Jon Weber (baseball)

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Jon Weber
Outfielder
Born: (1978-01-20) January 20, 1978 (age 46)
Lakewood, California
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Medal record
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
Baseball World Cup
Gold medal – first place 2009 Nettuno National team

Jonathan Brian Weber (born January 20, 1978, in

minor league and [independent league baseball|independent league]] baseball from 1999 to 2015. Weber also competed for the United States national baseball team, winning the gold medal at the 2009 Baseball World Cup
.

Amateur career

Weber was born in Lakewood, California. He attended Lakewood High School in Lakewood, California. There, he played for the school's baseball team, known as the Lancers, graduating in 1996.[2][3]

Out of high school, Weber was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the thirty-first round of the 1997 Major League Baseball draft. However, he chose not to sign with the Athletics, opting to attend college. He began his college baseball career at Los Angeles Harbor College (LAHC) of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in 1997.[4] At LAHC, Weber was a NJCAA All-America selection.[5]

In 1999, Weber transferred to

hit for the cycle.[7]

Professional career

Weber signed his first professional contract with the

home runs and 17 runs batted in (RBI) in 22 games. The next year, he hit .221 with a .333 OBP and .333 SLG with six home runs and 34 RBIs in 108 games for the Single-A Clinton LumberKings of the Midwest League. However, Weber was released by the Reds after the season. He felt the Reds "treated [him] like a non-prospect".[9]

In 2001, Weber played

Fargo-Moorhead Redhawks of the independent Northern League in 2002,[12] where he hit .296 with a .351 OBP, .501 SLG, and 30 doubles for Fargo-Morehead, placing fourth in the league in doubles. Back with Fargo-Moorhead to open 2003, he batted .309 with a .408 OBP and .520 SLG through 52 games, as the team went on to win the Northern League championship.[8]

However, in July 2003, the

Modesto A's of the California League for the remainder of that year. In 2004, he hit .280 with a .356 OBP, .458 SLG, 15 home runs and 68 RBI in 111 games with the Double-A Midland RockHounds of the Texas League, and hit .341 with a .383 OBP, .568 SLG, two home runs and 12 RBI in 12 games with the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), helping the River Cats win the PCL championship.[8]

Weber signed with the

steroids.[13][14]

After starting the 2006 season with the Triple-A

Tucson Sidewinders of the PCL, hitting .321 with a .374 OBP, .518 SLG, 5 home runs and 27 RBI in 46 games. The Sidewinders won the PCL championship, Weber's fourth consecutive league championship.[8]

Weber was released by the Diamondbacks during 2007 spring training. He signed with Fargo-Moorhead. After 16 games there, batting .283 with a .371 OBP and .417 SLG, his contract was sold to the Texas Rangers on June 4, 2007. The Rangers assigned him to the Single-A Advanced Bakersfield Blaze of the California League, where he hit .356 with a .416 OBP, .550 SLG, five home runs, 14 doubles, 25 RBI, and 34 runs scored in 37 games.[15] After spending a month with the Rangers organization, on July 16, the Tampa Bay Rays purchased his contract from the Rangers and assigned him to the Triple-A Durham Bulls of the International League.[16] There, he hit .265 with three home runs and 21 RBIs in 39 games. Weber re-signed with the Rays on a minor league contract after the 2007 season,[17] and batted .265 with a .334 OBP, .447 SLG, 13 home runs for the Bulls in 2008.

Weber returned to the Rays' organization in 2009, almost making the Rays' opening day roster until Matt Joyce recovered from an injury.[9] Weber returned to Durham, where he hit .302 with 14 home runs in 117 games,[9] and led the 2009 International League with 46 doubles and finished ninth in batting average. He was named to the International League post-season All-Star team.[18]

After the 2009 season, Weber signed with the

Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees.[19] He hit .258 with no home runs in 47 games with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before being released by the Yankees on June 3.[22] He signed with the Detroit Tigers, reporting to the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens of the International League. He hit .256 with a .310 OBP and .372 SLG in 21 games for Toledo. He announced his retirement on July 15, 2010.[22]

Weber is just a tried and true professional who reminds these guys of the importance of winning every day. Not worrying about where we are in the standings, how much each game means, individual stats or getting contracts picked up, but just going out there and getting a win each and everyday no matter what -- that's what Weber does.

 – Rick Forney, manager of the Winnipeg Goldeyes[23]

On July 19, 2010, Major League Baseball announced Weber's 100-game suspension for having failed a drug test for the third time. The drug was identified as a "drug of abuse" rather than a

performance-enhancing drug.[24]

Despite announcing his retirement earlier in the year, Weber continued his career in leagues unaffiliated with MLB. He played winter league baseball in the winter of 2010–11 in the

waived Weber, giving him his unconditional release.[27]

International career

Weber joined the United States national baseball team for the 2009 Baseball World Cup held in Nettuno, Italy in September 2009, helping the United States win the gold medal. Weber made the Cup's All-Tournament Team.[28]

Weber has routinely played winter league baseball.

Dominican Winter League.[34]

Personal life

Weber is divorced. He has two children.[19] Weber works in construction during his time away from baseball to help make ends meet.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Borzi, Pat (March 20, 2010). "A Journeyman Looks to Make Majors, Just Like His Glove". The New York Times. Florida. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  2. ^ "Passed Ball Wins For Lakewood in Eighth". Press-Telegram. March 27, 1996. Retrieved January 23, 2012. (subscription required)
  3. ^ "Lakewood Alumni Profile". Lakewoodbaseball.org. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  4. ^ "Weber's Blast Leads Harbor To 13th Straight Win". Press-Telegram. April 11, 1997. Retrieved January 23, 2012. (subscription required)
  5. ^ "Who Will Step Up? That is the question as the Red Raiders will blend 12 talented returnees with 19 newcomers". Texas Tech Red Raiders Official Athletic Site — Baseball. Texastech.com. December 15, 1998. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Texas Tech Hosts Nebraska — Texas Tech Red Raiders Official Athletic Site" (Press release). Texastech.com. April 29, 1999. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  7. ^ "Texas Tech Defeats Southwest Texas State 16-12: Outfielder Jon Weber becomes fourth player in Texas Tech history to hit for the cycle". Texas Tech Red Raiders Official Athletic Site — Baseball. Texastech.com. April 20, 1999. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Mayo, Jonathan (September 18, 2006). "Bricktown Showdown PCL Notebook: Sidewinders continue to fulfill their dream season with trip to inaugural game". MLB.com. Milb.com. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  9. ^
    New York Daily News
    . Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  10. ^ Rega, Marissa (July 22, 2007). "Bulls, Weber trample Tribe: Newcomer collects career-high five RBIs in 13-1 rom". MLB.com. Milb.com. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  11. The Observer-Reporter
    . Retrieved July 18, 2012. (subscription required)
  12. ^ a b Rose, Tom (March 22, 2002). "Busy day for Wild Things". The Observer-Reporter. Retrieved July 18, 2012. (subscription required)
  13. Sacramento Bee
    . April 16, 2005. p. C9. Retrieved January 23, 2012. (subscription required)
  14. Major League Baseball Advanced Media
    . Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  15. ^ Rega, Marissa (July 22, 2007). "Bulls, Weber trample Tribe: Newcomer collects career-high five RBIs in 13-1 romp". MLB.com. MiLB.com. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  16. ^ Suchon, Joshua (July 23, 2007). "California League Notebook: News & notes for the week of July 16". MLB.com. MiLB.com. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  17. ^ Chastain, Bill (November 28, 2007). "Rays ink three to Minor League deals: Gimenez, Richard, Weber invited to Spring Training 2008". MLB.com. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
  18. ^ "Jon Weber Earns Spots On USA National Team". Texas Tech Red Raiders Official Athletic Site. Texastech.com. September 8, 2009. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  19. ^ a b c Borzi, Pat (March 31, 2010). "Hot Spring Not Enough for Yankees Minor Leaguer". The New York Times. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  20. ^ "Manny Banuelos wins 2011 James P. Dawson Award" (Press release). Major League Baseball. March 29, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  21. The Record
    . March 19, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  22. ^
    The Times-Tribune
    . July 16, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  23. ^ a b Frankel, Robby (August 29, 2011). "Fish lose, but Weber wins with Forney". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  24. ^ "Three Minor Leaguers suspended" (Press release). Major League Baseball Advanced Media. July 19, 2010. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  25. ^ Bender, Jim (June 15, 2011). "New Fish makes instant contribution: Smacks two run double". Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  26. ^ Wiebe, Ken (May 27, 2012). "Road warriors head home". Winnipeg Sun. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  27. ^ "Canizares' big bat added to lineup, Weber placed on waivers". Goldeyes.com. August 21, 2012. Archived from the original on October 6, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  28. ^ "Team USA Wins 2009 IBAF Baseball World Cup, Beats Cuba 10-5" (Press release). Major League Baseball. September 27, 2009. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  29. ^ Frisaro, Joe (February 3, 2007). "Puerto Rico dominates Mexico". MLB.com. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
  30. ^ Frisaro, Joe (February 5, 2007). "Puerto Rico overtakes Mexico in extras". MLB.com. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
  31. ^ "Saturday's Caribbean leagues roundup". MLB.com. January 12, 2008. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  32. ^ Sanchez, Jesse (February 4, 2009). "Venezuela now 2-0 after walk-off win | MLB.com: News". MLB.com. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  33. ^ Sanchez, Jesse (February 7, 2009). "Venezuela wins Caribbean Series crown". MLB.com. Retrieved June 19, 2012.
  34. ^ "Con fly de Feliz, Gigantes dejan a las Estrellas en el terreno" (in Spanish). DiarioLibre.com. Retrieved June 19, 2012.

External links

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