A. J. Ellis
Encyclopedia
Andrew James Ellis is a catcher
in Major League Baseball
who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers
.
, and was a baseball letterman. In baseball, he was a two-time first team All-City selection. Ellis graduated in 1999.
first-team honors all four seasons while at Austin Peay University, only the fifth player in league history to accomplish that feat. He finished his college career with a .351 batting average
, and ranks as Austin Peay's all-time leader with 263 hits
.
Ellis was selected by the Dodgers in the 18th round of the 2003 MLB Draft. He has played in the minors with the South Georgia Waves
, Vero Beach Dodgers, Double-A Jacksonville Suns
, and Triple-A Las Vegas 51s
. On September 5, , his contract was purchased by the Dodgers, and he made his debut on September 15.
On September 26, 2008, Ellis made his first appearance in a major league game when he pinch ran for Nomar Garciaparra
in the 9th inning in a game against the San Francisco Giants
. He then scored his first major league run when he was part of a two-run home run by the Dodgers' every day catcher Russell Martin
.
In 2009, Ellis began the season as the starting catcher for the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes
under the tutelage of journeyman veteran Danny Ardoin
. He spent most of the season with the Isotopes and was called up to the Dodgers in September. He recorded his first Major League hit and RBI with a single in the final game of the season, on October 4, 2009 against the Colorado Rockies
.
After starting the 2010 season in the Minors, Ellis was recalled back up to Los Angeles when teammate Brad Ausmus
went on the Disabled List. On June 6, Ellis had his first career walk off hit to beat the Braves 6-5 in the 11th. He appeared in 44 games with the Dodgers in 2010, hitting .278.
Ellis split the 2011 season between the Isotopes and the Dodgers. He was in 59 games for Albuquerque, hitting .304 and in 31 games for the Dodgers, hitting .271. On August 24th, 2011, he hit his first career home run off Jaime García
of the St. Louis Cardinals
.
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
.
High school
Ellis attended Paul Dunbar High School in Lexington, KentuckyLexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
, and was a baseball letterman. In baseball, he was a two-time first team All-City selection. Ellis graduated in 1999.
College and professional career
Ellis earned All-Ohio Valley ConferenceOhio Valley Conference
The Ohio Valley Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the midwestern and southeastern United States. It participates in Division I of the NCAA; the conference's football programs compete in the Football Championship Subdivision , the lower of two levels of Division I...
first-team honors all four seasons while at Austin Peay University, only the fifth player in league history to accomplish that feat. He finished his college career with a .351 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, and ranks as Austin Peay's all-time leader with 263 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
.
Ellis was selected by the Dodgers in the 18th round of the 2003 MLB Draft. He has played in the minors with the South Georgia Waves
South Georgia Waves
The South Georgia Waves was a Low-A class minor league baseball team in Albany, Georgia for one season before relocating to Columbus, Georgia where they operated under the same name for the 2003 season before being rebranded the Columbus Catfish...
, Vero Beach Dodgers, Double-A Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
, and Triple-A Las Vegas 51s
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
. On September 5, , his contract was purchased by the Dodgers, and he made his debut on September 15.
On September 26, 2008, Ellis made his first appearance in a major league game when he pinch ran for Nomar Garciaparra
Nomar Garciaparra
Anthony Nomar Garciaparra is a former Major League Baseball player. After playing parts of 9 seasons as an All-Star shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, he played third base, first base, and designated hitter for the Oakland Athletics, first base and third base for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and...
in the 9th inning in a game against the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. He then scored his first major league run when he was part of a two-run home run by the Dodgers' every day catcher Russell Martin
Russell Martin
Russell Nathan Jeanson Coltrane Martin, Jr is a Canadian Major League Baseball catcher for the New York Yankees.Martin became the everyday catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers immediately upon his Major League debut, and continued in that role for nearly 5 years...
.
In 2009, Ellis began the season as the starting catcher for the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
under the tutelage of journeyman veteran Danny Ardoin
Danny Ardoin
Daniel Wayne Ardoin is a retired catcher in Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed.-High school years:...
. He spent most of the season with the Isotopes and was called up to the Dodgers in September. He recorded his first Major League hit and RBI with a single in the final game of the season, on October 4, 2009 against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
.
After starting the 2010 season in the Minors, Ellis was recalled back up to Los Angeles when teammate Brad Ausmus
Brad Ausmus
Bradley David "Brad" Ausmus is a former All Star catcher in Major League Baseball, and currently a special assistant for the San Diego Padres....
went on the Disabled List. On June 6, Ellis had his first career walk off hit to beat the Braves 6-5 in the 11th. He appeared in 44 games with the Dodgers in 2010, hitting .278.
Ellis split the 2011 season between the Isotopes and the Dodgers. He was in 59 games for Albuquerque, hitting .304 and in 31 games for the Dodgers, hitting .271. On August 24th, 2011, he hit his first career home run off Jaime García
Jaime García
Jaime García Cruz was a Spanish horse rider who competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics and in the 1952 Summer Olympics....
of the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
.