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Lou Marson

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Lou Marson
Marson playing for the Indians in 2012
Catcher
Born: (1986-06-26) June 26, 1986 (age 38)
Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 28, 2008, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
April 24, 2013, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
Batting average.219
Home runs5
Runs batted in60
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Beijing Team competition

Louis Glenn Marson (born June 26, 1986) is an American former professional baseball catcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians, from 2008 through 2013. Marson also played in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Minor leagues

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The Philadelphia Phillies drafted Marson in the fourth round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft out of Coronado High School in Scottsdale, Arizona.[1] During 2004, he played with the Gulf Coast League Phillies instructional league team, where he ended the season with a seven-game hitting streak.[2] In 38 games, Marson amassed a total of 29 hits, including three doubles and four home runs, for a batting average of .257. He also stole four bases.[3] During his first full season in the Phillies' system, Marson played with the A-level Batavia Muckdogs. He played 60 games for the short-season squad, batting .245 with five home runs and three triples.[3] He also drew 27 bases on balls[4] and hit .351 against left-handed pitchers.[5]

Moving up to the South Atlantic League for the 2006 season, Marson had a team-leading five triples and four stolen bases, though his average fell to .243.[3] He notched a four-hit game against the Hagerstown Suns, a four-RBI game in August against the Delmarva Shorebirds, and reached base safely in nearly every game in July.[6] Marson had 85 hits in 350 at-bats in 2006 and added 29 walks for a .343 on-base percentage.[4] Marson made his first appearance at the Phillies' spring training in 2007, after which he was assigned to the high-A Clearwater Threshers. He led the 2007 Threshers in batting average (.288) among qualifying players, hit 7 home runs and batted in 63 runs.[7] He established himself as a solid fielder behind the plate, making only three errors in the final 37 games of the season[8] and finishing with a fielding percentage of .982 for the season.[7] After the 2007 season, Marson was recognized as one of the top ten prospects in the Phillies' minor league system by Baseball America.[9]

In 2008, Marson won the Paul Owens Award as the top minor league player in the Phillies' farm system.[10] In 94 games behind the plate for the AA Reading Phillies, Marson batted .314 with five home runs and 18 doubles. He also walked 68 times.[3] For his efforts, he was named to both the midseason and post-season Eastern League All-Star teams.[10] He led that league, and all AA-level leagues, in on-base percentage with a .433 mark[3][11] and posted a 14-game hitting streak at the end of May, during which he had a grand slam and six RBI in one game.[10] A converted infielder with a strong arm,[12] he allowed 30 baserunners in 83 stolen-base attempts for a steal percentage of 36%.[3] The Phillies purchased Marson's contract at the conclusion of the 2008 Eastern League season, and he was called up to the majors for the postseason stretch run. After the season, the Phillies' farm system director, Steve Noworyta, said that Marson "continues, like fine wine, to get better as he ages."[13] His stock as a Baseball America prospect rose from eighth in the system to third,[14] and he was named one of the top 50 prospects in Major League Baseball.[11]

Marson and Reading teammate Jason Donald were selected to the United States national baseball team for the 2008 Olympics,[15] where they won the bronze medal.[16] National team manager Davey Johnson said that "[he] really impressed me during (the Futures Game)… He caught the first three innings. We don't give the signs to the catcher. He told (pitcher) Brett Anderson to throw over to first and he picked (a runner off). His numbers are outstanding for a catcher—great offensive catcher—and I got reports that said everything about him is good."[17]

Major leagues

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Philadelphia Phillies

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Marson playing for the Phillies in 2009

Marson was called up to the Phillies on September 1, 2008. He had his first major league hit off of Odalis Perez on September 28 against the Washington Nationals. He later scored his first run in the same inning. In the same game, he also hit his first big league home run off Marco Estrada.[18] This was on the final day of the 2008 season; though Marson was not included on the World Series-winning roster,[19] he did travel with the team in case of injuries.[20] He did receive a World Series ring, in spite of all this.[21] After the end of the postseason, Marson participated in the Arizona Fall League, where he played for the Mesa Solar Sox.[22]

Marson participated in the major league 2009 spring training with the Phillies, where veteran starter Jamie Moyer expressed his pleasure with Marson's skills and ability to call the game.[12] Assistant GM Chuck LaMar said that "[his] strength has actually become his ability to run the game… That is unique for a converted catcher. We think he's one of the finest catching prospects in baseball." Marson was reassigned to the minor leagues on March 23,[23] but was called up to the majors on April 11 to replace Carlos Ruiz, who injured his right oblique muscle.[24] He went 1-for-4 in one game for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs before his call-up.[25]

Cleveland Indians

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On July 29, 2009, the Phillies traded Marson, along with Jason Donald, Carlos Carrasco, and Jason Knapp to the Cleveland Indians for Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco.[26]

Over the next three seasons, Marson was a fixture behind the plate for Cleveland, playing in over 70 games in each of the 2010, 2011, and 2012 seasons—however, he struggled at the plate, never hitting higher than .230. After a 2013 season in which he only appeared in 3 games at the major league level, Marson was non-tendered by the Indians, becoming a free agent.[27]

Cincinnati Reds

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On December 18, 2013, the Reds signed Marson to a minor league contract, that included a spring training invitation. He was released on March 14, 2014. Marson signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds in May 2014.[citation needed]

Coaching career

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Marson served as hitting coach of the Salt Lake Bees, the Los Angeles Angels' Triple-A affiliate, in 2017. The next year, he managed the Mobile BayBears, their Double-A affiliate. In 2019, the Angels named Marson the manager of Salt Lake.[28]

References

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  1. ^ "Amateur Draft: 4th Round of the 2004 June Draft". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  2. ^ "Lou Marson: Biography and Career Highlights (2004)". Phillies.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Lou Marson Minor League Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  4. ^ a b "Louis Marson". The Baseball Cube. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  5. ^ "Lou Marson: Biography and Career Highlights (2005)". Phillies.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  6. ^ "Lou Marson: Biography and Career Highlights (2006)". Phillies.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  7. ^ a b "2007 Clearwater Threshers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  8. ^ "Lou Marson: Biography and Career Highlights (2007)". Phillies.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  9. ^ Kline, Chris (November 13, 2007). "Philadelphia Phillies: Top 10 Prospects". Baseball America. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
  10. ^ a b c "Lou Marson: Biography and Career Highlights (2008)". Phillies.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  11. ^ a b "Lou Marson Top 50 Prospects Profile". Major League Baseball. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
  12. ^ a b Martino, Andy (March 9, 2009). "Young catcher Marson learning from the ropes". Philly.com. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on March 12, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
  13. ^ Winston, Lisa (November 14, 2008). "Phillies rich in outfield prospects". Phillies.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
  14. ^ Stark, Eric G (March 22, 2009). "A look at the Phillies' future stars". LancasterOnline.com. Sunday News. Archived from the original on July 31, 2012. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
  15. ^ Zolecki, Todd (July 16, 2008). "Marson, Donald Headed to the Olympics". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  16. ^ "U.S. baseball team defeats Japan for bronze medal". CBSSports.com. Associated Press. August 23, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  17. ^ "Lou Marson Profile & Bio". NBC Sports. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
  18. ^ "Philadelphia Phillies 8, Washington Nationals 3". Retrosheet, Inc. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  19. ^ "2008 World Series – PHI vs. TBR". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  20. ^ "Lou Marson, C, Philadelphia Phillies". KFFL. October 22, 2008. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
  21. ^ "Ring Ceremony Photos & News". April 9, 2009.
  22. ^ "Arizona Fall League Rosters". Baseball America. August 27, 2008. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
  23. ^ "Lou Marson, C, Philadelphia Phillies". KFFL. March 23, 2009. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
  24. ^ Zolecki, Todd (April 11, 2009). "Phillies place Ruiz on 15-day DL". Phillies.MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  25. ^ "Lou Marson". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved April 12, 2009.
  26. ^ "Lee, Francisco for Four Phillies Prospects". The Zo Zone. July 29, 2009. Archived from the original on August 1, 2009. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  27. ^ Twitter / Indians: #Indians today did not tender 2014 contracts to the following players: OF Matt Carson, C Lou Marson, RHP Tyler Cloyd. Roster is @ 38 players
  28. ^ "Bees, Angels Announce 2019 Field Staff". Salt Lake Bees. Minor League Baseball (milb.com). Retrieved February 19, 2019.
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