Colin Curtis (baseball) explained

Colin Benedict Curtis (born February 1, 1985) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. In 2010, he played for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Amateur career

Curtis attended Issaquah High School, where he played baseball for the school. As a freshman, in 2000, Issaquah won the Class 3A state championship.^[1] Curtis was named to the All-King County Class 3A team in 2001, 2002, and 2003. He was named to the All-State team in 2002 and 2003.^[2]

Curtis was chosen in the 50th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft by the Cincinnati Reds, but he did not sign, choosing to attend Arizona State University to play college baseball for the Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team.^[2] In 2004 and 2005, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and was named the MVP of the East division team at the league's annual all-star game in 2005.^{[3] [4] [5]}

Professional career

New York Yankees (2006–2012)

The New York Yankees selected Curtis in the fourth round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft.^{[6] [7]} That year, he hit .302 in 44 games with the Staten Island Yankees of Short Season A-ball.^[8] In 2007, Curtis hit .298 with five home runs and 26 RBI in 65 games with the Tampa Yankees in High-A. He finished the year in Double-A with the Trenton Thunder.

Curtis repeated Double-A in 2008, hitting .255 with 10 home runs, 20 doubles, three triples and 71 RBI over 132 games. He reached Triple-A in 2009, but struggled when he hit .235 with six home runs and 29 RBI in 70 games for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.^[9] After the season, Curtis played in the Arizona Fall League.^[10]

He had a strong showing in spring training before the 2010 season, going 6-for-12 with two home runs in eight RBI.^[11] Curtis was called up to the major leagues on June 21, 2010.^{[12] [13]} That night, he made his major league debut by pinch hitting for A. J. Burnett in the 5th inning.^[14] On June 22, Curtis recorded his first major league hit, a double off of Chad Qualls of the Arizona Diamondbacks.^[15] On July 21, he hit his first career home run against Scot Shields of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He was pinch hitting for Brett Gardner, who was ejected while batting with an 0–2 count in the bottom of the seventh inning.^[16] On July 31, Curtis was optioned back to Triple-A following the acquisition of outfielder Austin Kearns.^[17] He was promoted again on September 6.^[18]

In 2011, Curtis dislocated his shoulder making a catch in spring training.^[19] After an initial attempt to rehab the injury, he underwent surgery in April and missed the entire season.^{[20] [21]} He was designated for assignment in the offseason.^[22] In 2012, the Yankees invited Curtis to big league spring training as a non-roster invitee.^[23] He was released by the Yankees on August 1.^[24]

Somerset Patriots (2012)

Curtis signed with the Somerset Patriots of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball a few days after he was released by the Yankees.^{[25] [26]}

Personal

During his freshman year of high school, at the age of 15, Curtis was diagnosed with testicular cancer. It spread to the veins in his stomach and around his lymph nodes. The treatment involved surgery to remove the tumor and parts of the affected veins and regular blood tests. While battling the disease, fellow testicular cancer survivor Lance Armstrong gave him an autographed book.^{[1] [27]}

External links

• Baseball America profile

Notes and References

1. Web site: Young baseball star used his drive in cancer fight . seattlepi.com . July 27, 2003 . August 13, 2012.
2. Web site: Seattle Post-Intelligencer . Catching up with ... Colin Curtis . seattlepi.com . March 24, 2004 . August 13, 2012.
3. Web site: 2004 Orleans Cardinals . thebaseballcube.com . July 20, 2021.
4. Web site: 2005 Orleans Cardinals . thebaseballcube.com . July 20, 2021.
5. News: Curran . David . Double-play grounder wins pitching-dominated All-Star game . 12 . Barnstable Patriot . Barnstable, MA . August 5, 2005 .
6. Web site: 2006 New York Yankees Draft Class - The Baseball Cube . February 18, 2024 . TheBaseballCube.com . en.
7. Web site: Yankees call up Issaquah High School grad : The Issaquah Press – News, Sports, Classifieds and More in Issaquah, WA . Issaquahpress.com . June 22, 2010 . August 13, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141129181430/http://www.issaquahpress.com/2010/06/22/yankees-call-up-issaquah-high-school-grad/ . November 29, 2014 . dead .
8. Web site: Waggoner . Jim . February 28, 2015 . Staten Island Yankees alumni who made it to the Majors . February 18, 2024 . silive . en.
9. Web site: April 2, 2010 . Curtis Wields Red-hot Bat In Spring Training . February 19, 2024 . Times Leader . en-US.
10. Web site: Whicker . Mark . November 19, 2009 . Conger takes time to get defensive . February 19, 2024 . Orange County Register . en-US.
11. Web site: 2010 New York Yankees - Spring Training - The Baseball Cube . February 19, 2024 . TheBaseballCube.com . en.
12. Web site: June 22, 2010 . Yankees notes: Colin Curtis arrives . https://web.archive.org/web/20100626013135/http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/96859084_Yankees_notes__Colin_Curtis_arrives.html . June 26, 2010 . August 13, 2012 . NorthJersey.com.
13. Web site: November 13, 2023 . Yankees call up OF Curtis from Triple-A Scranton . February 19, 2024 . The Columbian . en-US.
14. Web site: Matthews . Wallace . June 22, 2010 . Eiland's departure has been costly to Yanks staff . February 18, 2024 . ESPN.com . en.
15. Web site: Hoch . Bryan . June 23, 2010 . Yanks' late outburst enough for Pettitte . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121104230648/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100622&content_id=11476712&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb . November 4, 2012 . June 23, 2012 . MLB.com.
16. News: Shpigel . Ben . July 21, 2010 . At-Bat, Shared by Two Hitters, Ends on Three-Run Homer . February 19, 2024 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
17. Web site: August 1, 2010 . No Thunder players lost to trades . February 19, 2024 . nj.com . en.
18. Web site: September 6, 2010 . Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees Blog » Curtis promoted, SWB gets replacement . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120306135441/http://blogs.thetimes-tribune.com/yankees/?p=7281 . March 6, 2012 . August 13, 2012 . Blogs.thetimes-tribune.com.
19. Web site: King III . George A. . March 7, 2011 . Yankees’ A-Rod hits first spring homer with Diaz in stands . February 19, 2024 . New York Post . en-US.
20. Web site: Carig . Marc . March 10, 2011 . Yankees outfielder Colin Curtis to spend next month rehabbing from injury . February 19, 2024 . The Star-Ledger . en.
21. Web site: Matthews . Wallace . April 19, 2011 . Curtis has season-ending surgery . February 19, 2024 . ESPN.com . en.
22. Web site: December 9, 2011 . Yankees sign Garcia to one-year deal . February 19, 2024 . Times Herald-Record . en-US.
23. Web site: March 30, 2012 . Curtis’ Main Concern Is Returning To Health . February 19, 2024 . Times Leader . en-US.
24. Web site: August 2, 2012 . Yankees release Jack Cust, Colin Curtis, and Ray Kruml . February 19, 2024 . River Avenue Blues . en-US.
25. Web site: Curtis looking to regain some glory. https://web.archive.org/web/20141129084948/https://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20120812/NJSPORTS0302/308120029/Curtis-looking-to-regain-some-glory. November 29, 2014. MyCentralJersey. August 12, 2012. January 29, 2024.
26. Web site: Ashmore . Mike . August 15, 2012 . Ex-Yankee Curtis on the road back with Somerset Patriots . February 19, 2024 . nj.com . en.
27. News: O'Connor . Ian . March 4, 2010 . O'Connor: Cancer survivor a Yankee king for a day . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120916171212/http://www.northjersey.com/sports/sports_rotator/030410_OConnor_March_gladness_for_Yankee.html?page=all . September 16, 2012 . September 6, 2010 . NorthJersey.com.