Eric Bruntlett
Encyclopedia
Eric Kevin Bruntlett is a retired Major League Baseball
utility player who last played in the New York Yankees
organization. He was known for his defensive versatility; he usually played second base or shortstop
, but has also played left field. Bruntlett played every position except for catcher
and pitcher
. On August 23, 2009, he fielded the first game-ending unassisted triple play
in National League
history.
with a degree in economics. He helped the Cardinal
to three appearances in the College World Series
, including the title game in 2000. In addition, his teams won at least a share of four Pac-10 titles. Bruntlett was named to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament team twice (1999 & 2000).
in the 9th Round (277th overall) of the 2000 amateur entry draft in June. Bruntlett hit .273 with 14 stolen bases in 50 games for the Martinsville Astros
, Houston's rookie league affiliate in the Appalachian League
.
's Round Rock Express
, where he hit .266 with 23 steals. He finished the season at AAA New Orleans
in the Pacific Coast League
was placed on the Disabled List. Batted .250 with four home runs and eight RBIs in 45 games with the Astros. Appeared in six postseason games.
games against the White Sox
.
Was optioned to Round Rock on 8/2 but was quickly recalled on 8/27. Started 22 games at 5 positions, including 12 starts at shortstop.
went down on June 14 with a broken fibula. Bruntlett hit .246 with 14 RBIs on the season, seeing time at shortstop, third base, and the outfield.
On November 7, 2007, Bruntlett was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies along with Brad Lidge
for Geoff Geary
, Michael Bourn
, and Mike Costanzo.
His biggest mark was left in the post-season. He hit a home run in Game 2 of the World Series
followed by a game winning run in Game 3 of the World Series. Bruntlett would cap off his World Series performance by scoring the series-clinching run in Game 5, allowing the Phillies to win their first World Series since 1980
and second overall.
of the modern era in the bottom of the ninth inning on August 23, against the New York Mets
at Citi Field, when he caught a line drive from Jeff Francoeur
, tagged second base to double off Luis Castillo, and tagged Daniel Murphy as he was running to second base. Both Castillo and Murphy had reached base on misplays by Bruntlett. It was the second game-ending unassisted triple play in Major League Baseball history and the first in the National League, preserving a 9–7 Phillies win. Rather than accepting an assignment to Triple-A, Bruntlett was released by the Phillies on November 16.
. He also received an invitation to Spring Training.
He was reassigned at the end of Spring Training to minor league camp. He was released on June 2, 2010. On June 17, 2010, Bruntlett signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees
; he was granted free agency on November 6, 2010. He decided to retire from baseball and be a stay-at-home dad rather than spend another year in AAA.
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...
utility player who last played in the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
organization. He was known for his defensive versatility; he usually played second base or shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
, but has also played left field. Bruntlett played every position except for 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...
and 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...
. On August 23, 2009, he fielded the first game-ending unassisted triple play
Unassisted triple play
In baseball, an unassisted triple play occurs when a defensive player makes all three putouts by himself in one continuous play, without any teammates touching the ball . In Major League Baseball , it is one of the rarest of individual feats, along with hitting four home runs in one game and the...
in National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
history.
High school
Bruntlett is a 1996 graduate of Harrison High School in West Lafayette, IN where he was a two-time All-Indiana selection in both baseball and football. He was inducted into the Harrison HS Hall of Fame in 2005.College
Bruntlett graduated from Stanford UniversityStanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
with a degree in economics. He helped the Cardinal
Stanford Cardinal
The Stanford Cardinal is the nickname of the athletic teams at Stanford University.-Nickname and mascot history:Following its win over Cal in the first-ever Big Game in 1892, the color cardinal was picked as the primary color of Stanford's athletic teams...
to three appearances in 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,...
, including the title game in 2000. In addition, his teams won at least a share of four Pac-10 titles. Bruntlett was named to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament team twice (1999 & 2000).
2000
After hitting .342 for Stanford, Bruntlett was selected by 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...
in the 9th Round (277th overall) of the 2000 amateur entry draft in June. Bruntlett hit .273 with 14 stolen bases in 50 games for the Martinsville Astros
Martinsville Astros
The Martinsville Astros were a minor league baseball team located in Martinsville, Virginia. The team was affiliated with the Houston Astros and played in the Appalachian League. Their home stadium was Hooker Field....
, Houston's rookie league affiliate in the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
.
2001
Bruntlett advanced quickly through the Astros' minor league system, starting the season off with the AA Texas LeagueTexas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
's 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...
, where he hit .266 with 23 steals. He finished the season at AAA New Orleans
New Orleans Zephyrs
The New Orleans Zephyrs are a minor league baseball team based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The Zephyrs play in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Zephyrs play their home games at Zephyr Field....
in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
2002
Once again began the season at Round Rock, where he hit .265 with 35 SB and finished the season with another short stint in New Orleans.2003
Played the first half of the season in New Orleans where he hit .259. Was called up to the major league club and made his debut on June 27. Appeared in 31 games, also hitting .259 for the Astros.2004
Recalled from Triple A New Orleans on Aug. 7 when Adam EverettAdam Everett
Jeffery Adam Everett , is an American professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. He played collegiate baseball at the University of South Carolina...
was placed on the Disabled List. Batted .250 with four home runs and eight RBIs in 45 games with the Astros. Appeared in six postseason games.
2005
Hit .220 in 91 games with four home runs and 14 RBIs. Played games at seven different positions (all but catcher and pitcher). Played in 10 postseason games, including 2 World Series2005 World Series
The 2005 World Series, the 101st Major League Baseball championship series, saw the American League champion Chicago White Sox sweep the National League champion Houston Astros four games to none in the best-of-seven-games series, winning their third championship and first since 1917.Home-field...
games against the White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
.
2006
Eric hit .277 in 73 games for the Astros. Hit .412 (7 for 17) with four RBIs as a pinch-hitter.Was optioned to Round Rock on 8/2 but was quickly recalled on 8/27. Started 22 games at 5 positions, including 12 starts at shortstop.
2007
Was recalled to the major league club and became the starting shortstop when Adam EverettAdam Everett
Jeffery Adam Everett , is an American professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. He played collegiate baseball at the University of South Carolina...
went down on June 14 with a broken fibula. Bruntlett hit .246 with 14 RBIs on the season, seeing time at shortstop, third base, and the outfield.
On November 7, 2007, Bruntlett was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies along with Brad Lidge
Brad Lidge
Bradley Thomas "Brad" Lidge is a reliever who is currently a free agent. Nicknamed "Lights Out", he is the all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings among pitchers with at least 200 appearances in their career...
for Geoff Geary
Geoff Geary
Geoffrey Michael Geary is a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is currently a reliever for the York Revolution of the Atlantic League.-Biography:...
, Michael Bourn
Michael Bourn
Michael Ray Bourn is a professional baseball outfielder with the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball. He serves as the Atlanta Braves leadoff hitter. He has also been a member of the United States national baseball team....
, and Mike Costanzo.
2008
Bruntlett hit .217 with 46 hits, 2 home runs, and 15 RBIs.His biggest mark was left in the post-season. He hit a home run in Game 2 of the World Series
2008 World Series
The 2008 World Series was the 104th World Series between the American and National Leagues for the championship of Major League Baseball. The Philadelphia Phillies as champions of the National League and the Tampa Bay Rays, as American League champions, competed to win four games out of a possible...
followed by a game winning run in Game 3 of the World Series. Bruntlett would cap off his World Series performance by scoring the series-clinching run in Game 5, allowing the Phillies to win their first World Series since 1980
1980 World Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 14, 1980 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaThe Royals jumped on Philly rookie starter Bob Walk early with a pair of two run bombs—one by Amos Otis in the second and another by Willie Aikens in the third...
and second overall.
2009
Bruntlett performed the fifteenth unassisted triple playUnassisted triple play
In baseball, an unassisted triple play occurs when a defensive player makes all three putouts by himself in one continuous play, without any teammates touching the ball . In Major League Baseball , it is one of the rarest of individual feats, along with hitting four home runs in one game and the...
of the modern era in the bottom of the ninth inning on August 23, against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
at Citi Field, when he caught a line drive from Jeff Francoeur
Jeff Francoeur
Jeffrey Braden Francoeur , nicknamed "Frenchy", is a Major League Baseball right fielder who now plays for the Kansas City Royals. Francoeur is known for a strong throwing arm.-Minor league career:...
, tagged second base to double off Luis Castillo, and tagged Daniel Murphy as he was running to second base. Both Castillo and Murphy had reached base on misplays by Bruntlett. It was the second game-ending unassisted triple play in Major League Baseball history and the first in the National League, preserving a 9–7 Phillies win. Rather than accepting an assignment to Triple-A, Bruntlett was released by the Phillies on November 16.
2010
On December 28, 2009, Bruntlett signed a minor league contract with the Washington NationalsWashington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. He also received an invitation to Spring Training.
He was reassigned at the end of Spring Training to minor league camp. He was released on June 2, 2010. On June 17, 2010, Bruntlett signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
; he was granted free agency on November 6, 2010. He decided to retire from baseball and be a stay-at-home dad rather than spend another year in AAA.