Brandon Laird

For the basketball coach, see Brandon Laird (basketball).

Brandon Laird
Laird with the Chiba Lotte Marines
Third baseman / First baseman
Born: (1987-09-11) September 11, 1987 (age 37)
Cypress, California, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
Professional debut
MLB: July 22, 2011, for the New York Yankees
NPB: March 27, 2015, for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Last appearance
MLB: September 29, 2013, for the Houston Astros
NPB: October 2, 2022, for the Chiba Lotte Marines
MLB statistics
Batting average.197
Home runs6
Runs batted in16
NPB statistics
Batting average.238
Home runs213
Runs batted in596
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
World Youth Baseball Championship
Gold medal – first place 2003 Kaohsiung Team

Brandon J. Laird (born September 11, 1987), nicknamed "Sushi Boy",[2] is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He has played for the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB), and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

High school and college career

Laird attended La Quinta High School in Westminster, California.[3] He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 27th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft. He did not sign,[4] opting to attend Cypress College, where he played college baseball for the Cypress Chargers.[5]

Professional career

New York Yankees

The New York Yankees selected Laird in the 27th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft.[6] He signed with the Yankees. Laird was named a Post-Season All-Star for the GCL Yankees that same year after hitting .339/.367/.577 with eight homer runs and 29 RBI in 45 games.[7][8] He was named a Post-Season All-Star following the 2009 season after hitting .266/.329/.415 with 13 home run and 75 RBI in 124 games for the Tampa Yankees.[7][9]

Laird was a non-roster invitee to Yankees spring training before the 2010 season.[10] On August 2, 2010, Laird was promoted from the Trenton Thunder of the Class AA Eastern League to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees of the Class AAA International League.[11] Laird was named both the Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year of the Eastern League in 2010, following a breakout season.[12] After the 2010 season, he was added to the Yankees' 40 man roster in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.[13] Baseball America named him the organization's 10th best prospect.[14]

Laird with the New York Yankees in 2011

Laird was promoted to the majors for the first time on July 18, 2011, when Ramiro Peña was placed on the disabled list.[15] On July 22, at Yankee Stadium, Laird made his major league debut, and got his first major league hit and RBI against Oakland Athletics pitcher Craig Breslow on a single to center field. He scored his first run earlier in the game, scoring on a single by Nick Swisher after working a walk off of A's pitcher Joey Devine.[16] Following the season, he won the Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove Award at third base.[17] The Yankees designated Laird for assignment on August 27, 2012.[18]

Houston Astros

Laird was claimed by the Houston Astros on September 1, 2012.[19] Laird started the 2013 season with the Triple-A Oklahoma City RedHawks. The Astros promoted Laird to the big leagues on April 18, 2013, after Brett Wallace was optioned to Oklahoma City. Laird had been hitting .353 in 12 games to earn his promotion.[20] He was outrighted off the roster on October 2, 2013.[21][22] Laird ended his 2013 season batting .169.[23]

Washington Nationals

Laird signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals on November 23, 2013.[24] On March 15, 2014, Laird was traded to the Washington Nationals for a player to be named later.[25] He played for the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League, and was named the league's player of the week for the week of June 16-22[26] and was a Post-Season All-Star.[7]

Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters

Laird with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2016

In November 2014, Laird signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[27] Laird struggled to start the 2015 season with Hokkaido, batting under .200 into June. On the final day of the All-Star break, Fighters third base coach Shirai took Laird out to dinner at a local sushi restaurant to get him to relax. The chef, a big Fighters fan, suggested that Laird should act like he is making sushi when he got into the batter's box to intimidate the pitcher. The next day, he did not do the gesture getting into the batter's box, but after he hit a home run, he acted like he was making sushi and thus the nickname "sushi boy" was born.[28] He started to gain momentum after that performance and had a nice second half, finishing his first season in NPB with 34 home runs and a batting average of .231.[29]

In May 2016, Laird made international headlines after a home run hit the Kirin sign at the Sapporo Dome, earning him a year's supply of beer and $10,000.[30] That year, he led the Pacific League with 39 home runs. He hit the game-winning home run in Game 4 of the 2016 Japan Series,[31] and a grand slam in Game 6. Laird won the Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award.[32]

He played for Mexico during the 2017 World Baseball Classic.[33][34] Laird spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons with the club, but failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension prior to the 2019 season and became a free agent.[35]

Chiba Lotte Marines

On January 15, 2019, Laird signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of NPB.[36] On July 27, 2022 Chiba Lotte Marines hitter Brandon Laird won the 2022 NPB Home Run Derby [37] He became a free agent following the 2022 season.

Mumbai Cobras

On October 23, 2023, Laird was selected in the fifth round by the Mumbai Cobras, with the 40th overall pick, of the 2023 Baseball United inaugural draft.[38]

Personal life

Brandon's brother, Gerald, is a catcher who played in the major leagues.[39] In December 2010, Laird, his brother, and their uncle were arrested following an altercation at a Phoenix Suns game. The fight stemmed from accusations that Laird's grandfather had inappropriately touched the wife of Boston Celtics guard Eddie House.[40] A relative of Laird's was killed in the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting at Route 91 Harvest music festival.[41]

References

  1. ^ "Baseball: Yanagita home run wins All-Star Game 2". Mainichi Daily News. July 28, 2022. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  2. ^ "ニックネーム". 千葉ロッテマリーンズ オフィシャルサイト 「マリンフェスタ」特設サイト (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  3. ^ YOUNGMAN, RANDY (July 23, 2011). "Perfect debut for La Quinta's Laird". Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  4. ^ "Cleveland Indians 2005 Draft Results". Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  5. ^ Metz, Kevin (May 25, 2007). "Cypress got inspiration from a 4-legged friend". Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  6. ^ "Former Yankees INF Brandon Laird wins $10,000, year's worth of free beer with home run in Japan". Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  7. ^ a b c "Brandon Laird Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  8. ^ "2007 GCL Yankees Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  9. ^ "2009 Tampa Yankees Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  10. ^ Star-Ledger, Marc Carig/The (February 17, 2010). "After offseason legal trouble, NY Yankees prospect lands spring training invite". nj. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  11. ^ Nalbone, John. "Thunder lose; Franklin ejected; Laird promoted". Nj.com. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  12. ^ "Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees Blog » Laird named Eastern League MVP, ROY". Blogs.thetimes-tribune.com. September 2, 2010. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  13. ^ "Yankees add three to 40-man roster | The Lohud Yankees Blog". November 23, 2010. Archived from the original on November 23, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  14. ^ Manuel, John (November 10, 2010). "New York Yankees Top 10 Prospects 2011". College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  15. ^ "Hurt corner: Pena to DL thins options at third". July 22, 2011. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  16. ^ "Yankees 17-7 Athletics (Jul 22, 2011) Game Recap". ESPN. Associated Press. July 23, 2011. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023.
  17. ^ "Gillespie Earns Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove Award". OurSports Central. September 29, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  18. ^ Stephenson, Colin (August 28, 2012). "Yankees' acquisition of Steve Pearce proves timely with injury to Mark Teixeira". The Star Ledger. NJ.com. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  19. ^ "Astros claim Laird from Yankees". December 27, 2014. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  20. ^ "Astros option infielder Wallace to Triple-A". April 18, 2013. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
  21. ^ McTaggert, Brian (October 2, 2013). "Astros add Singleton to 40-man roster". MLB.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  22. ^ de Jesus Ortiz, Jose (October 2, 2013). "Astros continue staff shakeup by making Tremley bench coach". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  23. ^ "Brandon Laird Statistics and History | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  24. ^ Kaegel, Dick (November 23, 2013). "Infielder Laird among five signed to Minor League deals". MLB.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  25. ^ Baer, Bill (March 16, 2014). "Nationals acquire infielder Brandon Laird from the Royals".
  26. ^ "Syracuse Chiefs' sizzling Brandon Laird named IL batter of the week". June 23, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  27. ^ "Brandon Laird signed a contract to play in Japan in 2015 for the Nippon Ham Fighters, the New York Post reports". theScore.com. Rotowire. December 9, 2014. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  28. ^ "【レアード寿司】陽岱鋼も寿司を握ってHRを祝福！@札幌ドーム 2015.08.07 ファイターズの攻撃中の相手チームの投手交代時に流れるビーマニ風～レアードの打席前にビジョンに流れ". YouTube. February 26, 2017. Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
  29. ^ "ONE World Sports :: Brandon Laird powers Nippon Ham Fighters". Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
  30. ^ Mustard, Extra (May 10, 2016). "Baseball player wins year's supply of beer". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  31. ^ Coskrey, Jason (October 27, 2016). "Laird sends Fighters past Carp to tie Japan Series". The Japan Times. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  32. ^ "Former Yankee Laird leads Nippon Ham to Japan Series title". USA Today. Associated Press. October 29, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
  33. ^ "Fighters' Laird in line to play for Mexico during WBC". The Japan Times. December 7, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  34. ^ Lara-Cinisomo, Vince (February 8, 2017). "2017 Mexico World Baseball Classic Roster". College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  35. ^ "レアード内野手、日本ハム退団へ". Yahoo.co.jp (in Japanese). December 20, 2018. Archived from the original on December 21, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
  36. ^ "ブランドン・レアード選手 獲得について". 千葉ロッテマリーンズ オフィシャルサイト (in Japanese). January 15, 2018. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  37. ^ "Yuki Yanagita lifts Pacific League with home run in All-Star series finale". July 28, 2022.
  38. ^ Ramasubramanian, Deepa (October 28, 2023). "Mumbai Cobras' inaugural draft picks for Baseball United". thebridge.in. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  39. ^ Coskrey, Jason (May 2, 2018). "Fighters' Brandon Laird still getting kick of out fans' excitement". Japan Times. Retrieved January 1, 2025.
  40. ^ Schmehl, James (January 29, 2010). "Police report says incident involving NBA player's wife led to Tigers catcher Gerald Laird's arrest on Dec. 30". mlive. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  41. ^ "Fighters' Brandon Laird returning to U.S. after relative killed in Las Vegas shooting". The Japan Times. October 3, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
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