Andy Yerzy

Andy Yerzy
Free agent
Catcher / First baseman
Born: (1998-07-05) July 5, 1998 (age 26)
North York, Ontario, Canada
Bats: Left
Throws: Right

Andrew Jacob Yerzy[1] (born July 5, 1998) is a Canadian professional baseball catcher and first baseman who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.

Early life

Yerzy, a native of North York, Ontario, was born to David and Patricia (née Wong) Yerzy, has two older brothers, and is Jewish.[2][3][4] His paternal grandparents were Eric Yerzy (whose parents and siblings were murdered in the Holocaust) and Sonia Yerzy.[5] His maternal grandparents were Cheuck Yu Wong and Shun Kiu Susan Wong.[6] He attended York Mills Collegiate Institute in Toronto.[7][8][2]

Career

Amateur career

Yerzy was selected for the Junior Canadian National Baseball Team at the age of 15.[2] He was co-champion of Major League Baseball's Junior Home Run Derby at the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[9] In 2016 he was named a Rawlings-Perfect Game Third Team All-American.[10]

Arizona Diamondbacks

2016–18

Yerzy was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, 52nd overall.[7][8] He was the third-highest Major League Baseball draft pick ever from the Greater Toronto Area, behind Josh Naylor (12th overall in 2015 by the Miami Marlins) and Joey Votto (44th overall in 2002 by the Cincinnati Reds).[2] He had signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Notre Dame, but instead signed for a signing bonus of $1.214 million.[1][11] It was the 11th-highest bonus ever given a Canadian baseball player.[12] Arizona scouting director Deric Ladnier said: "He has massive power."[11] D-backs manager Chip Hale said "Now he's just got to graduate high school and ... start his career... he's as good looking of a 17-year-old as I've seen."[10]

After being drafted, at the age of 17, Yerzy played for both the AZL Diamondbacks and the Missoula Osprey in 2016. He posted a combined .216 batting average with one home run and 16 RBIs in 45 total games between both teams, while playing catcher.[7] After the 2016 season, Baseball America ranked him Arizona's #14 prospect.[1]

He spent 2017 with Missoula. Yerzy greatly improved over his debut, batting .298/.365/.524 with 13 home runs (tied for 6th in the Pioneer League), 45 RBIs and an .890 OPS in 54 games.[13][14]

Yerzy played all of 2018 with the Hillsboro Hops, slashing .297/.382/.452 with eight home runs (tied for 8th in the Northwest League), 34 RBIs (9th), and 34 walks (8th) in 63 games.[15][13] He was both a Northwest League Mid-Season All Star and a Northwest League Post-Season All Star for Hillsboro.[13]

2019–22

Yerzy split 2019 between the Hillsboro Hops and the Kane County Cougars in the Single-A Midwest League, batting a combined .179/.279/.275 with 46 walks, six home runs, and 39 RBI in 357 at-bats.[7] His 34 RBIs and 37 walks with Hillsboro were both 6th in the league.[16] Yerzy did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[17]

As of June 2021, he held every single Hops offensive record.[18] In 2021, Yerzy played with the Single-A Visalia Rawhide (12 games), Hillsboro (61 games), and the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles (21 games).[19][20] On May 21, 2021, Yerzy was named Canadian Baseball Network Player of the Week.[21] On August 27, he was named Canadian Baseball Network Player of the Week.[22] He batted a combined .220/.354/.459 in 318 at-bats, with 21 home runs, 61 RBI, 53 walks, 14 hit by pitches, and 7 stolen bases in 8 attempts.[19] In the field, he played catcher (45 games; throwing out 33% of attempted base-stealers) and first base (24 games).[19]

In 2022, Yerzy played the entire season with Amarillo.[19] He batted .220/.338/.402 in 291 at-bats, with 45 runs, 12 home runs, 38 RBI, and 50 walks.[19] In the field, he played first base (48 games) and catcher (31 games), and pitched one scoreless inning in one game.[19] He elected free agency following the season on November 10, 2022.[23]

Cincinnati Reds

On March 10, 2023, Yerzy signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds organization.[24] In 17 games split between the Double–A Chattanooga Lookouts and Triple–A Louisville Bats, he hit a combined .235/.371/.529 with 11 runs, 4 home runs, and 14 RBIs in 51 at bats.[25] On August 15, Yerzy was released by Cincinnati.[26]

Kansas City Monarchs

On August 23, 2023, Yerzy signed with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball.[27] In 12 games for the Monarchs, Yerzy batted .286/.457/.429 with one home run, four RBI, and 11 walks in 35 at-bats.[28]

Milwaukee Brewers

On February 2, 2024, Yerzy signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.[28] He was assigned to the Biloxi Shuckers, the Brewers' Double-A team in Biloxi, Mississippi.[29] On November 6, he elected free agency.[30]

International career

Yerzy was selected to the Canada national baseball team at the 2015 U-18 Baseball World Cup and 2019 Pan American Games Qualifier, and the 2019 WBSC Premier12.[31][32]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Andy Yerzy Stats & Scouting Report". Baseball America. July 5, 1998. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d Jamie Strashin (June 16, 2016). "Andrew Yerzy: Toronto's million-dollar baseball prospect". CBC Sports. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  3. ^ Gurvis, Jacob (April 7, 2022). "All the Jewish Major League Baseball Players We'll See in 2022". Detroit Jewish News.
  4. ^ Jesse Levine (May 6, 2018). "The Rarity That is a Canadian Jewish Ballplayer". Canuck Baseball Plus.
  5. ^ "Eric Yerzy Obituary - Montreal, QC". The Gazette. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  6. ^ "Cheuck Wong Obituary - Toronto". Toronto Star. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  7. ^ a b c d "Andy Yerzy Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Pioneer notes: Yerzy proving he's worthy; Arizona's second-round pick working hard behind the plate for Osprey". MiLB.com. July 21, 2016. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  9. ^ Matt Layman (June 20, 2016). "D-backs sign second-round pick Andrew Yerzy". Arizona Sports. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  10. ^ a b "Before starting career, Yerzy spends time with big club; From Toronto area, second-round Draft pick visits with D-backs at Rogers Centre". MLB.com. June 22, 2016.
  11. ^ a b "Toronto News". Toronto Sun. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  12. ^ "After BP with DBacks, Yerzy watches from on high with co-owner Royer". Canadian Baseball Network. June 22, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  13. ^ a b c "Andy Yerzy Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  14. ^ "2017 Pioneer League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. January 1, 1970. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  15. ^ McDermott, Michael (November 29, 2018). "Diamondbacks Top Prospect #19: Catcher Andy Yerzy". AZ Snake Pit.
  16. ^ "2019 Northwest League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
  17. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  18. ^ Hallie Holton (June 11, 2021). "Toronto, Canada—Where Hops Legends Are Born; Andy Yerzy on his journey through pro-ball". MiLB.com.
  19. ^ a b c d e f "Andy Yerzy Minor Leagues Statistics".
  20. ^ Stoker, Greg (August 10, 2021). "Andy Yerzy cooked Vancouver Canadians, leads Hillsboro Hops to 7-5 win". Minor League Sports Report.
  21. ^ "CBN Player of the Week, Week III - Andrew Yerzy". Canadian Baseball Network.
  22. ^ "CBN Player of the Week, Week XVII -- Andrew Yerzy". Canadian Baseball Network. August 27, 2021.
  23. ^ "Andy Yerzy Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com.
  24. ^ "Reds' Andy Yerzy: Inks minors deal with Cincinnati". CBS Sports. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  25. ^ "Andy Yerzy Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  26. ^ "Transactions". MiLB.com.
  27. ^ "2023 Transactions". aabaseball.com. Retrieved August 28, 2023.
  28. ^ a b "Transactions". MiLB.com.
  29. ^ "Monarchs Champion Yerzy Signs with Brewers". OurSports Central. February 6, 2024.
  30. ^ https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2024/
  31. ^ "Baseball Canada announces roster for Pan Am Games Qualifier". Baseball Canada. January 9, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  32. ^ "Baseball Canada reveals 2019 WBSC Premier12® roster". Baseball Canada. October 8, 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2019.