| Josh Fields | |
|---|---|
 Fields with the Chicago White Sox | |
| Third baseman | |
| Born: (1982-12-14)December 14, 1982 (age 42) Ada, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: September 13, 2006, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| NPB: July 10, 2011, for the Yomiuri Giants | |
| Last appearance | |
| MLB: October 2, 2010, for the Kansas City Royals | |
| NPB: October 6, 2011, for the Yomiuri Giants | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .234 |
| Home runs | 34 |
| Runs batted in | 107 |
| NPB statistics | |
| Batting average | .202 |
| Home runs | 2 |
| Runs batted in | 9 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Joshua Dean Fields (born December 14, 1982) is an American former professionalbaseballinfielder. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theChicago White Sox andKansas City Royals, and inNippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for theYomiuri Giants.
Fields was a two-sport athlete atOklahoma State University, playing bothbaseball andfootball. He was selected as aBig 12 Conference All-Star at third base in2003, and had a careerbatting average of .364 over three years. Fields also earned three letters as aquarterback for the Cowboys. He led the team to twobowl games, including setting theCotton Bowl Classic record with 307 passing yards against theUniversity of Mississippi.
He has the school record for single game passing touchdowns with 7 against SMU
Fields was selected as the 18th overall pick in the first round of the2004 Major League Baseball draft by theChicago White Sox.[1] Entering2005, he was ranked as the fourth-best prospect in the White Sox organization[2] and the 95th-best prospect in Major League Baseball[3] byBaseball America. He hit safely in 14 straight games from August 6 – August 21 for theBirmingham Barons, tied for the eighth-longest streak in theSouthern League.
Prior to the2006 season, Fields was once again ranked as the fourth-best prospect in the White Sox organization byBaseball America.[4] Hehomered in four consecutive games from May 11 – May 14 with theCharlotte Knights, and was selected to play in theAll-Star Futures Game atPittsburgh'sPNC Park. Fields made his major league debut on September 13,2006 against theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim,[5] but did not record his first major leagueat-bat until September 18. In that game against theDetroit Tigers, Fields hit apinch-hit home run off Detroit'sJamie Walker. He became the third player in White Sox history to hit a home run in his first major league at-bat, joiningCarlos Lee (May 7,1999) andMiguel Olivo (September 15,2002) as the only other White Sox to do so.[6]
Fields entered the2007 season ranked as the second-best prospect in the White Sox organization[7] and the 45th-best prospect in Major League Baseball[8] byBaseball America. Although he started the season at Triple-A Charlotte, he was called up to the White Sox in June after a season ending back injury to third basemanJoe Crede.[9] He recorded his first multi-home run game on August 10 against theSeattle Mariners, hitting both offstarterJarrod Washburn.[10] On August 26,2007, Fields made his first start inleft field,[11] though he only played 21 games at that position before being moved back to third base.
Fields ended his first season as a Major Leaguer by hitting a promising .244, 23 home runs, 67RBI, and anOPS of .788 in 100 games.[12] His 23 home runs tied him withBill Melton for the third-most home runs by aWhite Sox player in their rookie season, though Melton accomplished that feat in 157 games. Fields received one third-place vote for AL Rookie of the Year, finishing in a tie for seventh place in the overall voting.[13]
Enteringspring training for the2008 season, Fields was expected to be the starting third baseman, with Crede likely to be traded. However, Crede arrived at camp fully recovered from his injury and White Sox general managerKenny Williams was said to be unsatisfied with the trade offers. This resulted in Crede being given the starting job and Fields once again beginning the season in Triple-A Charlotte. Fields had a disappointing, injury-riddled season with the Knights, in which he regressed to a .246 batting average, 10 home runs, 35 RBI and .772 OPS in 75 games.[14]
On July 25, 2008, he was called up to play with the White Sox after Crede was put on the 15-daydisabled list.[15] Fields underwentarthroscopic knee surgery at the end of the 2008 season,[16] and was the White Sox's starting third baseman in2009 untilGordon Beckham was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte on June 4[17] and took the position. On July 23, 2009, in a game against theTampa Bay Rays, Fields hit agrand slam in his first plate appearance of the game. This would later end up being the game-winning home run inMark Buehrle'sperfect game over the Tampa Bay Rays, winning 5–0. Fields also caught the final out of the perfect game, a groundout to White Sox shortstopAlexei Ramírez.[18] Six days later, he would be demoted to Triple-A Charlotte to make room for newly acquiredMark Kotsay.[19]
On November 6, 2009, Fields, along withChris Getz, was traded by the White Sox to theKansas City Royals in exchange forMark Teahen.[20] He played in 13 games for the Royals, hitting .306 with three home runs and 6 RBI.[12]
On December 20, 2010, Fields was signed to a minor league contract by thePittsburgh Pirates.[21] However, on March 28, he was traded by the Pirates to theColorado Rockies at the conclusion ofspring training for a player to be named later or cash considerations.[22] He recorded a .365 batting average with 11 home runs and 45 RBI in 50 games with the Triple-AColorado Springs Sky Sox before being released on June 28, in order to pursue a career in Japan.[14][23]
Fields signed with theYomiuri Giants ofNippon Professional Baseball in Japan on June 28, 2011.[23] In 40 games with the Giants, he hit only .202 with two home runs and 9 RBI.[14]
Fields signed a minor league contract with theLos Angeles Dodgers on January 4, 2012.[24] After failing to win a spot on the Dodgers Opening Day roster, he was assigned to the Triple-AAlbuquerque Isotopes. He played in 133 games for the Isotopes, posting a .322 average with 13 home runs and 71 RBI.[14]
On November 16, 2012, Fields signed with thePhiladelphia Phillies.[25] He played in 109 games with the Triple-ALehigh Valley IronPigs in 2013, batting .289 with four home runs and 45 RBI.[14] He elected free agency on November 4.
On April 15, 2014, Fields signed with thePiratas de Campeche of theMexican League. He was released on May 23. In 30 games he hit .297/.336/.475 with 5 home runs, 29 RBIs and 1 stolen base.
On February 24, 2015, Fields re-signed with Campeche. He was released on May 6. In 25 games he hit .245/.346/.351 with 1 home run and 9 RBIs.
· Baseball Almanac