Nick Evans (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Reginald Evans (born January 30, 1986) is an American
professional baseball
infielder
and outfielder
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
of Major League Baseball
.
Evans has primarily played first base in the minor leagues, only beginning to play the outfield in the 2008 season.
. He was selected out of St. Mary's High School
in Phoenix, Arizona, by the Mets in the fifth round of the 2004 MLB Draft
.
Evans was called up from Double-A Binghamton
on May 24, 2008 to replace Marlon Anderson
, who had been placed on the disabled list
. He started in left field
for the Mets and batted eighth.
In Evans' first career at bat, he doubled
off Colorado Rockies
pitcher Jeff Francis
. He finished the game with three doubles, the first Met to hit three extra-base hits in his major league debut since Kazuo Matsui
in .
Evans was optioned back down to Binghamton on June 6 after batting .174 in nine games when the Mets decided to call upon Abraham Núñez for infield depth. Evans was again recalled on July 8 after Ryan Church went on the disabled list.
Evans finally received his first Major-League start at first base, his natural position, on August 7, 2008 after only previously playing one inning there with the Mets.
On August 31, 2008 Evans hit his first career Major League home run against the Florida Marlins
off pitcher Scott Olsen
.
Evans began the 2009 season in Triple-A Buffalo, but was eventually sent down to Double-A Binghamton. On June 19, Evans was called up by the Mets. He hit his first home run of the year on June 24.
On August 25, 2009 Nick was recalled along with pitcher Pat Misch
when Billy Wagner
was traded to the Boston Red Sox
, and Johan Santana was placed on the 15 day disabled list.
On May 18, 2011, he was recalled to replace David Wright after he went on the 15-day disabled list with a stress fracture in his back. On June 10, Evans was designated for assignment to make room for Lucas Duda
. He had his contract purchased again on July 7, after Jose Reyes went on the 15-day disabled list. He was designated for assignment again on July 22.
On November 29, 2011, Evans signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates
. He also received an invitation to spring training.
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...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
and 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...
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
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...
.
Evans has primarily played first base in the minor leagues, only beginning to play the outfield in the 2008 season.
Professional career
Nick Evans was born in Glendale, ArizonaGlendale, Arizona
Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 226,721....
. He was selected out of St. Mary's High School
St. Mary's High School (Phoenix, Arizona)
St. Mary's Catholic High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Phoenix, Arizona. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix.-History:...
in Phoenix, Arizona, by the Mets in the fifth round of the 2004 MLB Draft
2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
.
Evans was called up from Double-A Binghamton
Binghamton Mets
The Binghamton Mets are a U.S. minor league baseball team based in Binghamton, New York. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club...
on May 24, 2008 to replace Marlon Anderson
Marlon Anderson
Marlon Ordell Anderson is a former Major League Baseball utility player. He was widely known for his clutch hits, and writers for publications including The New York Times and Newsday had referred to him as one of the best pinch-hitters in the game...
, who had been placed on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
. He started in left field
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
for the Mets and batted eighth.
In Evans' first career at bat, he doubled
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
off Colorado Rockies
Colorado 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...
pitcher Jeff Francis
Jeff Francis
Jeffrey William Francis is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Early life:...
. He finished the game with three doubles, the first Met to hit three extra-base hits in his major league debut since Kazuo Matsui
Kazuo Matsui
is a Japanese second baseman for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball. Matsui is a switch-hitter...
in .
Evans was optioned back down to Binghamton on June 6 after batting .174 in nine games when the Mets decided to call upon Abraham Núñez for infield depth. Evans was again recalled on July 8 after Ryan Church went on the disabled list.
Evans finally received his first Major-League start at first base, his natural position, on August 7, 2008 after only previously playing one inning there with the Mets.
On August 31, 2008 Evans hit his first career Major League home run against the Florida Marlins
Florida 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...
off pitcher Scott Olsen
Scott Olsen
Scott Matthew Olsen is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher who is a free agent.-Early life:Olsen was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan...
.
Evans began the 2009 season in Triple-A Buffalo, but was eventually sent down to Double-A Binghamton. On June 19, Evans was called up by the Mets. He hit his first home run of the year on June 24.
On August 25, 2009 Nick was recalled along with pitcher Pat Misch
Pat Misch
Patrick "Pat" Theodore Joseph Misch is an American Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.-Early life:Misch was born in Northbrook, Illinois...
when Billy Wagner
Billy Wagner
William Edward Wagner , nicknamed "Billy the Kid", is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He pitched for the Houston Astros , the Philadelphia Phillies , the New York Mets , the Boston Red Sox , and the Atlanta Braves...
was traded to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, and Johan Santana was placed on the 15 day disabled list.
On May 18, 2011, he was recalled to replace David Wright after he went on the 15-day disabled list with a stress fracture in his back. On June 10, Evans was designated for assignment to make room for Lucas Duda
Lucas Duda
Lucas Christopher Duda is an American professional baseball player. He currently is a right fielder for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball. Duda bats left handed and throws right handed.-Early life:...
. He had his contract purchased again on July 7, after Jose Reyes went on the 15-day disabled list. He was designated for assignment again on July 22.
On November 29, 2011, Evans signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. He also received an invitation to spring training.