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Aaron Whitefield
Whitefield with the Australia national baseball team in 2023
Sioux Falls Canaries
Outfielder
Born: (1996-09-02) September 2, 1996 (age 28)
Brisbane, Queensland
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
25 July, 2020, for the Minnesota Twins
MLB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Batting average.000
Home runs0
Runs batted in0
Teams

Aaron James Whitefield (born September 2, 1996) is an Australian professional baseball outfielder for the Sioux Falls Canaries of the American Association of Professional Baseball. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins and Los Angeles Angels.

Career

Whitefield began his career playing fastpitch softball.[1] Whitefield won the bronze medal at the 2012 U-18 Men's Softball World Cup as a member of Australia's national softball team.[2]

Minnesota Twins

After signing with the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball in 2015, Whitefield was assigned to the Gulf Coast Twins of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League. He played in only seven games for the Twins due to visa issues.[3] After the season, he played for the Brisbane Bandits of the Australian Baseball League (ABL) for 2015–16 ABL season. In 2016, Whitefield returned to the Gulf Coast League and played in 51 games, posting a .298 batting average with two home runs, 17 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. After the season, he played for the Brisbane Bandits of the ABL for 2016–17 ABL season and winning three consecutive championships with the club and the league MVP award.

In 2017, Whitefield played for the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Single–A Midwest League,[1] where he batted .262 with 11 home runs, 57 RBIs, and 33 stolen bases.[4] After the season, he played for the Brisbane Bandits of the ABL for 2017–18 ABL season. Whitfield spent the 2018 season with the Fort Myers Miracle of the High–A Florida State League. He hit .211 with two home runs, 25 stolen bases, and ten RBIs in 65 games.[5] After the season, he joined to the Adelaide Bite of the ABL for the 2018–19 ABL season.[6]

After the 2019 season, he joined to the Adelaide Bite of the ABL for the 2019–20 ABL season. On June 29, Whitefield made the Twins 60-man summer camp roster for the 2020 season,[7] ending up on the Opening Day roster.[8][9] On July 25, he made his MLB debut in the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox as a pinch runner for Eddie Rosario.[10][11] On August 10, Whitefield was outrighted off of the 40-man roster. Whitefield spent the 2021 season with Double-A Wichita Wind Surge, slashing .257/.327/.353 with 6 home runs and 58 RBI in 111 games. On November 7, 2021, he elected free agency.[12]

Los Angeles Angels

On November 10, 2021, Whitefield signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels organization.[13] On May 8, 2022, he was promoted to the Angels' main roster after playing for the Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas of the Southern League, where he batted .301 with 5 home runs, 17 RBIs, and 13 stolen bases.[14] Whitefield was designated for assignment on May 14, 2022. He cleared waivers 4 days later, and was outrighted to Double-A Rocket City Trash Pandas. On October 14, Whitefield re–signed with the Angels organization on a minor league contract.[15]

Whitefield began the 2023 season back with Double–A Rocket City. In 37 games, he hit just .191/.280/.324 with 3 home runs, 13 RBI, and 12 stolen bases.[16] On June 19, 2023, Whitefield was released by the Angels organization.[17]

Kansas City Monarchs

On 27 June 2023, Whitefield signed with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball.[18] In 29 games, he batted .234/.317/.262 with no home runs, 5 RBI, and 11 stolen bases.

Sioux Falls Canaries

On August 20, 2023, Whitefield was traded to the Sioux Falls Canaries in exchange for cash and future considerations.[19] In 12 games he hit .250/.346/.455 with 2 home runs, 9 RBIs and 7 stolen bases.

On January 19, 2024, Whitefield re-signed with the Canaries.[20] He did not appear in a game during the 2024 season.

International career

Whitefield has played for the Australian national baseball team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic Qualification in 2016,[21][22] 2017 World Baseball Classic[23][24] 2019 WBSC Premier12,[25] and 2023 World Baseball Classic.[26]

Personal life

Whitefield's father, John, played fastpitch softball for New Zealand's national team, and his mother, Nicole Molander, played softball in Queensland and for the Australian national team.[1][27]

References

  1. ^ a b c "C.R. Kernels outfielder Aaron Whitefield makes the jump from softball to baseball". The Gazette. 15 April 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Before he was a Major Leaguer, Whitefield was an Aussie softball star". MLB.com.
  3. ^ "Get To Know: OF/2B Aaron Whitefield". Twins Daily. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Aaron Whitefield Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved 13 January 2018.
  5. ^ "Aaron Whitefield Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  6. ^ "League MVP Whitefield Signs with Bite". 16 August 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  7. ^ "2020 Minnesota Twins 60-Man Roster". MLB.com. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Twins set their 2020 Opening Day roster". MLB.com. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  9. ^ "TWINS NAME TWO AUSSIES TO OPENING DAY ROSTER". Baseball.com au. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  10. ^ "Twins vs. White Sox Box Score | 7/25/20". MLB.com. Archived from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  11. ^ "WHITEFIELD BECOMES 35TH AUSSIE TO PLAY MLB". Baseball.com au. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  12. ^ "2021-22 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". baseballamerica.com. 9 November 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Minor MLB Transactions: 11/10/21". 10 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Aaron Whitefield Promoted To Angels". MiLB.com. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Angels Re-Sign Three To Minor League Deals". yardbarker.com. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Angels' Aaron Whitefield: Moved to minor-league camp". cbssports.com. 22 March 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2023.
  17. ^ @trashpandas (19 June 2023). "As part of today's roster moves, the Angels announced the release of Aaron Whitefield, Ryan Aguilar, and Kevin Maitan. We thank them for their contributions to the Trash Pandas and the Rocket City community these past two seasons, and we wish them well on their next endeavors" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ^ "American Association of Professional Baseball - 2023 Transactions".
  19. ^ "2023 Transactions". aabaseball.com. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  20. ^ "2024 Transactions". aabaseball.com. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  21. ^ Reusse, Patrick (14 February 2016). "Reusse: Thorpe has the look of a pitcher, even as he eases back from elbow surgery". StarTribune.com. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  22. ^ "Hartman: Fleck was up to challenge of short recruiting time". StarTribune.com. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  23. ^ "Eleven Minnesota Twins on World Baseball Classic rosters". StarTribune.com. 9 February 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  24. ^ Berardino, Mike (28 January 2016). "Nine with Twins ties make Team Australia for WBC qualifier". Twincities.com. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  25. ^ DAVID PENROSE (8 October 2019). "BORAL TEAM AUSTRALIA'S PREMIER12 ROSTER ANNOUNCED". baseball.com.au. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  26. ^ "Australia World Baseball Classic roster: Liam Spence, Aaron Whitefield headline 2023 WBC team". 3 March 2023.
  27. ^ "BL 2017: Brisbane Bandit plans hit and run title raid against Melbourne". Couriermail. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
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