Batting average .169 Role Baseball player Name Jaff Decker Salary 510,000 USD (2015) | Runs batted in 3 Weight 86 kg Home runs 1 Height 1.78 m | |
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Pit cin outfielder jaff decker makes pitching debut
Jaff Kyle Decker (pronounced "Jeff"; born February 23, 1990) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Oakland Athletics organization. He has previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Tampa Bay Rays.
Contents
- Pit cin outfielder jaff decker makes pitching debut
- Jaff decker power showcase home run derby highlight video
- Amateur career
- Minor Leagues
- San Diego Padres
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Oakland Athletics
- Personal life
- References
Jaff decker power showcase home run derby highlight video
Amateur career
Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Decker grew up in neighboring Peoria, where he attended Sunrise Mountain High School. As a senior, in 2008, Decker was named the Arizona state high school baseball player of the year.
Minor Leagues
The San Diego Padres selected Decker in the first round, with the 42nd overall selection, of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft. Decker played the full 2009 season with the Class-A Fort Wayne TinCaps, putting up a .299 batting average and .956 OPS in 104 games. He was ranked among Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects heading into 2010.
Promoted to the Advanced Class-A Lake Elsinore Storm in 2010, Decker hit .262 with a .874 OPS, but he was limited to 79 games by injuries. Placed with the Double-A San Antonio Missions in 2011, Decker's average fell to .236, but he hit 19 home runs, stole 15 bases, and scored 90 runs in 133 games, holding his OPS at .790. Decker was added to the Padres 40-man roster over the winter and again started 2012 in Double-A. He suffered with plantar fasciitis early in the season and then tore his plantar tendon on May 31. This limited him to only 56 games and a .201 average.
Decker began 2013 with the Triple-A Tucson Padres and shuttled between Tucson and the Major League club.
San Diego Padres
Dacker was called up to the Padres for the first time on June 12, 2013 to replace Cameron Maybin who was placed on the disabled list, but he was optioned back to Triple-A on June 14 without appearing in a game. He was recalled on June 19 when Everth Cabrera went on the disabled list, and made two pinch-hitting appearances where he walked and reached on an error before being sent back to Triple-A. He reached the big leagues for a third stint on August 10 when Carlos Quentin was placed on the DL. On August 12, 2013, Decker recorded his first major league hit, a solo home run off of Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jhoulys Chacín during a 14-2 loss. Decker made 7 starts for the Padres in left field in August, playing in 13 games overall on the year, collecting 4 hits in 26 at-bats. The Padres returned Decker to Triple-A on August 26 when Reymond Fuentes was called up, and he stayed in Tucson when rosters expanded in September.
Decker was designated for assignment by the Padres on November 20, 2013, to clear room on the 40-man roster.
Pittsburgh Pirates
On November 25, 2013, Decker was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates along with Miles Mikolas for Alex Dickerson. He was optioned to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians on March 25, 2014. On the 25th of August, 2014, while on the road against the Columbus Clippers, the Official Jaff Decker Fan Club was created. They will now be a fixture in section 27 at Huntington Park to root on their favorite left fielder whenever he is in town. As of 2015 the fan club disbanded due to internal problems. Section 27 is now home to the Pakalnis boosters raising money for colon cancer.
Tampa Bay Rays
On January 22, 2016, Decker signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Oakland Athletics
On November 22, 2016, Decker signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics with an invitation to spring training. As the final cut of spring training, Decker was assigned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds to begin the 2017 season. On April 15, Decker's contract was selected from Nashville, and he was added to the A's active roster.
Personal life
Decker's first name is pronounced 'Jeff'. He was named in honor of his uncle, who died in military service. Decker's grandfather intended to name his son 'Jeff', but the hospital nurse recorded it as 'Jaff', and the spelling was passed on to his nephew.