Nook Logan
Encyclopedia
Exavier Prente "Nook" Logan (born November 28, 1979 in Natchez
, Mississippi
) is a former Major League Baseball
center fielder
. He attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College
. He made his Major League debut July 21, 2004, with the Detroit Tigers
against the Kansas City Royals
. He was named the Tigers' rookie of the year for 2004.
Although he was expected to compete for the center field job in , Logan was beaten out by Curtis Granderson
and was subsequently injured upon arrival in the minors. On August 29, 2006, Logan was designated for assignment by the Tigers. On September 1 of that year, he was traded to the Washington Nationals
, after asking Detroit management for a trade. Upon arriving in Washington, Logan immediately impressed with his spectacular catches and speed. Logan was recognized that year as the fastest player in Major League Baseball. He ended up hitting .300 and making several breathtaking catches in the field.
In 2007, Logan was the opening day center fielder for the Nationals. He injured his foot that day after crashing into the wall in the outfield. He would be out for over a month but ended up hitting .265 after slumping toward the tail end of the season. Logan's lack of power prompted the Nationals to look for a power-hitting outfielder to replace him at season's end. Logan was not offered a new contract by the Nationals and became a free agent
on December 12, 2007.
On December 13, 2007, Logan was identified in the Mitchell Report
as a client of Kirk Radomski
, who distributed banned performance-enhancing substances to MLB players. He would later admit that he used Human Growth Hormone (HGH), a legal substance, banned by Major League Baseball, in order to recover from his injury in the minor leagues.
On February 15, 2008, Logan signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers
. Without a chance of making the team's opening day roster Logan became a free agent
. On June 23, he signed with the Long Island Ducks
of the independent Atlantic League
and played out the season.
In 2010 Logan played for the Newark Bears
.
He has since spoken of the Mitchell Report as having had a "huge impact" on his ability to sign on with another Major League Baseball club.
Logan currently co-owns Change The Game Athletic Performance Enhancement & Motivational Speaking with former NFL players Sean Lewis and De’Von Hutchins. The company focus is "not only helping young people reach their goals, but also to provide mentoring, opportunities and leadership."
Natchez, Mississippi
Natchez is the county seat of Adams County, Mississippi, United States. With a total population of 18,464 , it is the largest community and the only incorporated municipality within Adams County...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
) is a former 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...
center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
. He attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College
Copiah-Lincoln Community College
Copiah-Lincoln Community College is a comprehensive public community college with its main campus located in Wesson, Mississippi, about south of Jackson, the state capitol and north of New Orleans. The Co-Lin District serves a seven-county area including Adams, Copiah, Franklin County,...
. He made his Major League debut July 21, 2004, with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
against 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...
. He was named the Tigers' rookie of the year for 2004.
Although he was expected to compete for the center field job in , Logan was beaten out by Curtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson
Curtis Granderson is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Before joining the Yankees in 2010, he played with the Detroit Tigers . A center fielder, Granderson is known for being a five-tool player...
and was subsequently injured upon arrival in the minors. On August 29, 2006, Logan was designated for assignment by the Tigers. On September 1 of that year, he was traded to the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
, after asking Detroit management for a trade. Upon arriving in Washington, Logan immediately impressed with his spectacular catches and speed. Logan was recognized that year as the fastest player in Major League Baseball. He ended up hitting .300 and making several breathtaking catches in the field.
In 2007, Logan was the opening day center fielder for the Nationals. He injured his foot that day after crashing into the wall in the outfield. He would be out for over a month but ended up hitting .265 after slumping toward the tail end of the season. Logan's lack of power prompted the Nationals to look for a power-hitting outfielder to replace him at season's end. Logan was not offered a new contract by the Nationals and became a free agent
Free 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....
on December 12, 2007.
On December 13, 2007, Logan was identified in the Mitchell Report
Mitchell Report (baseball)
The Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball, informally known as the "Mitchell Report", is the result of former Democratic United States Senator from Maine...
as a client of Kirk Radomski
Kirk Radomski
Kirk J. Radomski is a former batboy and clubhouse employee for the New York Mets Major League Baseball team from 1985–1995, who on April 27, 2007 pleaded guilty in United States district court to money laundering and illegal distribution of anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, Clenbuterol,...
, who distributed banned performance-enhancing substances to MLB players. He would later admit that he used Human Growth Hormone (HGH), a legal substance, banned by Major League Baseball, in order to recover from his injury in the minor leagues.
On February 15, 2008, Logan signed a minor league contract with 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...
. Without a chance of making the team's opening day roster Logan became a free agent
Free 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....
. On June 23, he signed with the Long Island Ducks
Long Island Ducks
The Long Island Ducks is an American professional baseball team based in Central Islip, New York. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the independent Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
and played out the season.
In 2010 Logan played for the Newark Bears
Newark Bears
The Newark Bears are an American professional baseball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are a member of the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 1999 season, the Bears have played their home games at Bears &...
.
He has since spoken of the Mitchell Report as having had a "huge impact" on his ability to sign on with another Major League Baseball club.
Logan currently co-owns Change The Game Athletic Performance Enhancement & Motivational Speaking with former NFL players Sean Lewis and De’Von Hutchins. The company focus is "not only helping young people reach their goals, but also to provide mentoring, opportunities and leadership."