James Loney, Retired


Date of Birth: 5/7/1984
Birthplace: Houston, Texas

James Loney, retired first baseman, made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006. He played in 48 games in 2006 and ended the season with a .284 batting average, with 4 home runs, 6 doubles and 3 triples. One of the highlights of the season for Loney came on September 28th when he had 4 hits and tied Gil Hodges for the Dodgers' record for the most RBIs in one game with 9.

Loney started the 2007 season in the Dodgers' minor league system but he was called up in June. In 344 at-bats in 2007, Loney had a .331 batting average with 15 home runs, 18 doubles, 4 triples, and 67 RBIs. Loney continued to play well for the Dodgers but they traded him to the Boston Red Sox at the end of August, 1012.

In 2013, Loney had a one year contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. After a strong 2013 season, he signed a new, three-year, $21 million contract with Tampa Bay in December, 2013. In 158 games in 2013, Loney batted .299 with 164 hits, 33 doubles, and 75 RBIs. He finished the 2014 season with 174 hits, 27 doubles, and a .290 batting average in 155 games.

Loney finished the 2015 season with 101 hits, 16 doubles, and a .280 batting average in 104 games. As the Rays' first baseman in 101 games, he made 42 assists, 58 double plays, 729 putouts, and 6 errors and he had a .992 fielding percentage.

The Rays released Loney on April 3, 2016. Five days later, he signed with the San Diego Padres. After playing in the Padres' minor league system, he was traded to the New York Mets on May 28th. He finished the 2016 season with a .265 batting average, 91 hits, 16 doubles, and 34 RBIs in 100 games with the Mets. Defensively, at first base, he made 62 assists, 72 double plays, 664 putouts, and 8 errors in 97 games.

Loney became a free agent on November 3, 2016. He signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers on January 24, 2017. He was released on March 27th.

Loney signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers on April 18, 2017. He was released on May 7th. He signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves on May 18th. After just 18 games in the minors, he was released on May 23rd. He didn't play for the rest of the season.

Loney didn't play professional baseball in 2018. He retired in May, 2019.

Career batting statistics for Loney through 2017 include:

  • 1,443 games played
  • 1,425 hits
  • 267 doubles
  • 108 home runs
  • 669 RBIs
  • 652 strikeouts to 397 walks
  • .284 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Loney at first base through 2018 include:

  • 1,392 games played
  • 768 assists
  • 938 double plays
  • 10,607 putouts
  • 75 errors
  • .993 fielding percentage

Personal Life

Loney and his wife Nadia were married in 2013. They have one son.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - James Loney
ESPN Sports - James Loney