| Jason Lane | |
|---|---|
 Lane with the Las Vegas 51s | |
| Milwaukee Brewers – No. 40 | |
| Outfielder /Pitcher /Coach | |
| Born: (1976-12-22)December 22, 1976 (age 48) Santa Rosa, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 10, 2002, for the Houston Astros | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| July 28, 2014, for the San Diego Padres | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .241 |
| Home runs | 61 |
| Runs batted in | 189 |
| Win–loss record | 0–1 |
| Earned run average | 0.87 |
| Strikeouts | 6 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| As player As coach
| |
Jason Dean Lane (born December 22, 1976) is an American professionalbaseball former player who is the third base coach for theMilwaukee Brewers ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for theHouston Astros andSan Diego Padres. Originally starting his career as anoutfielder, Lane switched positions and became apitcher.
Lane graduated fromEl Molino High School inForestville, California in 1995. He attendedSanta Rosa Junior College, where he was selected as the 1997 California Junior College Northern California Player of the Year and Bay Valley Conference MVP before transferring toUniversity of Southern California. In 1998, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theHyannis Mets of theCape Cod Baseball League.[1]
At Southern California, Lane earned All-America honors during his senior season (1999), including pitching2+2⁄3 innings in the 1998 College World Series championship game to pick up thewin and help USC to its 12th NCAA baseball championship, toppingArizona State University 21–14. Lane served as thedesignated hitter (DH) in the game, going 3-for-6 with a ninth inninggrand slam, setting a CWS record with 11hits overall, and led the tournament with a .417batting average.Morgan Ensberg was also his college teammate on the USC national championship squad.
TheHouston Astros selected Lane in the sixth round of the1999 Major League Baseball draft. The Astros believed Lane's future was at the plate rather than on the mound, so he began his professional career as afirst baseman. He was later moved to theoutfield because ofJeff Bagwell, who played first base. He made his major league debut in 2002.
In 2005, while hitting 26home runs, he led the major leagues in fly ball percentage (51.3%).[2] When asked after Game 4 of the 2005National League Division Series (an 18-inning game) who would pitch ifRoger Clemens had begun to tire (as he threw three innings of relief three days after pitching in Game 2), Astros managerPhil Garner stated that he would have had Lane pitch for the victory with Clemens taking his place in the outfield.[3] Lane hit the last home run and made the last out atBusch Memorial Stadium on October 19, 2005 as the Astros clinched their first league pennant.
On July 12, 2006, Lane was optioned to Triple-ARound Rock after Houston acquired utility sluggerAubrey Huff. In August, Lane was called back to the majors, and on August 29, 2006, he hit a pinch hit grand slam offMilwaukee Brewersrelief pitcherDan Kolb in the 8th inning.
Lane finished the 2006 season with 15 home runs, although he hit just .201 over 112 games.
Lane began the 2007 season with the Astros, but carried an abysmal .165 batting average into June. WithRookie of the Year candidateHunter Pence's spectacular play earning him the starting job incenter field, Lane became expendable and was demoted to Round Rock. On July 23, with Pence out with a fractured wrist andLance Berkman struggling with a hand injury, Lane was called back up to the big league club. Lane batted .308 with eight home runs and 35 RBI in Round Rock in 42 games. While Pence was on theinjured list, Lane received the bulk of the playing time at center field.
On August 22, 2007, Lane was demoted once more to Triple-A. The Astros recalled relief pitcherTravis Driskill to the majors to help theirbullpen. Lane was recalled when rosters expanded in September.
On September 24, 2007, he was traded to the San Diego Padres for cash consideration. Lane was not offered a new contract by the Padres and became afree agent on December 12, 2007.
On January 10, 2008, Lane agreed to a minor league contract with the New York Yankees and was invited tospring training. However, he did not make the team, and was assigned to the Yankees Triple-A affiliate inScranton/Wilkes-Barre.
On August 19, 2008, after opting out of his contract with the Yankees, Lane signed a minor league contract with theBoston Red Sox. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
Lane signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays in December and was invited tospring training.[4] Lane had a chance to take the DH role, but instead it went toAdam Lind. He was then sent totriple-A Las Vegas.[4]
Lane signed a minor league deal with theFlorida Marlins in 2010. He played in 47 games and hit .229 with three home runs.
Lane signed a contract with theSouthern Maryland Blue Crabs of theindependentAtlantic League of Professional Baseball. His first appearance for the Blue Crabs was pinch hitting on June 28, 2010. At his first and only at bat of the game he was walked.
On December 9, 2011, Lane signed a minor league contract with theArizona Diamondbacks, now playing as apitcher. He was invited to spring training, and in his first professional outing, allowed three hits and an unearned run in one inning.
In June 2012, Lane signed a contract with theSugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League in their inaugural season. In July 2012, Lane was awarded Pitcher of The Month of the Atlantic League. At the end of theSugar Land Skeeters 2012 season, Lane was named as the Skeeters' first-ever MVP. In his first year as a full-time pitcher since college, Lane was the ace of the pitching staff and an anchor in the middle of the batting order. Lane returned to the Skeeters for the 2013 season.
Lane signed a minor league contract with theSan Diego Padres on July 23, 2013.[5] He was called up to the major leagues on June 3, 2014, entering the game against thePittsburgh Pirates in the 4th inning. Lane retired all 10 hitters he faced.[6] He wasdesignated for assignment on June 7.[7] He was called back up to start on July 28, 2014, against theAtlanta Braves. Lane became the oldest starting pitcher to make his debut for the Padres, breaking the mark set byWalter Silva, who was 32 in his first start for San Diego.[8] Lane pitched well, allowing just one earned run in six innings in a losing effort.[9] He was designated for assignment for the second time the next day.[10] Lane started the 2015 baseball season with theEl Paso Chihuahuas on April 9, 2015.[11]
On December 7, 2015, he was hired as an assistant hitting coach by theMilwaukee Brewers.[12] Lane became the Brewers first base coach prior to the 2020 season.[13] He is currently the 3rd base coach.
· Baseball Almanac, orRetrosheet| Preceded by | Milwaukee Brewersassistant hitting coach 2016-2019 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Milwaukee Brewersfirst base coach 2020 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Milwaukee Brewersthird base coach 2021-present | Succeeded by Incumbent |