Chris Carter | |
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Free agent | |
Outfielder/First baseman | |
Born: September 16, 1982 Fremont, California |
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Bats: Left | Throws: Left |
MLB debut | |
June 5, 2008 for the Boston Red Sox | |
Career statistics (through 2010) |
|
Batting average | .263 |
Home runs | 4 |
Runs batted in | 28 |
Teams | |
William Christopher "Chris" Carter (born September 16, 1982 in Fremont, California), nicknamed "Animal", is an American professional baseball infielder and outfielder.
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Carter attended De La Salle High School in Concord, California, and graduated in 2001. He hit for a batting average of .571 and led the league in home runs as a senior, and was named his team's MVP. He also was named a 2001 Preseason First Team All-American by Baseball America and Bay Valley Athletic League MVP in 2001.
He was twice selected as North Coast Section High School Sports Focus Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2000, '01) and earned honorable mention All-American honors from USA Today as a junior in 2000.
His father, Bill Carter, was his high school coach.[1]
Carter attended Stanford University,[2] where he majored in human biology and was Pre-Med, graduating in just three years.[3] He was awarded Stanford's Most Valuable Freshman Award in 2002 and helped the Cardinal to the final eight in the 2002 College World Series and 2003 College World Series. He was mainly a designated hitter for the team, and played some outfield as well.[1][4]
Carter was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 17th Round (506th overall) of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft.
In 2004, Carter played for the Single-A Yakima Bears and South Bend Silver Hawks. In 2005, he played for the Single-A Lancaster JetHawks and Double-A Tennessee Smokies. In 2006 and 2007, Carter played for the Triple-A Tucson Sidewinders.
After expressing a desire to be traded,[5] Carter was traded by the Diamondbacks on August 21, 2007 to the Washington Nationals for Emiliano Fruto. He was subsequently sent to the Red Sox as the player to be named later in the August 17 trade of Wily Mo Peña from the Red Sox to the Nationals.[6][7] After the trade, Carter was assigned to Triple-A Pawtucket.
On November 20, 2007, Carter was placed on the Red Sox 40-man roster.[8]
Carter made his Major League debut on June 5, 2008. He went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored, after entering the game after Coco Crisp was ejected in the 2nd inning. With the Red Sox facing a possible Crisp suspension and injuries to both Jacoby Ellsbury and Manny Ramírez, Carter was sent back to Pawtucket on June 6 in favor of Brandon Moss.[9]
In the 2009 season, he broke camp with the Red Sox, and filled the final spot on the bench until Mark Kotsay returned from the disabled list.
Carter got the first hit from a Major League batter at Citi Field while playing for the Red Sox against the Mets in the first game played by major league teams.
Carter was traded to the New York Mets as a player to be named later in the deal for Billy Wagner, and was then added to the 40 Man roster.[10]
During spring training, Carter was given the nickname "The Animal" by Mets manager Jerry Manuel for his relentless drive and work ethic.[11]
On May 10, 2010, the Mets announced that Carter would be brought up from the Buffalo Bisons to fill Frank Catalonotto's roster spot.[12]
On May 11, 2010, his first at-bat as a Met, in the bottom of the eighth inning, he hit a double that drove in the winning run against the Washington Nationals.
On June 11, 2010, Carter hit his first major league home run against Baltimore Orioles pitcher Jeremy Guthrie as the designated hitter.[13] Two days later, Carter, again playing DH, hit his second home run against Orioles pitcher Kevin Millwood.
Carter agreed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays on January 6, 2011.[14] He opted out of his contract on June 16.
Carter signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves on June 18, 2011.[15]