Jacoby Ellsbury, Center Field


Date of Birth: 9/11/1983
Birthplace: Madras, Oregon
College: Oregon State University
Nickname: Tacoby Bellsbury

Jacoby Ellsbury, center fielder, was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2005 and he made his first appearance with the Boston team in Spring training in 2007. He spent several months in the minor leagues before being called up by the Red Sox in June, 2007 to replace an injured Coco Crisp in center field. Ellsbury played in only 33 games with the Red Sox in the 2007 regular season but his numbers were impressive. He batted .353 with 3 home runs and 18 RBIs and an OBP of .394. His postseason numbers in the division championship and World Series were even better: .360 average with .429 OBP.

Due to injuries, Ellsbury has played in only four full seasons (2008, 2009, 2011, 2013) but his accomplishments in that short time have been impressive. Known for his speed, Ellsbury led the American League in stolen bases in 2008, 2009, and 2013. The 2011 season was probably his best, with a batting average of .321, 212 hits, 46 doubles, 32 home runs, 105 RBIs, and 39 stolen bases. His fielding was also excellent in 2011, with no errors in 154 games. His efforts that season were rewarded with the AL Comeback Player of the Year award, a Silver Slugger award, and a Gold Glove.

Ellsbury became a free agent after the 2013 World Series and he signed a seven year, $153 million contract with the New York Yankees in December, 2013. The contract includes an option for an eighth year. He finished the 2014 season with 156 hits, 27 doubles, 70 RBIs, 39 stolen bases, and a .271 batting average. Defensively, as a center fielder, he made only one error and he had a .997 fielding percentage.

Ellsbury spent time on the DL in 2015 with a knee sprain. He finished the season with 116 hits, 15 doubles, 21 stolen bases, 33 RBIs, and a .257 batting average in 111 games. As a center fielder, he made 232 putouts and no errors in 110 games.

In 2016, Ellsbury batted .263 with 145 hits, 24 doubles, 20 stolen bases, and 56 RBIs in 148 games. Defensively, as a center fielder, he made 272 putouts and 3 errors in 148 games and he had a .989 fielding percentage.

Ellsbury finished the 2017 season with 94 hits, 20 doubles, 22 stolen bases, 39 RBIs, 63 strikeouts to 41 walks, and a .264 batting average. Defensively, as the Yankees' center fielder in 97 games, he made 193 putouts and 3 errors. In the postseason, he had 9 at-bats in 6 games and he had no hits.

After spending the first four months of the 2018 season on the DL, Ellsbury had season ending hip surgery on August 6, 2018. He spent the entire 2018 season on the DL. He again spent the entire 2019 season on the DL, recovering from his hip surgery.

The Yankees released Ellsbury on November 20, 2019. He hasn't played professional baseball since 2017.

Statistics for Ellsbury in his eight full seasons (2008, 2009, 2011, 2013-2017) in the major leagues include:

  • 2 seasons with a batting average over .300, with a high of .321 in 2011
  • 5 seasons with over 150 hits, with a high of 212 in 2011
  • 7 seasons with 20 or more stolen bases, with a high of 70 in 2009

Career batting statistics for Ellsbury through 2017 include:

  • 1,235 games played
  • 1,376 hits
  • 241 doubles
  • 104 home runs
  • 343 stolen bases
  • 512 RBIs
  • 737 strikeouts to 399 walks
  • .284 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Ellsbury as a center fielder through 2017 include:

  • 1,105 games played
  • 2,575 putouts
  • 15 errors
  • .994 fielding percentage

Charitable Work

Ellsbury has a charity wine, Zinfand Ellsbury. Proceeds from sales of the wine go to The Navajo Relief Fund, Project Bread, and the Ellsbury Read Project, an organization that fights child abuse.

Personal Life

Ellsbury is a member of the Navajo tribe.

Ellsbury and his wife Kelsey were married in December, 2012.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Jacoby Ellsbury
ESPN Sports - Jacoby Ellsbury