Mark Payton

Mark Payton
Payton with the Saitama Seibu Lions in 2023
Free agent
Outfielder
Born: (1991-12-07) December 7, 1991 (age 33)
Orland Park, Illinois, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Professional debut
MLB: August 22, 2020, for the Cincinnati Reds
NPB: March 31, 2023, for the Saitama Seibu Lions
MLB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Batting average.164
Home runs0
Runs batted in1
NPB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.215
Home runs5
Runs batted in22
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Mark D. Payton (born December 7, 1991) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Saitama Seibu Lions.

Amateur career

Payton was first drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 31st round of the 2010 MLB draft out of St. Rita of Cascia High School in Chicago, Illinois.[1] He did not sign with the Twins and went on to play college baseball at the University of Texas at Austin for the Longhorns.[2][3] While at Texas, he had a Big-12 record 101 straight games getting on base.[4][5] After his junior season he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 16th round of the 2013 MLB Draft, but did not sign and returned to Texas for his senior season.[6] In 2013, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[7] Payton played in 234 games during his four-year college career, batting .318/.425/.444 with seven home runs.

Professional career

New York Yankees

Payton was then drafted by the New York Yankees in the seventh round of the 2014 MLB draft.[8] He signed and spent 2014 with both the Charleston RiverDogs[9] and Tampa Yankees, slashing .320/.418/.497 with four home runs over 48 total games.

In 2015, he played for both Tampa and the Trenton Thunder, batting a combined .267/.346/.368 with six home runs and 52 RBIs.

In 2016, he played for Tampa, Trenton, and the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, batting a combined .282/.358/.423 with ten home runs and 62 RBIs.

In 2017, he played for Trenton and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, batting .256/.313/.389 with six home runs and 23 RBIs in 94 total games.[10]

Oakland Athletics

During the 2018 Winter Meetings, the Oakland Athletics selected Payton from the Yankees in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.[11]

In 2019, Payton played for the AAA Las Vegas Aviators, batting .334/.400/.653 with 80 runs, 30 home runs, and 97 RBIs (8th in the Pacific Coast League) in 395 at bats.[12][13] He was the PCL Player of the Week on July 14.[14]

After the season, on October 10, 2019, he was selected for the United States national baseball team in the 2019 WBSC Premier 12.[15]

Cincinnati Reds

On December 12, 2019, Payton was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2019 Rule 5 draft.[16] On July 21, 2020, Payton was returned by the Reds to the Athletics. On August 7, Payton was traded back to Cincinnati in exchange for cash considerations.

On August 22, Payton was selected to the major league roster. [17] He made his major league debut that day against the St. Louis Cardinals. He finished the year 3-for-18 (.167) in 8 games with the Reds.

Payton was assigned to the Triple-A Louisville Bats to begin the 2021 season, and was designated for assignment on July 19, 2021 after hitting .182/.250/.182 with no home runs or RBI in 24 games with Cincinnati.[18]

New York Mets

On July 24, 2021, Payton was traded to the New York Mets in exchange for cash considerations.[19]

On November 30, 2021, Payton was non-tendered by the Mets, making him a free agent.[20]

Chicago White Sox

On March 28, 2022, Payton signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox organization.[21] He was assigned to the Triple–A Charlotte Knights, where he hit .289/.365/.522 with 20 home runs and 77 RBI in 102 games. On September 3, the White Sox selected Payton's contract, adding him to the major league roster.[22] In 8 games for Chicago, he went 3–for–21 (.143) with 1 RBI and 4 walks. On November 18, he was non–tendered and became a free agent.[23] On November 21, the White Sox re–signed Payton to a minor league deal.[24] He was released on December 26, in order to pursue an opportunity in Japan.

Saitama Seibu Lions

On December 26, 2022, Payton signed with the Saitama Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball. [25] He became a free agent following the 2023 season.

Chicago White Sox (second stint)

On November 15, 2023, Payton signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.[26] He became a free agent after the 2024 season.[27]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Mark Payton will likely be drafted ionto MLB Thursday, June 6". chicagotribune.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2013.
  2. ^ "The Inside Scoop: St. Rita baseball player Mark Payton commits to Texas". blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com.
  3. ^ "Disabato: St. Rita grad Mark Payton a big hit at Texas". suntimes.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2014.
  4. ^ Ex-St. Rita Star Mark Payton Extends On-Base Streak to 100 Games With Homer Archived 2014-11-01 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ "Mark Payton, Nathan Thornhill decisions paved way for the Longhorns to reach College World Series". The Dallas Morning News. June 13, 2014.
  6. ^ "Texas Longhorns outfielder Mark Payton will return for his senior season". The Dallas Morning News. July 12, 2013.
  7. ^ "#2 Mark Payton". pointstreak.com. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  8. ^ Bryan Hoch (June 6, 2014). "Yanks select Texas outfielder Payton in seventh round". MLB.com. Retrieved November 11, 2019.[dead link‍]
  9. ^ AndrewMiller. "RiverDogs outfielder Mark Payton thankful he returned to Texas for senior season". The Post and Courier.
  10. ^ "Mark Payton Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  11. ^ "2018 Rule 5 Draft results: Pick-by-pick". MLB.com. December 13, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  12. ^ Jordan Wolf (November 22, 2019). "Brown, Payton pilot polished A's pack". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  13. ^ "Mark Payton College & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  14. ^ "Mark Payton Stats, Highlights, Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  15. ^ "USA Baseball Names Premier12 Roster". USA Baseball. October 10, 2019. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  16. ^ "Tigers take RHP Rony Garcia from Yankees with top pick in Rule 5 draft". ESPN.com. December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  17. ^ "Reds Select Mark Payton's Contract".
  18. ^ "Reds Designate Jose de Leon, Mark Payton for Assignment".
  19. ^ "Mets Acquire Mark Payton from Reds for Cash".
  20. ^ Franco, Anthony (November 30, 2021). "National League Non-Tenders: 11/30/21". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
  21. ^ "White Sox's Mark Payton: Joins White Sox on MiLB deal". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  22. ^ "White Sox's Mark Payton: Selected from Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  23. ^ "White Sox non-tender Adam Engel, Danny Mendick". nbcsportschicago.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  24. ^ "White Sox Re-Sign Outfielder Mark Payton To Minor League Deal". soxon35th.com. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  25. ^ "Mark Payton Signs with NPB's Seibu Lions".
  26. ^ "Transactions". MLB.com. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  27. ^ Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2024). "Minor League Free Agents 2024". Baseball America. Retrieved November 6, 2024.