Marcus Semien, Infield, Texas Rangers


Date of Birth: 9/17/1990
Birthplace: San Francisco, California
College: University of California at Berkeley

Marcus Semien, infielder for the Texas Rangers, was originally drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2008 but he opted instead to go to the University of California at Berkeley. Three years later, the White Sox drafted him again and he signed with them in 2011.

Semien played in the White Sox's minor league system from 2011 through part of 2014. In 387 games, he had 400 hits, 203 RBIs, 299 strikeouts to 228 walks, and a .272 batting average. As a shortstop in 250 games, he made 693 assists, 137 double plays, 352 putouts, and 57 errors.

Semien joined the White Sox for 21 games in 2013. He played in 64 games in 2014 and he had a .234 batting average with 54 hits, 10 of which were doubles. Defensively, he played 26 games at second base, 33 games at third base, and 3 games at shortstop.

On December 9, 2014, Semien was traded to the Oakland Athletics. He had his first full season in the major leagues in 2015, playing in 155 games with the Athletics. He finished the season with a .257 batting average, 143 hits, 23 doubles, 15 home runs, and 45 RBIs. Defensively, as a shortstop, he made 407 assists, 99 double plays, 214 putouts, and 35 errors. He had a .947 fielding percentage.

Semien finished the 2016 season with a .238 batting average in 159 games. He had 135 hits, 27 doubles, 27 home runs, 10 stolen bases, and 75 RBIs. Defensively, as the Athletics' shortstop in 159 games, he made 477 assists, 109 double plays, 235 putouts, and 21 errors.

Semien spent time on the DL in 2017, limiting his playing time to 85 games. He finished the season with 85 hits, 19 doubles, 10 home runs, 12 stolen bases, 40 RBIs, 85 strikeouts to 38 walks, and a .249 batting average. Defensively, as the Athletics shortstop in 85 games, he made 241 assists, 45 double plays, 125 putouts, and 9 errors.

Semien had a full season in 2018, playing in 159 games. He had 161 hits, 35 doubles, 15 home runs, 14 stolen bases, 70 RBIs, 131 strikeouts to 61 walks, and a .255 batting average. Defensively, as a shortstop in 159 games, he made 458 assists, 79 double plays, 198 putouts, and 20 errors. In the postseason, he had 3 at-bats in 1 game and he had 1 hit.

Semien finished the 2019 season with 187 hits, 43 doubles, 33 home runs, 92 RBIs, 102 strikeouts to 87 walks, and a .285 batting average in 162 games. Defensively, as a shortstop in 161 games, he made 436 assists, 85 double plays, 186 putouts, and 12 errors. In the postseason, he had 1 hit in 5 at-bats in 1 game.

Semien played in 53 games in 2020. He finished the season with 47 hits, 9 doubles, 7 home runs, 23 RBIs, 50 strikeouts to 25 walks, and a .223 batting average. Defensively, he played all 53 games at shortstop. In the postseason, he batted .407 with 11 hits, 1 double, 2 home runs, and 4 RBIs in 27 at-bats in 7 games.

Semien became a free agent on October 28, 2020. He signed with the Toronto Blue Jays on January 30, 2021. He won his first Silver Slugger award and his first Gold Glove in 2021. He finished the season with 173 hits, 39 doubles, 45 home runs, 102 RBIs, 15 stolen bases, 146 strikeouts to 66 walks, and a .265 batting average in 162 games. Defensively, as a second baseman in 147 games, he made 317 assists, 86 double plays, 202 putouts, and 8 errors.

Semien became a free agent again on November 3, 2021. He signed a seven-year, $175 million contract with the Rangers on December 1st.

Career batting statistics for Semien through 2021 include:

  • 1,020 games played
  • 1,003 hits
  • 209 doubles
  • 160 home runs
  • 482 RBIs
  • 877 strikeouts to 392 walks
  • .256 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Semien at shortstop through 2021 include:

  • 796 games played
  • 2,228 assists
  • 440 double plays
  • 1,040 putouts
  • 105 errors
  • .969 fielding percentage

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Marcus Semien
ESPN - Marcus Semien
Baseball Reference - Marcus Semien