Mike McCoy (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Michael Howard McCoy is a Major League Baseball
utility player
for the Toronto Blue Jays
organization. He bats and throws right-handed. In his career, he has played every position, including pitcher
, with the exception of catcher
and first base
.
in El Cajon, California
before playing for the University of San Diego
. As a junior McCoy led the Toreros in doubles
(16) and stolen base
s (26), helping USD capture the 2002 West Coast Conference
title.
in the 34th round (1,032nd overall) of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
. The infielder logged time at all three levels of the minors during his six year run in the Cardinals system, capturing an Appalachian League
All-Star nod for Johnson City
in 2002 and leading Springfield
in stolen bases (30) in 2006.
On May 22, 2006 McCoy was dealt to the Baltimore Orioles
for future considerations and was moved again to the Colorado Rockies
on July 19, 2006 for Juan Castro
.
McCoy hit .307 with five triples, 102 runs and 40 steals for the Sky Sox. On September 8, 2009 he was called up from AAA Colorado Springs Sky Sox
and debuted in MLB one day later on September 9 against the Cincinnati Reds
.
Over the 2009-2010 offseason he was designated for assignment, and was claimed by the Toronto Blue Jays. He made their 2010 opening day roster, appearing in 46 games.
In 2011 he made the opening day roster for the second season in a row.
On June 11, 2011, McCoy made his first major league pitching appearance (he also pitched 3.2 innings in a minor league game in 2009) in a 16-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox
, throwing a perfect 9th inning. The game's play-by-play report shows that McCoy has a cutter at 85mph, a change up between mid 70's to low 80's, and a knuckleball
at 60 to mid 70's. McCoy is only the fifth position player to pitch for the Blue Jays, with the last being Frank Menechino
on August 28, 2004. He was optioned back to AAA Las Vegas on June 23 to make room for Eric Thames
on the 40 man roster.
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
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
for the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
organization. He bats and throws right-handed. In his career, he has played every position, including 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...
, with the exception of 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 first base
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
.
Early life
McCoy attended Grossmont High SchoolGrossmont High School
Grossmont High School is the oldest high school in San Diego's east county, California. Its mascot is the Foothiller, so chosen because, at the time of the school’s construction, east county was much more isolated from the rest of San Diego than it is today and was often referred to as the...
in El Cajon, California
El Cajon, California
-History:El Cajon is located on the Rancho El Cajon Mexican land grant made in 1845 to María Antonia Estudillo, wife of Miguel Pedrorena. In 1876 Amaziah Lord Knox , a New Englander who had recently moved to California, established a hotel there to serve the growing number of people traveling...
before playing for the University of San Diego
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...
. As a junior McCoy led the Toreros in doubles
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....
(16) and stolen base
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
s (26), helping USD capture the 2002 West Coast Conference
West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference is an NCAA collegiate athletics conference consisting of nine member schools across the states of California, Oregon, Utah and Washington....
title.
Professional career
McCoy was selected by the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in the 34th round (1,032nd overall) 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:...
. The infielder logged time at all three levels of the minors during his six year run in the Cardinals system, capturing an 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...
All-Star nod for Johnson City
Johnson City Cardinals
The Johnson City Cardinals are a rookie league team based in Johnson City, Tennessee. The Cardinals are affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals organization and play with the Appalachian League, of which they are currently the two-time defending champions. The team plays its home games at Howard...
in 2002 and leading Springfield
Springfield Cardinals
The Springfield Cardinals are a minor league baseball team based in Springfield, Missouri. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals major-league club, and is owned by the Cardinals. The club plays at Hammons Field.The Springfield Cardinals...
in stolen bases (30) in 2006.
On May 22, 2006 McCoy was dealt to the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore 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 future considerations and was moved again to 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...
on July 19, 2006 for Juan Castro
Juan Castro
Juan Gabriel Castro is a former Mexican professional baseball infielder. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, and Philadelphia Phillies, during his career...
.
McCoy hit .307 with five triples, 102 runs and 40 steals for the Sky Sox. On September 8, 2009 he was called up from AAA Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
and debuted in MLB one day later on September 9 against 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....
.
Over the 2009-2010 offseason he was designated for assignment, and was claimed by the Toronto Blue Jays. He made their 2010 opening day roster, appearing in 46 games.
In 2011 he made the opening day roster for the second season in a row.
On June 11, 2011, McCoy made his first major league pitching appearance (he also pitched 3.2 innings in a minor league game in 2009) in a 16-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, throwing a perfect 9th inning. The game's play-by-play report shows that McCoy has a cutter at 85mph, a change up between mid 70's to low 80's, and a knuckleball
Knuckleball
A knuckleball is a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. The pitch is thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. This causes vortices over the stitched seams of the baseball during its trajectory, which in turn can cause the pitch to change direction—and even...
at 60 to mid 70's. McCoy is only the fifth position player to pitch for the Blue Jays, with the last being Frank Menechino
Frank Menechino
Frank Menechino is a former Major League Baseball infielder, who played in the majors from -. He played baseball at Susan E. Wagner High School in New York. He played college baseball at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Florida, before transferring to the University of Alabama...
on August 28, 2004. He was optioned back to AAA Las Vegas on June 23 to make room for Eric Thames
Eric Thames
Eric Allyn Thames is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball....
on the 40 man roster.