Dustin Ackley, Utility Player


Date of Birth: 2/26/1988
Birthplace: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
College: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Dustin Ackley, utility player, was a star player in high school before being drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2009. At that time, he signed a five-year, $7.5 million contract with the Mariners. Ackley played in the Mariners' minor league system from 2010 until 2011, when he was called up to the Mariners to play in 90 games with them.

In 2011, Ackley batted .273 with 91 hits in 90 games. The following season, he batted just .226 with 137 hits, 22 doubles, and 50 RBIs in 153 games. In 2013, he played in 113 games before being sent back to the minors. He batted .253 with 97 hits and 18 doubles. He finished the 2014 season with 123 hits, 27 doubles, 14 home runs, 65 RBIs, and a .245 batting average in 143 games.

Ackley was traded to the New York Yankees on July 30, 2015. Five days later, he was on the DL with a lumbar strain. He finished the 2015 season with 55 hits and a .231 batting average in 86 games with the Mariners and 23 games with the Yankees. Defensively, he played every outfield position as well as 4 games at first base and 10 games at second base.

Ackley played in just 28 games with the Yankees in 2016. The team released him on November 18, 2016. He signed a minor league contract with the Angels on February 4, 2017. He spent the entire 2017 season in the minors.

Ackley became a free agent on November 6, 2017. He signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels on April 6, 2018. He again played only in the minor leagues in 2018.

Ackley elected free agency on November 2, 2018. He returned to the Mariners on a minor league contract on January 9, 2019. He was released on March 12, 2019. He hasn't played professional baseball since 2018.

Career batting statistics for Ackley through 2017 include:

  • 635 games played
  • 512 hits
  • 94 doubles
  • 216 RBIs
  • 419 strikeouts to 194 walks
  • .241 batting average

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Dustin Ackley
ESPN - Dustin Ackley