Will Rhymes

William Daniel Rhymes (born April 1, 1983) is an American professional baseball second baseman who is a free agent. He played in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Rays.

Early life

Rhymes was raised in Houston, Texas and has an identical twin brother named Jonathan.As a young child Rhymes first played baseball at West U. Little league in Houston, Texas where he first showcased his skills. Rhymes attended Lamar High School in Houston where he played baseball.

College career

Rhymes played college baseball at The College of William & Mary, where he majored in biology, rushed the fraternity of Lambda Chi Alpha, and graduated in 2005.^[1] It was at William & Mary that Will met his wife, Anna Pawlow. They were married on December 30, 2011.

Professional career

Rhymes was drafted in the 27th Round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft. Rhymes first earned attention from Major League Scouts while playing for the Brewster White Caps of the Cape Cod Baseball League during the summer of 2004. Though initially recruited as a temporary player, Rhymes's extraordinary effort and superb performance on the field earned him a contract through the entire summer, and a starting spot at second base. Rhymes earned a reserve spot in the mid-season East Division All Stars as well as the post-season league wide All Star Team.

Rhymes was promoted to the Detroit Tigers on July 25, 2010 after injuries struck the Tigers lineup^[2] and made his major league debut the same day in a pinch hitting role against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Rhymes was optioned back to the AAA Toledo Mud Hens following the return of the Tigers injured second baseman, but was recalled August 18, 2010.

On September 20, 2010 Rhymes hit his first major league career home run off of Zack Greinke of the Kansas City Royals. Rhymes home run was initially ruled an RBI triple but after further review of the replay, the ruling on the field was overturned and ruled a two run home run, after it bounced off the horizontal iron support above the wall in right. This is the first incidence in which an instant replay review granted a player the first home run of their career.^[3]

It was announced at the start of the 2011 baseball season that Rhymes would make the Opening Day roster, his first, and be the starting second baseman for the Tigers.

Rhymes played for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012. He spent the 2013 season in the Washington Nationals organization.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Will Rhymes.

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Will Rhymes on Twitter