Tyler Lawrence France (born July 13, 1994) is an American professional baseball first baseman who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, and Cincinnati Reds. France was an All-Star in 2022.
Ty France | |
---|---|
Free agent | |
First baseman | |
Born: Downey, California, U.S. | July 13, 1994|
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 26, 2019, for the San Diego Padres | |
MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
Batting average | .263 |
Home runs | 74 |
Runs batted in | 312 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
Amateur career
editFrance attended South Hills High School in West Covina, California.[1] After high school, he played college baseball from 2013-2015 at San Diego State University.[2] In 2013, he played summer college baseball with the Bethesda Big Train, for whom he was the team's Outstanding Hitter.[3] In 2015, his junior season, he hit .336 with four home runs and 49 RBIs in 64 games,[4] and finished his career at San Diego State with a .337/.428/.470 line across three seasons.[5]
Professional career
editSan Diego Padres
editThe San Diego Padres selected France in the 34th round, with the 1,017th overall selection of the 2015 MLB draft, and he signed with them for a $100,000 signing bonus.[6] France made his professional debut in 2015 with the Low–A Tri-City Dust Devils, hitting .294/.425/.391 with one home run and 36 RBI.[6] He split the 2016 season between the Single–A Fort Wayne TinCaps and the High–A Lake Elsinore Storm, hitting .271/.387/.420 with 14 home runs and 73 RBI.[6] He split his 2017 season between Lake Elsinore and the Double–A San Antonio Missions, hitting .278/.353/.373 with five home runs and 58 RBI.[6] He split the 2018 season between San Antonio and the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas, hitting .267/.355/.464 with 22 home runs and 96 RBI.[6]
On November 20, 2018, the Padres added France to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[7] France opened the 2019 season back with El Paso.[6] On April 24, he was called up to the major league roster for the first time.[8] He made his debut on April 26; he hit a pinch hit single in his first at bat.[9]
France was called up again to the Padres big league club on August 16, 2019. At that time he was batting .399 with their minor league affiliate El Paso Chihuahuas. Although he had wanted to end his Triple–A season batting .400 he remained with the big league club for the duration of 2019 and ended .001 point shy of the elusive .400 mark.[10]
France made the Opening Day roster to the start the 2020 season, marking his first appearance on an Opening Day roster. He was the starting designated hitter on Opening Day, which had been added to the National League for the 2020 season due to the new COVID-19 rules. He had one hit in four at-bats in the Padres' 7-2 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. On August 13, 2020, France was optioned to the Padres alternative roster to make room for shortstop Jorge Mateo.[11]
Seattle Mariners
editOn August 30, 2020, the Padres traded France, Taylor Trammell, Andrés Muñoz, and Luis Torrens to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Austin Nola, Dan Altavilla, and Austin Adams.[12] In 23 games for Seattle, France hit .302 with 2 home runs and 13 RBI.[citation needed]
In 2021, France slashed .291/.368/.445 with 18 home runs, 73 RBI, and 85 runs scored in 152 games. He tied for the major league lead in hit by pitch, with 27.[13]
On April 23, 2022, France recorded his first career five-hit game, going 5-for-6 with a home run in a game versus the Kansas City Royals.[14] On April 25, France and Miguel Cabrera were awarded American League co-player of the week.[15] France was named to the 2022 MLB All-Star Game as an injury replacement for Mike Trout.[16] He made 140 total appearances for Seattle in 2022, hitting .274/.338/.436 with 20 home runs and 83 RBI.
On January 13, 2023, France agreed to a one-year, $4.1 million contract with the Mariners, avoiding salary arbitration.[17] In 2023, he hit .250/.337/.366 with 12 home runs and 58 RBI, leading the majors in hit by pitches (34).[18]
On January 11, 2024, France and the Mariners agreed to a contract worth $6.775 million for the 2024 season.[19] On June 8, 2024, France surpassed Edgar Martinez to become the Mariners' franchise hit by pitch leader with 90.[20] On July 21, the Mariners placed France on outright waivers due to his struggles on offense throughout the season.[21][22] After clearing waivers on July 23, France was designated for assignment.[23][24]
Cincinnati Reds
editOn July 29, 2024, the Mariners traded France to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for Andruw Salcedo.[25] In 52 games for Cincinnati, he slashed .251/.292/.391 with five home runs and 20 RBI. On November 1, France was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Louisville Bats, but rejected the assignment and elected free agency.[26]
Personal life
editFrance and his wife, Maggie, married in January 2022.[27] On April 6, 2024, she gave birth to their first child, a baby boy.[28]
References
edit- ^ Angulo, Blair (March 28, 2012). "Dynamic duo at South Hills". ESPN. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
- ^ "Ty France". goaztecs.com. San Diego State Aztecs. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
- ^ "The Official Site of Bethesda Big Train Summer Collegiate Baseball: Major Leaguers". www.bigtrain.org.
- ^ "Five Aztecs Taken in Major League Baseball Draft | NewsCenter | SDSU". Go.sdsu.edu. June 11, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
- ^ "Ty France College & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "Ty France". Baseball Cube. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
- ^ "Padres' Ty France: Lands on 40-man roster". CBS Sports. November 20, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
- ^ "Padres' Ty France: Gets call to majors". CBS Sports. April 24, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
- ^ "San Diego Padres at Washington Nationals Box Score, April 26, 2019". Baseball Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ "Missing .400, Padres' France hits his goal". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- ^ "Padres' Ty France: Optioned to alternative camp". CBS Sports. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
- ^ "Padres trade top prospect Taylor Trammell to Mariners for Austin Nola as part of 7-player deal". ESPN.com. August 31, 2020.
- ^ "Major League Leaderboards » 2021 » Batters » Standard Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball". www.fangraphs.com.
- ^ "Ty France caps a big night with a big homer that gives Mariners chance to sweep Royals". The Seattle Times. April 23, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
- ^ "Miguel Cabrera, Ty France and Cody Bellinger named Players of the Week". MLB.com.
- ^ "Ty France replaces Mike Trout on AL All-Star roster". July 17, 2022.
- ^ Kramer, Daniel (January 13, 2023). "France, Sewald, Murphy avoid arbitration". MLB.com. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ "Major League Leaderboards - 2023 - Batting". FanGraphs Baseball.
- ^ "Mariners strike deals with Ty France, Logan Gilbert and 5 others to avoid salary arbitration". Associated Press. January 11, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ "Ty France Surpasses M's Legend Edgar Martinez on Historic List on Friday". Sports Illustrated. June 8, 2024.
- ^ Van Til, Cameron (July 21, 2024). "Reports: Mariners place Ty France on outright waivers". Seattle Sports.
- ^ "Mariners 1B Ty France 'caught off guard' to be put on waivers". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ Kirshenbaum, Josh (July 23, 2024). "France designated for assignment by Mariners". MLB.com. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ "Mariners place Julio Rodríguez, J.P. Crawford on 10-day IL". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 23, 2024. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ Jablonski, David (July 29, 2024). "Reds trade for Mariners infielder". daytondailynews.com. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
- ^ "Ty France Elects Free Agency". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
- ^ "MAGGIE FRANCE on Instagram: "Officially Mr & MRS France💍Here's a glimpse into the most magical day of our lives!🤍"".
- ^ "Sleep-deprived new father Ty France returns to Mariners and delivers". Seattle Times.
External links
edit- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
- Ty France on Instagram