Curtis Thigpen
Encyclopedia
Curtis Barnard Thigpen is a right-handed Major League Baseball
catcher
. Thigpen can also play first base, second base, and third base
. He spent his college career at the University of Texas and won the College World Series
in 2002 during which he was named to the All-Tournament Team. Thigpen was selected by the Blue Jays in the second round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
with the 57th overall pick.
in Toronto
against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
, when he went 1-4 playing first base. After the 2007 season, he finished hitting .238 with 0 home runs, 11 RBIs, a .294 on-base percentage and a .287 slugging percentage over 47 games. During the 2008 season, Thigpen saw less playing time with Rod Barajas
coming to Toronto. During the 2008 campaign, Thigpen hit his first home run
, and finished the season hitting .176 with one home run and one RBI.
On February 4, , Thigpen was designated for assignment
to clear a roster spot for newly-acquired pitcher
Brian Burres
. On February 6, Thigpen was sent outright to the Blue Jays' AAA affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s
.
. He was released in 2010.
returned to the Texas Longhorns as volunteer student assistants in 2010.
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...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
. Thigpen can also play first base, second base, and third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
. He spent his college career at the University of Texas and won the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
in 2002 during which he was named to the All-Tournament Team. Thigpen was selected by the Blue Jays in the second round of the 2004 Major League Baseball 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...
with the 57th overall pick.
Minor league career
In 2007, he started the season playing for the Syracuse Chiefs, the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.Toronto Blue Jays
He was called up from the minors on June 5, , and made his major league debut on June 6, 2007, at Rogers CentreRogers Centre
Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium, in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
, when he went 1-4 playing first base. After the 2007 season, he finished hitting .238 with 0 home runs, 11 RBIs, a .294 on-base percentage and a .287 slugging percentage over 47 games. During the 2008 season, Thigpen saw less playing time with Rod Barajas
Rod Barajas
Rodrigo Richard Barajas is a Mexican American professional baseball catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. He came up to the majors with the Arizona Diamondbacks in...
coming to Toronto. During the 2008 campaign, Thigpen hit his first 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...
, and finished the season hitting .176 with one home run and one RBI.
On February 4, , Thigpen was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
to clear a roster spot for newly-acquired pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Brian Burres
Brian Burres
Brian Burres is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Burres' best pitch is his changeup, which is highly regarded...
. On February 6, Thigpen was sent outright to the Blue Jays' AAA affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
.
Oakland Athletics
On March 27, 2009 Thigpen was traded to the Oakland AthleticsOakland 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....
. He was released in 2010.
Post-playing career
Thigpen and former Longhorns teammate J. B. CoxJ. B. Cox
James Brent "J. B." Cox is an American former baseball relief pitcher.-Career:Cox graduated from the University of Texas in 2005...
returned to the Texas Longhorns as volunteer student assistants in 2010.