DeWayne Wise

Larry DeWayne Wise (born February 24, 1978) is an American retired professional baseball outfielder. He graduated from Chapin High School in 1997 and was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the fifth round of the 1997 amateur draft. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, Florida Marlins, and New York Yankees. He is best known for robbing Gabe Kapler of a home run to preserve Mark Buehrle's perfect game in 2009.[1]

DeWayne Wise
Wise with the Chicago White Sox
Outfielder
Born: (1978-02-24) February 24, 1978
Chapin, South Carolina
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
April 6, 2000, for the Toronto Blue Jays
Last MLB appearance
May 29, 2013, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
Batting average.228
Home runs31
Runs batted in115
Teams

Professional career

Toronto Blue Jays (2000–2002)

Wise was claimed by the Toronto Blue Jays on December 13, 1999, in the Rule 5 draft without having played a game for the Reds. He made his major league debut for the Blue Jays on April 6, 2000. He struggled to make an impact at the big-league level, appearing in just 28 games in the 2000 season, batting .136 before being sent back to the minors.

After spending the entire 2001 season in the Toronto minor league system, Wise was recalled to the majors in 2002. He appeared in 42 games and hit his first home run during this time, before being demoted largely due to his .179 batting average. He became a free agent after the 2003 season, which he spent entirely in Syracuse, the Blue Jays' AAA affiliate.

Atlanta Braves (2004)

On October 25, 2003, Wise signed as a minor league free agent with the Atlanta Braves. He impressed in the Braves' minor league system, batting a combined .309 between Class-A, Class-A Advanced and AAA, earning a call up and his next shot at the big leagues. Wise batted .228 in 77 appearances for the Braves in 2004, with 6 home runs.

Detroit Tigers (2005)

After the 2004 season, Wise was placed on waivers by the Braves and claimed by the Detroit Tigers. He spent the entire 2005 season with the Toledo Mud Hens, the Tigers' AAA affiliate, where he batted .234 before being released.

Cincinnati Reds (2006–2007)

The next team to sign Wise was the team who had drafted him in the first place, the Cincinnati Reds. He spent the majority of the 2006 season in Louisville at AAA level, but he did appear in 31 games at MLB level. The Reds re-signed Wise to a minor league contract for the 2007 season, which again he spent mostly in AAA, making just five appearances in the majors. He was released and granted free agency on October 1, 2007.

Chicago White Sox (2008–2009)
Wise playing for the Chicago White Sox in 2008

After the Reds had opted not to re-sign him and with offers not flooding in, Wise began to explore the possibility of playing in the independent baseball leagues. However, he received a call from Chicago White Sox and signed a minor league deal on March 5, 2008. Charlotte, the White Sox Triple-A affiliate, was the next stop on his journeyman career. He was called up the major leagues when Juan Uribe went on the disabled list in May, but used sparingly before being sent back down. When Paul Konerko, the White Sox first baseman went on the disabled list in late July, Wise was selected for promotion, due to his .319 batting average in Charlotte, ahead of prospect Jerry Owens.

Wise was used mostly as a reserve outfielder/defensive replacement for Ken Griffey Jr., but impressed at the plate, hitting .288 with two homers and seven runs batted in 35 games before straining his adductor muscle and going on the disabled list August 25. Wise's big break came when White Sox All-Star left fielder Carlos Quentin fractured his wrist after fouling off a pitch on September 5. Quentin would miss the rest of the season, Wise was taken off the disabled list and figured to see more playing time taking Quentin's position in left field.

The White Sox were locked in a tight race for the AL Central with the Minnesota Twins and Wise contributed to the Sox eventually winning the division (after a one-game play-off). He picked the perfect moment to hit his first career grand slam, a go-ahead, pinch-hit shot in the eighth inning to beat the Detroit Tigers 11–7 on September 14, 2008.

The White Sox made the postseason where they lost to the Tampa Bay Rays in four games. Wise batted .286 with a homer and 5 runs batted in during the 2008 ALDS.

The White Sox and Wise agreed to a one-year deal worth $550,000 after he had batted .248 with six homers and 18 runs batted in during in 57 games in 2008. Wise was named by manager Ozzie Guillén as the White Sox opening day center fielder and leadoff hitter for the 2009 season after impressing during spring training. However, just seven games into the season, he separated his shoulder while making a diving, bases-loaded catch, saving at least two runs. The catch helped preserve a 10–6 Chicago win, but the resulting injury kept Wise on the disabled list until early June.

On July 23, 2009, at U. S. Cellular Field, Wise was put in by Guillen as a 9th-inning defensive substitute, and promptly robbed the Rays' Gabe Kapler of a home run with a spectacular, juggling catch, preserving Mark Buehrle's perfect game.[1] To thank Wise for his play Mark Buehrle gave him a bottle of Crown Royal XR in a cloth bag embroidered with his name and the date of the perfect game.[2]

On July 30, 2009, the team's first home game after the perfect game, the White Sox unveiled a sign reading "The Catch" at the top of the left field wall, at the location where Wise had made his catch. Wise came into that game as a defensive replacement in the 9th and hit a game-winning single in the bottom half of that inning to give the White Sox a win over the Yankees.

Wise during his tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011

Toronto Blue Jays (2010)

On October 9, Wise opted for free agency rather than accepting an outright assignment to Class AAA Charlotte.[3] He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on November 25, 2009, and prior to the 2010 season was assigned to their Class AAA affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.[4]

In 2010, he exercised the June 1 opt-out date in his contract to become a free agent.[5] On June 5, the Toronto Blue Jays signed Wise to a minor league deal.

Florida Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays (2011)

On January 12, 2011, the Florida Marlins signed Wise with an invitation to spring training.[6]

On March 30, Wise exercised his out clause after failing to make the Marlins' Opening Day roster. The Marlins released him, making him a free agent. On April 11 after the Blue Jays center fielder Rajai Davis was placed on the 15-day disabled list, Wise was signed by the Blue Jays to a minor league contract. However, he was released on June 9.[7]

He signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins on June 15.[8] He was called up on June 17. On August 26, the Blue Jays claimed Wise off waivers.[9] Wise made his 2011 Blue Jays debut on August 29, playing center field against the Tampa Bay Rays. On October 6, he elected free agency.[10]

New York Yankees (2012)
Wise playing for the New York Yankees in 2012

On January 4, 2012, Wise signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees,[11] receiving an invitation to spring training.[12] The Yankees purchased his contract from the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees on May 4.[13]

After batting .333 (25–75) with four home runs for the Yankees' AAA affiliate, Wise was called up on May 4, 2012, along with pitcher Cody Eppley to take the roster spots of DJ Mitchell and Mariano Rivera, after the latter sustained an ACL tear.

Wise had a career game against the Cleveland Indians on June 25, as he hit a two-run home run in the 2nd inning followed by a triple and run batted in during the 6th inning, as he helped lead the Yankees to a 7–1 victory.[14] On June 29 against the White Sox, Wise made his debut as a pitcher on the mound to retire the next 2 batters to get the last 2 outs in the top of the 9th inning. He was the first position player with the Yankees to pitch on the mound since Nick Swisher did in 2009.

On July 23, 2012, Wise was designated for assignment after the Yankees acquired Ichiro Suzuki.[15] He refused an outright assignment to the minors and was released on July 30.

Chicago White Sox (2012–2013)

On August 3, 2012, Wise signed a minor league contract with the White Sox.[16] On August 11, Wise was called up to replace Paul Konerko, who was placed on the 7-day disabled list.

On November 21, 2012, Wise signed a one-year, $700,000 deal to remain a member of the White Sox organization.[17] He was released on August 3, 2013.

References
  1. "White Sox' Buehrle Pitches Perfect Game". New York Times. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  2. "Chicago Bears | SportsBUZZ". Archived from the original on 2009-07-31. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  3. "Dewayne Wise severs ties with White Sox". Archived from the original on 2009-10-12. Retrieved 2009-10-10.
  4. IronPigs opening day roster announced
  5. DeWayne Wise opts out of his minor league contract with IronPigs
  6. Marlins Sign Dewayne Wise, Three Others: MLB Rumors – MLBTradeRumors.com
  7. Axisa, Mike. "Blue Jays Release DeWayne Wise". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  8. Polishuk, Mark. "Marlins Sign DeWayne Wise". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  9. Dierkes, Tim. "Dustin Richardson Designated For Assignment". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
  10. "Minor Moves: Rockies, Wise". MLBTradeRumors.com. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 6 October 2011.
  11. Yankees sign three to minor league deals – Sports – The Times-Tribune
  12. Yankees sign INF Russell Branyan, RHP Manny Delcarmen, INF Bill Hall, LHP Hideki Okajima and OF Dewayne Wise to Minor League contracts | yankees.com: News
  13. "With Mo on DL, Yanks add Wise, Eppley". mlb.com. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
  14. Berman, Zach (June 25, 2012). "Dewayne Wise Powers Yankees' Offense in Victory". The New York Times.
  15. Yankees deal for Ichiro Suzuki – CBSSports.com
  16. Chris Silva. "Sox agree to minor league deal with Wise".
  17. Ginnetti, Toni (November 21, 2012). "White Sox sign Dewayne Wise to one-year deal". Chicago Sun-Times.
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