Robb Quinlan
Encyclopedia
Robb William Quinlan is a former Major League Baseball
utility player
. He plays first base, third base
, corner outfield, catcher
and designated hitter
.
Quinlan's older brother, Tom Quinlan
, spent parts of four seasons in the major leagues with the Blue Jays
, Phillies
, and Twins
.
. At Hill-Murray High School he set the state and school record for consecutive time reaching base. In his junior year in 1994, Quinlan reached base 86 consecutive times, garnering praise from newspapers around the country. He was drafted by the California Angels
in the 33rd round (900th overall) of the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft
out of high school and was offered $50, but did not sign with them. Instead, Quinlan decided to attend the University of Minnesota
and graduated from there in 1999, obtaining a degree in marketing and communications.
While at Minnesota, he was selected to the Big Ten Conference
All-Star team three times, in , , and . In 1999, he was also Big Ten Conference Player of the Year after leading the conference in batting average
at .416 and hits
(92). Quinlan left as the Big Ten Conference's career leader in hits and Minnesota's career leader in hits, home run
s, doubles
, runs scored
, RBI
, total bases
, and at-bats.
He was drafted again by the Anaheim Angels in the 10th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
and signed on June 10.
making the Short-Season All-Star team and being named the Northwest League
's MVP. He batted .322 with 9 home runs and 77 RBI. In , he was promoted to High-A Lake Elsinore
and moved to first base; he hit .317 with 85 RBI. Quinlan was promoted to Double-A Arkansas
for and after a solid year, began with Triple-A Salt Lake
as an outfielder.
2002 was a career year for Quinlan. He spent the entire year with Triple-A Salt Lake and hit .333, posting career-highs in home runs (20), RBI (112), hits (176), and triples
(13). He was named PCL
Rookie of the Year, PCL MVP, and Anaheim Angels Minor League Player of the Year. He was also named a Triple-A All-Star, PCL All-Star, and one of Baseball America's 1st team minor league All-Stars.
Quinlan started in the minors with Triple-A Salt Lake, but after batting .310, he was called up to the majors where he spent the rest of the year. He began with Triple-A again, but was called up to the majors after 27 games.
(23) in . On August 17, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list
with a torn oblique muscle, causing him to miss the rest of the year. For the season, Quinlan batted .344, including .407 in July, with 5 home runs and 23 RBI.
In , Quinlan, playing part-time, saw his batting average drop over 100 points to .231 and missed time with a bulging disk and inflamed shoulder. He rebounded in with a .321 average and saw a career-high in playing time with 234 at-bats in 86 games. Quinlan signed a two-year, $1.8 million contract before the season avoiding arbitration
, but his batting average slumped again to .247. In , he played in 68 games mostly at third base and slightly improved his average to .262.
After the 2009 baseball season Quinlan filed for free agency for the first time in his career.
On February 11, 2010, Quinlan agreed to a minor league contract to return to the Angels. He was added to the Major League roster at the end of spring training. On September 7, 2010, Quinlan was released by the Angels.
Quinlan signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies
with an invitation to spring training for the 2011 season.
March 11, 2011 - The Phillies reassigned Robb Quinlan and his agent asked for his release. The Phillies granted it.
Robb is now the first base coach for his Alma Mater, the Minnesota Golden Gophers
.
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....
. He plays first base, third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
, corner outfield, 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 designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
.
Quinlan's older brother, Tom Quinlan
Tom Quinlan
Thomas Raymond Quinlan is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball. Quinlan spent parts of four seasons in the major leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia Phillies and Minnesota Twins. He is the older brother of Robb Quinlan, an infielder who currently is a Free Agent.Quinlan...
, spent parts of four seasons in the major leagues with the 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 ....
, Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
, and Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
.
High school and college
Quinlan attended Hill-Murray High School in Maplewood, MinnesotaMaplewood, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,947 people, 13,758 households, and 9,190 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,017.5 people per square mile . There were 14,004 housing units at an average density of 808.5 per square mile...
. At Hill-Murray High School he set the state and school record for consecutive time reaching base. In his junior year in 1994, Quinlan reached base 86 consecutive times, garnering praise from newspapers around the country. He was drafted by the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
in the 33rd round (900th overall) of the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft
1995 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign-Background:Outfielder Darin Erstad of the University of Nebraska was the first pick in the 1995 Rule 4 Draft. Erstad compiled a career .356 average in three seasons with the...
out of high school and was offered $50, but did not sign with them. Instead, Quinlan decided to attend the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
and graduated from there in 1999, obtaining a degree in marketing and communications.
While at Minnesota, he was selected to the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
All-Star team three times, in , , and . In 1999, he was also Big Ten Conference Player of the Year after leading the conference in 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 :...
at .416 and hits
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....
(92). Quinlan left as the Big Ten Conference's career leader in hits and Minnesota's career leader in hits, 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, 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....
, runs scored
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, total bases
Total bases
In baseball statistics, total bases refers to the number of bases a player has gained with hits, i.e., the sum of his hits weighted by 1 for a single, 2 for a double, 3 for a triple and 4 for a home run.Only bases attained from hits count toward this total....
, and at-bats.
He was drafted again by the Anaheim Angels in the 10th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
1999 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1999...
and signed on June 10.
Minor leagues
In 1999, Quinlan played third base for the Low-A Boise HawksBoise Hawks
The Boise Hawks are a minor league baseball team, located in Boise, Idaho. The team is currently a farm team for the Chicago Cubs and play in the Short-Season Class A Northwest League.-History:...
making the Short-Season All-Star team and being named 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...
's MVP. He batted .322 with 9 home runs and 77 RBI. In , he was promoted to High-A Lake Elsinore
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...
and moved to first base; he hit .317 with 85 RBI. Quinlan was promoted to Double-A Arkansas
Arkansas Travelers
The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Major League club....
for and after a solid year, began with Triple-A Salt Lake
Salt Lake Bees
The Salt Lake Bees are a Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Bees serve as the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They play their home games at Spring Mobile Ballpark, known to fans as the Apiary, which was...
as an outfielder.
2002 was a career year for Quinlan. He spent the entire year with Triple-A Salt Lake and hit .333, posting career-highs in home runs (20), RBI (112), hits (176), and triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
(13). He was named PCL
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...
Rookie of the Year, PCL MVP, and Anaheim Angels Minor League Player of the Year. He was also named a Triple-A All-Star, PCL All-Star, and one of Baseball America's 1st team minor league All-Stars.
Quinlan started in the minors with Triple-A Salt Lake, but after batting .310, he was called up to the majors where he spent the rest of the year. He began with Triple-A again, but was called up to the majors after 27 games.
Major leagues
Quinlan made his major league debut on July 28, , and hit .287 for the rest of the year. After starting 2004 in Triple-A, he was called up the first week in May. He had a 21-game hit streak in 2004 from July 7 to August 10 which is the longest by an Angels rookie in club history, and was the longest by any rookie in the majors since Ichiro SuzukiIchiro Suzuki
, usually known simply as is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Seattle Mariners. Ichiro has established a number of batting records, including the sport's single-season record for hits with 262...
(23) in . On August 17, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
with a torn oblique muscle, causing him to miss the rest of the year. For the season, Quinlan batted .344, including .407 in July, with 5 home runs and 23 RBI.
In , Quinlan, playing part-time, saw his batting average drop over 100 points to .231 and missed time with a bulging disk and inflamed shoulder. He rebounded in with a .321 average and saw a career-high in playing time with 234 at-bats in 86 games. Quinlan signed a two-year, $1.8 million contract before the season avoiding arbitration
Arbitration
Arbitration, a form of alternative dispute resolution , is a legal technique for the resolution of disputes outside the courts, where the parties to a dispute refer it to one or more persons , by whose decision they agree to be bound...
, but his batting average slumped again to .247. In , he played in 68 games mostly at third base and slightly improved his average to .262.
After the 2009 baseball season Quinlan filed for free agency for the first time in his career.
On February 11, 2010, Quinlan agreed to a minor league contract to return to the Angels. He was added to the Major League roster at the end of spring training. On September 7, 2010, Quinlan was released by the Angels.
Quinlan signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
with an invitation to spring training for the 2011 season.
March 11, 2011 - The Phillies reassigned Robb Quinlan and his agent asked for his release. The Phillies granted it.
Robb is now the first base coach for his Alma Mater, the Minnesota Golden Gophers
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The Minnesota Golden Gophers are the college sports team for the University of Minnesota. The university fields both men's and women's teams in basketball, cross country, gymnastics, golf, ice hockey, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Men's-specific sports include baseball, football, and...
.