Dusty Brown
Encyclopedia
Dustin William "Dusty" Brown (born June 19, 1982 in Orange, California
) is an American
professional baseball
catcher
who is a free agent.
in 35th round (1052nd overall) in the Major League Baseball draft. He was drafted right out of Bradshaw Mountain High School
. Brown however did not sign with the Red Sox until May 2001, attending Yavapai Community College in the interim.
On November 29, 2007, Brown's contract was purchased by the Boston Red Sox
. Had the Red Sox not placed him on the 40-man roster, he was going to become a minor league free agent.
In the minor leagues, Brown has mainly played catcher but has also played a fair amount in the outfield
and also played two games at third base
in at the rookie level.
In 2008 he was invited to Spring Training
and accompanied the team on the trip to Japan
to open the season. On March 24, 2008 Brown was optioned Triple-A Pawtucket
but remained with the team in Japan to be available for recall if either catcher Jason Varitek
or Kevin Cash
suffered an injury and could not play.
On June 21, 2009, Brown was called up to the Red Sox after starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka
was placed on the disabled list. Brown made his major league debut at catcher on June 23, against the Washington Nationals, but did not get an at-bat. He was later sent back to Triple-A Pawtucket two days later when John Smoltz
was activated off the disabled list.
On September 9, 2009, he lined into a bases-loaded inning-ending double play against the Orioles in his first major league at bat.
On September 30, 2009, the day after the Red Sox clinched the 2009 AL Wild Card, Brown came into pitch the ninth inning of a blow out game against the Toronto Blue Jays. He became the first catcher to pitch for the Red Sox in recorded history. Brown only gave up one run, and struck out a batter. He obtained his first strike out before his first major league hit.
On October 3, 2009 he got his first major league hit, a home run over the Green Monster at Fenway. Brown was the 24th player on the Red Sox roster to hit a home run in the season, creating a new franchise record.
On July 18, 2010 Brown was called up to the Red Sox.
On July 26, 2010 Brown was optioned back to Triple-A Pawtucket.
On August 19, 2010 Brown was once again called up to the Red Sox, after Jarrod Saltalamacchia
was placed on the disabled list
.
. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates
on December 1 to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
Brown had his contract purchased by the Pirates on May 30, 2011. He was designated for assignment on June 25. He elected free agency after the season.
Brown and his wife welcomed their first child, a son, Jude Thomas Brown on July 17, 2009. (Named for the Beatles song "Hey Jude" and Dustin's father, Thomas)
Orange, California
Southern California is well-known for year-round pleasant weather: - On average, the warmest month is August. - The highest recorded temperature was in 1985. - On average, the coolest month is December. - The lowest recorded temperature was in 1950...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
catcher
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...
who is a free agent.
Boston Red Sox
Brown was drafted by the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
in 35th round (1052nd overall) in the Major League Baseball draft. He was drafted right out of Bradshaw Mountain High School
Bradshaw Mountain High School
Bradshaw Mountain High School is a grade 9-12 school located in Prescott Valley, Arizona operated by the Humboldt Unified School District.-History:...
. Brown however did not sign with the Red Sox until May 2001, attending Yavapai Community College in the interim.
On November 29, 2007, Brown's contract was purchased by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
. Had the Red Sox not placed him on the 40-man roster, he was going to become a minor league free agent.
In the minor leagues, Brown has mainly played catcher but has also played a fair amount in the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
and also played two games at third base
Third Base
is a 1978 Japanese film directed by Yōichi Higashi.-External links:...
in at the rookie level.
In 2008 he was invited to Spring Training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
and accompanied the team on the trip to Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
to open the season. On March 24, 2008 Brown was optioned Triple-A Pawtucket
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
but remained with the team in Japan to be available for recall if either catcher Jason Varitek
Jason Varitek
Jason Andrew Varitek is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. After being traded as a minor league prospect by the Seattle Mariners, Varitek has played his entire major league career for the Boston Red Sox...
or Kevin Cash
Kevin Cash
Kevin Forrest Cash is an American professional baseball catcher who is in the Texas Rangers organization. He has played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Houston Astros.-Early life:Cash played for Northside Little League in Florida when they made...
suffered an injury and could not play.
On June 21, 2009, Brown was called up to the Red Sox after starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka
Daisuke Matsuzaka
is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball in the United States. He previously played for the Seibu Lions in Japan's Pacific League. He was selected the MVP of the inaugural and the second World Baseball Classic, and is an Olympic bronze...
was placed on the disabled list. Brown made his major league debut at catcher on June 23, against the Washington Nationals, but did not get an at-bat. He was later sent back to Triple-A Pawtucket two days later when John Smoltz
John Smoltz
John Andrew Smoltz is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and active sportscaster. He is best known for his prolific career of more than two decades with the Atlanta Braves, in which he garnered eight All-Star selections and received the Cy Young Award in 1996...
was activated off the disabled list.
On September 9, 2009, he lined into a bases-loaded inning-ending double play against the Orioles in his first major league at bat.
On September 30, 2009, the day after the Red Sox clinched the 2009 AL Wild Card, Brown came into pitch the ninth inning of a blow out game against the Toronto Blue Jays. He became the first catcher to pitch for the Red Sox in recorded history. Brown only gave up one run, and struck out a batter. He obtained his first strike out before his first major league hit.
On October 3, 2009 he got his first major league hit, a home run over the Green Monster at Fenway. Brown was the 24th player on the Red Sox roster to hit a home run in the season, creating a new franchise record.
On July 18, 2010 Brown was called up to the Red Sox.
On July 26, 2010 Brown was optioned back to Triple-A Pawtucket.
On August 19, 2010 Brown was once again called up to the Red Sox, after Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Jarrod Scott Saltalamacchia , nicknamed "Salty" is an American professional baseball catcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.His last name is the longest in Major League Baseball history...
was placed on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
.
Pittsburgh Pirates
On November 10, 2010 Brown became a minor league free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
on December 1 to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
Brown had his contract purchased by the Pirates on May 30, 2011. He was designated for assignment on June 25. He elected free agency after the season.
Personal life
Brown married Jordan Hodas on December 18, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada.Brown and his wife welcomed their first child, a son, Jude Thomas Brown on July 17, 2009. (Named for the Beatles song "Hey Jude" and Dustin's father, Thomas)