| Michael Choice | |
|---|---|
 Choice with theTexas Rangers in 2014 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1989-11-10)November 10, 1989 (age 35) Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: September 2, 2013, for the Oakland Athletics | |
| KBO: July 29, 2017, for the Nexen Heroes | |
| Last appearance | |
| MLB: June 24, 2015, for the Texas Rangers | |
| KBO: August 5, 2018, for the Nexen Heroes | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .188 |
| Home runs | 9 |
| Runs batted in | 36 |
| KBO statistics | |
| Batting average | .282 |
| Home runs | 28 |
| Runs batted in | 78 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Michael Blair Choice (born November 10, 1989) is an American former professionalbaseballoutfielder. Choice played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theOakland Athletics andTexas Rangers, and in theKBO League for theNexen Heroes.
Choice playedcollege baseball at theUniversity of Texas at Arlington before the Athletics made him their first round draft pick in 2010. He made his MLB debut with the Athletics in 2013, and played for the Rangers in 2014 and 2015.
Choice attendedMansfield Timberview High School inArlington, Texas. He played for the school's baseball team as acatcher andpitcher.[1] He had a .506batting average during his senior year.[2]
Though universities in theBig 12 Conferencescouted Choice, he received his only scholarship offer from theUniversity of Texas at Arlington (UTA),[2] where he playedcollege baseball for theTexas–Arlington Mavericks baseball team of theSouthland Conference. Due to the number of catchers andmiddle infielders on the team, Choice played as acenter fielder.[3] As a freshman in 2008, Choice led the team in with a .376 batting average, sevenhome runs, and 51runs batted in (RBIs). That year, Choice was named Second Team College FreshmanAll-American Outfielder and Southland Conference Freshman of the Year. In 2009, he was named Southland Conference All-Star Outfielder. In the summer of 2009, he played for theUnited States national baseball team in theWorld Baseball Challenge.[2]
As a junior in 2010, Choice hit .393 with 16 home runs, a .568on-base percentage, and a .704slugging percentage.[2] He was named First Team College All-American Outfielder,[4] Southland Conference All-Star Outfielder, and Southland Conference Player of the Year. He was also named a semifinalist for theGolden Spikes Award, which is given to the best amateur baseball player of the year.[2] In his three years at UTA, Choice batted .392 and hit a school-record 34 home runs.[2]
TheOakland Athletics selected Choice with their first round pick, tenth overall, in the2010 Major League Baseball Draft.[2] Choice was the first UTA player to be drafted in the first round, and the highest selection in Southland Conference history, tyingBen Sheets ofLouisiana-Monroe, who was selected tenth overall in1999.[1]
Choice signed with the Athletics on July 30 for a $2 millionsigning bonus.[5] That season, he played for theArizona League Athletics of the Rookie-levelArizona League andVancouver Canadians of the Single–ANorthwest League. In 2011, he played for theStockton Ports of the High–ACalifornia League, where he batted .283 with 30 home runs, along with 82 RBIs. Playingcenter field for theMidland RockHounds of the Double–ATexas League, he batted .264 with six home runs and 43 RBI in the first 69 games of the season, as he was named to appear in the 2012All-Star Futures Game.[6] His season ended prematurely due to a broken hand suffered when he washit by a pitch in July.[7]
Choice spent the 2013 season with theSacramento River Cats of theTriple–APacific Coast League (PCL), where he batted .302 with 14 home runs and 89 RBI in 132 games. The Athletics selected his contract on September 1, 2013.[8][9] He made his major league debut the following day.[10]
On December 3, 2013, the Athletics traded Choice and infielderChris Bostick to theTexas Rangers for outfielderCraig Gentry and pitcherJosh Lindblom.[11][12] Choice made the Rangers'Opening Day roster.[13] He hit his first career home run against the Houston Astros off ofKevin Chapman, becoming the first Rangers' player to hit his first career home run in a pitch-hit at-bat.[14] Struggling with a .177 batting average, the Rangers demoted Choice to theRound Rock Express of the PCL in July.[15] The Rangers promoted Choice back to the major leagues in August.[16] His season ended when he strained hishamstring in September; he batted .182 for the Rangers.[15]
Choice competed in spring training to become the Rangers' starting left fielder, but he struggled and was reassigned to minor league camp during the competition.[17] Choice spent the 2015 season with Round Rock, and wasdesignated for assignment on August 18.[18]
The Rangers traded Choice to theCleveland Indians in exchange for cash considerations on August 21, 2015, and the Indians subsequentlyoptioned him to theColumbus Clippers of the Triple–AInternational League.[19] Choice finished the 2015 season with Columbus, and was designated for assignment on November 25.[20] He clearedwaivers and was sent outright to Columbus on November 30.
Choice was invited to 2016 spring training as a non–roster player. He spent the year with Columbus, playing in 71 games and batting .246/.304/.456 with 14 home runs and 39 RBI. Choice elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2016.[21]
On February 15, 2017, Choice signed a minor league contract with theBaltimore Orioles.[22] He played in 11 games for the Triple–ANorfolk Tides, going 1–for–26 (.039) with two RBI. Choice was released by the Orioles organization on May 2.[23]
On May 5, 2017, Choice signed a minor league deal with theMilwaukee Brewers. He played for theBiloxi Shuckers of the Double–ASouthern League.[24]
On July 22, 2017, the Brewers sold Choice's contract to theNexen Heroes of theKBO League.[25] Choice re-signed with the Heroes for $600,000 on November 24, 2017.[26] Choice batted .307 with 17 home runs in 46 games for Nexen, and was re–signed for the 2018 season. He batted .258 with 17 home runs in 96 games, and Nexen released Choice on August 7, 2018.[27]
On August 16, 2018, Choice signed with theDiablos Rojos del México of theMexican League.[28] He became a free agent following the season.
On April 19, 2019, Choice signed with theTigres de Quintana Roo of theMexican League. He was released on May 31, 2019.
On June 29, 2019, Choice signed with theAlgodoneros de Unión Laguna of theMexican League.
On December 17, 2019, Choice signed a minor league deal with theColorado Rockies.[29] Choice was released by the Rockies organization on May 30, 2020.
On April 8, 2021, Choice signed with theAlgodoneros de Unión Laguna of theMexican League.[30] Choice hit .281/.369/.456 with 5 RBI in 16 games, but was released on June 10.[30]
On June 18, 2021, Choice signed with theAcereros de Monclova of theMexican League.[31] In 3 games, he went 1 for 12 with no home runs or RBI. On June 23, he was placed on the inactive list, and he was later released on August 8.[31]
On August 9, 2021, Choice signed with theLexington Legends of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball.[32] In 36 games, he slashed .328/.420/.518 with 1 home run and 6 RBI before he was released on September 17.
On September 28, 2023, Choice was announced as part of MLB's diversity pipeline scout and coaching development program.[33]
Choice was born inFort Worth, Texas. His father, Charles, worked as an engineer forBell Helicopter, and his mother, Charea, worked as a schoolteacher.[3]
Choice married his girlfriend, Jade, in October 2012.[34] The couple have two children.[3]
