Luke Carlin
Encyclopedia
Luke Christopher Carlin (born December 20, 1980 in Silver Spring, Maryland
) is an American
professional baseball
catcher
in the Cleveland Indians
organization.
, Carlin's family moved to Aylmer, Quebec
when he was very young and he played baseball in the province of Quebec, notably for the Quebec Diamants of the Ligue de Baseball Elite du Quebec
in 1999 before obtaining a scholarship from Northeastern University, where he played for the Huskies
.
in the 10th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
and signed his first pro contract on June 18 of the same year and played for the Oneonta Tigers
in the New York-Penn League before being released by the Tigers on March 2003.
He signed as a free agent with the San Diego Padres
in April 2003 and played in their organization for six years with stops with the Eugene Emeralds
of the Northwest League
(A-) and the Fort Wayne Wizards
of the Midwest League
(A) in 2003, Forth Wayne and the Lake Elsinore Storm
of the California League
(A+) in 2004, the Mobile Bay Bears of the Southern League
(AA) in 2005, Mobile and the Portland Beavers
of the Pacific Coast League
(AAA) in 2006 and Portland in 2007 and 2008.
On May 10, , Carlin made his major league debut for the San Diego Padres
. On May 16, 2008, he came through with his first major league hit
, which was a double
against the Colorado Rockies
. He became a free agent at the end of the season and signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks in January .
On January 12, 2010, Carlin signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates
with an invitation to spring training.
On August 10, 2010, Carlin was traded to the Cleveland Indians
for a player to be named later. His contract was purchased by the Indians from Triple-A Columbus on September 23. Carlin was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus on October 31, removing him from the 40-man roster. Carlin refused his minor league assignment and subsequently filed for free agency. On November 29, 2010, Carlin signed a minor league contract with the Indians; his deal includes a non-roster invitation to the Indians' 2011 spring training camp.
Silver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
) is an American
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...
in the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
organization.
Early life
Born in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Carlin's family moved to Aylmer, Quebec
Aylmer, Quebec
Aylmer is a former city in Quebec, Canada. It became a sector of the City of Gatineau on January 1, 2002. Located on the Ottawa River and Route 148 it is a part of the National Capital Region. The population in 2006 was 41 882 — approx. 16% of Gatineau...
when he was very young and he played baseball in the province of Quebec, notably for the Quebec Diamants of the Ligue de Baseball Elite du Quebec
Ligue de Baseball Élite du Québec
The Ligue de Baseball Élite du Québec is the top-level amateur summer baseball league in the Canadian province of Quebec. It is composed entirely of junior elite players - the best baseball players in the province under 22 years of age.-History:...
in 1999 before obtaining a scholarship from Northeastern University, where he played for the Huskies
Northeastern Huskies
The Northeastern University Huskies are the athletic teams representing Northeastern University. They compete in thirteen varsity team sports: men's and women's hockey ; men's baseball, men's and women's basketball, women's field hockey and volleyball, swimming, and men's and women's soccer , and...
.
Professional career
He was drafted by the Detroit TigersDetroit 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...
in the 10th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
and signed his first pro contract on June 18 of the same year and played for the Oneonta Tigers
Oneonta Tigers
The Oneonta Tigers were a minor league baseball team located in Oneonta, New York. They were members of the New York - Penn League. The Tigers were the Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, and played their home games at Damaschke Field...
in the New York-Penn League before being released by the Tigers on March 2003.
He signed as a free agent with 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 April 2003 and played in their organization for six years with stops with the Eugene Emeralds
Eugene Emeralds
The Eugene Emeralds is a minor league baseball team in Eugene, Oregon, United States. They are a short-season Class A team in the Northwest League, and have been a farm team of the San Diego Padres since 2001....
of the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
(A-) and the Fort Wayne Wizards
Fort Wayne Wizards
The Fort Wayne TinCaps are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the San Diego Padres, that plays in the Midwest League. They won their first Midwest League Championship in 2009.-History:...
of the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
(A) in 2003, Forth Wayne and the Lake Elsinore Storm
Lake Elsinore Storm
The Lake Elsinore Storm is a minor league baseball team in Lake Elsinore, California, USA. It is a Class A - Advanced team in the California League, and is a farm team of the San Diego Padres. The Storm plays its home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond...
of the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
(A+) in 2004, the Mobile Bay Bears of 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...
(AA) in 2005, Mobile and the Portland Beavers
Portland 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...
of 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...
(AAA) in 2006 and Portland in 2007 and 2008.
On May 10, , Carlin made his major league debut for 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 16, 2008, he came through with his first major league hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, which was a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. He became a free agent at the end of the season and signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks in January .
On January 12, 2010, Carlin signed a minor league contract with 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...
with an invitation to spring training.
On August 10, 2010, Carlin was traded to the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for a player to be named later. His contract was purchased by the Indians from Triple-A Columbus on September 23. Carlin was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus on October 31, removing him from the 40-man roster. Carlin refused his minor league assignment and subsequently filed for free agency. On November 29, 2010, Carlin signed a minor league contract with the Indians; his deal includes a non-roster invitation to the Indians' 2011 spring training camp.