Alex Call
Call with the Columbus Clippers in 2022
Washington Nationals – No. 17
Outfielder
Born: (1994-09-27) September 27, 1994 (age 29)
Burnsville, Minnesota, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 11, 2022, for the Cleveland Guardians
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.209
Home runs13
Runs batted in51
Teams

Alexander Marvin Call (born September 27, 1994) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cleveland Guardians.

Amateur career

Born in Burnsville, Minnesota, Call attended River Falls High School in River Falls, Wisconsin,[1] and Ball State University, where he played college baseball for the Ball State Cardinals.[2] In 2015, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3]

Professional career

Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox selected Call in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft.[4] He split time between the rookie-level Great Falls Voyagers and Single-A Kannapolis Intimidators in his debut campaign, slashing a cumulative .308/.394/.445 with 6 home runs, 35 RBI, and 14 stolen bases. In 2017, Call played for the rookie-level Arizona League White Sox, Kannapolis, and the High-A Winston-Salem Dash, batting a combined .207/.295/.317 with 3 home runs, 33 RBI, and 5 stolen bases. The next year, Call split the season between Winston-Salem and the Double-A Birmingham Barons. In 123 games between the two affiliates, he hit .248/.345/.415 with 12 home runs, 58 RBI, and 6 stolen bases.

Cleveland Indians / Guardians

On December 15, 2018, Call was traded to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Yonder Alonso.[5] He spent the 2019 season with the Double-A Akron RubberDucks, slashing .205/.266/.321 with 5 home runs and 31 RBI across 81 games.

Call did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] In 2021, Call played in 109 games split between Akron and the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, hitting .262/.356/.438 with 15 home runs, 50 RBI, and 15 stolen bases. He was assigned to Triple-A Columbus to begin the 2022 season

The Guardians selected Call's contract on July 11, 2022, and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time.[7] On July 22, Call recorded his first career hit, a single off of Chicago White Sox reliever Tanner Banks.[8] He made his major league debut that same day as a pinch hitter. He appeared in 12 big league games for Cleveland, going 2-for-12 with four walks. On August 5, 2022, the Guardians designated Call for assignment after Hunter Gaddis’ contract was selected.[9]

Washington Nationals

On August 7, 2022, Call was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals.[10] On August 19, Call hit his first career home run, a two-run shot off of San Diego Padres closer Josh Hader.[11] On September 8, Call had four hits in five at bats, including a three-run home run, and five RBI in the Nationals 11-6 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. In 35 games for Washington, he batted .245/.330/.441 with five home runs and 13 RBI.

Call played in 128 games for the Nationals in 2023, hitting .200/.307/.307 with eight home runs, 38 RBI, and nine stolen bases.[12] Call was optioned to the Triple–A Rochester Red Wings to begin the 2024 season.[13]

References

  1. ^ "River Falls grad Call knocking on big league door". July 20, 2021.
  2. ^ "Ball State's Call receives MLB call". July 11, 2022.
  3. ^ "#27 Alex Call - Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
  4. ^ "River Falls' Alex Call goes to White Sox in MLB draft". June 10, 2016.
  5. ^ McDonald, Darragh (July 11, 2022). "Guardians Select Alex Call, Designate Oscar Mercado For Assignment". MLB Trade Rumors.
  6. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  7. ^ "Guardians promote OF Alex Call, designate Oscar Mercado for assignment again". July 11, 2022.
  8. ^ "Alex Call's first MLB hit | 07/22/2022". MLB.com.
  9. ^ "Guardians' Alex Call: Jettisoned from 40-man roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  10. ^ McDonald, Darragh (August 7, 2022). "Nationals Claim Alex Call From Guardians". MLB Trade Rumors.
  11. ^ "Wisconsin native's home run against Josh Hader highlights latest rough outing for former Brewers closer". jsonline.com. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  12. ^ "Does Call have future with Nats after disappointing year?". masnsports.com. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  13. ^ [hhttps://www.masnsports.com/blog/late-night-cuts-leave-nats-with-only-one-more-roster-decision?format=amp "Late-night cuts leave Nats with only one more roster decision"]. masnsports.com. Retrieved March 23, 2024.

External links

Mid-American Conference Baseball Player of the Year
Washington Nationals current roster
Categories