs, he became a free agent following the season.
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...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
. Nix plays all three outfield positions, but plays most of his games at left field. His younger brother is Jayson Nix
Jayson Nix
Jayson Truitt Edward Nix is an American professional baseball utility player for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball.-Early life:...
, a 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 Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
.
Career
Nix attended Midland High SchoolMidland 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...
, where he played both football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and 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...
. In addition to starting at quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the football team, Nix was named to the All-Permian Basin Baseball Team before graduating in 2000.
Nix was selected in the fourth round of 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...
by the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. He made his debut on July 10, , in a game against the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota 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...
. In that game, he recorded his first major league hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, and also scored a run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
.
Through , Nix hit 28 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 with 108 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 2005 season was cut short when he elected to have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
After a slow start in and the return of Gary Matthews, Jr.
Gary Matthews, Jr.
Gary Nathaniel Matthews, Jr. is an outfielder who is currently a free agent. Matthews is the son of Philadelphia Phillies broadcaster Gary Matthews, who played 16 years in the majors as an outfielder. Matthews, Jr...
from injury, Nix was optioned to the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate, the Oklahoma RedHawks
Oklahoma RedHawks
The Oklahoma City RedHawks are a minor league baseball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros...
.
On July 28, 2006, Nix was traded to the 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...
along with Francisco Cordero
Francisco Cordero
Francisco Javier Cordero is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds...
, Kevin Mench
Kevin Mench
Kevin Ford Mench is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent.-High school and college career:...
, and Julian Cordero for Carlos Lee
Carlos Lee
Carlos Noriel Lee is a first basemen in Major League Baseball who plays for the Houston Astros. He bats and throws right-handed....
and Nelson Cruz.
Hampered by an injury, Nix spent most of with Milwaukee's Triple-A Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
. He was a September call-up, but went hitless in ten games with the Brewers. In December, Nix cleared waivers and was reassigned to Nashville, where he spent the entire 2008 season.
In December 2008, Nix signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.
He was re-signed to a minor league contract by the Reds on December 19, 2009.
November 9, 2010 the Reds released him.
On February 3, 2011 Nix signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals. He also received a spring training invite along with his contract. Despite hitting a career high 16 home runs, he became a free agent following the season.