Joey Terdoslavich

Early life and career

Of Croatian descent, Joseph Thomas Terdoslavich was born in Sarasota, Florida on September 9, 1988. He and his brother Tyler were raised in a single-parent household by Joe Terdoslavich, Sr. When Joey learned to walk at eight months old, his father began teaching him how to hit. Terdoslavich started using a Wiffle ball bat and tee at ten months of age and first threw a baseball at three years of age. He attended Sarasota High School in his hometown and was teammates with Eric Erickson and Mark Sobolewski. Terdoslavich's high school teams were coached by Clyde Metcalf. As a junior in 2006, Terdoslavich hit .411 with three homers, 29 RBI and set a school record with 23 doubles. That year Sarasota lost the state championship to Charles W. Flanagan High School. After the season, he was named to the second All-State team. In his senior season, Terdoslavich won a state title and hit .411 with five homers, leading his team with 32 RBI. His 2007 performance netted him a second team Louisville Slugger All-American award. Baseball America ranked him the 87th best prospect of the year, and he was drafted in the 35th round of the 2007 MLB draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Terdoslavich did not sign, choosing instead to attend the University of Miami where high school teammates Erickson and Sobolewski were playing baseball, after visits to Florida and Central Florida. In his lone freshman season with the Miami Hurricanes baseball team, Terdoslavich roomed with D.J. Swatscheno, who had pitched for the 2006 Flanagan High baseball team.

He later transferred to California State University, Long Beach, where he played for the Long Beach State Dirtbags baseball team. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the sixth round of the 2010 MLB draft and signed with the Braves for $125,000. Terdoslavich had a very successful season in 2011 for the high-A Lynchburg Hillcats in the Braves minor league system (he hit a Carolina League record 52 doubles) and was sent to the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League, making the Fall League All Star team. He started the 2012 season playing with the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves, making the jump from A to AAA. He split the 2012 season between Gwinnett and the Double-A Mississippi Braves.

Terdoslavich began playing the outfield in 2013 and started the season at Triple-A Gwinnett. He was named to the All-Star Futures Game, but did not appear in the contest, as he had been called up to the Atlanta Braves on July 4, 2013.

MLB career

The Braves promoted him to the major leagues on July 4, 2013 to replace the injured Jordan Schafer. Terdoslavich recorded a hit in his second major league at-bat, a pinch-hit single off of Jonathan Papelbon. He spent the rest of the year with Atlanta used mostly as a pinch-hitter. In 55 games (14 starts), Terdoslavich hit .215 with 4 RBI, 4 doubles and 12 walks. Terdoslavich played with the Toros del Este in the offseason, hitting .291 with 2 HR and a .762 OPS. In 85 games with Gwinnett, Terdoslavich hit .318 with 18 HR, 58 RBI, and a .926 OPS. He was named an International League Postseason All-Star, as well as Gwinnett's MVP.

Terdoslavich began 2014 with Gwinnett for the third consecutive season. He was named the International League Batter of the Week for August 18 to 24. He was promoted to the major league team on September 1, 2014. He started the 2015 season with Gwinnett, then was reinstated in June 2015 to replace Eric Young, Jr., who was designated for assignment. He hit his first major league home run on June 9, 2015, off of San Diego Padres' relief pitcher, Joaquín Benoit in the Braves' 6-5 win. He was sent back to Gwinnett on the following day, when Kelly Johnson was activated from the DL. He was recalled to the Braves on June 23, when Freddie Freeman was placed on the 15-day DL. Terdslavich was optioned back to Gwinnett on July 7, 2015, in order to make room on the roster for Mike Foltynewicz, who was called up for the purpose of providing extra relief help in Atlanta's bullpen. Terdoslavich was called up again on July 17, 2015, after closer Jason Grilli suffered a season-ending injury. On July 25, 2015, the Braves made a series of roster moves following the trade of Johnson and Juan Uribe to the New York Mets on the previous day. Freeman was activated from the disabled list and infielders Daniel Castro and Adonis García were called up from Gwinnett. Terdoslavich was sent down to Gwinnett in order to clear the extra roster spot. He was recalled to Atlanta on August 4, 2015, when Freeman was again placed on the DL. When Freeman returned from the disabled list on August 19, Terdoslavich was sent down to Gwinnett, where he spent the rest of the minor league 2015 season. Terdoslavich was not among the players who were called up for roster expansions in September 2015.

On January 8, 2016, the Braves waived Terdoslavich to make room on the 40 man roster for Kelly Johnson, who had re-signed with the Braves. He was claimed by the Baltimore Orioles on the same day. The Orioles designated Terdoslavich for assignment on January 21, 2016 in order to make room on the roster for Chris Davis, who had re-signed with the team. On January 28, 2016, the Orioles outrighted Terdoslavich to their Triple A affiliate, the Norfolk Tides. Terdoslavich hit for a .140 batting average in his time with the Tides, and was demoted to the Double A Bowie Baysox in April 2016 as prospect Trey Mancini was promoted. While playing in the Eastern League, Tedoslavich improved significantly, battling .246 with 14 home runs and 62 RBI. He became a free agent after the season. On January 18, 2017, Terdoslavich signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates that included an invitation to spring training.

Personal

One of Terdoslavich's uncles, [[Mike Greenwell