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| Cale Iorg | |
|---|---|
| Shortstop | |
| Born: (1985-09-06)September 6, 1985 (age 40) Toronto,Ontario,Canada | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
Garth Cale Iorg (born September 6, 1985) is a Canadian-born American former professional baseball player. He is the son of formerMajor League Baseball (MLB) playerGarth Iorg and nephew of former MLB playerDane Iorg.[1] Iorg played college baseball for theAlabama Crimson Tide.[2] After his freshman season at Alabama, Iorg put his baseball career on hold to go on aMormonmission toLisbon, Portugal.[3] He was drafted by theDetroit Tigers shortly before he returned from the mission.[4] Iorg was ranked as the third best prospect in the Tigers organization byBaseball America following the 2008 season.[5]
Iorg was a four-year starter atKarns High School nearKnoxville, Tennessee. As a junior, he batted .489 with 20 RBI and 19 stolen bases. In his senior season, he batted .495 with 15 home runs and 57 RBI, while compiling a .698 on-base percentage and a 1.131 slugging mark. He also scored 52 runs and stole 34 of 36 bases.[2]In his freshman and only season at Alabama, Iorg batted .280 with an on-base percentage of .331 and slugging percentage of .415 as the Crimson Tide's starting shortstop.[6]
After his freshman season at Alabama, Iorg served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Lisbon, Portugal. He toldThe Birmingham News that leaving Alabama had nothing to do with baseball. It was a matter of faith.[7] While in Portugal, Iorg had little time for baseball. He had time to work out for about 30 minutes per day during the mission and once a week he had additional free time in which he often played soccer.[3] While on the mission, Iorg was drafted by theDetroit Tigers in the sixth round (211th overall) of the2007 Major League Baseball draft. He returned from Portugal on July 14, 2007.[8]
Iorg began his professional career playing a total of eight games for theGulf Coast Tigers andLakeland Flying Tigers in 2007.[9] The Tigers sent him to playHawaii Winter Baseball for theNorth Shore Honu to work on his hitting.[10] His winter season was cut short when he injured his hamstring in mid-October.[11]
In 2011, Iorg played 26 games with theDetroit Tigers' Double-A affiliateErie SeaWolves, and 88 games with the Triple-AToledo Mud Hens. In 2012, he played 7 games with the Class-ALakeland Flying Tigers, and 47 games with the Mud Hens.[12]
At the end of the 2013 spring training season, the Tigers attempted to trade Iorg to theBaltimore Orioles, and when that fell through the Tigers released him.[13] The Orioles signed him to a minor league contract on April 9, and assigned him to the Double-ABowie Baysox.[14]
On June 6, 2013, he announced his retirement from baseball.[15]