Sam Huff (baseball)
| Sam Huff | |
|---|---|
Huff with the Round Rock Express in 2022 | |
| Free agent | |
| Catcher | |
| Born: January 14, 1998 Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 11, 2020, for the Texas Rangers | |
| MLB statistics (through 2026 season) | |
| Batting average | .232 |
| Home runs | 12 |
| Runs batted in | 25 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Samuel Nicholas Huff (born January 14, 1998) is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants, and Baltimore Orioles. He made his MLB debut in 2020.
Amateur career
[edit]Huff attended Arcadia High School in Phoenix, Arizona.[1] He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the seventh round, with the 219th overall selection, of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.[2] He signed with the Rangers for a $225,000 signing bonus, forgoing a commitment to Grand Canyon University.[3]
Professional career
[edit]Texas Rangers (2016–2024)
[edit]Minor leagues
[edit]Huff spent his first two professional seasons with the Arizona League Rangers of the Rookie-level Arizona League, hitting .330/.436/.485 with one home run and 17 RBI in 2016, and .249/.329/.452 with nine home runs and 31 RBI in 2017. He played the 2018 season with the Hickory Crawdads of the Single–A South Atlantic League, hitting .241/.292/.439 with 18 home runs and 55 RBI.[4] Huff opened 2019 back with Hickory, hitting .333/.368/.796 with 15 home runs and 29 RBI over 30 games.[5] He was promoted to the Down East Wood Ducks of the High–A Carolina League on May 9.[6][7] Huff was named to the 2019 All-Star Futures Game.[8] Huff hit a two-run home run off of Ben Bowden in the seventh inning to tie the game, and was awarded the 2019 Futures Game Larry Doby Most Valuable Player award.[9] Huff has named a 2019 Carolina League Year-End All-Star.[10] Huff produced a .262/.326/.425 slash line with 13 home runs and 43 RBI for Down East.[11][12][13]
Major leagues
[edit]On September 10, 2020, the Rangers selected Huff's contract and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time.[14] He made his major league debut the next day against the Oakland Athletics. In 10 games for Texas in 2020, Huff hit .355/.394/.742 with three home runs and four RBI.[15]
On April 23, 2021, it was announced that Huff would undergo surgery on April 28 to remove a "loose body" from his right knee, requiring eight weeks of recovery.[16] On May 4, Huff was placed on the 60-day injured list as he recovered from the surgery.[17] On July 17, Huff was activated off of the injured list.[18]
Huff played 46 games in Double-A with the Frisco RoughRiders prior to being promoted to Triple-A Round Rock on September 23, 2021. In Frisco he hit an average of .237 with 10 home runs and 23 runs batted in.[19] Following the 2021 season, Huff played for the Surprise Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League.[20] Huff split the 2022 season between Texas and Round Rock. With Texas, he hit 240/.303/.372 with four home runs and 10 RBI over 44 games; with Round Rock, Huff hit .260/.336/.533 with 21 home runs and 50 RBI over 63 games played.[21]
Huff was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock to begin the 2023 season.[22] He played in 21 games for Texas. batting .256/.289/.512 with 3 home runs and 6 RBI. Huff was again optioned to Triple–A Round Rock to begin the 2024 season.[23] He appeared in only 3 games for Texas in 2024, going 0–for–3 with 1 walk. Huff was designated for assignment by the Rangers on December 23, 2024.[24]
San Francisco Giants (2025)
[edit]On January 8, 2025, Huff was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants.[25] In 20 appearances for San Francisco, he batted .208/.259/.340 with two home runs and four RBI. Huff was designated for assignment by the Giants on June 4.[26] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats on June 7.[27] Huff elected free agency following the season on November 6.[28]
Baltimore Orioles (2026–present)
[edit]On January 15, 2026, Huff signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles.[29] He was assigned to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides to begin the regular season. On April 15, the Orioles selected Huff's contract, adding him to their active roster.[30][31] He appeared in three games for Baltimore, going 2-for-9 (.222) with one RBI. Huff was designated for assignment by the Orioles on April 21, following Adley Rutschman's return from the injured list.[32][33] He cleared waivers and elected free agency on April 25.[34] Huff re-signed with the Orioles on a minor league contract the same day. On June 6, Baltimore selected Huff's contract, adding him back to their active roster.[35] He recorded two hits in 14 at-bats for the Orioles prior to being designated for assignment on June 28.[36] He cleared waivers on July 2, and elected free agency.[37] The following day he re-signed with the Orioles on a new minor league contract.[38] On July 19, Huff was added back to Baltimore's active roster.[39] After going hitless across five additional appearances, Huff was designated for assignment again on July 27.[40] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Norfolk on August 1.[41] He elected free agency on September 29.[42]
References
[edit]- ↑ Smith, Nick (May 1, 2016). "AHS catcher Huff following in his father's footsteps". arcadianews.com. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
- ↑ Obert, Richard (June 10, 2016). "Arcadia's Sam Huff first Arizona high school player taken in MLB draft". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
- ↑ James, Chris (June 18, 2016). "Rangers Reach Agreement With Draft Pick Sam Huff". NBC DFW. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
- ↑ Parker, Mark (May 20, 2018). "Internal fire burns bright for Crawdads' Huff". Hickory Daily Record. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
- ↑ Jamey Newberg (March 30, 2019). "Everything about Sam Huff's game is big, including the question that he's answered at every turn". The Athletic. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
- ↑ Adam J. Morris (May 9, 2019). "Sam Huff promoted to Down East". Lone Star Ball. SB Nation. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
- ↑ Jamey Newberg (March 21, 2019). "Rangers prospect Sam Huff may be an outlier for his position, but there's a catch". The Athletic. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
- ↑ Jim Callis (June 28, 2019). "Here are the 2019 Futures Game rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
- ↑ Anthony Castrovince (July 7, 2019). "Rangers prospect Huff wins Futures Game MVP". MLB.com. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- ↑ Matt Present (August 22, 2019). "Four Wood Ducks Claim Year-End Honors". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
- ↑ T.R. Sullivan (September 19, 2019). "Pipeline names Rangers Prospects of the Year". MLB.com. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
- ↑ Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo and Mike Rosenbaum (September 5, 2019). "30 prospects who had big seasons in the Minors". MLB.com. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ↑ Jamey Newberg (August 22, 2019). "Long-term looks: Sam Huff gears up to settle Rangers' situation behind the plate". The Athletic. Retrieved September 11, 2019.
- ↑ T.R. Sullivan (September 10, 2020). "Slugging prospect Sam Huff joins Rangers". MLB.com. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ↑ Levi Weaver (October 6, 2020). "'Looks like a 10-year vet': How Sam Huff became the 2020 Rangers' silver lining". The Athletic. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
- ↑ "Guzmán, Huff both set for knee surgery". MLB.com. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
- ↑ "Rangers' Sam Huff: Shifts to 60-day IL". CBS Sports. May 5, 2021. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
- ↑ "Rangers Reinstate Sam Huff from 60-Day IL, Designate Tyler Phillips". July 17, 2021.
- ↑ "Sam Huff Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History".
- ↑ Jim Callis, Jonathan Mayo, and Sam Dykstra (October 6, 2021). "Here are the Arizona Fall League rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
- ↑ Postins, Matthew (November 7, 2022). "Rangers 40-Man Roster Wraps: Sam Huff". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
- ↑ "Rangers' Sam Huff: Optioned to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ↑ "Rangers' Sam Huff: Misses out on Opening Day roster". CBS Sports. March 10, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ "Sources: Joc Pederson, Rangers agree to 2-year deal worth $37M". ESPN.com. December 23, 2024. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
- ↑ Guardado, Maria (January 8, 2025). "Giants snag Huff off waivers, adding to plethora of catching options". MLB.com. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
- ↑ Adams, Steve (June 4, 2025). "Giants Designate LaMonte Wade Jr., Sign Dominic Smith". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
- ↑ Deeds, Nick (June 7, 2025). "Giants Outright Sam Huff". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ↑ "Minor League Free Agents 2025". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
- ↑ "Orioles, Sam Huff Agree To Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved January 15, 2026.
- ↑ Kubatko, Roch (April 15, 2026). "ORIOLES CARRYING THREE CATCHERS AFTER TODAY'S ROSTER MOVES (PLUS LINEUPS AND NOTES)". MASN. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
- ↑ Cariola, Zachary (April 15, 2026). "Orioles add catching depth ahead of final game with Diamondbacks". The Sporting News. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
- ↑ "Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman off IL after ankle issue". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 21, 2026. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
- ↑ Ralph, Max (April 21, 2026). "Rutschman off IL, returns for Kansas City series". MLB.com. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
- ↑ "Sam Huff Clears Waivers, Elects Free Agency". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
- ↑ "Orioles Designate Weston Wilson, Select Sam Huff". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 7, 2026.
- ↑ "Orioles Activate Adley Rutschman, Dylan Beavers; Designate Sam Huff". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Sam Huff Elects Free Agency". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
- ↑ "Orioles Re-Sign Sam Huff To Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
- ↑ "Orioles Transfer Ryan Helsley To 60-Day IL, Select Sam Huff". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
- ↑ "Orioles Designate Sam Huff For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 27, 2026.
- ↑ "Orioles Outright Sam Huff". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
- ↑ https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/09/12-players-elect-free-agency-2.html
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from MLB · ESPN · Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac
- 1998 births
- Living people
- American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic
- Arcardia High School (Arizona) alumni
- Arizona Complex League Giants players
- Arizona Complex League Rangers players
- Arizona League Rangers players
- Baltimore Orioles players
- Baseball players from Phoenix, Arizona
- Down East Wood Ducks players
- Frisco RoughRiders players
- Hickory Crawdads players
- Leones del Escogido players
- Major League Baseball catchers
- Norfolk Tides players
- Round Rock Express players
- Sacramento River Cats players
- San Francisco Giants players
- San Jose Giants players
- Surprise Saguaros players
- Texas Rangers players