Andy Yerzy

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Andy Yerzy

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|team = St. Louis Cardinals

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|position = Catcher / First baseman

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|7|5}}

|birth_place = North York, Ontario, Canada

|bats = Left

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

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|statleague = MLB

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Andrew Jacob Yerzy{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/statistics/players/cards/9953 |title=Andy Yerzy Stats & Scouting Report |work=Baseball America |date=July 5, 1998 |accessdate=December 5, 2018}} (born July 5, 1998) is a Canadian professional baseball catcher and first baseman in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.

Early life

Yerzy, a native of North York, Ontario, was born to David and Patricia (née Wong) Yerzy, has two older brothers, and is Jewish.{{cite news|author=Jamie Strashin|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/mlb/andrew-yerzy-diamondbacks-1.3636948 |title=Andrew Yerzy: Toronto's million-dollar baseball prospect |work=CBC Sports|date=June 16, 2016 |accessdate=December 5, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://thejewishnews.com/2022/04/07/all-the-jewish-major-league-baseball-players-well-see-in-2022/|date=April 7, 2022|title=All the Jewish Major League Baseball Players We'll See in 2022 |work= Detroit Jewish News|first=Jacob|last=Gurvis}}{{Cite web|url=https://canuckbaseballplus.com/2018/05/06/744/|title=The Rarity That is a Canadian Jewish Ballplayer|date=May 6, 2018|work=Canuck Baseball Plus|author=Jesse Levine}} His paternal grandparents were Eric Yerzy (whose parents and siblings were murdered in the Holocaust) and Sonia Yerzy.{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/montrealgazette/obituary.aspx?n=eric-yerzy&pid=152258319 |title=Eric Yerzy Obituary - Montreal, QC |work= The Gazette |date= |accessdate=December 5, 2018}} His maternal grandparents were Cheuck Yu Wong and Shun Kiu Susan Wong.{{cite web|url=http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestar/obituary.aspx?n=cheuck-yu-wong&pid=144466542 |title=Cheuck Wong Obituary - Toronto|work= Toronto Star |date= |accessdate=December 5, 2018}} He attended York Mills Collegiate Institute in Toronto.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=yerzy-000and |title=Andy Yerzy Minor Leagues Statistics & History |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date= |accessdate=December 5, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/pioneer-notes-yerzy-proving-hes-worthy/c-190665990|title=Pioneer notes: Yerzy proving he's worthy; Arizona's second-round pick working hard behind the plate for Osprey|website=MiLB.com|date=July 21, 2016 |accessdate=December 14, 2018}}

Career

=Amateur career=

Yerzy was selected for the Junior Canadian National Baseball Team at the age of 15. He was co-champion of Major League Baseball's Junior Home Run Derby at the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.{{cite web|author= Matt Layman |url=http://arizonasports.com/story/705599/d-backs-sign-second-round-pick-andrew-yerzy/ |title=D-backs sign second-round pick Andrew Yerzy |publisher=Arizona Sports |date=June 20, 2016 |accessdate=December 5, 2018}} In 2016 he was named a Rawlings-Perfect Game Third Team All-American.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/draft-pick-andy-yerzy-visits-with-d-backs-c185585908|title=Before starting career, Yerzy spends time with big club; From Toronto area, second-round Draft pick visits with D-backs at Rogers Centre|date=June 22, 2016|website=MLB.com}}

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

==2016–18==

Yerzy was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, 52nd overall.

He was the third-highest Major League Baseball draft pick ever from the Greater Toronto Area, behind Josh Naylor (12th overall in 2015 by the Miami Marlins) and Joey Votto (44th overall in 2002 by the Cincinnati Reds). He had signed a letter of intent to attend the University of Notre Dame, but instead signed for a signing bonus of $1.214 million.{{cite news|url=http://www.torontosun.com/2016/06/10/toronto-mlb-draft-pick-yerzy-dazzles-diamondbacks |title=Toronto News |newspaper=Toronto Sun |date= |accessdate=December 5, 2018}} It was the 11th-highest bonus ever given a Canadian baseball player.{{cite web|url=https://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/canadian-baseball-network-articles//after-bp-with-dbacks-yerzy-watches-from-on-high-with-co-owner-royer |title=After BP with DBacks, Yerzy watches from on high with co-owner Royer|work=Canadian Baseball Network|date=June 22, 2016 |accessdate=December 5, 2018}} Arizona scouting director Deric Ladnier said: "He has massive power." D-backs manager Chip Hale said "Now he's just got to graduate high school and ... start his career... he's as good looking of a 17-year-old as I've seen."

After being drafted, at the age of 17, Yerzy played for both the rookie-level Arizona League Diamondbacks and the Missoula Osprey in 2016. He posted a combined .216 batting average with one home run and 16 RBI in 45 total games between both teams, while playing catcher. After the 2016 season, Baseball America ranked him Arizona's #14 prospect.

He spent 2017 with Missoula. Yerzy greatly improved over his debut, batting .298/.365/.524 with 13 home runs (tied for 6th in the Pioneer League), 45 RBI and an .890 OPS in 54 games.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=647378#/career/R/hitting/2017/ALL|title=Andy Yerzy Stats, Highlights, Bio |publisher=MiLB.com|accessdate=February 19, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=a2eedcf2 |title=2017 Pioneer League Batting Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date=January 1, 1970 |accessdate=December 5, 2018}}

Yerzy played all of 2018 with the Hillsboro Hops, slashing .297/.382/.452 with eight home runs (tied for 8th in the Northwest League), 34 RBIs (9th), and 34 walks (8th) in 63 games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.azsnakepit.com/2018/11/29/18117565/diamondbacks-top-prospect-19-catcher-andy-yerzy|title=Diamondbacks Top Prospect #19: Catcher Andy Yerzy|first=Michael|last=McDermott|date=November 29, 2018|website=AZ Snake Pit}} He was both a Northwest League Mid-Season All Star and a Northwest League Post-Season All Star for Hillsboro.

==2019–22 ==

Yerzy split 2019 between the Hillsboro Hops and the Kane County Cougars in the Single-A Midwest League, batting a combined .179/.279/.275 with 46 walks, six home runs, and 39 RBI in 357 at-bats. His 34 RBIs and 37 walks with Hillsboro were both 6th in the league.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/leader.cgi?type=bat&id=8eb33053 |title=2019 Northwest League Batting Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date= |accessdate=2019-09-26}} Yerzy 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=2023-03-11|website=mlb.com|language=en}}

As of June 2021, he held every single Hops offensive record.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/andy-yerzy-feature|title=Toronto, Canada—Where Hops Legends Are Born; Andy Yerzy on his journey through pro-ball|website=MiLB.com|author= Hallie Holton|date=June 11, 2021}} In 2021, Yerzy played with the Single-A Visalia Rawhide (12 games), Hillsboro (61 games), and the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles (21 games).{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=yerzy-000and | title=Andy Yerzy Minor Leagues Statistics }}{{Cite web|url=https://minorleaguesportsreport.com/index.php/andy-yerzy-cooked-hillsboro-hops-hustles-ahead-of-canadians-7-5/|title=Andy Yerzy cooked Vancouver Canadians, leads Hillsboro Hops to 7-5 win.|first=Greg|last=Stoker|date=August 10, 2021|work=Minor League Sports Report}} On May 21, 2021, Yerzy was named Canadian Baseball Network Player of the Week.{{Cite web|url=https://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/canadian-baseball-network-articles/cbn-player-of-the-week-week-iii-andrew-yerzy|title=CBN Player of the Week, Week III - Andrew Yerzy|website=Canadian Baseball Network|date=May 28, 2021 }} On August 27, he was named Canadian Baseball Network Player of the Week.{{Cite web|url=https://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/canadian-baseball-network-articles/cbn-player-of-the-week-week-xvii-andrew-yerzy|title=CBN Player of the Week, Week XVII -- Andrew Yerzy|date=August 27, 2021 |website=Canadian Baseball Network}} He batted a combined .220/.354/.459 in 318 at-bats, with 21 home runs, 61 RBI, 53 walks, 14 hit by pitches, and 7 stolen bases in 8 attempts. In the field, he played catcher (45 games; throwing out 33% of attempted base-stealers) and first base (24 games).

In 2022, Yerzy played the entire season with Amarillo. He batted .220/.338/.402 in 291 at-bats, with 45 runs, 12 home runs, 38 RBI, and 50 walks. In the field, he played first base (48 games) and catcher (31 games), and pitched one scoreless inning in one game. He elected free agency following the season on November 10, 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/andy-yerzy-647378|title=Andy Yerzy Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News|website=MiLB.com}}

=Cincinnati Reds=

On March 10, 2023, Yerzy signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds organization.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Andy Yerzy: Inks minors deal with Cincinnati|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-andy-yerzy-inks-minors-deal-with-cincinnati/amp/|access-date=2023-03-12|website=CBS Sports|language=en}} In 17 games split between the Double–A Chattanooga Lookouts and Triple–A Louisville Bats, he hit a combined .235/.371/.529 with 11 runs, 4 home runs, and 14 RBIs in 51 at bats.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=yerzy-000and|title=Andy Yerzy Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}} On August 15, Yerzy was released by Cincinnati.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-08-15|title=Transactions|website=MiLB.com}}

=Kansas City Monarchs=

On August 23, 2023, Yerzy signed with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|title=2023 Transactions|url=https://aabaseball.com/transactions/|access-date=August 28, 2023|website=aabaseball.com|language=en}} In 12 games for the Monarchs, Yerzy batted .286/.457/.429 with one home run, four RBI, and 11 walks in 35 at-bats.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-02-02|title=Transactions|website=MiLB.com}}

=Milwaukee Brewers=

On February 2, 2024, Yerzy signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. He was assigned to the Biloxi Shuckers, the Brewers' Double-A affiliate in Biloxi, Mississippi.{{Cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/monarchs-champion-yerzy-signs-with-brewers/n-6055264|title=Monarchs Champion Yerzy Signs with Brewers|date=February 6, 2024|website=OurSports Central}} In 23 games split between Biloxi and the Triple-A Nashville Sounds, Yerzy batted .208/.275/.306 with two home runs and 14 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 4.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2024|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2024/|access-date=January 27, 2025|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 6, 2024 |language=en}}

=Cincinnati Reds (second stint)=

On January 20, 2025, Yerzy signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2025-01-18 | title=Transactions }} In two games for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, he went 1-for-6 (.167) with one walk. Yerzy was released by the Reds organization on April 14.https://www.milb.com/transactions/2025-04-14

=St. Louis Cardinals=

On April 16, 2025, Yerzy signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.https://www.milb.com/transactions/2025-04-16/p-2

International career

Yerzy was selected to the Canada national baseball team at the 2015 U-18 Baseball World Cup and 2019 Pan American Games Qualifier, and the 2019 WBSC Premier12.{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball.ca/baseball-canada-announces-roster-for-pan-am-games-qualifier | title=Baseball Canada announces roster for Pan Am Games Qualifier | work=Baseball Canada | date=January 9, 2019 | accessdate=March 8, 2019 }}{{ cite web | url=https://www.baseball.ca/baseball-canada-reveals-2019-wbsc-premier12-roster | title=Baseball Canada reveals 2019 WBSC Premier12® roster | work=Baseball Canada | date=October 8, 2019 | accessdate=October 13, 2019 }}