Adron Chambers

Adron Lamar Chambers (born October 8, 1986) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals. Chambers currently plays for the Ottawa Champions of the Can-Am League

Early life

Prior to playing professionally, Chambers attended Pensacola High School where he was the star quarterback for his team. He went on to attend Mississippi State University on a football scholarship before resuming his baseball career at Pensacola Junior College. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 38th round of the 2007 amateur draft.

Baseball career

St. Louis Cardinals

He began his professional career in 2007, playing for the Johnson City Cardinals, hitting .279 in 36 games. In 2008, he played for the Quad Cities River Bandits, hitting .238 with 13 stolen bases in 95 games. He played for the Palm Beach Cardinals in 2009, hitting .283 with 21 stolen bases and 16 triples in 122 games. He split 2010 between the Springfield Cardinals (75 games) and Memphis Redbirds (37 games), hitting a combined .283 with 14 stolen bases in 112 games.^[1]

Chambers during 2011 World Series parade

On September 6, 2011, Chambers was called up to play for the St. Louis Cardinals. On September 16, 2011, during his second major league at-bat, Chambers earned his first Major League hit which brought in the go ahead runs for the Cardinals to beat the Phillies. Chambers, who had been brought in as a defensive sub for Lance Berkman attempted an inside the park home run, but was tagged out at the plate. Nevertheless, he was credited with a triple off of Michael Schwimer who had walked Albert Pujols in order to get to Chambers.^[2]

Chambers was also noted for his contributions off the field to help spur the Cardinals on during their quest to win the Wild Card playoff berth. With the Cardinals' playoff hopes looking much in doubt prior to the bottom of the ninth inning during their game on September 24, 2011 against arch-rival Chicago Cubs, Chambers was shown on the WGN television broadcast of the game taking it upon himself to encourage and excite the hometown fans to join him in cheering for the team prior to the start of the inning.^[3] Incredibly, the Cardinals began to rally, and Chambers himself was then inserted into the game as a pinch-runner, where he proceeded to score the winning run during a wild pitch.^[4] That down-to-the wire win was one of many that month that helped the Cardinals earn their playoff berth.

On October 28, 2011 Adron Chambers was added to the St. Louis Cardinals World Series roster as an emergency replacement for the injured Matt Holliday before game 7 of the 2011 World Series against the Texas Rangers.

Chambers during his tenure with the Memphis Redbirds, triple-A affiliates of the Cardinals, in 2013

After splitting time between St. Louis and the team's minor league system in 2012 and 2013, Chambers was out-righted off the Cardinals roster on November 5, 2013 and elected free agency. In 2013 he had four hits in 26 at bats with St. Louis. He was kept on the Cardinals active roster through the 2013 National League Divisional Series and the 2013 National League Championship Series.^[5]

Houston Astros

Chambers signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros in November 2013. He played in 17 games with the Astros during Spring Training before being assigned to the Triple-A Oklahoma City RedHawks to begin 2014. He was the team's Opening Day center-fielder and leadoff hitter, but injured himself on a slide, dislocating his left ring finger in the 4th inning, and he was placed on the disabled list.^[6] He was activated on May 11 and played that day. In 25 games for the RedHawks, Chambers hit .281 with 2 HR and 15 RBI.

Toronto Blue Jays

On June 12, Chambers was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for two minor leaguers, LHP Alejandro Solarte and 2B Will Dupont.^[7][8] The Blue Jays assigned him to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.

Chicago Cubs

On December 23, 2014 Chambers signed with the Chicago Cubs on a minor league deal.

Bridgeport Bluefish

On June 13, 2016, Chambers signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He was released on July 26, 2016.

Ottawa Champions

On August 12, 2016, Chambers signed with the Ottawa Champions of the Can-Am League.^[9] He won the Championship title with the Champions, defeating the Rockland Boulders 3-2 in a best of 5 series on September 17, 2016.

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Retrosheet, or Baseball Reference (Minor, Fall and Independent leagues), or Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Winter League)