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Jeff DeWillis

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Jeff DeWillis
Catcher
Born: (1965-04-13) April 13, 1965 (age 59)
Houston, Texas
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 19, 1987, for the Toronto Blue Jays
Last MLB appearance
June 3, 1987, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
Batting average.120
Home runs1
Runs batted in2
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Jeffrey Allen DeWillis (born April 13, 1965) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1987 and played Minor League Baseball from 1983 to 1987.

Early life and amateur career

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DeWillis was born on April 13, 1965, in Houston, Texas.[1] He attended Pearland High School where he played baseball, football and basketball.[2] He was named an honorable mention on the 1980 and 1981 24-5A all-district basketball teams.[3][4] For baseball, DeWillis, a catcher, was named to the all-state team in 1981 and 1982 was named first team all-district in 1983.[5][6][7]

Toronto Blue Jays organization

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In May 1983, DeWillis committed to play baseball at Baylor University.[8] However, he was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round of the 1983 Major League Baseball draft and signed with Toronto. He reported to the Medicine Hat Blue Jays of the Pioneer League.[9] He appeared in 56 games for Medicine Hat in 1983, finishing the year with five home runs, 21 runs batted in and a .242 batting average.[9]

He was promoted to the Class A Kinston Blue Jays of the Carolina League in 1984, appearing in 122 games, before playing in one game with the Knoxville Blue Jays of the Southern League before the season ended.[9] In January 1985, he was invited to spring training with the Blue Jays as a non-roster invitee.[10] In March, he received attention from scouts and members of Toronto front office for his play in spring training, with Blue Jays vice president Bobby Mattick comparing DeWillis to Rick Dempsey.[11][12] He was ultimately sent back to the minor leagues, and split the 1985 season between Kinston, Knoxville, and the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs.[9]

In November 1985, he was added to the Blue Jays roster.[13] However, he was sent on loan to the Double-A Memphis Chicks, an affiliate of the Kansas City Royals, following spring training on April 2, 1986, in an effort to get him more playing time.[14][15][16] He returned to Knoxville by June.[17]

Major leagues

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DeWillis began the 1987 season with Knoxville, but was promoted to the Blue Jays on April 18 after catcher Matt Stark was placed on the disabled list.[18] He made his major league debut on April 19 as a defensive replacement against the Boston Red Sox.[19] He started the following game against the Cleveland Indians, recording his fist career hit.[19] He hit his first home run on April 25 against the Chicago White Sox.[20] He was sent back down to Knoxville on June 6 after Toronto signed catcher Charlie Moore.[21] DeWillis played in 39 games for Knoxville, hitting .131.[9] He was recalled by Toronto as a September call-up on August 30.[22] However, he did not appear in a game the remainder of the year. He ended the season with 13 games played, a .120 batting average, one home run and two RBI.[19] He was sent down to Syracuse after the season ended on October 21.[23]

Attempted conversion to pitcher and college football

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In spring training 1988, DeWillis attempted to transition from catching to pitching.[24] However, he was released by the Blue Jays in mid-April.[25]

In August 1989, DeWillis enrolled at Texas Tech University and tried out at quarterback for the school's football team as a walk-on.[26][27] However, he quit the team by August 26.[28]

References

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  1. ^ "Jeff DeWillis statistics at Baseball-Reference". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  2. ^ "Torres leads Stingarees over Oilers". The Galveston Daily News. May 10, 1981. p. 16. Retrieved August 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Wilcox tops picks on All-District list". The Galveston Daily News. March 10, 1980. p. 11. Retrieved August 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "3 teams dominate 24-5A all-district". The Galveston Daily News. May 10, 1981. p. 25. Retrieved August 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Three 'Rabbits make all-state". Times Record News. June 18, 1981. p. 53. Retrieved August 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "All-tourney team named". The Galveston Daily News. March 16, 1982. p. 12. Retrieved August 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Stengler, Jack (May 15, 1983). "Lake's McMahon named MVP". The Galveston Daily News. p. 29. Retrieved August 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Baylor Inks Prep Infielder". The Victoria Advocate. Associated Press. May 20, 1983. p. 16. Retrieved August 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Jeff DeWillis statistics at Baseball-Reference (Minors)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  10. ^ "Transactions". Corpus Christi Times. January 23, 1985. p. 18. Retrieved August 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Boston's Remy still ailing, can't play second". The Evening Sun. March 20, 1985. p. 58. Retrieved August 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Robbins, Joe (March 24, 1985). "Boddicker great at home, getting better on road". Democrat and Chronicle. p. 84. Retrieved August 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Scorecard". The Times-Mail. November 14, 1985. p. 12. Retrieved August 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Pitchers thrown a curve as teams reduce rosters". Calgary Herald. Associated Press. April 2, 1986. p. 29. Retrieved August 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Gates, Nick (April 5, 1986). "Manager Larry Hardy has settled on K-Jays' starters and rotation". Knoxville News Sentinel. p. 14. Retrieved August 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Gates, Nick (June 15, 1986). "Ex-Jay DeWillis makes most of loan to Chicks". Knoxville News Sentinel. p. 30. Retrieved August 1, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Tampa trips Daytona Beach, 6-2 - Knoxville blanks Orlando". Orlando Sentinel. June 27, 1986. p. 176. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  18. ^ "Deals". Times Colonist. April 18, 1987. p. 4. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  19. ^ a b c "Jeff DeWillis 1987 Batting Game Log at Baseball-Reference". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  20. ^ "Sox edge Blue Jays, 5-4". The Pantagraph. Associated Press. April 26, 1987. p. 63. Retrieved August 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ United Press International (June 6, 1987). "Blue Jays ink Charlie Moore". The York Dispatch. p. 21. Retrieved August 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ The Canadian Press (August 31, 1987). "Toronto calls up players". The Sun Times. p. 11. Retrieved August 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ "Transactions - October 21, 1987". Green Bay Press-Gazette. October 21, 1987. p. 20. Retrieved August 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ Gates, Nick (March 27, 1988). "1988 K-Jays to be strong up the middle, Foote says". Knoxville News Sentinel. p. 38. Retrieved August 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ "K-Jays". Knoxville News Sentinel. April 15, 1988. p. 29. Retrieved August 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "'Super Gnat' legacy lives on in tiny Tech walk-on". Abilene Reporter-News. Associated Press. August 12, 1989. p. 19. Retrieved August 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ Burch, Jimmy (August 16, 1989). "Rival coaches predict doom for youth Mustangs". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 30. Retrieved August 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ Burch, Jimmy (August 26, 1989). "Notes". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 38. Retrieved August 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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