| Eric Sogard | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Sogard batting for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019 | |||||||||||||||
| Infielder | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1986-05-22)May 22, 1986 (age 39) Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | |||||||||||||||
Batted: Left Threw: Right | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| September 14, 2010, for the Oakland Athletics | |||||||||||||||
| Last MLB appearance | |||||||||||||||
| July 21, 2021, for the Chicago Cubs | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Batting average | .246 | ||||||||||||||
| Home runs | 26 | ||||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 187 | ||||||||||||||
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Eric Sidney Sogard (born May 22, 1986) is an American former professionalbaseballinfielder. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theOakland Athletics,Milwaukee Brewers,Toronto Blue Jays,Tampa Bay Rays, andChicago Cubs.
Sogard attendedArizona State University and playedcollege baseball for theArizona State Sun Devils. In international competition, he represents theCzech Republic. Hisnickname "Nerd Power" was given to him by Athletics fans, who liked his play style and distinct glasses.[1]
Sogard's parents are Anna Vodicka Sogard and Bruce R. "Rudy" Sogard.[2] Anna was born nearPrague and moved to the United States with her family when she was 12 years old.[3] Rudy was also a collegiate baseball player and set the home run record forDePauw University in 1975 while playing third base. Sogard is the brother ofAlex Sogard.[2]
Sogard attendedThunderbird High School inPhoenix. He played for theChicago Cubs andPhiladelphia Phillies scout teams in 2002 and 2003.[2] He was the 2003Arizona Republic's NW Valley H.S. Baseball Player of the Year, the Region Player of the Year, and 1st Team All-Stateshortstop. He repeated as All-State shortstop in 2004, and represented Arizona in the 2003 and 2004 Sunbelt Classic Baseball Series. Sogard broke numerous Thunderbird school batting records, including highestbatting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. In addition, Sogard was a starmidfielder on Thunderbird's 2002 state runner-up (21–2) soccer team.
Sogard received both academic and athletic scholarships fromArizona State University. He was ranked as the number 7 high school prospect in Arizona in 2004. He majored inkinesiology at ASU.
Sogard was a two-timeAll-American as a Sun Devil in 2006 and 2007, and was a 1st Team All-Pac-10 selection both years as well. He was also the 2007 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year.[4] He played many positions in 2006 but stayed at second base for ASU in 2007. In 2006, Sogard had aslugging percentage of .625, third-best in thePac-10, and anOPS of 1.057, fourth-best in the Pac-10.[5] In 2007, he was second in the Pac-10 in average (.394) andruns (74), and third inwalks (39) andon-base percentage (.488).[5] In 2007, Sogard became one of only a few ASU players ever to hit .400 for an entire season, with at least 100 hits.[6]
Sogard finished with the 15th-highest career batting average in ASU baseball history at .371. He is a member of the ASU All-Decade Team of 2000–09.
Sogard was the first Sun Devil to be selected in the2007 Major League draft, going in the second round, 81st overall, to theSan Diego Padres.[4] WithLake Elsinore in 2008, he led theCalifornia League indoubles (42) and on-base percentage (.394).[5] He was aBaseball America High Class A All-Star, and a California League mid-season and post-season All-Star.[7] He was also selected for theTopps' Class-A All-Star Team.[8] In 2009, playing for theSan Antonio Missions in AA,Scout.com ranked Sogard as one of the top hitting prospects in the Padres organization.[9] He was named aTexas League mid-season All-Star at second base/designated hitter.[7]
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On January 16, 2010, Sogard was traded along withKevin Kouzmanoff to theOakland Athletics in exchange forScott Hairston andAaron Cunningham.[10] In 2010, he was an MiLB.com Organization All-Star with the Oakland organization.[7] Sogard ended the 2010 season as one ofSacramento's more consistent players, earning a promotion to Oakland in September. In 2011, he was aPacific Coast League mid-season All-Star at shortstop with Sacramento.[7] He had the highestfielding percentage in the league. He spent the second half of the season with Oakland in the majors. On August 23, 2011, Sogard hit his first career home run off then-Yankees pitcherBartolo Colón.
The A's entered spring training in the beginning of the2013 season with a battle over the everyday second baseman job. Sogard was put into the competition along withScott Sizemore, who was returning after missing the entire 2012 season,Jemile Weeks,Adam Rosales,Andy Parrino, andJed Lowrie. Lowrie was first put into the competition and promised an everyday job but instead took over everyday shortstop due to the struggles and injury ofHiroyuki Nakajima. Sogard then won the second base battle as he was theopening day starting second baseman.
Sogard finished a close second in the contest, voted on by fans, to be named the "Face of MLB" in February 2014.Mets third basemanDavid Wright won.[11]
In April 2016, Sogard underwent surgery on his left knee.[12] He played in only two games for theStockton Ports on rehab assignment.[13] He was sent outright to Triple-A after the 2016 season and elected to become a free agent.[14]
On December 15, 2016, Sogard signed a minor league contract with theMilwaukee Brewers that included an invitation to spring training. In Sogard's first game with the Brewers, he hit a three-run home run.[15] He finished the season playing in 94 games, establishing career highs in home runs (3), walks (45) and batting average (.273). The following season, Sogard played through injury, hitting a career worst .134 in 94 at bats. He was released by the team on July 10, 2018. He resigned a minor league deal on July 27, 2018. Sogard was released again by the Brewers on September 1, 2018.
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On December 21, 2018, Sogard signed a minor league contract with theToronto Blue Jays and was invited to spring training.[16] He battled againstRichard Ureña for theutility infielder spot on the opening day roster, but was ultimately sent to Triple-A affiliateBuffalo following the conclusion of spring training.[17] Sogard had his contract selected on April 15, 2019.[18] He made his debut with the team the next day, collecting three hits in a 6–5 win over theMinnesota Twins.[19] Sogard saw success during his stint with the Blue Jays, hitting .300 and recording an OPS of .840 in 73 games.
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On July 28, 2019, the Blue Jays traded Sogard to the Rays for twoplayers to be named later.[20] The PTBNL were later named as Edisson Gonzalez andCurtis Taylor.[21] He hit .266 in 37 games.
On December 20, 2019, Sogard signed a one-year deal with theMilwaukee Brewers reuniting with his former team.[22] Sogard hit his first career walk-off against the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 29, 2020 with a two-run home run in the ninth inning, resulting in a 7–6 victory for the Brewers.[23] He finished the shortened season hitting .209/.281/.278 with 10 RBIs and 10 runs scored in 43 games.
On March 3, 2021, Sogard signed a minor league contract with theChicago Cubs organization that included an invitation to Spring Training.[24] On March 28, 2021, Sogard was selected to the 40-man roster.[25] Although a position player, Sogard recorded 5 pitching appearances in 2021, including 3 in a 10 game losing streak.[26] In 78 games with the Cubs, Sogard hit .249/.283/.314 with 1 home run and 12 RBI. He was designated for assignment by the Cubs on July 23.[27] He was released by the Cubs on July 28.[28]
Sogard acquired citizenship in theCzech Republic in February 2022, making him eligible to play for the country's national team.[29] He was announced as a player on theCzech Republic national baseball team’s roster for the2023 World Baseball Classic. He was the only player on the team with MLB experience.[30] He slashed .438/.438/.438 over 16 plate appearances during the tournament, leading the team in hits (7) and batting average.[31]
Sogard's younger brother,Alex, is a former professional baseball player, who is now the head baseball coach atWright State University.[32]
Sogard married his wife Kaycee in October 2011. They have five children together.[33]
Sogard's cousinNick Sogard plays for theBoston Red Sox.[34]
