Alex Call

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Alex Call

|image = Alex Call scored (52176153890) (cropped).jpg

|caption = Call with the Columbus Clippers in 2022

|team = Washington Nationals

|number = 17

|position = Outfielder

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|9|27}}

|birth_place = Burnsville, Minnesota, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = July 11

|debutyear = 2022

|debutteam = Cleveland Guardians

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = April 20, 2025

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .235

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 16

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 73

|teams =

Cleveland Guardians ({{mlby|2022}})
Washington Nationals ({{mlby|2022}}–present)

}}

Alexander Marvin Call (born September 27, 1994) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cleveland Guardians.

Amateur career

Born in Burnsville, Minnesota, Call attended River Falls High School in River Falls, Wisconsin,{{cite web | title=River Falls grad Call knocking on big league door | website=River Falls Journal | date=July 20, 2021 | url=https://www.riverfallsjournal.com/sports/baseball/river-falls-grad-call-knocking-on-big-league-door/article_1ff2b088-e82f-11eb-baad-1ff3f464ec53.html | access-date=December 11, 2024}} and Ball State University, where he played college baseball for the Ball State Cardinals.{{cite web | url=https://www.heraldbulletin.com/sports/college_sports/ball-states-call-receives-mlb-call/article_25dd9e46-017d-11ed-9fc5-5fa85f974002.html | title=Ball State's Call receives MLB call | date=July 11, 2022 }} In 2015, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|url=http://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=821650 |title=#27 Alex Call - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=July 12, 2022}} In 2016, he was named the Mid-American Conference Baseball Player of the Year.{{cite news |last1=Frederick |first1=Jace |title=River Falls' Alex Call goes to White Sox in MLB draft |url=https://www.twincities.com/2016/06/10/mlb-draft-white-sox-take-river-falls-alex-call-in-third-round/ |accessdate=April 30, 2020 |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press |date=June 10, 2016}}

Professional career

=Chicago White Sox=

The Chicago White Sox selected Call in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft. He split time between the rookie-level Great Falls Voyagers and Single-A Kannapolis Intimidators in his debut campaign, slashing a cumulative .308/.394/.445 with 6 home runs, 35 RBI, and 14 stolen bases. In 2017, Call played for the rookie-level Arizona League White Sox, Kannapolis, and the High-A Winston-Salem Dash, batting a combined .207/.295/.317 with 3 home runs, 33 RBI, and 5 stolen bases. The next year, Call split the season between Winston-Salem and the Double-A Birmingham Barons. In 123 games between the two affiliates, he hit .248/.345/.415 with 12 home runs, 58 RBI, and 6 stolen bases.

=Cleveland Indians / Guardians=

On December 15, 2018, Call was traded to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Yonder Alonso.{{cite news |last1=McDonald |first1=Darragh |title=Guardians Select Alex Call, Designate Oscar Mercado For Assignment |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/07/guardians-select-alex-call-designate-oscar-mercado-for-assignment.html |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=July 11, 2022}} He spent the 2019 season with the Double-A Akron RubberDucks, slashing .205/.266/.321 with 5 home runs and 31 RBI across 81 games.

Call did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=February 27, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}} In 2021, Call played in 109 games split between Akron and the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, hitting .262/.356/.438 with 15 home runs, 50 RBI, and 15 stolen bases. He was assigned to Triple-A Columbus to begin the 2022 season.

The Guardians selected Call's contract on July 11, 2022, and promoted him to the major leagues for the first time.{{cite web | url=https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2022/07/guardians-promote-of-alex-call-designate-oscar-mercado-for-assignment-again.html?outputType=amp | title=Guardians promote OF Alex Call, designate Oscar Mercado for assignment again | date=July 11, 2022 }} On July 22, Call recorded his first career hit, a single off of Chicago White Sox reliever Tanner Banks.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/video/alex-call-s-first-mlb-hit | title=Alex Call's first MLB hit | 07/22/2022 | website=MLB.com }} He made his major league debut that same day as a pinch hitter. He appeared in 12 big league games for Cleveland, going 2-for-12 with four walks. On August 5, 2022, the Guardians designated Call for assignment after Hunter Gaddis’ contract was selected.{{Cite web|title=Guardians' Alex Call: Jettisoned from 40-man roster|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/guardians-alex-call-jettisoned-from-40-man-roster/amp/|access-date=March 5, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}

=Washington Nationals=

File:Alex Call (52796751824) (cropped).jpg

On August 7, 2022, Call was claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals.{{cite news |last1=McDonald |first1=Darragh |title=Nationals Claim Alex Call From Guardians |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/08/nationals-claim-alex-call-from-guardians.html |publisher=MLB Trade Rumors |date=August 7, 2022}} On August 19, Call hit his first career home run, a two-run shot off of San Diego Padres closer Josh Hader.{{Cite web|title=Wisconsin native's home run against Josh Hader highlights latest rough outing for former Brewers closer|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/08/20/river-falls-native-alex-call-hits-first-mlb-homer-against-josh-hader/7854140001/|access-date=June 3, 2023|website=jsonline.com|language=en}} On September 8, Call had four hits in five at bats, including a three-run home run, and five RBI in the Nationals 11-6 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. In 35 games for Washington, he batted .245/.330/.441 with five home runs and 13 RBI.

Call played in 128 games for the Nationals in 2023, hitting .200/.307/.307 with eight home runs, 38 RBIs, and nine stolen bases.{{Cite web|title=Does Call have future with Nats after disappointing year?|url=https://www.masnsports.com/blog/does-call-have-future-with-nats-after-disappointing-year|access-date=March 23, 2024|website=masnsports.com|date=October 17, 2023 |language=en}} Call was optioned to the Triple–A Rochester Red Wings to begin the 2024 season.{{Cite web|title=Late-night cuts leave Nats with only one more roster decision|url=https://www.masnsports.com/blog/late-night-cuts-leave-nats-with-only-one-more-roster-decision?format=amp|access-date=March 23, 2024|website=masnsports.com|language=en}} In 30 games with the Nationals in 2024 he hit .343/.425/.525 with three home runs, 14 RBIs, and five stolen bases. {{Cite web|title=Alex Call Statistics|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/callal02.shtml|access-date=April 12, 2025|website=baseball-reference.com|language=en}}