Nick Green (baseball)

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Nick Green (baseball) bigraphy, stories - American baseball player

Nick Green (baseball) : biography

September 10, 1978 –

Nicholas Anthony Green (born September 10, 1978) is an American infielder for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball. He also played in the International Baseball League of Australia before his MLB debut.

Career

Atlanta Braves

Green was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 32nd round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft after playing at Duluth High School and Georgia Perimeter College. After spending four and a half seasons in the minors, he made his Major League debut on May 15, against the Milwaukee Brewers. His first hit came in his third at-bat of the game, in the top of the fifth inning against Brooks Kieschnick, which was an RBI single to center. He batted .273 with the Braves. On July 2, 2004, Green hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 12th inning to lead the Braves to victory over the Boston Red Sox. He played in two games for the Braves in the 2004 National League Division Series, but had no at-bats.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Prior to the season, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays received Green in a trade with the Braves in return for right-handed pitcher Jorge Sosa. He batted .239 in 111 games for the Devil Rays in 2005, and then after appearing in only 17 games with them in 2006, he was designated for assignment on May 17.

New York Yankees

On May 24, 2006, the New York Yankees acquired him for cash considerations. They assigned him to their Triple-A squad, the Columbus Clippers.

On July 2, , Green made his first start for the Yankees, at second base. He contributed at the plate and in the field, hitting his first Yankee home run and throwing out a runner at the plate on a strong relay throw. He elected to become a free agent on October 17, 2006.

Seattle Mariners

After starting the season with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in 2007, Green was traded to the Seattle Mariners on June 20, , and assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, the Tacoma Rainiers. On September 4, Green was called up to the Major League club. He appeared in six games for the Mariners and had seven at-bats, without recording a hit.

Boston Red Sox

After spending the 2008 season back in the Yankees minor league system, he signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Boston Red Sox, and won a spot on the opening day roster. After teammates Julio Lugo and Jed Lowrie were both placed on the disabled list early in the season, Green became the Red Sox’s starting shortstop. After Lugo returned from the DL, he and Green were on a day-to-day playing rotation.

On June 21, 2009, Green hit a first pitch walk-off home run to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 6-5 victory over the Braves. Green’s only other career walk-off home run was coincidentally against the Red Sox while he was playing for the Braves.

On August 27, 2009, Green made his Major League pitching debut against the Chicago White Sox. After starter Junichi Tazawa struggled in early innings, Red Sox manager Terry Francona told Green that he would pitch the eighth inning. Green went into the dugout cages and pitched to outfielder Rocco Baldelli, who reported that Green had a full repertoire of pitches, including a two-seam fastball, and surprisingly enough a slider. Green was confused at first as to why he was pitching the eighth, and who would be pitching the ninth. With the Red Sox not scoring enough runs to warrant a new pitcher, Francona made the decision to have Green pitch in the ninth inning as well. During his two innings of scoreless relief, Green walked 3 batters and allowed no hits and no runs on 35 pitches. He topped out at 90 mph on his fastball. He also threw one slider in the game.http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/articles/2009/08/28/greens_fresh_arm_lends_a_hand/ "Green’s fresh arm lends hand" (Boston Globe, Aug. 28, 2009) Green was the first Red Sox position player to go at least two innings of relief and not give up a hit since 1944. Green was also the first Red Sox position player to pitch multiple innings in a game since David McCarty did it in 2004.