Riley Adams

Riley Keaton Adams (born June 26, 1996) is an American professional baseball catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played college baseball for the San Diego Toreros of the University of San Diego, and is ranked 23rd on MLB's 2021 Top 30 Blue Jays prospects list.[1]

For the CSI character, see CSI: Crime Scene Investigation ยง Riley Adams.

Riley Adams
Toronto Blue Jays
Catcher
Born: (1996-06-26) June 26, 1996
Encinitas, California
Bats: Right Throws: Right

High school and college

Adams was born on June 26, 1996 in Encinitas, California.[2] He attended Canyon Crest Academy in San Diego, California. There he was a two-sport athlete, playing basketball and baseball. In basketball, Adams once recorded 31 rebounds in one game.[3] In baseball, he made the school's varsity baseball team in his freshman year as a shortstop. He switched to catcher as a sophomore, when his coach asked him to move to fill the open position.[4] The Chicago Cubs selected Adams in the 37th round, with the 1,099th overall selection, of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft, but he did not sign so that he could enroll at the University of San Diego.[5]

Adams played college baseball for the San Diego Toreros.[6][7] In the summer of 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[8] Adams was twice named a semifinalist for the Johnny Bench Award. As a junior in 2017, he won the West Coast Conference Player of the Year Award,[9] and finished his collegiate career with a .305 batting average, 24 home runs, and 110 runs batted in in 159 games played.[5]

Professional career

The Toronto Blue Jays selected Adams in the third round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft, with the 99th overall selection;[10] They signed him to a contract with a $542,000 signing bonus.[11] Adams made his professional debut with the Vancouver Canadians of the Class A-Short Season Northwest League,[12] and went on to start in the Northwest / Pioneer League All-Star Game.[9] Adams played in 52 games for the Canadians in 2017, and hit .305 with three home runs and 35 RBI.[13]

In 2018, Adams played for the Dunedin Blue Jays of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League where he slashed .246/.352/.361 with four home runs and 43 RBIs in 99 games.[14]

On November 20, 2020, Adams was added to the 40-man roster.[15]

Personal life

Adams began practicing karate at the age of three. He earned a second degree black belt when he was 13 years old, and then began to focus on his baseball career.[5] His elder brother, Cameron, played college baseball at Washington University in St. Louis.[16]

Adams was an accomplished science fair competitor, notably for his studies of pampas grass which resulted in his participation in the California State Science Fair.[17] Adams was also a standout high school basketball player, earning All League honors as a sophomore, junior and senior.

References
  1. "MLB 2021 Prospect Watch". MLB.com. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  2. "Riley Adams". Minor League Baseball. 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  3. Muyskens, Paul. "State Stat Stars of the Week". CaliSports. CaliSports. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  4. Ledonne, Rob (August 28, 2014). "Top catcher brings a thoughtful approach to baseball". Encinitas Advocate. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  5. Ewen, Steve (July 10, 2017). "From a black belt to home runs, Riley Adams can do it all". The National Post. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  6. Kenney, Kirk. "USD moves up to No. 23; Riley Adams is WCC Player of Week". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  7. Kenney, Kirk. "USD's Riley Adams, SDSU's Dean Nevarez make it a very good week for catchers". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  8. Joyce, Thomas (August 5, 2016). "Top catcher brings a thoughtful approach to baseball". Encinitas Advocate. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  9. "NWL notes: Jays' Adams packs punch at plate". MiLB.com. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  10. Kenney, Kirk. "USD catcher Riley Adams selected by Toronto in third round of MLB Draft". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  11. "Blue Jays sign Roger Clemens' son Kacy". MLB.com. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  12. "Blue Jays farm report: Riley Adams adjusting in Vancouver". Sportsnet.ca. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  13. "Riley Adams Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
  14. "Riley Adams Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  15. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/11/blue-jays-add-5-players-to-40-man-roster.html
  16. "On court or behind plate, Adams can play". sandiegouniontribune.com. January 17, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
  17. Adams, Riley. "Experimental Methods of Eradicating Invasive Pampas Grass" (PDF). California State Science Fair. CSSF. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
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