Jake Fox
Encyclopedia
Jacob Quirin Fox is an American
professional baseball
catcher
and outfielder
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
of Major League Baseball
.
and went on to attend the University of Michigan
where he earned first-team all-Big Ten conference honors.
by the Chicago Cubs in the 3rd round (73rd overall) of the Major League Baseball draft.
From 2003 to , he spent parts of each season in Single A ball for the Lansing Lugnuts
and the Daytona Cubs
, before moving on to Double A in mid-2006. As a member of the Lugnuts, Fox was given the opportunity to catch for then-Cubs pitcher Mark Prior
, who was on a rehab assignment. Fox was ecstatic to catch for Prior, and even invited his family members to attend the game. However, upon arriving at the club house, he found out that Paul Bako
was actually slated to catch the game. Fox approached his manager, Julio Garcia
, who claimed that Fox was not experienced enough to catch a Major League pitcher like Prior. Garcia then revealed that the team was playing a practical joke
on Fox, and that he would actually be in the team's lineup.
On July 19, 2007, Fox was called up from Double A Tennessee
to the major leagues after shortstop
Cesar Izturis
was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates
. Fox was called up with the intent that he would play first base, outfield
, and be the third catcher. Fox made his major league debut on July 19, 2007 against the San Francisco Giants
in a pinch hitting role and grounded into a double play. He had his first career hit on August 15 against Phil Dumatrait
of the Cincinnati Reds
, a double. Fox hit his first career home run on June 25, 2009 against Armando Galarraga
of the Detroit Tigers
. On August 29, 2009, Fox hit his first career grand slam
against Bobby Parnell
of the New York Mets
.
In AAA with the Iowa Cubs in 2009, Jake Fox had a breakout year. He was batting .423 and had hit 17 home runs and 50 RBIs as of June 1, 2009. He was leading the PCL in both of these categories along with RBI, SLG, and OPS. He was recalled to the Cubs on May 27, 2009. He was optioned back to AAA Iowa on June 10, 2009, and was recalled to the Chicago Cubs again on June 16, 2009 and has achieved success as a part time utility player since, capable of filling in at corner OF and IF positions, as well as catcher.
to the Oakland Athletics
for Jeff Gray
and 2 minor league prospects. After an unproductive offensive season Fox was designated for assignment by the A's on June 13, 2010.
for Ross Wolf
and cash considerations. In spring training in 2011, he led the major leagues in home runs, with 10, and extra base hits, with 17. He was designated for assignment on June 1. He elected free agency on November 2.
signed Fox to a minor league contract on November 22, 2011. He received an invitation to spring training.
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...
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 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...
for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
of 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...
.
Early years
Fox is a graduate of Cathedral High SchoolCathedral High School (Indianapolis)
Cathedral High School is a private, Catholic institution in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. There are over 1,200 students in grades 9 to 12. It once was located within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis, and was run independently by the Brothers of Holy Cross...
and went on to attend 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...
where he earned first-team all-Big Ten conference honors.
Chicago Cubs
Fox was then drafted as a catcherCatcher
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...
by the Chicago Cubs in the 3rd round (73rd overall) of the Major League Baseball draft.
From 2003 to , he spent parts of each season in Single A ball for the Lansing Lugnuts
Lansing Lugnuts
The Lansing Lugnuts are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays, that plays in the Midwest League.The Midwest League came to Lansing, Michigan in 1996. The franchise began in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1955; after two seasons it moved to Waterloo, Iowa, where it...
and the Daytona Cubs
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs are a minor league baseball team based in Daytona Beach, Florida. The team plays in the Florida State League , and is the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs major league club. The Cubs play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark; opened in 1914, the park seats 5,100 fans.The...
, before moving on to Double A in mid-2006. As a member of the Lugnuts, Fox was given the opportunity to catch for then-Cubs pitcher Mark Prior
Mark Prior
Mark William Prior is an American professional baseball pitcher in the New York Yankees organization. He pitched for the Chicago Cubs from 2002-2006. His repertoire of pitches includes a low to mid 90s fastball, a curveball, a slurve, and a changeup.-Amateur career:Prior graduated from the...
, who was on a rehab assignment. Fox was ecstatic to catch for Prior, and even invited his family members to attend the game. However, upon arriving at the club house, he found out that Paul Bako
Paul Bako
Gabor Paul Bako II is a catcher in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. Bako is an example of a baseball "journeyman", having played for 11 different major league teams during his 12-year career...
was actually slated to catch the game. Fox approached his manager, Julio Garcia
Julio Garcia
Julio García or Julio Garcia may refer to:* Julio Acosta García , a president of Costa Rica* Julio A. Garcia , American attorney Julio Arnoldo Garcia* Julio César García, Mexican boxerThe name may also refer to:...
, who claimed that Fox was not experienced enough to catch a Major League pitcher like Prior. Garcia then revealed that the team was playing a practical joke
Practical joke
A practical joke is a mischievous trick played on someone, typically causing the victim to experience embarrassment, indignity, or discomfort. Practical jokes differ from confidence tricks in that the victim finds out, or is let in on the joke, rather than being fooled into handing over money or...
on Fox, and that he would actually be in the team's lineup.
On July 19, 2007, Fox was called up from Double A Tennessee
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies are a Minor League Baseball team based in the Knoxville, Tennessee metropolitan area. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball as of the 2011 season...
to the major leagues after 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...
Cesar Izturis
César Izturis
César David Izturis is a Major League Baseball shortstop who is currently a free agent. He is the half-brother of shortstop Maicer Izturis, who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Julio Izturis, who plays in the minor leagues in the San Francisco Giants organization.Izturis' greatest...
was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. Fox was called up with the intent that he would play first base, outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
, and be the third catcher. Fox made his major league debut on July 19, 2007 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....
in a pinch hitting role and grounded into a double play. He had his first career hit on August 15 against Phil Dumatrait
Phil Dumatrait
Phillip Anthony Dumatrait is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Early life:Born in Bakersfield, California, Dumatrait played for Bakersfield College before he was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft.-Cincinnati Reds:On July 30, 2003,...
of the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, a double. Fox hit his first career home run on June 25, 2009 against Armando Galarraga
Armando Galarraga
Armando Antonio Galarraga is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Galarraga made his Major League Baseball debut with the Texas Rangers on September 15, 2007...
of the Detroit Tigers
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...
. On August 29, 2009, Fox hit his first career grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
against Bobby Parnell
Bobby Parnell
Robert Allen Parnell is an American baseball pitcher for the New York Mets. He was drafted by the Mets in the ninth round of the 2005 MLB Draft after attending college at Charleston Southern University....
of 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...
.
In AAA with the Iowa Cubs in 2009, Jake Fox had a breakout year. He was batting .423 and had hit 17 home runs and 50 RBIs as of June 1, 2009. He was leading the PCL in both of these categories along with RBI, SLG, and OPS. He was recalled to the Cubs on May 27, 2009. He was optioned back to AAA Iowa on June 10, 2009, and was recalled to the Chicago Cubs again on June 16, 2009 and has achieved success as a part time utility player since, capable of filling in at corner OF and IF positions, as well as catcher.
Oakland Athletics
On December 3, 2009, Fox was traded along with Aaron MilesAaron Miles
Aaron Wade Miles is a Major League Baseball infielder who is currently a free agent.-Houston Astros:Miles was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the 19th round of the 1995 amateur draft...
to 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....
for Jeff Gray
Jeff Gray (2000s pitcher)
Jeffrey Michael Gray is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball. He graduated from Lafayette High School in Chesterfield, Missouri, and attended Southwest Missouri State University...
and 2 minor league prospects. After an unproductive offensive season Fox was designated for assignment by the A's on June 13, 2010.
Baltimore Orioles
On June 22, 2010, Fox was traded to the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore 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...
for Ross Wolf
Ross Wolf
Ross Garrett Wolf is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He bats and throws left-handed. He is also not a boss...
and cash considerations. In spring training in 2011, he led the major leagues in home runs, with 10, and extra base hits, with 17. He was designated for assignment on June 1. He elected free agency on November 2.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
signed Fox to a minor league contract on November 22, 2011. He received an invitation to spring training.
Awards
- Florida State LeagueFlorida State LeagueThe Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
Player of the Week (5/7/06) - Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star (2006)
- Topps Florida State League Player of the Month (June 2006)
- Baseball America High Class A All-Star (2006)
- Southern LeagueSouthern League (baseball)The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
Player of the Week (5/21/07) - Southern League Mid-Season All-Star (2007)
- Southern League Player of the Week (6/23/2008)
- Southern League Post-Season All-Star (2008)
- Pacific Coast LeaguePacific Coast LeagueThe 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...
Player of the Week (4/20/2009) - Pacific Coast League Player of the Week (5/18/2009)