Matt Tuiasosopo
Encyclopedia
Matthew P. Tuiasosopo is a Major League Baseball
utility player
who is a free agent. He is the brother of Marques
and Zach, and the son of Manu Tuiasosopo
. The Seattle Mariners drafted him 93rd overall in the third round in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
.
in , hitting a solo home run in first career-at bat on July 10. Tuiasosopo hit safely in 18 of 20 games and reached base safely in 19 of 20 games. He had a 13-game hit streak, hitting .467 from July 10–25, and tied for the team lead in home runs with four. On August 5, he was promoted to the Everett AquaSox
. At the end of the season he participated in the 2004 Arizona Instructional League.
. He hit .276 with three home run
s and 45 RBI
. He was ranked number 36 on Minor League News' annual Fab 50.
He recorded a season-high 13-game hitting streak to start the season, batting .423 with eight runs, three doubles, two home runs and 12 RBIs during that time. Tuiasosopo had 27 multi-hit games, three four-hit games and six three-hit games. He hit home runs in back-to-back games on June 9 and 10
affiliates. He batted a combined .248 with two home runs and 44 RBI. He played with the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League
that fall.
He hit .306 with one home run with 34 RBIs, 31 runs scored and five stolen bases in 59 games with Inland Empire but only batted .185 with one home run, 16 runs scored and 10 RBIs with San Antonio.
Tuiasosopo spent the season with the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
. He hit .424 with 8 runs, 5 doubles and 3 RBIs during a season-high 10-game hitting streak from April 5–14. He recorded a double in 5 consecutive games from April 6-1.
He was named to the Southern League All-Star team and later that season played for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League.
At the end of the 2007 campaign Tuiasosopo was rated as the Mariners No. 10 prospect by Baseball America
. He was named to the Minor League News Fab 50 again in 2007.
.
On September 5, 2008, he collected his first Major League hit
, a double
, against pitcher
Andy Pettitte
of the New York Yankees
while playing for the Seattle Mariners.
He finished the 2008 season batting .281 with Tacoma and .159 with the Mariners.
On July 4, 2009 Tuiasosopo made his first rehab start with the AZL Mariners. Tuiasosopo was activated soon after the All-Star break.
Tuiasosopo hit two home runs against the Portland Beavers
on August 28 helping the Rainiers to their seventh straight victory. He finished the season batting .261 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs in 59 games for the Rainiers. In four playoff games, he batted .313 with one home run and four RBIs.
On September 13 Tuiasosopo was called-up to Seattle after the Rainiers lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Sacramento River Cats
. He said this about the playoff experience:
On September 27, during the pre-game show on 710 ESPN Radio, color man Mike Blowers
predicted that Tuiasosopo would hit his first major league home run in his second at bat of the game on a 3-1 fastball into the left center field second level of Rogers Centre
. Sure enough, in the fifth inning of their game against the Toronto Blue Jays
, Tuiasosopo delivered, although the home run went above the left field bullpen on technically what is the first level of the stadium.
during the 2010 season. He has played his first major league games at shortstop, first base, and in the outfield.
in college — Manu attending UCLA
and his two older brothers attending the University of Washington
— Matt signed a professional baseball
contract after graduating from Woodinville High School
.
Although he chose baseball, Matt had a promising high school football career. He was selected to play in the 2004 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
. Before signing with the Mariners, he signed a letter of intent to play football at the University of Washington.
Matt played for the Woodinville West Little League at the Little League Western Regional Tournament in San Bernardino, California
. Woodinville West lost to Cypress Federal in the championship game that lasted 7 innings.This is the farthest WWLL has made it into the Little League All Star Tournament.
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...
utility player
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
who is a free agent. He is the brother of Marques
Marques Tuiasosopo
Marques Tavita Tuiasosopo is a former American football quarterback who is currently a strength coach for the University of Washington football team. He was drafted in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders...
and Zach, and the son of Manu Tuiasosopo
Manu Tuiasosopo
Manu'ula Asovalu Tuiasosopo is a former NFL defensive lineman. He is the father of Leslie Tuiasosopo, Marques Tuiasosopo, Zach Tuiasosopo, Matt Tuiasosopo and Ashley Tuiasosopo. He attended St. Anthony High School and UCLA....
. The Seattle Mariners drafted him 93rd overall in the third round in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
.
2004
He began his pro career with the Peoria MarinersPeoria Mariners
The Arizona League Mariners are a minor league baseball team in Peoria, Arizona, USA. They are a Class R team in the Arizona League and are a farm team of the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners play home games at Peoria Sports Complex.-Year-by-year record:...
in , hitting a solo home run in first career-at bat on July 10. Tuiasosopo hit safely in 18 of 20 games and reached base safely in 19 of 20 games. He had a 13-game hit streak, hitting .467 from July 10–25, and tied for the team lead in home runs with four. On August 5, he was promoted to the Everett AquaSox
Everett AquaSox
The Everett AquaSox are a minor league baseball team in Everett, Washington, USA. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League, of which they are the current defending champions...
. At the end of the season he participated in the 2004 Arizona Instructional League.
2005
In , he was with Seattle's Low-A affiliate, the Wisconsin Timber RattlersWisconsin Timber Rattlers
The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are a minor league baseball team of the Midwest League, and the Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, and are named for timber rattlesnakes. The team plays its home games at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium...
. He hit .276 with three 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 45 RBI
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
. He was ranked number 36 on Minor League News' annual Fab 50.
He recorded a season-high 13-game hitting streak to start the season, batting .423 with eight runs, three doubles, two home runs and 12 RBIs during that time. Tuiasosopo had 27 multi-hit games, three four-hit games and six three-hit games. He hit home runs in back-to-back games on June 9 and 10
2006
In , he split time between the Mariners' High-A Inland Empire 66ers and Double-A San Antonio MissionsSan Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
affiliates. He batted a combined .248 with two home runs and 44 RBI. He played with the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
that fall.
He hit .306 with one home run with 34 RBIs, 31 runs scored and five stolen bases in 59 games with Inland Empire but only batted .185 with one home run, 16 runs scored and 10 RBIs with San Antonio.
2007
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
The Jackson Generals are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The team is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and plays their home games at Pringles Park; opened in 1998, the park currently holds 6,000 fans.From their inaugural season...
. He hit .424 with 8 runs, 5 doubles and 3 RBIs during a season-high 10-game hitting streak from April 5–14. He recorded a double in 5 consecutive games from April 6-1.
He was named to the Southern League All-Star team and later that season played for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League.
At the end of the 2007 campaign Tuiasosopo was rated as the Mariners No. 10 prospect by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
. He was named to the Minor League News Fab 50 again in 2007.
2008
Until September he was playing with the Triple-A Tacoma RainiersTacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
.
On September 5, 2008, he collected his first Major League 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....
, a double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, against pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
Andy Pettitte
Andy Pettitte
Andrew Eugene Pettitte is a retired American left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher.In his major league career, he played for the New York Yankees from 1995–2003. He then signed with the Houston Astros, and played for them from 2004 through 2006. In 2007, Pettitte rejoined the Yankees...
of the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
while playing for the Seattle Mariners.
He finished the 2008 season batting .281 with Tacoma and .159 with the Mariners.
2009
Matt made the Opening Day roster for the Mariners.On July 4, 2009 Tuiasosopo made his first rehab start with the AZL Mariners. Tuiasosopo was activated soon after the All-Star break.
Tuiasosopo hit two home runs against the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
on August 28 helping the Rainiers to their seventh straight victory. He finished the season batting .261 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs in 59 games for the Rainiers. In four playoff games, he batted .313 with one home run and four RBIs.
On September 13 Tuiasosopo was called-up to Seattle after the Rainiers lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Sacramento River Cats
Sacramento River Cats
The Sacramento River Cats is a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics....
. He said this about the playoff experience:
On September 27, during the pre-game show on 710 ESPN Radio, color man Mike Blowers
Mike Blowers
Michael Roy Blowers is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and first baseman. He is an alumnus of Bethel High School in Spanaway, Washington, Tacoma Community College and the University of Washington...
predicted that Tuiasosopo would hit his first major league home run in his second at bat of the game on a 3-1 fastball into the left center field second level of Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre
Rogers Centre is a multi-purpose stadium, in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated next to the CN Tower, near the shores of Lake Ontario. Opened in 1989, it is home to the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball and the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League...
. Sure enough, in the fifth inning of their game against the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
, Tuiasosopo delivered, although the home run went above the left field bullpen on technically what is the first level of the stadium.
2010
Matt has spent time in the major leagues with the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
during the 2010 season. He has played his first major league games at shortstop, first base, and in the outfield.
Personal life
His father and brothers played footballAmerican 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...
in college — Manu attending UCLA
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
and his two older brothers attending the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
— Matt signed a 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...
contract after graduating from Woodinville High School
Woodinville High School
Woodinville High School is a public secondary school located in Woodinville, Washington and is part of the Northshore School District.-Basic information:...
.
Although he chose baseball, Matt had a promising high school football career. He was selected to play in the 2004 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a high school football all-star game held in early January in San Antonio, Texas. Currently played in the Alamodome, the game brings 90 of the nation's top high school football players in an East versus West matchup. In addition to the Bowl game, there is the U.S...
. Before signing with the Mariners, he signed a letter of intent to play football at the University of Washington.
Matt played for the Woodinville West Little League at the Little League Western Regional Tournament in San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
. Woodinville West lost to Cypress Federal in the championship game that lasted 7 innings.This is the farthest WWLL has made it into the Little League All Star Tournament.