Bobby Scales
Encyclopedia
Bobby Leon Scales is an American
professional baseball
second baseman
for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball. A switch hitter
who throws right-handed, Scales played for the University of Michigan
and was selected by the San Diego Padres
in the 14th round (442nd overall) of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
on June 11, 1999. While at Michigan, he played for the Corvallis Knights
in the West Coast League
, an independent summer collegiate league.
, the top prospect starting ahead of Scales got injured, he finally got his chance to start. Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies
to a minor league contract on January 11, 2006, Scales played the 2006 season with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
. The Boston Red Sox
organization signed him to a minor league contract on December 20, 2006 and invited him to participate in the Red Sox' 2007 Spring Training
. In , Scales played for the Chicago Cubs organization and became a free agent at the end of the season. In January , he re-signed with the Cubs.
Carlos Zambrano
was put on the 15-Day Disabled List
. He made his Major League debut, starting at second base, at the age of 31 on May 5 against the San Francisco Giants
, a game in which he recorded his first Major League hit against Tim Lincecum
, winner of the 2008 National League Cy Young Award
. He scored his first Major League run later that inning when Sean Marshall
singled. On May 8, 2009, Scales hit his first Major League triple off of Dave Bush. On May 12, 2009, Scales hit his first major league home run off of Edwin Moreno
of the San Diego Padres
. On May 14, to further his case to stay in the bigs, Scales hit 2 doubles while driving in 4 runs in the Cubs' win over the Padres. He recorded a 6 game hit streak immediately after being called up, but that streak was lost on May 16. However, that same game, he scored the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning against the Houston Astros
. On May 27, Aaron Miles was placed on the DL, and the team needed someone who could play backup shortstop and Scales was sent down to AAA Iowa Cubs. The next day, May 28, Scales was recalled from AAA Iowa because Ryan Freel
was placed on the disabled list. Scales then went on to hit a pinch hit home run in the bottom of the 8th off Dodgers pitcher Randy Wolf.
Community Player of the Year which highlighted the time and effort he put in to helping the greater Portland community. He also is a substitute teacher at Milton High School
in Alpharetta, Georgia
during the offseason.
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...
second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball. A switch hitter
Switch hitter
In baseball, a switch-hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed.-Baseball:Usually, right-handed batters hit better against left-handed pitchers and vice-versa. Most curveballs break away from batters hitting from the same side as the opposing pitcher. Such pitches are often...
who throws right-handed, Scales played for the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
and was selected by the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in the 14th round (442nd overall) of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
1999 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1999...
on June 11, 1999. While at Michigan, he played for the Corvallis Knights
Corvallis Knights
The Corvallis Knights is a collegiate summer baseball team located in Corvallis, Oregon. Founded in 1990 in Beaverton by Dan and his brother Joe Segal, the Knights moved to Corvallis from Gresham in , they play in the West Coast League, a college summer wood-bat league where college players and...
in the West Coast League
West Coast League
The West Coast League is a collegiate summer baseball league founded in 2005, comprising teams from Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia. The league is designed to develop college talent. As such, only current college players are allowed to participate in the league...
, an independent summer collegiate league.
Minor league career
Within 3 years of being drafted by the Padres organization, Scales was discouraged from lack of play and even planned to quit; but infield coach Tony Franklin talked him into staying. That same season when Bernie CastroBernie Castro
Bernabel "Bernie" Castro is a Major League Baseball second baseman. He has played two major league seasons, one with each the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles.-Career:...
, the top prospect starting ahead of Scales got injured, he finally got his chance to start. Signed by 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...
to a minor league contract on January 11, 2006, Scales played the 2006 season with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees are a professional minor league baseball club located based in the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre area. They currently play in the International League's Northern Division and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball club...
. 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"...
organization signed him to a minor league contract on December 20, 2006 and invited him to participate in the Red Sox' 2007 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...
. In , Scales played for the Chicago Cubs organization and became a free agent at the end of the season. In January , he re-signed with the Cubs.
Major league career
He was called up to the Cubs major league team on May 4, 2009 after starting pitcherStarting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
Carlos Zambrano
Carlos Zambrano
Carlos Alberto Zambrano is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher with the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball. Zambrano, who stands 6' 5" and weighs 260 pounds, was signed by the Cubs as a free agent in 1997 and made his debut in 2001...
was put on the 15-Day 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 made his Major League debut, starting at second base, at the age of 31 on May 5 against the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, a game in which he recorded his first Major League hit against Tim Lincecum
Tim Lincecum
Timothy Leroy Lincecum is an American professional baseball starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He was nicknamed "The Freak" and "Big Time Timmy Jim" and "The Franchise." He throws right-handed and bats left-handed....
, winner of the 2008 National League Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
. He scored his first Major League run later that inning when Sean Marshall
Sean Marshall
Sean Christopher Marshall is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. After three minor league seasons, Marshall was added to the Cubs' 40-man roster in November . He was married to Alexis DelChiaro at the time a morning anchor at KSAZ in Phoenix, AZ...
singled. On May 8, 2009, Scales hit his first Major League triple off of Dave Bush. On May 12, 2009, Scales hit his first major league home run off of Edwin Moreno
Edwin Moreno
Edwin A. Moreno is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent....
of the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. On May 14, to further his case to stay in the bigs, Scales hit 2 doubles while driving in 4 runs in the Cubs' win over the Padres. He recorded a 6 game hit streak immediately after being called up, but that streak was lost on May 16. However, that same game, he scored the winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning against the 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...
. On May 27, Aaron Miles was placed on the DL, and the team needed someone who could play backup shortstop and Scales was sent down to AAA Iowa Cubs. The next day, May 28, Scales was recalled from AAA Iowa because Ryan Freel
Ryan Freel
Ryan Paul Freel is a retired baseball utility player. He played second base, third base, and all three outfield positions.-MLB career:...
was placed on the disabled list. Scales then went on to hit a pinch hit home run in the bottom of the 8th off Dodgers pitcher Randy Wolf.
Japan
Scales signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan on June 27, 2011.Personal life
Bobby's wife Monica has a doctorate in health communication. In 2005 Scales was named the Portland BeaversPortland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
Community Player of the Year which highlighted the time and effort he put in to helping the greater Portland community. He also is a substitute teacher at Milton High School
Milton High School (Milton, Georgia)
Milton High School is a high school in Milton, northeast Fulton County, Georgia, United States.-History:Milton High School was founded in the shadows of metropolitan Atlanta within the city of Alpharetta, Georgia - a few blocks away from Main Street, USA. When Principal W. T...
in Alpharetta, Georgia
Alpharetta, Georgia
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 34,854 people, 13,911 households, and 8,916 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,631.6 people per square mile . There were 14,670 housing units at an average density of 686.7 per square mile...
during the offseason.