Rocky Gale

Rocky Gale
Free agent
Catcher
Born: (1988-02-22) February 22, 1988
Portland, Oregon
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 6, 2015, for the San Diego Padres
Teams

Rocky Gale (born February 22, 1988) is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He has played for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He attended the University of Portland where he was named the West Coast Conference defensive player of the year before being drafted by the Padres in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft. Gale, a catcher, made his professional debut in 2010 with the Eugene Emeralds of the Class-A Short Season Northwest League.

Early life

Gale was born in Portland, Oregon on February 22, 1988.[1] He grew up in Yoncalla, Oregon, later moving to Keizer, Oregon where he attended junior high school.[2] After graduated from North Salem High School in Salem, Oregon, Gale was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 49th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign.[3] In 2006, Gale began attending the University of Portland where he played baseball with the Portland Pilots.[2] Gale also played with the Corvallis Knights, a collegiate summer league team.[2] Gale batted .254 during his freshman season, .261 in his sophomore season, .194 in his junior season and .347 in his senior as a member of the Pilots.[4] After the season, he was named to the first-team all-West Coast Conference (WCC) team and was the conference's defensive player of the year.[5] Gale was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 24th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft out of the University of Portland.[6]

Professional career

After being drafted by the Padres in 2010, Gale made his debut in professional baseball debut with the minor league Eugene Emeralds, a team which he grew up watching.[2] During the season, Gale split playing time the Emeralds other catcher, Emmanuel Quiles.[2] Eugene manager Greg Riddoch said that Gale has a "tremendous makeup".[2] Furthermore, Emeralds pitcher Dexter Carter commented that when working with Gale "he knows exactly what's going on".[2] Gale's parents, who lived in the area, would drive to his games to watch him play.[2] On the season, Gale batted .292 with 47 hits, five doubles and 16 runs batted in (RBIs) in 43 games played.[7] He was called up to the Portland Beavers, who were members of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League (PCL), but did not play. On Labor Day 2011 Rocky hit his first Professional league home run.

In 2015, Gale played for the El Paso Chihuahuas of the PCL.[8] The Padres promoted him to the major leagues on September 2, 2015.[9]

Personal

Rocky has been from Short Season A ball to AAA to A ball where he helped his team make the playoffs. Gale's father, Paul Gale, was a coach at Western Baptist College/Corban University in Salem, Oregon. He is currently a scout for the Houston Astros.[2] Rocky Gale married his wife Leah in December 2009, after dating her since high school.[2] His mother's name is Janice Gale, and he has two brothers, K. C. and Ross, and a sister; Hannah.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Rocky Gale Statistics". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Horowitz, Gary. "Ex-Vikings (and UP) star returns to Volcanoes Stadium". Statesmen Journal. University of Portland Athletics. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  3. ↑ "49th Round of the 2006 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Rocky Gale Batting Statistics". The Baseball Cube. The Baseball Cube. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Senior Southpaw Daniel Bibona of UC Irvine Named Big West Pitcher of the Year". Corvallis Knights. Corvallis Knights. June 8, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  6. ↑ "24th Round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  7. ↑ "Rocky Gale Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved September 7, 2010.
  8. ↑ http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/sports/2015/08/06/rocky-gale-making-triple-opportunity/31218765/
  9. ↑ https://twitter.com/MLBRosterMoves/status/639179559867289600

External links

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