Jacob Stallings

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Jacob Stallings
Stallings with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2019
Colorado Rockies – No. 25
Catcher
Born: (1989-12-22) December 22, 1989 (age 34)
Lawrence, Kansas, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 19, 2016, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
Career statistics
(through September 8, 2023)
Batting average.237
Home runs24
Runs batted in143
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Jacob Daniel Stallings (born December 22, 1989) is an American professional baseball catcher for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2016 and has also played for the Miami Marlins. In 2021, Stallings won the Gold Glove Award and Fielding Bible Award.

Amateur career

Stallings attended Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he played college baseball for the North Carolina Tar Heels. In 2009 and 2010, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[1][2] The Cincinnati Reds selected Stallings in the 42nd round of the 2011 MLB draft, but he did not sign, and returned to North Carolina for his senior year.[3] The Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in the seventh round of the 2012 MLB draft and he signed.

Stallings at Offutt Air Force Base with the North Carolina Tar Heels baseball team in 2009

Professional career

Pittsburgh Pirates

Stallings made his professional debut that same year with the State College Spikes where he batted .230/.324/.332 in 66 games. He also played in one game for the Altoona Curve at the end of the season. In 2013, he played for the Bradenton Marauders where he hit .219 with six home runs and 23 RBIs in 78 games, and in 2014, he returned to Bradenton where he batted .241 with four home runs and 30 RBIs in 68 games. Stallings spent 2015 with Altoona where he slashed .275/.313/.370 with three home runs and 32 RBIs in 74 games. He began the 2016 season with the Indianapolis Indians.

Stallings was called up to the majors for the first time on June 19, 2016.[4] Stallings recorded his first major league hit, a double, on June 21 against the San Francisco Giants. He was designated for assignment on July 5, and outrighted to back to Indianapolis after clearing waivers. In 80 games for Indianapolis, he hit .214/.252/.350 with six home runs and 28 RBIs. Stallings was recalled again by the Pirates on September 13.[citation needed] On September 23, he had a game-winning RBI single in the Pirates' 6–5 win over the Washington Nationals.[5] He was outrighted on November 2, 2016.[6]

In 2017, Stallings spent a majority of the season with Indianapolis, slashing .301/.358/.431 with four home runs and 38 RBIs in 62 games.[7] He also played in five games for Pittsburgh. He began 2018 with Indianapolis, and was recalled by the Pirates on June 10. On September 17, he had a game-winning RBI single in the Pirates 7–6 win over the Kansas City Royals.[citation needed] In 2018 with Pittsburgh he batted 216/.268/.216.

Stallings entered the 2019 season out of minor league options.[8] He was outrighted off the roster on May 17, 2019,[9] but was promoted back to the major leagues on May 26 when Francisco Cervelli went on the injured list.[10]

In 2020, Stallings batted .248/.326/.376 for the Pirates with three home runs and 18 RBIs.[11] He had the slowest time from home plate to first base of all major leaguers, at 5.09.[12]

On July 17, 2021, Stallings hit a walk-off grand slam to beat the New York Mets 9–7, the third walk-off grand slam in PNC Park history.[13] Stallings finished the 2021 season batting .246/.335/.369 with eight home runs and 53 RBIs in 113 games. He won the Gold Glove Award and Fielding Bible Award that year.[14][15]

Miami Marlins

Stallings (left) tagging a baserunner during a 2022 game at Nationals Park

On November 29, 2021, the Pirates traded Stallings to the Miami Marlins for Zach Thompson and minor leaguers Kyle Nicolas and Connor Scott.[16]

His salary for the 2022 season was decided in an arbitration hearing on June 18. He requested $3.1 million, and was awarded $2.45 million.[17]

On January 13, 2023, Stallings agreed to a one-year, $3.35 million contract with the Marlins, avoiding salary arbitration.[18] On May 3, Stallings replaced Devin Smeltzer at pitcher in the 9th inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves. After recording a double play, Stallings faced April NL Player of the Month Ronald Acuña Jr., who he struck out on four pitches.[19] He was non-tendered and became a free agent on November 17.

Colorado Rockies

On January 5, 2024, Stallings signed a one-year contract with the Colorado Rockies.[20]

Personal life

His father, Kevin Stallings, was formerly the head basketball coach at Illinois State, Vanderbilt, and Pittsburgh.[21]

References

  1. ^ "2009 Chatham As". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  2. ^ "#32 Jacob Stallings – Profile". pointstreak.com. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  3. ^ "Once a 42nd-round pick, Pirates catcher Jacob Stallings has eye on opening day". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  4. ^ "Pirates call up Stallings, son of Pitt hoops coach". June 19, 2016.
  5. ^ "Jacob Stallings, last man left, lifts Pirates to walk-off win over Nationals". Usatoday.com. September 24, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  6. ^ "On the Panthers: For Kevin Stallings, a new home with a familiar bond". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  7. ^ "Jacob Stallings Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  8. ^ "Pirates catcher Jacob Stallings faces make-or-break spring training". March 2019.
  9. ^ DiPaola, Jerry (May 17, 2019). "Pirates place Trevor Williams on 10-day injured list". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  10. ^ "Pirates Place Catcher Francisco Cervelli on 7-Day Concussion List - CBS Pittsburgh". CBS News. May 26, 2019.
  11. ^ "Jacob Stallings Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  12. ^ "Statcast Sprint Speed Leaderboard". baseballsavant.com. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  13. ^ "From .030 xBA to walk-off slam for Stallings". MLB.com. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  14. ^ "Three Pirates recognized as Gold Glove finalists; Fielding Bible awards announced". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  15. ^ "Stallings picks up Gold Glove Award". MLB.com. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  16. ^ De Nicola, Christina (November 29, 2021). "Marlins trade for catcher Stallings". MLB.com. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  17. ^ "Miami Marlins win arbitration case filed by Jacob Stallings; veteran catcher set to earn $2.45 million". ESPN. Associated Press. June 18, 2022. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  18. ^ "2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker". MLBTradeRumors. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  19. ^ "This K is a keeper: Stallings has souvenir after freezing Acuña". mlb.com. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  20. ^ "Rockies fill voids with signings of Hudson, Stallings". MLB.com.
  21. ^ "Pirates minor leaguer Stallings knows new Pitt basketball coach quite well". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved November 29, 2021.

External links