Bryan Holaday

Bryan Holaday
Free agent
Catcher
Born: (1987-11-19) November 19, 1987
Dallas, Texas
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 6, 2012, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Batting average .245
Hits 92
Home runs 5
Runs batted in 44
Teams
Career highlights and awards

John Bryan Holaday (born November 19, 1987) is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. Holaday made his MLB debut on June 6, 2012, with the Detroit Tigers. He also played for the Texas Rangers and Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Prior to his professional career, Holaday played college baseball at TCU. In his senior season, Holaday won the Johnny Bench Award, given to the best collegiate catcher for the season.

Amateur career

Holaday attended Warren Travis White High School in Dallas, Texas, where he played for the school's baseball team.[1] Holaday was a two-way player, appearing as both a pitcher and shortstop.[2] In 2006, he was named to the Class 5A All-State Third Team by the Texas Sports Writers Association.[3] Opposing teams began to consistently walk Holaday, leading the team's head coach to use him as the team's leadoff hitter.[4] He competed in the Connie Mack World Series after the 2006 season.[5]

After graduating in 2006, he enrolled at North Central Texas College, where he was initially a third baseman.[6] During the season, he transitioned into a catcher.[2] During the summer of 2007, he played collegiate summer baseball for the McKinney Marshals of the Texas Collegiate League.[7]

Holaday transferred to Texas Christian University (TCU) before his sophomore season, becoming the starting catcher for the TCU Horned Frogs baseball team.[2] In 2010, his senior season, he batted .355 17 home runs, 53 runs batted in (RBIs), and 72 runs scored in 68 games played.[8] He was credited for his work with the Horned Frogs' pitching staff, especially freshman Matt Purke.[9][10] He led the Horned Frogs to the Mountain West Conference (MWC) tournament, winning the tournament Most Valuable Player award. He was also named the Most Outstanding Player of the Houston College Classic.[11] Holaday was named to the All-MWC first team, though TCU coach Jim Schlossnagle indicated that he felt Holaday should have won the player of the year award over C. J. Cron, due to his contributions as a batter and as a fielder.[9] TCU reached the 2010 College World Series (CWS),[12] the school's first CWS appearance.[6] Holaday was named to the CWS All-Tournament Team. He was also named a Second Team All-American and won the Johnny Bench Award as the top collegiate catcher for the season.[11][13]

Professional career

Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers selected Holaday in the sixth round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed, and played for the Lakeland Tigers of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League that season.[14] He attended Tigers' spring training as a non-roster invitee in 2011.[8] He played for the Erie Seawolves of the Eastern League, the Tigers Class AA affiliate, during the 2011 season.[15] He was again invited to spring training as a non-roster invitee in 2012. He started the season with the Toledo Mud Hens of the Class AAA International League, where he batted .248 with no home runs and ten RBIs.[16]

Holaday batting during spring training in 2013

The Tigers promoted Holaday to the major leagues on June 6, 2012, as the team added him to their 40-man roster due to injuries to starting catcher Alex Avila. He became the third position player selected in the 2010 draft to reach the majors, following Bryce Harper and Kole Calhoun.[16] Holaday made his MLB debut that day. He had one hit in four at bats during his debut.[17]

Holaday was recalled June 17, 2013, when catcher Alex Avila was placed on the disabled list.[18] After the 2013 season, the Tigers informed backup catcher Brayan Peña they would not re-sign him, giving Holaday the opportunity to become the backup to Avila.[19] Holaday competed with James McCann to be the backup catcher behind Avila during spring training in 2015. McCann won the competition, and Holaday began the season in the minor leagues.[20]

Once again, Holaday entered Spring Training in 2016 competing for a backup role, this time with Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Despite losing the job, Holaday attracted large amounts of trade interest due to hitting .438/.455/.969 in 16 games and his lack of minor league options remaining.[21] In 4 seasons with the Tigers, Holaday hit .251/.283/.340 with 3 HR and 30 RBI in 108 games.

Texas Rangers

On March 29, 2016, the Tigers traded Holaday to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Bobby Wilson and Myles Jaye.[22] Holaday began 2016 sharing catching duties with Robinson Chirinos. Following the acquisition of Jonathan Lucroy, Holaday was designated for assignment.[23]

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox claimed Holaday off of waivers on August 5.[24]

Personal

Holaday's older brother, Bobby, also played for the baseball team at Warren Travis White High School.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 MacMahon, Tim (May 11, 2006). "Little brother is all grown up: W.T. White: Younger Holaday leaving his own legacy". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 7, 2012. (subscription required (help)).
  2. 1 2 3 "When TCU Horned Frogs need fire, Holaday is the starter". The Dallas Morning News. May 12, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Area players land on TSWA all-state team". Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. July 14, 2006. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  4. ↑ Wixon, Matt (April 30, 2006). "Preemptive strike Opponents often walk dangerous hitters rather than face them". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 7, 2012. (subscription required)
  5. ↑ "Host Rattlers lose Series opener". The Farmington Daily Times. August 5, 2006. Retrieved June 7, 2012. (subscription required (help)).
  6. 1 2 Riba, George (June 28, 2010). "Catcher leaves TCU with great memories and impressive reputation". Wfaa.com. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  7. ↑ Summers, Travis (June 11, 2007). "Marshals extend winning streak to four games". Scntx.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  8. 1 2 Kornacki, Steve (March 6, 2011). "Detroit Tigers catching prospect Bryan Holaday is 'star of the game'". MLive.com. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  9. 1 2 Davis, Josh (May 25, 2010). "Holaday, TCU focused on big picture". espn.go.com. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
  10. ↑ Joshua Buechler (June 21, 2010). "TCU catcher Holaday helps young staff realize potential". Chron.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  11. 1 2 "Holaday Wins 2010 Johnny Bench Award". Wfaa.com. July 1, 2010. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  12. ↑ Stephens, Bailey (June 19, 2010). "TCU, UCLA roll to open College World Series". MLB.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  13. ↑ Beck, Jason (January 2, 2013). "Holaday has great day in rare start for Detroit". MLB.com. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  14. ↑ Yates, David (July 28, 2010). "Bryan Holaday Powers Lakeland's Comeback With a Grand Slam". TheLedger.com. Retrieved May 16, 2014.
  15. ↑ Copper, Mike (July 1, 2011). "Erie SeaWolves pick up third straight win". Goerie.com. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  16. 1 2 "Tigers designate Omir Santos for assignment, call up Bryan Holaday, put Alex Avila on DL". freep.com. May 31, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Thursday's Tigers lineup: Leyland tries slumping Boesch second vs. Lowe". detroitnews.com. April 2, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
  18. ↑ Jahnke, James (June 17, 2013). "Report: Tigers put Anibal Sanchez, Alex Avila on DL, bring back Avisail Garcia". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved June 17, 2013.
  19. ↑ Beck, Jason (October 30, 2013). "Brayan Pena told he won't be back with Tigers". Beck.mlblogs.com. Retrieved October 31, 2013.
  20. ↑ Sipple, George (March 31, 2015). "Tigers' McCann thrilled, Holaday bummed after cuts". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  21. ↑ Henning, Lynn (March 16, 2016). "Henning: Holaday's big spring likely to change little". The Detroit News.
  22. ↑ Beck, Jason (March 29, 2016). "Tigers land catcher Wilson, righty for Holaday". MLB.com. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  23. ↑
  24. ↑ Ben Buchanan (Aug 5, 2016). "Red Sox claim catcher Bryan Holaday". Over the Monster.
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