Andrew Graham (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Andrew Graham is an Australian baseballer and catcher who played with the Detroit Tigers
organisation from 2003-2007. Graham is currently the hitting coach for the Gulf Coast League Tigers, a minor league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.
Graham started his professional baseball career with Armstrong Atlantic State University
in 2003. The Tigers picked him up in the 19th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft
. He was assigned to the Oneonta Tigers
and hit .182 in his first season. In 2004, he played for Oneonta (.280 in 8 games) and the West Michigan Whitecaps
(.253 in 26 games).
Graham made his Claxton Shield
debut in 2005, in which he was 3 for 14 for the New South Wales Patriots
. He played for the Australian national baseball team in the 2005 Baseball World Cup
, going 4 for 15 with a double and two passed balls in seven games, starting ahead of Trent D'Antonio.
In Claxton Shield 2006
, the New South Wales catcher hit a .409/.435/.636 clip with 5 runs, 4 RBI and 5 doubles in five games. He was filling a big role replacing the catcher role with the retirement of long-time Australian star Gary White. He played two games for Australia in the 2006 World Baseball Classic
.
Andrew hit only .127 in 28 games for Lakeland in 2006 but was better with the Erie SeaWolves
, batting .276/.344/.362 in 20 games. In the 2006 Intercontinental Cup, he was 4 for 8 with two walks and 5 RBI as the backup to Matthew Kent
.
He was only 3 for 20 with a homer and a walk in the 2007 Claxton Shield. Graham batted .208/.274/.292 in 36 games for the 2007 Toledo Mud Hens
as the backup to a player with an even lower average that year, Dane Sardinha
. In the 2007 Baseball World Cup
, Graham hit .231/.389/.308 while splitting catching duties with Kent. In 2008, Graham was released as a free agent from the Detroit organisation.
In 2009, he was selected to play in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
held in March, as the starting catcher alongside Joel Naughton
. In September he was selected for 2009 Baseball World Cup
, making it his third consecutive World Cup selection.
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
organisation from 2003-2007. Graham is currently the hitting coach for the Gulf Coast League Tigers, a minor league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers.
Graham started his professional baseball career with Armstrong Atlantic State University
Armstrong Atlantic State University
Armstrong Atlantic State University, also referred to as Armstrong Atlantic, Armstrong, or simply AASU, is a four-year public university part of the University System of Georgia. It is located on a campus in suburban Savannah, Georgia, United States...
in 2003. The Tigers picked him up in the 19th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft
2003 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2003 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 3 and 4. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.Source: -First round selections:...
. He was assigned to the Oneonta Tigers
Oneonta Tigers
The Oneonta Tigers were a minor league baseball team located in Oneonta, New York. They were members of the New York - Penn League. The Tigers were the Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, and played their home games at Damaschke Field...
and hit .182 in his first season. In 2004, he played for Oneonta (.280 in 8 games) and the West Michigan Whitecaps
West Michigan Whitecaps
The West Michigan Whitecaps are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Detroit Tigers, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home games are played in Comstock Park, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids.-Franchise history:...
(.253 in 26 games).
Graham made his Claxton Shield
Claxton Shield
The Claxton Shield was the name of the premier baseball competition in Australia held between state-based teams, as well as the name of the trophy awarded to the champion team...
debut in 2005, in which he was 3 for 14 for the New South Wales Patriots
New South Wales Patriots
New South Wales Patriots compete in the Claxton Shield baseball championship in Australia.The Patriots were one of the founding teams of the Claxton Shield in 1934 and competed as New South Wales until 1988 when the Claxtion Shield was awarded to the winner of the Australian Baseball League...
. He played for the Australian national baseball team in the 2005 Baseball World Cup
2005 Baseball World Cup
The XXXVI Baseball World Cup took place in the Netherlands cities of Rotterdam, Haarlem, Almere, Amsterdam and Eindhoven September 2–17, 2005. Countries were split into two groups of nine, with the first four of each group qualifying for the finals....
, going 4 for 15 with a double and two passed balls in seven games, starting ahead of Trent D'Antonio.
In Claxton Shield 2006
Claxton Shield 2006
-Round 1: Saturday, 21 January 2006:-Round 2: Sunday, 22 January 2006:-Round 3: Monday, 23 January 2006:-Round 4: Tuesday, 24 January 2006:-Round 5: Wednesday, 25 January 2006:-Final standings:-Semi finals:-External links:* *...
, the New South Wales catcher hit a .409/.435/.636 clip with 5 runs, 4 RBI and 5 doubles in five games. He was filling a big role replacing the catcher role with the retirement of long-time Australian star Gary White. He played two games for Australia in the 2006 World Baseball Classic
2006 World Baseball Classic
---------Pool B:-------------Pool C:-------------Pool D:-------------Pool 1:-----------------Pool 2:-------------Finals:-Semifinals:-Final:-Final standings:...
.
Andrew hit only .127 in 28 games for Lakeland in 2006 but was better with the Erie SeaWolves
Erie SeaWolves
The Erie SeaWolves are a minor league baseball team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball club....
, batting .276/.344/.362 in 20 games. In the 2006 Intercontinental Cup, he was 4 for 8 with two walks and 5 RBI as the backup to Matthew Kent
Matthew Kent
Matthew Kent is an Australian baseball player.Kent signed with the Seattle Mariners in 1997 at the age of 16 as a catcher and from 1998-1999 he played for the AZL Mariners in the Arizona League. In 2000, Kent was promoted to A- with the Everett AquaSox...
.
He was only 3 for 20 with a homer and a walk in the 2007 Claxton Shield. Graham batted .208/.274/.292 in 36 games for the 2007 Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
as the backup to a player with an even lower average that year, Dane Sardinha
Dane Sardinha
Dane Kealoha A. A. Sardinha is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent.-College career:...
. In the 2007 Baseball World Cup
2007 Baseball World Cup
The XXXVII International Baseball Federation Baseball World Cup was held in the Republic of China from November 6 through November 18, 2007. Four stadiums hosted...
, Graham hit .231/.389/.308 while splitting catching duties with Kent. In 2008, Graham was released as a free agent from the Detroit organisation.
In 2009, he was selected to play in the 2009 World Baseball Classic
2009 World Baseball Classic
The 2009 World Baseball Classic was an international baseball competition. It is the only international baseball tournament to feature a large number of players from the major leagues of North America and Asia. It began on March 5, 2009, and finished March 23, 2009.Japan emerged victorious for the...
held in March, as the starting catcher alongside Joel Naughton
Joel Naughton
Joel Matthew Naughton is an Australian catcher for the Brisbane Bandits.-Philadelphia Phillies:...
. In September he was selected for 2009 Baseball World Cup
2009 Baseball World Cup
The 2009 Baseball World Cup was an international baseball tournament that started on 9 September 2009. The final was held in Nettuno, Italy on 27 September 2009. It was the 38th time the World Cup took place, and the first time that it was hosted by a continent rather than a single country...
, making it his third consecutive World Cup selection.