Austin Meadows

{{Infobox baseball biography

| image = Austin Meadows (cropped).jpg

| image_size = 255

| caption = Meadows with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019

| name = Austin Meadows

| team = Free agent

| number =

| position = Outfielder

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|5|3}}

| birth_place = Grayson, Georgia, U.S.

| bats = Left

| throws = Left

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = May 18

| debutyear = 2018

| debutteam = Pittsburgh Pirates

| statyear = 2023 season

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .259

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 70

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 238

| teams =

Pittsburgh Pirates ({{mlby|2018}})
Tampa Bay Rays ({{mlby|2018}}–{{mlby|2021}})
Detroit Tigers ({{mlby|2022}}–{{mlby|2023}})

| highlights = * All-Star (2019)

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry | {{bb|USA}}}}

}}

Austin Wade Meadows (born May 3, 1995) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Tampa Bay Rays, and Detroit Tigers. Meadows was an MLB All-Star in 2019.

Early life and amateur career

Meadows grew up in Grayson, Georgia, where he competed in baseball with Clint Frazier.{{cite web|title=Rivals and pals, Frazier and Meadows create Draft buzz|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130509&content_id=47085694|work=MLB.com|date=May 10, 2013|access-date=June 16, 2013}} He attended Grayson High School, and led the school's baseball team to the Georgia Class 6A State semi-finals as a junior, hitting .390 with four home runs, 28 runs batted in (RBIs), and 19 stolen bases.{{cite web|title=Pirates Draft Austin Meadows With the 9th Overall Pick|url=http://www.piratesprospects.com/2013/06/pirates-draft-austin-meadows-with-the-9th-overall-pick.html|publisher=Piratesprospects.com|date=June 6, 2013|access-date=June 16, 2013}} Meadows was named a preseason First-Team High School All American by Rawlings and Perfect Game,{{cite web|title=2013 Rawlings Preseason Senior High School All Americans |url=http://www.perfectgame.org/all_americans/2013/allamerica.aspx |publisher=Perfect Game USA |access-date=June 16, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615090719/http://perfectgame.org/all_americans/2013/allamerica.aspx |archive-date=June 15, 2013 }} and he hit .535 with 14 doubles, one triple, four home runs and 28 RBIs in his senior season.

Meadows also played football as a running back, wide receiver, and punter at Grayson where he was a teammate of Wayne Gallman and Robert Nkemdiche.{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=David |title=Pirates prospect Austin Meadows was also high school football star |url=https://www.bradenton.com/sports/article140670103.html |access-date=July 16, 2019 |work=Bradenton Herald |date=March 24, 2017}}

Professional career

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

Meadows was considered one of the top prospects eligible for the 2013 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2013-top-100-draft-prospects-may-10-jonathan-gray-tops-mark-appel-for-top-sot/|title=2013 Top 100 Draft Prospects (May 10): Jonathan Gray Takes Top Spot - BaseballAmerica.com|date=May 10, 2013|access-date=April 18, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://insider.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/9255085/mark-appel-jonathan-gray-kris-bryant-top-prospects-2013-mlb-draft|title=Law: Top 100 draft prospects|date=May 8, 2013 |access-date=April 18, 2017}} The Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in the first round, with the ninth overall selection. Meadows was committed to attend Clemson University to play college baseball for the Clemson Tigers, but chose to forgo that commitment by signing with the Pirates, receiving a $3,029,600 signing bonus three weeks after the draft.{{cite web|title=Pirates Agree to Terms with Austin Meadows|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/06/pirates-nearing-deal-with-austin-meadows.html|publisher=mlbtraderumors.com|date=June 27, 2013|access-date=June 28, 2013}}

After signing with the Pirates, Meadows played for the Gulf Coast Pirates of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League and the Jamestown Jammers of the Low–A New York–Penn League in 2013,{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/pittsburgh-pirates-scouting-report-on-of-austin-meadows-031717|title=Pittsburgh Pirates Scouting Report on OF Austin Meadows – FOX Sports|date=March 17, 2017|access-date=April 18, 2017}} compiling a combined .316 batting average with seven home runs and 22 RBIs in 48 games between both teams. He played for the West Virginia Power of the Single–A South Atlantic League in 2014, but missed a significant portion of the season due to a hamstring injury,{{cite web|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2015/04/02/Austin-Meadows-relishes-his-health-first-taste-of-major-leagues-with-Pirates/stories/201503310103|title=With Pirates, Austin Meadows relishes his health, first taste of majors|access-date=April 18, 2017}} playing only 38 games, batting .322/.388/.486 with three home runs and 15 RBIs. He played for the Bradenton Marauders of the High–A Florida State League (FSL) in 2015, and was named an FSL All-Star.{{cite web|url=http://www.bradenton.com/sports/mlb/bradenton-marauders_/article34905960.html|title=Baseball – Meadows delivers on hype to become FSL All-Star for Marauders – Bradenton Herald|access-date=April 18, 2017}} He spent the final week of the season with the Altoona Curve of the Double–A Eastern League. In 121 games for Bradenton he slashed .307/.357/.407 with seven home runs and 54 RBIs, and in six games for Altoona he batted 360. After the regular season, he played for the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League.{{cite web|last=Singer |first=Tom |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/austin-meadows-headed-to-arizona-fall-league/c-146753016 |title=Austin Meadows headed to Arizona Fall League | MLB.com |publisher=MLB.com |date=January 20, 2016 |access-date=May 18, 2018}}

Meadows suffered a broken orbital bone in his right eye during spring training in 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.altoonamirror.com/sports/local-sports/2016/03/meadows-injures-eye/|title=Meadows injures eye |work=Altoona Mirror|access-date=April 18, 2017}} He returned to Altoona and earned a promotion to the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple–A International League in June.{{cite web|url=http://www.altoonamirror.com/sports/altoona-curve/2016/06/pirates-promote-meadows-from-curve/|title=Pirates promote Meadows from Curve |work=Altoona Mirror|access-date=April 18, 2017}} In 45 games for Altoona he batted .311 with six home runs and 23 RBIs in 45 games, and in 37 games for Indianapolis, he compiled a .214 batting average with six home runs and 34 RBIs. The Pirates invited Meadows to spring training in 2017.{{cite web|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2017/03/19/Pirates-prospect-Austin-Meadows-major-league-spring-training/stories/201703190060|title=Pirates top prospect Austin Meadows getting major-league 'vibe'|access-date=April 18, 2017}} Meadows returned to Indianapolis for the 2017 season,{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/pittsburgh-pirates-austin-meadows-ignoring-the-hype-224790146|title=IL notes: Meadows ignoring the hype|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=April 18, 2017}} where he posted a .250 batting average with four home runs and 36 RBIs in 72 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/austin-meadows-640457|title=Austin Meadows Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=May 26, 2018}} He missed nearly two months of the season due to hamstring and oblique strains. The Pirates added him to their 40-man roster after the 2017 season.{{cite web|author=Rob Biertempfel |url=http://triblive.com/sports/pirates/12977361-74/pirates-put-austin-meadows-on-40-man-roster-gift-ngoepe-traded |title=Pirates put Austin Meadows on 40-man roster; Gift Ngoepe traded |publisher=TribLIVE |date=November 20, 2017 |access-date=May 18, 2018}}

File:Austin Meadows (43423910741) (cropped).jpg

MLB.com ranked Meadows as Pittsburgh's second best prospect going into the 2018 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/pirates-2018-top-30-prospects-led-by-keller/c-266878356?tid=151437456|title=New No. 1 Keller leads Pirates Top 30 Prospects list|work=MLB.com|access-date=February 22, 2018}} He began the season with Indianapolis and was promoted to the major leagues to make his debut on May 18.{{cite web|author=3:41 pm ET |url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23533618/pittsburgh-pirates-call-top-prospect-austin-meadows |title=Pittsburgh Pirates to call up top OF prospect Austin Meadows |work=Espn.com |date=May 18, 2018 |access-date=May 18, 2018}} He recorded his first major league hit off of Tyson Ross, as well as his first stolen base, that same night. On May 20, 2018, he hit his first major league home run off of Jordan Lyles.{{cite web|author=3:35 pm ET |url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/playbyplay?gameId=380520123 |title=San Diego Padres at Pittsburgh Pirates Boxscore |work=Espn.com |access-date=May 20, 2018}} Meadows was named the National League Rookie of the Month for the month of May after batting .409 with four home runs, seven RBIs, three doubles, and three stolen bases in 13 games during the month.{{cite web|url=https://www.tribliveoffers.com/|title=Welcome|website=www.tribliveoffers.com}}

=Tampa Bay Rays=

On July 31, 2018, Meadows was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays, along with Tyler Glasnow and a player to be named later, later revealed to be Shane Baz, for Chris Archer and was optioned to Triple-A Durham.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/24246116/chris-archer-traded-pittsburgh-pirates-tampa-bay-rays|title=Archer excited to join surging Pirates after trade|date=July 31, 2018|website=ESPN.com}} Meadows was promoted to the Tampa Bay Rays on September 19. In ten games with the Rays, hit .250/.308/.417 with a home run and four runs batted in.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/meadoau01.shtml|title=Austin Meadows Stats {{!}} Baseball-Reference.com|website=Baseball-Reference.com|language=en|access-date=October 2, 2018}} Meadows ended the season slashing .287/.325/.461 with six home runs and 17 runs batted in over 59 games.

In 2019, Meadows made his first All-star game. He ended the 2019 season with career highs offensively. He led the team in average (.291), home runs (33), runs (83) and 89 runs batted in in 138 games.

On July 16, 2020, Meadows was placed on the injured list after he tested positive for COVID-19, which caused him to miss the beginning of the abbreviated 2020 season. After recovering from the illness, he returned to the Rays on August 4.{{cite web|title=Rays' Meadows tests positive for COVID-19|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/austin-meadows-tests-positive-for-coronavirus|access-date=July 20, 2020|website=MLB.com|language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Topkin |first1=Marc |title=Rays activate Austin Meadows, option Trevor Richards |url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2020/08/04/rays-activate-austin-meadows-option-trevor-richards/ |website=Tampa Bay Times |access-date=August 5, 2020}} During the season, Meadows hit .205/.296/.371 in 36 games.

In 2021 he had the lowest ground ball/fly ball ratio in the major leagues, at 0.54, and the lowest ground ball percentage, at 28.7%.{{cite web|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=2&season=2021&month=0&season1=2021&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&startdate=2021-01-01&enddate=2021-12-31&sort=4,a|title=Major League Leaderboards » 2021 » Batters » Batted Ball Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball|website=www.fangraphs.com}} He finished the 2021 season with a .234 batting average, with 27 home runs and 106 RBIs.

=Detroit Tigers=

On April 4, 2022, Meadows was traded to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Isaac Paredes and a competitive balance round B pick in the 2022 MLB draft.{{cite web|title=Tigers acquire Austin Meadows from Tampa Bay in exchange for Isaac Paredes and competitive balance round b pick|url=https://www.mlb.com/tigers/press-release/press-release-tigers-acquire-austin-meadows-from-tampa-bay|work=MLB.com|date=April 4, 2022|accessdate=April 4, 2022}} After leaving the Tigers early in the season due to vertigo and later COVID-19, Meadows returned to the team in June only to go on the injured list again with tendinitis in his Achilles. He would not return to the Tigers the rest of the season, adding that he was suffering from mental health issues in addition to his physical ailments.{{cite web|title=Detroit Tigers' Austin Meadows to miss rest of year due to injuries, mental health|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34510080/detroit-tigers-austin-meadows-miss-rest-year-due-injuries-mental-health|last=Rogers|first=Jesse|work=ESPN.com|date=September 2, 2022|accessdate=October 3, 2022}} In 36 games with the Tigers in 2022, Meadows batted .250 with no home runs.

On November 25, 2022, the Tigers and Meadows agreed on a one-year, $4.3 million contract for the 2023 season, avoiding salary arbitration.{{cite web|title=Detroit Tigers: Austin Meadows set to return after adversity-filled 2022|url=https://motorcitybengals.com/posts/detroit-tigers-austin-meadows-set-to-return-after-adversity-filled-2022-01gjgvr3m7jd|last=Kotila|first=Tyler|work=fansided.com|date=November 25, 2022|accessdate=January 25, 2023}} On April 8, 2023, Meadows was placed on the injured list with anxiety issues. The Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris issued a statement supporting Meadows' decision to step away from the game to seek help.{{Cite web |title=Tigers Place Austin Meadows On 10-Day Injured List |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/04/tigers-place-austin-meadows-on-10-day-injured-list.html |access-date=April 8, 2023 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |date=April 8, 2023 |language=en-US}} On May 1, Meadows was transferred to the 60-day injured list.{{Cite web|title=Tigers' Austin Meadows: Moves to 60-day IL|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/tigers-austin-meadows-moves-to-60-day-il/|access-date=September 13, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=May 2023 |language=en}} On September 9, it was announced that Meadows would not return to the Tigers in 2023.{{cite web | title=Tigers' Austin Meadows: Will not return this season | website=CBSSports.com | date=2023-09-09 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/tigers-austin-meadows-will-not-return-this-season/amp/ | access-date=2025-04-10}} On November 17, 2023, it was announced that the Tigers would not tender Meadows a contract for the 2024 season, making him a free agent.{{Cite web |last=Deeds |first=Nick |date=November 17, 2023 |title=Tigers Non-Tender Austin Meadows, Spencer Turnbull |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/tigers-non-tender-austin-meadows-spencer-turnbull.html |access-date=November 18, 2023 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}

Personal life

Meadows' mother, Staci, played softball for Georgia Southern University and Georgia State University, and works as an elementary school teacher in Grayson. His father, Kenny, played baseball and football for Morehead State University. His brother, Parker, was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the second round of the 2018 MLB draft and currently plays in their organization. Meadows married his wife, Alexis, in December 2018. Meadows is a Christian.{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Jason |title=Rookie Austin Meadows is red-hot in first month with Pittsburgh Pirates |url=https://sportsspectrum.com/sport/baseball/2018/06/05/rookie-austin-meadows-is-red-hot-in-first-month-with-the-pittsburgh-pirates/ |website=Sports Spectrum |date=June 5, 2018 |access-date=September 25, 2021}}

Meadows grew up an Atlanta Braves fan.{{Cite news |last=Hummer |first=Steve |date=June 1, 2013 |title=Baseball draft goes through Loganville |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/baseball/baseball-draft-goes-through-loganville/SBt4ij5i8F5yiiSY0vgkWO/ |access-date=2025-01-18 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution}}