John Jaso
Encyclopedia
John Edward Jaso is an American professional baseball
catcher
for the Seattle Mariners
of Major League Baseball
.
in 2003, and was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 12th round (338th overall) of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft
.
Jaso began his professional career playing for the Low Single-A Hudson Valley Renegades
for two seasons from to . He had a .221 batting average
in 2003, but improved to .302 in 2004 and was also a postseason All-Star for that season. He took the next step in , playing for the Single-A Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
. He had a .307 batting average and had 14 home run
s, his most of any season to date. Also, he was a midseason and postseason All-Star. In , he took another step, playing for the High Single-A Visalia Oaks
and his season included being named to the midseason All-Star team. In , he played for the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits
. His .316 batting average was second in the Southern League
, on base percentage
of .408 was third among league leaders and a slugging percentage of .484 was good enough for sixth in the league. His best minor league season included being named to the midseason and postseason All-Star team and was also Topps Southern League Player of the Month for August. Baseball America
and Topps also named him as a Double-A All-Star after the season.
The Tampa Bay Rays purchased Jaso's contract on November 20, , protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft
. He made his major league debut on September 6, .
In spring training with Tampa Bay in 2011, he led the majors in stolen bases given up, with 18, while only catching 2 runners.
On November 27, 2011, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners
for Josh Lueke
and a player to be named later
.
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...
for the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
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...
.
Baseball career
Jaso graduated from McKinleyville High School in McKinleyville, California, in 2001. He attended Southwestern Community CollegeSouthwestern Community College
Southwestern Community College is a two-year college located in Sylva, North Carolina, an educational institution providing post-secondary education and lower-level tertiary education, granting certificates, diplomas, and associate's degrees...
in 2003, and was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 12th round (338th overall) 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:...
.
Jaso began his professional career playing for the Low Single-A Hudson Valley Renegades
Hudson Valley Renegades
The Hudson Valley Renegades are a minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays. The team is a member of the New York - Penn League, a Class A Short Season league. The Renegades play at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, NY....
for two seasons from to . He had a .221 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
in 2003, but improved to .302 in 2004 and was also a postseason All-Star for that season. He took the next step in , playing for the Single-A Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
The Southwest Michigan Devil Rays were an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the Midwest League in 2005 and 2006. The club began play in 1995 and was previously known as the Michigan Battle Cats and the Battle Creek Yankees. They played their home games at C.O. Brown Stadium in Battle...
. He had a .307 batting average and had 14 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...
s, his most of any season to date. Also, he was a midseason and postseason All-Star. In , he took another step, playing for the High Single-A Visalia Oaks
Visalia Oaks
The Visalia Rawhide are a minor league baseball team in Visalia, California, U.S. They are a Class A - Advanced team of the Arizona Diamondbacks operating in the California League and have recently agreed to renew their affiliation through 2012....
and his season included being named to the midseason All-Star team. In , he played for the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits
Montgomery Biscuits
The Montgomery Biscuits are a minor league baseball team based in Montgomery, Alabama. The team is the Class AA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays and plays in the Southern League. The 2004 season was the team's first in Montgomery...
. His .316 batting average was second in the Southern League
Southern 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...
, on base percentage
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
of .408 was third among league leaders and a slugging percentage of .484 was good enough for sixth in the league. His best minor league season included being named to the midseason and postseason All-Star team and was also Topps Southern League Player of the Month for August. Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
and Topps also named him as a Double-A All-Star after the season.
The Tampa Bay Rays purchased Jaso's contract on November 20, , protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. He made his major league debut on September 6, .
In spring training with Tampa Bay in 2011, he led the majors in stolen bases given up, with 18, while only catching 2 runners.
On November 27, 2011, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
for Josh Lueke
Josh Lueke
Joshua William Lueke is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball.-Professional career:Lueke was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 16th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft...
and a player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
.