J. T. Riddle

Joshua Travis Riddle (born October 12, 1991) is an American professional baseball shortstop and outfielder for the Minnesota Twins organization. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates. Prior to paying professionally, Riddle attended the University of Kentucky, where he played college baseball for the Wildcats

J. T. Riddle
Riddle with the Miami Marlins in 2017
Minnesota Twins
Shortstop / Outfielder
Born: (1991-10-12) October 12, 1991
Frankfort, Kentucky
Bats: Left Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 11, 2017, for the Miami Marlins
MLB statistics
(through 2020 season)
Batting average.222
Home runs19
Runs batted in80
Teams

Amateur career

Riddle attended Western Hills High School in Frankfort, Kentucky. He graduated in 2010.[1] While playing for the school's baseball team, Riddle was named Mr. Kentucky Baseball. He then enrolled at the University of Kentucky, where he played college baseball for the Kentucky Wildcats.[2] In 2012, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3]

Professional career

Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins selected Riddle in the 13th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with Miami and began his professional career with the Batavia Muckdogs of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League.[4][5] He spent all of 2013 there, batting .243 with two home runs and 18 RBIs in 59 games. He played for the Greensboro Grasshoppers of the Class A South Atlantic League in 2014[6] and batted .280 with nine home runs and 60 RBIs in 103 games. Riddle began the 2015 season with the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League,[7] and after batting .270/.311/.314 in 45 games, received a midseason promotion to the Jacksonville Suns of the Class AA Southern League.[8] In 44 games for Jacksonville he posted a .289 batting average with five home runs and 20 RBIs. After the 2015 season, the Marlins assigned Riddle to the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League.[9]

In 2016, the Marlins invited Riddle to spring training.[10] The Marlins added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[11] He spent the season with both Jacksonville and the New Orleans Baby Cakes of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League, compiling a combined .276 batting average with four home runs and 53 RBIs in 116 games between both teams.[12]

Riddle began 2017 with New Orleans, and was promoted to the major leagues on April 10.[13] He recorded his first major league hit on April 12, on a checked swing infield single against the Atlanta Braves.[14] On April 16, he hit a walk-off home run against the New York Mets, his first major league home run.[15]

Following the trade of Adeiny Hechavarria in June, Riddle became the Marlins' primary shortstop.[16] In mid-July Riddle tore a shoulder labrum, requiring season-ending surgery in August. He had batted .250 with a .282 on-base percentage, a .355 slugging percentage, three home runs, and 31 runs batted in in 70 games prior to his injury.[17]

Riddle began 2018 on the disabled list and was optioned to New Orleans after he was activated.[18] He was recalled to Miami on May 26.[19] Riddle was non-tendered on December 2, 2019, and became a free agent.[20]

Pittsburgh Pirates

On January 31, 2020, Riddle signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates.[21] Overall with the 2020 Pittsburgh Pirates, Riddle batted .149 with one home run and 1 RBI in 23 games.[22] Riddle was designated for assignment after the season on October 1, 2020, following the acquisition of Sean Poppen.[23] Riddle was outrighted on October 5, but rejected the assignment in favor of free agency.[24]

Minnesota Twins

On January 7, 2021, Riddle signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins organization.[25]

References
  1. Younkin, Linda (April 14, 2017). "A field of dreams: J.T. Riddle enjoying time playing with Miami Marlins". The State Journal. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  2. "Lexington Hustlers All-Star J. T. Riddle hopes summer mound work will pay off for UK". KYForward.com. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  3. "#22 JT Riddle". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  4. "UK junior J. T. Riddle announces he will sign with the Miami Marlins, open career in NYPL". KYForward.com. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  5. "Western Hills alum JT Riddle started rough, but is steadily improving in Batavia". The State Journal. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  6. "Ex-Wildcat Riddle comes home as a Grasshopper". kentucky. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  7. "University of Kentucky baseball star JT Riddle coming into his own on field". The State Journal. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  8. "JT Riddle moves up to Double-A". The State Journal. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  9. "Marlins' JT Riddle leads Mesa to AFL win". Major League Baseball. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  10. "Western Hills grad Riddle invited to Marlins Major League camp in February". The State Journal. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  11. "Marlins add 4 to 40-man roster". MLB.com. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  12. "JT Riddle Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  13. Healey, Tim (April 9, 2017). "Marlins' Adeiny Hechavarria placed on disabled list, JT Riddle called up from Triple A". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  14. "JT Riddle's first MLB hit was extremely weird". Yahoo Sports. April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  15. "J.T. Riddle Launches Two-Run Homer To Lift Marlins Over Mets « CBS New York". Newyork.cbslocal.com. April 16, 2017. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  16. Spencer, Clark (June 27, 2017). "Miami Marlins have faith in rookie JT Riddle at shortstop". Miami Herald. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  17. Healey, Tim (August 1, 2017). "Marlins' Edinson Volquez (Tommy John surgery), JT Riddle (torn labrum) out for year". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  18. "Riddle (shoulder) off DL, optioned to Triple-A - MLB.com Mobile". wap.mlb.com.
  19. DeFranks, Matthew. "Marlins' JT Riddle recalled as Martin Prado lands on DL with hamstring strain: 'It was hard to swallow'".
  20. Jordan McPherson (December 2, 2019). "Miami Marlins make decisions on arbitration-eligible players and add two power bats". Miami Herald. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  21. Nubyjas Wilborn (January 31, 2020). "Pirates sign versatile J.T. Riddle to big league deal". www.post-gazette.com. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  22. https://www.mlb.com/player/jt-riddle-595375?stats=career-r-hitting-mlb&year=2020
  23. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/10/pirates-claim-sean-poppen-designate-jt-riddle.html
  24. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/10/jt-riddle-elects-free-agency-pirates.html
  25. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/01/twins-sign-jt-riddle-to-minor-league-deal.html
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