Michael James Jacobs (born October 30, 1980) is an American former professional

baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding t ...

first baseman A first baseman, abbreviated 1B, is the player on a baseball or softball team who fields the area nearest first base, the first of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. The first baseman is responsible for the majori ...

. He played in

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

(MLB) for the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park. The fran ...

, Kansas City Royals, and

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The ...

Career

Minor Leagues

Mike Jacobs graduated from Hilltop High School in Chula Vista and spent one season at

Grossmont College Grossmont College is a public community college in El Cajon, California. Its name originated with the silent film actor and producer William J. Gross, who was enticed by Ed Fletcher to invest the purchase of land, part of which was called Grossmo ...

in El Cajon, California before being selected by the

in the 38th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft. Originally signed as a

catcher Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the ( home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the ca ...

, Jacobs batted .333 with four home runs and 30

runs batted in A run batted in (RBI; plural RBIs ) is a statistic in baseball and softball that credits a batter for making a play that allows a run to be scored (except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play). For example, if the ba ...

his first professional season with the

Gulf Coast League Mets The Florida Complex League Mets are a Rookie-level affiliate for the New York Mets, competing in the Florida Complex League of Minor League Baseball. Prior to 2021, the team was known as the Gulf Coast League Mets. The team plays its home games ...

. He quickly blossomed into a solid power-hitting prospect and, in , after a successful year with the Double-A

Binghamton Mets The Binghamton Rumble Ponies are an American Minor League Baseball team based in Binghamton, New York. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club. The Rumble Ponies play in Mirab ...

, won an award. In May , while playing for the Triple-A

Norfolk Tides The Norfolk Tides are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. They are located in Norfolk, Virginia, and are named in nautical reference to the city's location on the Chesapea ...

, Jacobs suffered an arm injury and underwent surgery for a torn labrum, which ended his season prematurely. Because of his injury and mediocre defensive skills behind the plate, when Jacobs returned to Binghamton in , he spent much of the season learning to play first base. He batted .321 with 25 home runs and 93 RBIs while learning his new position and going on to win the MVP award. On December 18, 2010, Jacobs was signed by the Colorado Rockies and played for the affiliate triple-A team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. While there, Jacobs was suspended for fifty games after testing positive for HGH. Jacobs was released from the Colorado Rockies on August 18, 2011.

New York Mets

Jacobs made his major league debut with the Mets on August 21, , hitting a three-run

pinch-hit In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute Batting (baseball), batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the dead ball (baseball), ball is dead (not in active play); the manager (baseball), manager may use any player who has not yet ...

home run against Esteban Loaiza of the

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...

in his first ever Major League at-bat. Jacobs rather instantly assumed the position of everyday first baseman and continued to hit, tallying four home runs through three games, during the Mets' 4-game drubbing of the

. During this stretch the Mets were able to pull within a half-game of the National League Wild Card lead, but faded quickly, dropping two straight games at home to the Philadelphia Phillies and promptly falling out of the race. Jacobs continued to play well, increasing his stock as a trade chip by slugging a monstrous .710 in his five weeks as a major leaguer. Mike Jacobs

Florida Marlins

In only 30 games and 100 at-bats, Jacobs hit an impressive 11 home runs and 23 RBI. Many people penciled him in as the Mets' first baseman for the season. However, on November 23, 2005, the Mets traded him and a minor league

pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...

Yusmeiro Petit Yusmeiro Alberto Petit (; born November 22, 1984) is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants, Washi ...

, to the

in exchange for

Carlos Delgado Carlos Juan Delgado Hernández (born June 25, 1972) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball primarily as a first baseman, from 1993 to 2009, most prominently as a member of the Toronto ...

and $7 million. In 2006 with the Marlins, Jacobs played in 136 games while hitting .262 with 20 home runs and 77 RBIs. In 2007, he only played in 114 games, but still improved on his batting average hitting .265 that season including 17 home runs and 54 RBIs. In 2008 Jacobs saw increased playing time and had a break out season in power with 32 home runs and 93 RBI but his batting average slipped to .247.

Kansas City Royals

After the season, Jacobs was traded to the Kansas City Royals for pitcher

Leo Núñez Juan Carlos Oviedo (born March 15, 1982Exact birth date is unclear due to name controversy. Some sources like MLB.com list March 15, 1982, while others list August 14, 1983.) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He bats and thr ...

. While initially thought to split time at first base with Billy Butler, he was mostly the team's DH due to inconsistent play on the field. Following the season, Jacobs was released by the Royals on December 10.

Return to New York

On February 10, 2010 the Mets signed Mike Jacobs to a minor league contract. He was selected as the Mets' opening day first baseman after Daniel Murphy went on the disabled list with a strained MCL. On April 18, Jacobs was designated for assignment. On April 25, 2010 Jacobs cleared waivers and accepted assignment to the AAA

Buffalo Bisons The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen ...

of the International League.

Toronto Blue Jays

On July 30, 2010, he was acquired by the

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...

for a player to be named later. He was released at the end of the 2010 season.

Colorado Rockies

Jacobs signed as a minor league

free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...

with the Colorado Rockies on December 18, 2010. On August 18, 2011, while playing for the AAA Colorado Springs Sky Sox, Jacobs was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for Human Growth Hormone. In response, Jacobs was released by the Rockies. Mike Jacobs on September 15, 2012

Arizona Diamondbacks

On January 4, 2012, Jacobs signed a minor league contract with the

. On September 19, he was called up and played his first Major League game since April 17, 2010.

Seattle Mariners

On January 3, 2013, Jacobs signed a minor league contract with the

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The team joined the American League as an expansion team ...

. On March 23, 2013, he was released along with veteran starting pitcher Jon Garland.

Second Stint with Arizona

On June 4, 2013, the D'backs signed Jacobs back to a minor league deal. Jacobs had been playing in the Mexican League. Jacobs returned to AAA Reno for the 2014 season. He participated in the AAA Home Run Derby that same year.

Guerreros de Oaxaca

On March 26, 2015, it was reported that Jacobs had signed on to return to play for the

Guerreros de Oaxaca The Guerreros de Oaxaca (English: Oaxaca Warriors) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican League based in Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico. Their home field is Estadio Eduardo Vasconcelos. History In October 1995, a group of businessmen, ...

of the

Mexican League The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country. The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...

Lancaster Barnstormers

On March 25, 2016, Jacobs signed with the

Lancaster Barnstormers The Lancaster Barnstormers (colloquially known as the Stormers) are an United States, American professional baseball team based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. They are a member of the North Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a ...

Toros de Tijuana

On May 3, 2016, Jacobs signed with the

Toros de Tijuana The Toros de Tijuana (or Tijuana Bulls) are a Mexican Baseball team based in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. They are members of the Mexican Baseball League and play their home games at Estadio Chevron. Team history Original Attempt The fran ...

of the

Mexican Baseball League The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country. The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five t ...

Minor League Baseball manager

Jacobs retired after 2016 season and was hired by the Miami Marlins to manage their Class A Short-Season

Batavia Muckdogs The Batavia Muckdogs are a collegiate summer baseball team in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL). They are located in Batavia, a city in Genesee County, New York, United States. Their home field is Dwyer Stadium in the city of ...

. Jacobs will manage the

Clinton LumberKings The Clinton LumberKings are a collegiate summer baseball team of the Prospect League. They are located in Clinton, Iowa, and play their home games at NelsonCorp Field. From 1956 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's Midwest Leag ...

of the

Midwest League The Midwest League is a Minor League Baseball league established in 1947 and based in the Midwestern United States. A Class A league for most of its history, the league was promoted to High-A as part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganizat ...

in 2019. For the 2021 season Jacobs will manage the Beloit Snappers.

Personal life

Jacobs got married in December 2006 and resides in Chula Vista during the baseball offseason. He has four daughters, Havana, Isabella, Sophia and Juliana. Contrary to popular belief, Jacobs is not

Jew Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""T ...

ish. This small detail was apparently not known to the Marlins when, on May 28, 2006, as part of the team's Jewish Heritage Day promotion, they gave Jacobs T-shirts to young fans who attended the game.

References

External links

, o
RetrosheetPelota Binaria
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jacobs, Mike 1980 births Living people Águilas de Mexicali players Águilas del Zulia players American expatriate baseball players in Mexico American sportspeople in doping cases Arizona Diamondbacks players Baseball coaches from California Baseball players from California Binghamton Mets players Brooklyn Cyclones players Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Capital City Bombers players Carolina Mudcats players Colorado Springs Sky Sox players Florida Marlins players Guerreros de Oaxaca players Grossmont Griffins baseball players Gulf Coast Mets players Jupiter Hammerheads players Kansas City Royals players Kingsport Mets players Las Vegas 51s players Lancaster Barnstormers players Major League Baseball first basemen Mexican League baseball first basemen Minor league baseball managers Mesa Solar Sox players New York Mets players Norfolk Tides players Pastora de los Llanos players American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela Peoria Saguaros players Reno Aces players Sportspeople from Chula Vista, California St. Lucie Mets players Toros de Tijuana players Venados de Mazatlán players

Career

Minor Leagues

New York Mets

Florida Marlins

Kansas City Royals

Return to New York

Toronto Blue Jays

Colorado Rockies

Arizona Diamondbacks

Seattle Mariners

Second Stint with Arizona

Guerreros de Oaxaca

Lancaster Barnstormers

Toros de Tijuana

Minor League Baseball manager

Personal life

See also

References

External links