| Greg Golson | |
|---|---|
 Golson with theKansas City Royals in2012 spring training | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1985-09-17)September 17, 1985 (age 39) Austin, Texas, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 3, 2008, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 28, 2011, for the New York Yankees | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .195 |
| Home runs | 0 |
| Runs batted in | 2 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Gregory Joseph Golson (born September 17, 1985) is an American former professionalbaseballoutfielder. A first round selection (21st overall) in the2004 Major League Baseball draft by thePhiladelphia Phillies, Golson played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for the Phillies (2008),Texas Rangers (2009), andNew York Yankees (2010–2011).
Golson attendedJohn B. Connally High School inAustin, Texas. He committed to the University of Texas.[1]Baseball America ranked him as the 29th best player (and 11th best high school player) in the 2004 MLB Draft.[2] Golson was named toUSA Today's All-USA High School Baseball Team alongside future MLB stars likeHomer Bailey,Justin Upton,Neil Walker, andTrevor Plouffe.[3]
In 2015, Golson's former high school retired #15, his former uniform number from when he played.[4]
The Philadelphia Phillies selected Golson with the 21st overall pick in the first round of the2004 Major League Baseball Draft.[5][6] After drafting him, the Phillies assigned Golson to theirGulf Coast League affiliate in rookie ball.[7] He hit .295 with eight doubles, five triples, and 12 stolen bases in 47 games.[8] After the season,Baseball America ranked him as the fourth-best prospect in the Phillies system.[9]
Golson's speed became a feature of his game, and went on to steal over 100 bases in five minor-league seasons.[10] In a 2008 interview, Golson said, regarding his success as a base-stealer, that "[you've] got to be real observant of what the pitcher is doing, if they fall into patterns, what the catcher is doing, the counts, the game situation—stuff like that ... but speed is the big thing".[11]
In 2007, his second minor-league season, Golson was promoted to theA-levelLakewood BlueClaws inLakewood, New Jersey.[12] He continued to accumulate high strikeout numbers, with 106 in 375 at-bats, but he also posted a .264 average, hit 8 triples (a career-high), and stole 25 bases.[13] After the 2005 season, Golson was named the third-best prospect in the Phillies' system byBaseball America, the highest spot he would reach in those rankings.[14] He was also ranked as the 14th best prospect in theSouth Atlantic League.[15]
Most of the 2006 season was spent at Lakewood as well, with a late-season promotion to theClearwater Threshers.[16] Between the two levels, Golson hit .233 and struck out 160 times. He hit 13home runs andbatted in 48runs. Golson also accumulated 127 hits in 593plate appearances.[10] After the season, he was rated as the Phillies' 10th best prospect by Baseball America.[14]
Strikeouts continued to plague Golson as he began the 2007 season. Between Clearwater and theReading Phillies, Golson struck out 173 times in 607 plate appearances. He was aFlorida State League All-Star that year and was promoted to Double-A in July.[17] Golson hit a combined 15 home runs in 2007, with 32 doubles and 5 triples. His .273 average and .426slugging percentage were a large improvement over the previous year.[10] His prospect ranking dropped to seventh.[9]
Golson remained at Reading for the 2008 season. He was named an Eastern League All-Star[18] and played in the All-Star Futures Game that year.[19] After hitting .282 with 13 home runs, 18 doubles, and 23 stolen bases, Golson was called up by the Phillies on September 1.[20][21] He made his debut on September 3, pinch-running forPat Burrell.[22] He made several appearances as a late-inning defensive replacement, which was fine with Golson. "You can really impact a game, where people will remember stuff … if you make a great catch that saves the game, people remember that for a long time."[11] With the Phillies, Golson went 0-for-6 in six games, scoring two runs and stealing a base.[23] He was not included on the postseason roster that year, instead being assigned to the team's Florida complex.[24]
On November 20, 2008, Golson was traded by the Phillies to the Texas Rangers forJohn Mayberry, Jr.[25] Phillies general managerRubén Amaro, Jr. called the trade a"'speed-for-power' swap".[25] Golson spent most of the season with theOklahoma City RedHawks in Triple-A. He was called up on May 4, got one plate appearance, and was optioned again on May 9.[26][27] In 146 plate appearances, Golson hit .289 with five doubles, three triples, six stolen bases, and 40 RBI with Oklahoma City.[28]
On January 26, 2010, Golson was traded to theNew York Yankees in exchange for minor league player Mitch Hilligoss and cash, after being designated for assignment by the Texas Rangers a few days earlier.[29][30] He was called up for the first time on May 4 and got his first major league hit on May 12 against the Detroit Tigers.[31] After six appearances, he was sent back to Triple-A on May 18.[32] Golson was recalled when roster expanded on September 1.[33] Playing against theTampa Bay Rays atTropicana Field on September 14, Golson astonished players and spectators with a strong throw from right field to throw out the speedyCarl Crawford at third base for the final out of the game.[34] Golson was included on the team's postseason roster.[35]
He spent most of the 2011 season in Triple-A with theScranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. He was briefly called up on July 14 when Alex Rodriguez went on the disabled list.[36] Golson was again recalled when rosters expanded in September.[37] He was released on December 8.[38]
TheKansas City Royals signed Golson to a minor league contract on December 13, 2011.[39]
The Royals traded Golson to theChicago White Sox for cash considerations on March 25, 2012.[40] Golson played in 2012 with Triple-ACharlotte, where he hit .276 with 6 HR, 52 RBI and 20 SB in 109 games.[41]
TheColorado Rockies signed Golson to a minor league contract on January 30, 2013.[42] Golson began 2013 with Triple-AColorado Springs. In 55 games with the Sky Sox, Golson hit .244 with 5 HR, 22 RBI and 12 SB. He was released on July 19.[43]
On July 27, 2013, Golson signed with theLancaster Barnstormers of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball. He homered in his first at-bat.[44]
On July 31, 2013, Golson joined theAtlanta Braves on a minor league contract. He was assigned to Triple-A Gwinnett.[44]
Golson signed a minor league contract with theMilwaukee Brewers in January 2014.[45] He was released in March.[46]
In 2014, he signed with theLancaster Barnstormers and hit .312 with two homers and 20 RBI in 51 games. During the playoffs, he hit .273, homering twice and driving in nine runs, as the Barnstormers won the championship that year.[47]
On April 28, 2015, Golson signed with Rojos del Aquila de Veracruz of theMexican League for the 2015 season.[48] In 22 games he hit .278/.323/.333 with 0 home runs, 8 RBIs and 8 stolen bases.
On May 26, 2015, he was traded toTigres de Quintana Roo for right fielderRamon Ramirez.[49] In 58 games he hit .335/.416/.457 with 2 home runs, 38 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.
On March 18, 2016, Golson returned to theAtlantic League when he signed a one-year deal with theNew Britain Bees. In 96 games he hit .292/.338/.379 with 3 home runs, 38 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.
He was the team's first player with MLB experience.[50] Golson re-signed with theNew Britain Bees for the 2017 season[51] but shortly after asked for his release to play in Mexico.[52]
On April 10, 2017, Golson signed with theTigres de Quintana Roo of theMexican Baseball League. He was released on May 5, 2017.[49] In 27 games he hit .260/.351/.300 with 0 home runs, 9 RBIs and 5 stolen bases.
On May 26, 2017, Golson signed with theSomerset Patriots of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball.[53] He became a free agent following the season. In 43 games he hit .255/.290/.406 with 4 home runs, 26 RBIs and 4 stolen bases.
On March 9, 2018, Golson signed with theWichita Wingnuts of theAmerican Association.[54]
He was traded to theTexas AirHogs on March 28, 2018. On October 8, Texas exercised its option to keep Golson for the 2019 season.[55] He was released on March 5, 2019.[56] In 43 games he hit .259/.318/.333 with 1 home run and 11 RBIs.
On May 27, 2019, Golson signed with theLancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[47] In 54 games he hit .267/.309/.341 with 2 home runs, 16 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.
Golson retired following the 2019 season and later was hired by theLos Angeles Dodgers in their pro scouting department.[57]
