Brian Thomas Bogusevic (Serbian Latin: Brian Bogušević; born February 18, 1984) is an American professional baseball former outfielder and broadcaster. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, and Philadelphia Phillies and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Orix Buffaloes.

Brian Bogusevic
Bogusevic with the Houston Astros
Outfielder
Born: (1984-02-18) February 18, 1984 (age 40)
Oak Lawn, Illinois, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
Professional debut
MLB: September 1, 2010, for the Houston Astros
NPB: March 25, 2016, for the Orix Buffaloes
Last appearance
MLB: October 3, 2015, for the Philadelphia Phillies
NPB: September 1, 2016, for the Orix Buffaloes
MLB statistics
Batting average.238
Home runs19
Runs batted in67
NPB statistics
Batting average.187
Home runs3
Runs batted in18
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
Pan American Games
Silver medal – second place 2015 Toronto Team

College career

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Bogusevic was a two-way star player for Tulane University, playing in the outfield and also used as a starting pitcher. He was also a two-way player in high school, a three-year letterman at Chicago's De La Salle Institute for coach Brad Esposito pitching and playing outfield.[1] In 2004, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2][3] While playing for the Green Wave, he was named to the All-Tournament Team in the 2005 Conference USA Tournament.[4]

Professional career

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Houston Astros

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He was drafted 24th overall in the 2005 MLB Draft by the Houston Astros as a starting pitcher. He remained a pitcher in the Houston Astros organization until mid-2008 before converting to an outfielder. In 2008, he was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League as an outfielder.

On August 16, 2011, he became the 26th player in MLB History to hit an "ultimate grand slam," a pinch-hit walk-off home run which won the game by one run.[5]

Bogusevic reprised his old pitching role for one game in 2012, a June 7 relief appearance against the St. Louis Cardinals. Entering a 12–2 blowout, Bogusevic pitched the 9th inning and surrendered two runs.[6] He featured a 90 mph fastball.[7]

On November 3, Bogusevic elected to become a free agent after being outrighted off the 40-man roster.[8]

Chicago Cubs

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On November 21, 2012, Bogusevic signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs.[9] He was allocated to the minors on March 22, 2013, in spite of hitting .410 in spring training. The fifth outfielder was Dave Sappelt, who won the job because of his platooning ability.[10] He was the Iowa Cubs Opening Day first baseman and went 3–5 with an RBI and a run in his debut. Through April, he was hitting .420 with 10 RBI and 16 runs. Through May he was hitting .367 with 5 HR, 20 RBI and 32 runs. On June 25, Bogusevic was called up by Chicago.[11] At the time, Bogusevic was hitting .319 with 10 HR, 32 RBI and 50 runs in 78 games with Iowa. He made his Chicago debut on June 26, going 2–4 with a walk. When Ryan Sweeney went on the disabled list with fracture ribs, Bogusevic took over in center field. However, on July 14, Bogusevic suffered an injury of his own, and was replaced by Junior Lake.[12] After rehabbing in Arizona, Bogusevic returned on August 19, replacing the recently traded David DeJesus. Bogusevic was splitting time with Darnell McDonald in left field with Lake in center field, but when Sweeney returned on September 1, he pushed Lake to left field, and Lake and Bogusevic split time there. In 47 games with Chicago, Bogusevic hit .273 with 6 HR, 16 RBI and 18 runs.

Miami Marlins

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On December 12, 2013, the Cubs traded Bogusevic to the Miami Marlins in exchange for outfielder Justin Ruggiano.[13] Bogusevic was designated for assignment on March 30, 2014.[14] He played in 82 games for the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Marlins and Triple–A New Orleans Zephyrs, slashing .263/.352/.420 with seven home runs, 36 RBI, and six stolen bases. Bogusevic elected free agency on October 6.[15]

Philadelphia Phillies

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On November 1, 2014, Bogusevic signed a minor-league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.[16] He split between the 2015 season between the Triple–A Lehigh Valley IronPigs and the Phillies. Bogusevic hit .296 with 12 home runs and 57 RBI for Lehigh Valley in 118 games, and .259 with 2 home runs and 5 RBI for Philadelphia in 22 games. After being outrighted off the Phillies' 40-man roster, he became a free agent in October 2015.[17]

Orix Buffaloes

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Bogusevic signed with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2016 season. He appeared in 60 games for the Buffaloes in 2016, and hit .187 with three home runs and 18 RBI.[18]

Boston Red Sox

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On January 7, 2017, Bogusevic returned to the MLB by signing a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox that included an invitation to spring training. Bogusevic hit .278/.331/.467 with 12 home runs and 40 RBI for the Pawtucket Red Sox, the Red Sox Triple–A affiliate. Bogusevic did not appear in a big league game in 2017.[19] He elected free agency following the season on November 6.[20]

Post-playing career

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On April 14, 2019, he was a substitute postgame anchor for the Astros.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Tulane Player Guide". Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
  2. ^ "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  3. ^ "2004 Falmouth Commodores". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  4. ^ "2012 Conference USA Baseball Media Guide" (PDF). p. 93. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  5. ^ "Yahoo". Yahoo.
  6. ^ "June 7, 2012 St. Louis Cardinals at Houston Astros Play by Play and Box Score". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  7. ^ "Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool - Player Card: Brian Bogusevic". Brooks Baseball. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  8. ^ "Brian McTaggart on Twitter".
  9. ^ Ginnetti, Toni (November 21, 2012). "Cubs sign Chicago area outfielder Brian Bogusevic". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on December 14, 2012.
  10. ^ Sullivan, Paul (March 22, 2013). "Cubs make 11 roster cuts, including Bogusevic". Chicago Tribune.
  11. ^ Yellon, Al (June 25, 2013). "Carlos Marmol DFA'd; Brian Bogusevic Joins Cubs". Bleed Cubbie Blue.
  12. ^ Muskat, Carrie (July 19, 2013). "Cubs promote Lake and place Bogusevic on DL". Cubs.com.
  13. ^ "Chicago Cubs on Twitter".
  14. ^ "Marlins Designate Brady, Bogusevic For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved October 3, 2024.
  15. ^ Polishuk, Mark (October 6, 2014). "Players Who Have Elected Minor League Free Agency". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  16. ^ White, R.J. (November 1, 2014). "Phillies sign Brian Bogusevic, Darin Mastroianni to minor-league deals". fantasynews.cbssports.com. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  17. ^ "Brian Bogusevic Stats, Highlights, Bio | MiLB.com Stats | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  18. ^ "Brian Bogusevic Register Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  19. ^ Wilmoth, Charlie (January 7, 2017). "Minor MLB Transactions: 1/7/17". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  20. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2017". baseballamerica.com. November 7, 2017. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  21. ^ Alsandor, Butch (April 14, 2019). "Join @BrianBogusevic and me for @astros Postgame Show after the @Mariners game on @ATTSportsNetSW. @astros shooting for their 9th consecutive win. Find out if Jose Altuve hit another homer.pic.twitter.com/akN72EuiDW". @ButchAlsandor. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
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