| Casey Close | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born: (1963-10-21)October 21, 1963 (age 62) Columbus, Ohio, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Member of the National College | |
 Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 2022 |
Casey Richard Close (born October 21, 1963) is an American formerbaseball player and sports agent.[1]
Close was born inColumbus, Ohio and graduated from Worthington High School before attending theUniversity of Michigan on a baseball scholarship. He played for theMichigan Wolverines baseball team from 1983 to 1986. As a freshman, he hit a grand slam to help Michigan defeat Stanford and advance to the final four in the College World Series.[2][3]
In 1984 and 1985, Close playedcollegiate summer baseball for theHarwich Mariners of theCape Cod Baseball League (CCBL). In 1984, he hit .329 with six home runs while posting a 2–0 record and a 3.19 ERA on the mound. Close was inducted into theCCBL Hall of Fame in 2010.[4]
As a senior in 1986, Close won the batting triple crown in theBig Ten Conference with a .469 batting average, seven home runs and 19 RBIs.[5] In 1986, he was also selected as Michigan's team captain, theBig Ten Conference Player of the Year, theBaseball America National Player of the Year, a first-team All-American, and he was awarded aBig Ten Medal of Honor for demonstrating joint athletic and academic excellence throughout his college career.[6] Close holds the University of Michigan career records forhome runs (46) and runs scored (190), and his .869slugging percentage in 1986 is a single-season record among Michigan baseball players. Close also ranks among Michigan's all-time leaders in several other statistical categories, including games played (second all-time with 229 games played),runs batted in (third all-time with 185 RBIs) and careerbatting average (fourth all-time at .373).[7]Barry Larkin, who played with Close at Michigan, recalled: "He had power, but didn't have a lot of speed, and that's about all he didn't have. He had a great arm, power and a nice bat."[6]
In January 2011, Close was named as one of the 2011 inductees into theUniversity of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor.[7]
Close was drafted by theNew York Yankees in the seventh round of the1986 MLB draft. He played minor league baseball for theOneonta Yankees (1986),Albany-Colonie Yankees (1987–1988),Columbus Clippers (1988) andCalgary Cannons (1989–1990).[8] He had his best season in professional baseball in 1989 when he appeared in 95 games for Calgary (theSeattle Mariners' AAA club), batting .330 with a .503 slugging percentage, 38 extra base hits and 56 RBIs.[8]
In 1992, Close became associated withIMG as part of its baseball division.[9] In 1993, he began representingDerek Jeter and was Jeter's agent throughout his Major League career. In 2006, Close left IMG and joinedCreative Artists Agency (CAA). In January 2007, after winning the 2006 National League MVP award,Ryan Howard hired Close as his agent.[10] Other baseball players who currently are or had been represented by Close includeClayton Kershaw,Zack Greinke,Derrek Lee,Ben Sheets,Michael Cuddyer,Josh Hamilton,Eric Milton,Kenny Lofton andRichie Sexson.[6][9] Some of the larger deals negotiated by Close for his clients include: a five-year, $125 million contract extension for Ryan Howard in 2010;[11] a 10-year, $189 million deal for Jeter in 2000 (at the time the second richest contract in baseball history);[9][12] a three-year $51 million deal for Jeter in December 2010;[13] a five-year $65 million deal for Derrek Lee in 2006;[14] a one-year $10 million contract (with $2 million in performance bonuses) for Ben Sheets in 2010;[15] and a six-year $17 million deal forDrew Henson in 2000.[9]
In February 2011, Close announced he was leaving CAA.[16] In April 2011, it was announced he would be starting and heading the baseball division of Excel Sports Management.[17] In 2012, Close negotiated the largest contract for a pitcher at the time forZack Greinke, worth $147 million over six years for theLos Angeles Dodgers.[18] In December 2013, it was announced Close would represent Japanese pitcherMasahiro Tanaka.[19]
In March 2022, Close negotiated a $162 million contract for first basemanFreddie Freeman with theLos Angeles Dodgers.[20] In July 2022, Close filed a libel lawsuit against Fox Sports radio hostDoug Gottlieb, who had claimed that Close did not present an offer from theAtlanta Braves to Freeman.[21]
Close is married toGretchen Carlson, who was selected asMiss America in 1989 and was the anchor ofThe Real Story with Gretchen Carlson, on theFox News Channel.[6] Close and Carlson live inGreenwich, Connecticut with their two children.[22][23]
Close is aPresbyterian and teachesSunday school with his wife.[24]