Not many people probably remember Scott Seabol. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 88th round in 1996. That's an absurdly late pick, honestly; I don't think the draft EVER goes that far anymore. He had a couple of big minor league seasons in the Yankees organization before being called up in 2001. He received only 1 at-bat as a pinch hitter and made an out on a ball in play.
In 2002, he had a sub-par year in the minors and was let go by the Yankees after the season. The Brewers signed him as a free agent and was released in May after 25 pretty bad games in the minors. The St. Louis Cardinals picked him up and he mashed at AAA for the Memphis Redbirds for the rest of 2003, 2004, and 2005 with an OPS consistently around .900. He was called up in 2005 and got into 59 games as a bench player and didn't do much. The Cardinals let him go in December.
In 2006, the Marlins signed Seabol and put him at AAA Albuquerque where yet again mashed to the tune of a .998 OPS in 71 games. He was let go in July in order to pursue an opportunity in the Korean Baseball League. Seabol's time in the KBO wasn't good: in 47 games, he hit just .163/.237/.301 with 6 HR.
Apparently, though, the Marlins still wanted him back at AAA in 2007, where he had a .943 OPS in 139 games. This afforded him an opportunity in the Japanese baseball leagues with the Hiroshima Carp. His first year with the Carp went OK, but he only had a .755 OPS. The next season he was terrible with only a .628 OPS and returned home after the season to retire.
It's fair to say that Seabol deserved better chances in his playing career. He just never got a fair shake, honestly, by MLB teams. He seemed to be a defensive-neutral player at both first and third base and could certainly hit for a good deal of power. It's hard to say he was a true 4-A player - someone that's too good for AAA but not good enough for the Majors.
The main issue for Seabol is that he seemed always blocked in what ever organization he signed with. He just had tough luck, though he made OK money at AAA. He had a decent baseball playing career and at least got his cup of coffee in the Majors.
The good news for Scott Seabol is that he actually would later become a coach in the Yankees minor league system. In 2018, he was named the hitting coach of the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs.
I wish you well, Scott Seabol, and hope life is treating you well!
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
In 2002, he had a sub-par year in the minors and was let go by the Yankees after the season. The Brewers signed him as a free agent and was released in May after 25 pretty bad games in the minors. The St. Louis Cardinals picked him up and he mashed at AAA for the Memphis Redbirds for the rest of 2003, 2004, and 2005 with an OPS consistently around .900. He was called up in 2005 and got into 59 games as a bench player and didn't do much. The Cardinals let him go in December.
In 2006, the Marlins signed Seabol and put him at AAA Albuquerque where yet again mashed to the tune of a .998 OPS in 71 games. He was let go in July in order to pursue an opportunity in the Korean Baseball League. Seabol's time in the KBO wasn't good: in 47 games, he hit just .163/.237/.301 with 6 HR.
Apparently, though, the Marlins still wanted him back at AAA in 2007, where he had a .943 OPS in 139 games. This afforded him an opportunity in the Japanese baseball leagues with the Hiroshima Carp. His first year with the Carp went OK, but he only had a .755 OPS. The next season he was terrible with only a .628 OPS and returned home after the season to retire.
It's fair to say that Seabol deserved better chances in his playing career. He just never got a fair shake, honestly, by MLB teams. He seemed to be a defensive-neutral player at both first and third base and could certainly hit for a good deal of power. It's hard to say he was a true 4-A player - someone that's too good for AAA but not good enough for the Majors.
The main issue for Seabol is that he seemed always blocked in what ever organization he signed with. He just had tough luck, though he made OK money at AAA. He had a decent baseball playing career and at least got his cup of coffee in the Majors.
The good news for Scott Seabol is that he actually would later become a coach in the Yankees minor league system. In 2018, he was named the hitting coach of the Single-A Charleston RiverDogs.
I wish you well, Scott Seabol, and hope life is treating you well!
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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