Josh Labandeira
Encyclopedia
John Joshua Labandeira is a former Major League Baseball
. He played second base/shortstop
and batted and threw right-handed.
Labandeira attended Monache High School
in Porterville, California
and chose Fresno State University as the college he wished to attend. While at Fresno, he lettered in four different sports: wrestling
, soccer, football
and baseball
. Labandeira majored in kinesiology
. As a sophomore, he attended College of the Sequoias
in Visalia
(Bob Ojeda
, Johnny Estrada
, Jim Wohlford
and Steve Stroughter
all attended that college at one point or another as well).
In the 6th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
, Labandeira was drafted by the Montreal Expos
after posting superlative numbers in college. In , he hit
.367 while belting 15 home run
s and was a Western Athletic Conference
All-Star and the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year
At 5'7" and 180 pounds, Labandeira is not too imposing out on the diamond, but even with his small stature he has some pop in his bat. In , with the Harrisburg Senators
for example, he hit 9 home runs in 534 at-bats; not bad for his small size.
On September 17, , Labandeira made his major league debut at the age of 25. In seven games that year, he had a .000 batting average in 14 at-bats. He wore the number 1 during his tenure in the major leagues. He currently ranks 10th on the All-Time list of most career at-bats without a hit
by a non-pitcher. The record of 23 is shared by Larry Littleton
and Mike Potter
.
He spent all of and playing for Harrisburg and Washington's Triple-A affiliate, the New Orleans Zephyrs
. In July 2005, Labandeira was suspended 15 games for violating the policies in the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. In , Labandeira played for the Florida Marlins
Triple-A affiliate, the Albuquerque Isotopes
. He became a free agent at the end of the season. On April 22, , he signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays
. He was released on July 26, 2008. On July 31, he signed with the Kansas City Royals
and became a free agent at the end of the season.
He is now an assistant coach on the Reedley College Baseball Team.
.
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...
. He played second base/shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
and batted and threw right-handed.
Labandeira attended Monache High School
Monache High School
Monache High School is one of the three high schools located in Porterville, California, United States and is part of the Porterville Unified School District...
in Porterville, California
Porterville, California
Porterville is a city in the San Joaquin Valley, in Tulare County, California, United States. Porterville's population was 54,165 at the 2010 census. The city's population grew dramatically as the city annexed many properties and unincorporated areas in and around Porterville. Not included in the...
and chose Fresno State University as the college he wished to attend. While at Fresno, he lettered in four different sports: wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
, soccer, football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and 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...
. Labandeira majored in kinesiology
Kinesiology
Kinesiology, also known as human kinetics is the scientific study of human movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, mechanical, and psychological mechanisms. Applications of kinesiology to human health include: biomechanics and orthopedics, rehabilitation, such as physical and occupational...
. As a sophomore, he attended College of the Sequoias
College of the Sequoias
College of the Sequoias is a public two-year community college located in Visalia in Tulare County, in California's San Joaquin Valley. The current enrollment of COS is 13,000 students, and the college offers a variety of transfer, vocational, and community-based classes, including the fire/police...
in Visalia
Visalia
-California:* Visalia, California* Downtown Visalia* Greater Visalia Area** Tulare County, California* Visalia Municipal Airport-Fictional Places:* Visalia, California , a fictional version of Visalia where parts of Season 2 of 24 was set....
(Bob Ojeda
Bob Ojeda
Robert Michael Ojeda is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. Ojeda is best remembered as an anchor in the 1986 World Series Champion New York Mets starting rotation , and for being the lone survivor of a March 22, boating accident that killed fellow Cleveland Indians pitchers...
, Johnny Estrada
Johnny Estrada
Johnny Pulado Estrada III is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers and the Washington Nationals.Estrada was selected in the 17th round of the 1997 Major...
, Jim Wohlford
Jim Wohlford
James Eugene Wohlford is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. In his 15-year MLB career, he played for the Kansas City Royals , the Milwaukee Brewers , San Francisco Giants , and Montreal Expos .- Baseball career :Wohlford was primarily a backup outfielder, used primarily for his good...
and Steve Stroughter
Steve Stroughter
Stephen Lewis Stroughter is a former major league baseball designated hitter/left fielder who played for the Seattle Mariners in . He attended College of the Sequoias....
all attended that college at one point or another as well).
In the 6th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
2001 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Background:The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be...
, Labandeira was drafted by the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
after posting superlative numbers in college. In , he hit
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 :...
.367 while belting 15 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s and was a Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
All-Star and the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year
At 5'7" and 180 pounds, Labandeira is not too imposing out on the diamond, but even with his small stature he has some pop in his bat. In , with the Harrisburg Senators
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
for example, he hit 9 home runs in 534 at-bats; not bad for his small size.
On September 17, , Labandeira made his major league debut at the age of 25. In seven games that year, he had a .000 batting average in 14 at-bats. He wore the number 1 during his tenure in the major leagues. He currently ranks 10th on the All-Time list of most career at-bats without a hit
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....
by a non-pitcher. The record of 23 is shared by Larry Littleton
Larry Littleton
Larry Marvin Littleton was an American professional baseball outfielder who played for the Cleveland Indians during the 1981 baseball season. He shares with Mike Potter the Major League Baseball record for at-bats without a hit by a non-pitcher, with 23.-References:...
and Mike Potter
Mike Potter (baseball)
Michael Gary Potter is a former right-handed major league baseball outfielder who played from to for the St. Louis Cardinals....
.
He spent all of and playing for Harrisburg and Washington's Triple-A affiliate, the New Orleans Zephyrs
New Orleans Zephyrs
The New Orleans Zephyrs are a minor league baseball team based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The Zephyrs play in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Zephyrs play their home games at Zephyr Field....
. In July 2005, Labandeira was suspended 15 games for violating the policies in the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. In , Labandeira played for the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
Triple-A affiliate, the 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...
. He became a free agent at the end of the season. On April 22, , he signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
. He was released on July 26, 2008. On July 31, he signed with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
and became a free agent at the end of the season.
He is now an assistant coach on the Reedley College Baseball Team.
Personal life
Labandeira was married in January 2007 to college sweetheart, Rebecca Witt and they currently reside in Fresno, CaliforniaFresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
.