Steven Wayne Tolleson (born November 1, 1983) is an American former

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Mod ...

infielder An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field. Standard arrangement of positions In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles. ...

who 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) between 2010 and 2015. He is the son of former

major leaguer 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), ...

Wayne Tolleson Jimmy Wayne Tolleson (born November 22, 1955) is an American former professional baseball infielder who played for the Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). Western Carolina University A star hig ...

Amateur career

Tolleson had a career .425

batting average Batting average is a statistic in cricket, baseball, and softball that measures the performance of batters. The development of the baseball statistic was influenced by the cricket statistic. Cricket In cricket, a player's batting average is ...

and 18

home runs In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...

Paul M. Dorman High School Paul M. Dorman High School is a high school located in Roebuck, South Carolina, United States. The school is part of Spartanburg County School District Six. It consists of a main campus for 10th-12th graders and a separate campus for 9th grader ...

Roebuck, South Carolina Roebuck is a census-designated place (CDP) in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,200 at the 2010 census. History The community was named for Revolutionary War Officer, Benjamin Roebuck. Roebuck is home to th ...

. He also played for the University of South Carolina. In 2004, he played

collegiate summer baseball Collegiate summer baseball leagues are amateur baseball leagues in the United States and Canada featuring players who have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibility remaining. Generally, they operat ...

with the

Brewster Whitecaps The Brewster Whitecaps are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Brewster, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) and plays in the league's East Division. The Whitecaps play their home games at Stony Brook ...

of the

Cape Cod Baseball League The Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL or Cape League) is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. One of the nation's premier collegiate summer leagues, the league boasts over one thousan ...

Professional career

Minnesota Twins

He was selected by the

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...

in the fifth round of the

2005 Major League Baseball Draft The 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams. It is widely considered to be one of the best ...

out of the University of South Carolina. Tolleson batted .321 for the rookie

Appalachian League The Appalachian League is a collegiate summer baseball league that operates in the Appalachian regions of Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Designed for rising freshmen and sophomores using wood bats, its season runs from ...

Elizabethton Twins The Elizabethton Twins were a Minor League Baseball team of the Appalachian League and a Rookie-level affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They were located in Elizabethton, Tennessee, and were named for their major league affiliate. The team playe ...

his first professional season to earn a promotion to the

Beloit Snappers The Beloit Sky Carp are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They are located in Beloit, Wisconsin, and play their home games at ABC Supply Stadium. They previously played at Harry C ...

midway through the season. 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 ...

, however, proved to be too much for Tolleson as his batting average fell to .176. A year later, Tolleson redeemed himself, earning a Midwest League All-Star nod. He was added to the Twins' 40-man roster on November 11, . In , with the

New Britain Rock Cats The New Britain Rock Cats were a minor league baseball team that competed in the Eastern League. They were the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox for 12 years, the Minnesota Twins for 20 years and the Colorado Rockies for one. They playe ...

and

Rochester Red Wings The Rochester Red Wings are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Rochester, New York, and play their home games at Innovative Field ...

, Tolleson played all three

outfield The outfield, in cricket, baseball and softball is the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield. In association football, the outfield players are positioned outside the goal area. In cricket, baseball and ...

positions, second, short and third.

Oakland Athletics

On Feb 1, , Tolleson was claimed off waivers by the

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The te ...

. He made his big league debut with the A's on April 28 against 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 ...

. Two days later, he picked up his first major league hit against

Josh Roenicke Joshua James Roenicke (born August 4, 1982) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He most recently pitched for the Uni-President Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL). He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) ...

of Toronto.

San Diego Padres

He was traded to the

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...

on May 29, 2011, in exchange for a player to be named later.

Baltimore Orioles

On November 21, 2011, Tolleson signed a contract with the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...

. On May 9, 2012, the Orioles purchased Tolleson's contract and called him up. He hit .183 in 71 at-bats over several stints. After the season, he was outrighted off the Orioles' 40-man roster but refused the assignment and elected free agency.

Chicago White Sox

On November 13, 2012, Tolleson signed a minor league deal with the

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...

with an invitation to spring training. He spent the season with the Triple-A

Charlotte Knights The Charlotte Knights are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. They are located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and play their home games at Truist Field, which opened in 20 ...

Toronto Blue Jays

On December 17, 2013, Tolleson signed a minor league deal with the

that included an invitation to spring training. He was sent to minor league camp on March 24, 2014. The Blue Jays selected his contract from the Triple-A

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 Fiel ...

on May 1. He made his debut for the Jays the following day, and recorded a pinch-hit triple and an RBI against the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...

. The triple was the first of his Major League career. On May 14, Tolleson pitched for the first time in the Majors, getting the final out in a 15–4 loss to the

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...

. In pitching for the Blue Jays, he became just the seventh position player to do so for the franchise, and first since

Jeff Mathis Jeffrey Stephen Mathis (born March 31, 1983) is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Toronto Blue Jays, Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondba ...

in 2012. Tolleson hit his first home run as a Blue Jay on May 23, helping the team to a 3–2 win over the Oakland Athletics. He played in 109 games for the Blue Jays in 2014, mostly as a pinch hitter and late-innings replacement, and hit .253 with 3 home runs and 16 RBI. Tolleson opened the 2015 season as the backup infielder for the Blue Jays. On April 24, 2015, he was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for

Michael Saunders Michael Edward Brett Saunders (born November 19, 1986) is a Canadian former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, and Philadelphia Phillies. He was nicknamed "The ...

. He cleared waivers on May 5, and was assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, but chose to become a free agent. On May 7, Tolleson signed a new minor league contract with the Blue Jays, allowing him to bypass a 10-day waiting period before he could be recalled to Toronto. On May 10, Tolleson was re-added to the active roster, after Michael Saunders was placed on the disabled list. He suffered a groin injury in late May and was placed on the disabled list. On July 1, Tolleson was activated from the disabled list and designated for assignment for the second time in 2015. He remained in the minors through the end of the season. Tolleson appeared in 19 games for the Blue Jays in 2015, and batted .268 with 3 RBI. He elected free agency on October 5, 2015.

Second stint with Baltimore

On November 23, 2015, Tolleson signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles that included an invitation to spring training. He was released on May 24, 2016.

Kansas City Royals

On May 27, 2016, Tolleson signed a minor league contract with the

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team was founded as an expans ...

. He became a free agent on November 7, 2016.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Tolleson, Steve 1983 births Living people American expatriate baseball players in Canada Oakland Athletics players Baltimore Orioles players Toronto Blue Jays players South Carolina Gamecocks baseball players Brewster Whitecaps players Elizabethton Twins players Beloit Snappers players Gulf Coast Twins players Fort Myers Miracle players New Britain Rock Cats players Rochester Red Wings players Sacramento River Cats players Tucson Padres players Norfolk Tides players Charlotte Knights players Phoenix Desert Dogs players Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Major League Baseball infielders