Val Majewski
Encyclopedia
Walter Val Majewski (born June 19, 1981 in New Brunswick, New Jersey
) is an American
professional baseball
outfielder
. He has played part of one season in Major League Baseball
for the Baltimore Orioles
in 2004, and currently plays in the Texas Rangers
organization.
, where he went to Freehold Township High School
. He later attended Rutgers University
.
, but was soon promoted to the Delmarva Shorebirds
. He played at four different minor league
levels in 2003, finishing the year with the high-A Frederick Keys
.
After a successful stint with the Double-A Bowie Baysox
, he made his debut for the Orioles on August 20, 2004, but suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder and was limited to nine major league games. Despite this, he was named the Orioles' Minor League Player of the Year for 2004.
The club originally thought that the shoulder would not require surgery, but after it failed to heal on its own, Majewski had surgery on it and was sidelined for the 2005 season. In 2006, played for the Ottawa Lynx
. In 2007, Majewski split the season between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk
, but was released by the Orioles in March 2008.
of the Atlantic League
.
and was assigned to Double-A Corpus Christi
. In July, he was promoted to the Triple-A Round Rock Express
. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
, Majewski signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
on June 11, finishing the season with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers
.
. Also for the third straight season, he hooked on with a major league organization partway through the season, signing a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics
on May 27. After finishing the season with the Double-A Midland RockHounds
, he became a free agent.
on July 25, 2011, and was assigned to the Triple-A Round Rock Express
. Following the completion of the Round Rock season, he requested and was given his release. He returned to the York Revolution which had made the Atlantic League playoffs.
New Brunswick, New Jersey
New Brunswick is a city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA. It is the county seat and the home of Rutgers University. The city is located on the Northeast Corridor rail line, southwest of Manhattan, on the southern bank of the Raritan River. At the 2010 United States Census, the population of...
) 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...
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...
. He has played part of one season in 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...
for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in 2004, and currently plays in 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...
organization.
Early life
Majewski grew up in Freehold Township, New JerseyFreehold Township, New Jersey
Freehold Township is a Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 36,184. Freehold Township was first formed on October 31, 1693, and was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21,...
, where he went to Freehold Township High School
Freehold Township High School
Freehold Township High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located within Freehold Township, New Jersey, and is part of the Freehold Regional High School District. The school serves students from portions of Freehold Township, and from parts of both Howell Township and Manalapan...
. He later attended Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
.
Baltimore Orioles
Majewski was the Orioles' third-round draft pick in 2002. He began his career with the Aberdeen IronBirdsAberdeen IronBirds
The Aberdeen IronBirds are a Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The IronBirds play in the New York - Penn League and are based in Aberdeen, Maryland, which is in Harford County....
, but was soon promoted to the Delmarva Shorebirds
Delmarva Shorebirds
The Delmarva Shorebirds are a minor league baseball team based in Salisbury, Maryland. They are one of three Single-A affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles and a member of the South Atlantic League. The Shorebirds play at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.The "Shorebirds" name refers to the marine waterfowl...
. He played at four different minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
levels in 2003, finishing the year with the high-A Frederick Keys
Frederick Keys
The Frederick Keys minor league baseball team is the "High-A" class A baseball affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The Keys are based in Frederick, Maryland. The franchise is named for Star Spangled Banner poet Francis Scott Key, a native of Frederick County. The team mascot is a coyote known as...
.
After a successful stint with the Double-A Bowie Baysox
Bowie Baysox
The Bowie Baysox are a minor league baseball team located in Bowie, Maryland. They are the class-AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play in the Eastern League...
, he made his debut for the Orioles on August 20, 2004, but suffered a torn labrum in his left shoulder and was limited to nine major league games. Despite this, he was named the Orioles' Minor League Player of the Year for 2004.
The club originally thought that the shoulder would not require surgery, but after it failed to heal on its own, Majewski had surgery on it and was sidelined for the 2005 season. In 2006, played for the Ottawa Lynx
Ottawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
. In 2007, Majewski split the season between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
, but was released by the Orioles in March 2008.
Newark Bears
On April 23, 2008, Majewski signed with the Newark BearsNewark Bears
The Newark Bears are an American professional baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are a member of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 1999 season, the Bears have played their home games at Bears &...
of the Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
.
Houston Astros
On June 22, 2008, Majewski signed a minor league contract with the Houston AstrosHouston 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 was assigned to Double-A Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi Hooks
The Corpus Christi Hooks are a minor league baseball team of the Texas League, and are the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and are named for the city's association with fishing. The team's ownership group is headed by Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan...
. In July, he was promoted to the Triple-A Round Rock Express
Round 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...
. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
After starting the 2009 season with the Atlantic League's Camden RiversharksCamden Riversharks
The Camden Riversharks is an American professional baseball team based in Camden, New Jersey. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
, Majewski signed a minor league contract with 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 June 11, finishing the season with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers
Arkansas Travelers
The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Major League club....
.
Oakland Athletics
In 2010, Majewski returned to the Atlantic League for the start of the season for the third straight season, this time with the York RevolutionYork Revolution
The York Revolution is an American professional baseball team based in York, Pennsylvania. It is a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent league not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
. Also for the third straight season, he hooked on with a major league organization partway through the season, signing a minor league contract with 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....
on May 27. After finishing the season with the Double-A Midland RockHounds
Midland RockHounds
The Midland RockHounds are a minor league baseball team based in Midland, Texas, USA. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics major league club. The RockHounds play in Citibank Ballpark, located in Midland. Opened in 2002, the stadium seats...
, he became a free agent.
Texas Rangers
After returning to the York Revolution for the first half of the 2011 Atlantic League season, Majewski signed a minor league contract with the Texas RangersTexas 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...
on July 25, 2011, and was assigned to the Triple-A Round Rock Express
Round 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...
. Following the completion of the Round Rock season, he requested and was given his release. He returned to the York Revolution which had made the Atlantic League playoffs.