Russ Adams
Encyclopedia
Russ Moore Adams is a former Major League Baseball
player who played for the Toronto Blue Jays
, San Diego Padres
, and New York Mets
organizations. Adams bats left-handed
and throws with his right hand.
. His strong season in 2002, when he batted
.370 with 45 steals
, led to the Toronto Blue Jays
drafting him in the 1st round (14th overall) in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
, ahead of Scott Kazmir
, Nick Swisher
, Cole Hamels
, Jeff Francoeur
, Matt Cain
, and Canadian Joey Votto
.
all-star team in 2002 while playing for the Auburn Doubledays
.
Adams was brought up to the major league club late in the 2004 season and had his official rookie season in 2005. He was used primarily in the lead-off position in the lineup. Adams finished the 2005 season with a .256 batting average, .325 OBP, 27 doubles, 5 triples, 8 home runs, and 11 stolen bases. Adams finished seventh in the AL in sacrifice flies and tenth in the American League in at bats per strikeout. Adams was named to the Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team along with teammate Gustavo Chacín
. However, he made 26 errors in the field for the Blue Jays and was often criticized for his throwing arm.
He played shortstop
before being optioned to the Jays' Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Chiefs on May 25, 2006 (along with Josh Towers
). On June 12, 2006, he was recalled by the Blue Jays after playing 17 games for Syracuse. After having trouble with the bat since his call up, and due to teammate Aaron Hill's struggles at short, he was removed as the second baseman, with Hill switching over to second and utility man John McDonald taking the shortstop role previously occupied by Hill. He was optioned back to Syracuse on July 30 so that he could receive more playing time.
Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi
stated at the beginning of the 2007 season that Adams would begin 2007 in Triple-A, and would have to earn his way back onto the team. On August 17, 2007, Russ was recalled from Triple-A and has played with the Jays as a utility infielder. On September 19, 2007, he recorded his first-ever major league grand slam
, against Jonathan Papelbon
of the Boston Red Sox
.
On February 5, 2009, Adams was designated for assignment
by the Blue Jays to make room for T. J. Beam
on the 40-man roster. On February 11, he was outrighted to the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s
. While with Las Vegas, he played some games in the infield and outfield, and spent a month on the disabled list with a broken hand, but hit over .300 while active. On June 21, Adams' contract was purchased from Triple-A by the Blue Jays, as Joe Inglett
was optioned back to Las Vegas. Adams singled in a pinch-hitting appearance that day against the Washington Nationals
. GM Ricciardi said Adams would be a reserve infielder, left fielder, designated hitter
and pinch hitter with Toronto.
from Triple-A Las Vegas. He cleared waivers and elected to become a free agent. He was claimed by the San Diego Padres
, and then played with their AAA affiliate Portland Beavers
.
before the 2010 season. With the thyroid
disease of Mets' starter, José Reyes, Adams was one of three contenders to temporarily replace Reyes, along with Alex Cora
and Ruben Tejada
. Adams is considered "an upgrade offensively from Cora and the unknown Tejada," but "no better a defensive replacement (career UZR/150 of -13.5) than the other two." [Italics added.] However, Adams did not make the team out of spring training. Adams was "earmarked for Buffalo."
Since not making the team out of Spring Training, Adams has been playing second base (No. 38) with the Mets Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons
. On April 15, 2010, Adams was injured turning a double play
when Tug Hulett of the Pawtucket Red Sox
, Boston's Triple-A affiliate, slid hard into him. Adams "was helped off the field by his teammates and replaced by Cintron
. Adams entered the game hitting .286." As at April 16, 2010, Adams was reported as being "day-to-day." Bisons manager Ken Oberkfell
says, "We figure he's two or three days but we'll have to wait and see." Adams returned from injury for the April 21, 2010, game against the Rochester Red Wings
, singling in the top of the third inning, but not scoring. On May 5, 2011, Adams retired from baseball at the age of 30.
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...
player who played for 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 ....
, San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, and New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
organizations. Adams bats left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
and throws with his right hand.
Collegiate career and draft
Adams played college ball at the University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
. His strong season in 2002, when he batted
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 :...
.370 with 45 steals
Stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a baserunner successfully advances to the next base while the pitcher is delivering the ball to home plate...
, led to 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 ....
drafting him in the 1st round (14th overall) in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
, ahead of Scott Kazmir
Scott Kazmir
Scott Edward Kazmir is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Kazmir made his Major League debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2004 when he was only 20 years old and at one time held many of the franchise's career pitching records...
, Nick Swisher
Nick Swisher
Nicholas Thompson "Nick" Swisher is an outfielder for the New York Yankees. Swisher is a switch hitter who throws left-handed....
, Cole Hamels
Cole Hamels
Colbert Michael "Cole" Hamels is a left-handed starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. Hamels throws a four-seam fastball, a circle changeup, a curveball, and a cut fastball, which he added in 2010...
, Jeff Francoeur
Jeff Francoeur
Jeffrey Braden Francoeur , nicknamed "Frenchy", is a Major League Baseball right fielder who now plays for the Kansas City Royals. Francoeur is known for a strong throwing arm.-Minor league career:...
, Matt Cain
Matt Cain
Matthew Thomas Cain is an American Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants...
, and Canadian Joey Votto
Joey Votto
Joseph Daniel "Joey" Votto, is a Canadian Major League Baseball first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds. He is the 2010 NL MVP, the recipient of the National League Hank Aaron Award for 2010, and won the Lou Marsh Trophy as Canada's athlete of the year in 2010.-Early life:Votto was born on...
.
Toronto Blue Jays
Adams was named to the New York - Penn LeagueNew York - Penn League
The New York – Penn League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the northeastern United States. It is classified as a "Short-Season A" league; its season starts in June, after major-league teams have signed their amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ends in early...
all-star team in 2002 while playing for the Auburn Doubledays
Auburn Doubledays
The Auburn Doubledays are a minor league baseball team in Auburn, New York, USA, that is owned and operated by Auburn Community Baseball. They are a member of the Short-Season Class A New York-Penn League and have been a farm team of the Houston Astros , the Toronto Blue Jays , and Washington...
.
Adams was brought up to the major league club late in the 2004 season and had his official rookie season in 2005. He was used primarily in the lead-off position in the lineup. Adams finished the 2005 season with a .256 batting average, .325 OBP, 27 doubles, 5 triples, 8 home runs, and 11 stolen bases. Adams finished seventh in the AL in sacrifice flies and tenth in the American League in at bats per strikeout. Adams was named to the Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team along with teammate Gustavo Chacín
Gustavo Chacín
Gustavo Adolfo Chacín is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball.-Toronto Blue Jays:In 2004, Chacín led all minor leaguers with 18 wins, and was the 24th pitcher used by the Blue Jays, tying the team record set in the 2002 season...
. However, he made 26 errors in the field for the Blue Jays and was often criticized for his throwing arm.
He played 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...
before being optioned to the Jays' Triple-A affiliate, the Syracuse Chiefs on May 25, 2006 (along with Josh Towers
Josh Towers
Joshua Eric Towers is a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher, who currently plays for the Camden Riversharks in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball...
). On June 12, 2006, he was recalled by the Blue Jays after playing 17 games for Syracuse. After having trouble with the bat since his call up, and due to teammate Aaron Hill's struggles at short, he was removed as the second baseman, with Hill switching over to second and utility man John McDonald taking the shortstop role previously occupied by Hill. He was optioned back to Syracuse on July 30 so that he could receive more playing time.
Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi
J.P. Ricciardi
John Paul Ricciardi is a Major League Baseball executive who currently is a special assistant to New York Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson...
stated at the beginning of the 2007 season that Adams would begin 2007 in Triple-A, and would have to earn his way back onto the team. On August 17, 2007, Russ was recalled from Triple-A and has played with the Jays as a utility infielder. On September 19, 2007, he recorded his first-ever major league grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
, against Jonathan Papelbon
Jonathan Papelbon
Jonathan Robert Papelbon is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. Before joining the Phillies, Papelbon played with the Boston Red Sox from 2005-2011....
of 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"...
.
On February 5, 2009, Adams was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
by the Blue Jays to make room for T. J. Beam
T. J. Beam
Theodore Lester "T. J." Beam is a Major League baseball relief pitcher for the Lancaster Barnstormers.-New York Yankees:...
on the 40-man roster. On February 11, he was outrighted to the 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...
. While with Las Vegas, he played some games in the infield and outfield, and spent a month on the disabled list with a broken hand, but hit over .300 while active. On June 21, Adams' contract was purchased from Triple-A by the Blue Jays, as Joe Inglett
Joe Inglett
Joseph Steven Inglett is an American professional baseball utility player who is a free agent.-Cleveland Indians:He made his major league debut with the Cleveland Indians on June 21, ....
was optioned back to Las Vegas. Adams singled in a pinch-hitting appearance that day against 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...
. GM Ricciardi said Adams would be a reserve infielder, left fielder, designated hitter
Designated hitter
In baseball, the designated hitter rule is the common name for Major League Baseball Rule 6.10, an official position adopted by the American League in 1973 that allows teams to designate a player, known as the designated hitter , to bat in place of the pitcher each time he would otherwise come to...
and pinch hitter with Toronto.
San Diego Padres
On July 3, 2009, Adams was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays after they called up David DellucciDavid Dellucci
David Michael Dellucci is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder.-High School:Dellucci graduated from Catholic High in Baton Rouge in 1991. He earned the team's Most Valuable Player honors in both baseball and football, and All-State honors for baseball...
from Triple-A Las Vegas. He cleared waivers and elected to become a free agent. He was claimed by the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
, and then played with their AAA affiliate 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...
.
New York Mets
He signed a minor league deal, including an invitation to Spring Training, with the New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
before the 2010 season. With the thyroid
Thyroid
The thyroid gland or simply, the thyroid , in vertebrate anatomy, is one of the largest endocrine glands. The thyroid gland is found in the neck, below the thyroid cartilage...
disease of Mets' starter, José Reyes, Adams was one of three contenders to temporarily replace Reyes, along with Alex Cora
Alex Cora
José Alexander "Alex" Cora is a Major League Baseball infielder. He played college baseball at the University of Miami.-Early career:...
and Ruben Tejada
Ruben Tejada
Rubén Darío Tejada is a Panamanian professional baseball player. He played second base and shortstop for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball for most of the first half of the 2010 season....
. Adams is considered "an upgrade offensively from Cora and the unknown Tejada," but "no better a defensive replacement (career UZR/150 of -13.5) than the other two." [Italics added.] However, Adams did not make the team out of spring training. Adams was "earmarked for Buffalo."
Since not making the team out of Spring Training, Adams has been playing second base (No. 38) with the Mets Triple-A affiliate, the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
. On April 15, 2010, Adams was injured turning a double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
when Tug Hulett of the Pawtucket Red Sox
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...
, Boston's Triple-A affiliate, slid hard into him. Adams "was helped off the field by his teammates and replaced by Cintron
Alex Cintrón
Alexander Cintrón is a former Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals. His last Major League game was in April 2009...
. Adams entered the game hitting .286." As at April 16, 2010, Adams was reported as being "day-to-day." Bisons manager Ken Oberkfell
Ken Oberkfell
Kenneth Raymond Oberkfell is an American former Major League Baseball third baseman and ex-coach for the New York Mets. He played from 1977-1992 for six different teams. Oberkfell primarily played third base but was also known to play second base and both corner outfield positions...
says, "We figure he's two or three days but we'll have to wait and see." Adams returned from injury for the April 21, 2010, game against the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
, singling in the top of the third inning, but not scoring. On May 5, 2011, Adams retired from baseball at the age of 30.
External links
- Career stats and player information from MiLB
- Toronto Star