Ben Paulsen

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Ben Paulsen

| image = MG 7327 Ben Paulsen.jpg

| image_size = 240px

| caption = Paulsen with the Colorado Rockies in 2015

| team =

| number =

| position = First baseman / Left fielder

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|10|27}}

| birth_place = Plymouth, Wisconsin, U.S.

| bats = Left

| throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = July 21

|debutyear = 2014

|debutteam = Colorado Rockies

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = August 24

|finalyear = 2016

|finalteam = Colorado Rockies

|statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value =.274

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 16

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 70

|awards =

|teams =

Colorado Rockies ({{mlby|2014}}–{{mlby|2016}})

}}

Benjamin Michael Paulsen (born October 27, 1987) is an American former Major League Baseball first baseman and left fielder who played for the Colorado Rockies from 2014 to 2016.

Amateur career

Born in Plymouth, Wisconsin, but raised in Alabama and Georgia, Paulsen attended Kell High School in Marietta, Georgia. Paulsen attended Clemson University alongside future major league teammate Kyle Parker. In 2008, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Hyannis Mets of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star.{{cite web|author= |url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |date= |accessdate=September 25, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2008&T=Hyannis_Mets |title=2008 Hyannis Mets |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://capecodbaseball.org/news/asgnews/index.html?article_id=524 |title=West All-Star Roster: All-Star Game 2008 |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=May 6, 2020}} Paulsen's performance and play improved dramatically during his time at Clemson. 6'3 and weighing only 180 lbs. during his freshman season, Paulsen batted .258 and hit five home runs. However, by the time he was a junior and in his final season, a bigger and stronger Paulsen hit .368 with 11 home runs.{{cite web |url=http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20090529/ARCHIVES/305299925 |title=Baseball has brought Paulsen closer to his father - Post and Courier |website=www.postandcourier.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010150024/http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20090529/ARCHIVES/305299925 |archive-date=2014-10-10}}

Professional career

=Colorado Rockies=

Paulsen was drafted by the Colorado Rockies as a first baseman in the third round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.{{Cite web |url=http://www.thestate.com/2009/06/09/821044/tigers-paulsen-drafted-by-rockies.html |title=Tigers' Paulsen drafted by Rockies |access-date=2014-07-22 |archive-date=2014-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726072838/http://www.thestate.com/2009/06/09/821044/tigers-paulsen-drafted-by-rockies.html |url-status=dead }} Paulsen was an Arizona Fall League Rising Star in 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/ben-paulsen-572019 |title=Ben Paulsen Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights |publisher=Minor League Baseball |date=October 27, 1987 |access-date=June 6, 2013}}

File:Ben Paulsen on July 4, 2014.jpg, triple-A affiliates of the Rockies, in {{Baseball year|2014}}]]

In 2014, while playing for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League (PCL), Paulsen was named to the PCL team for the Triple-A All-Star Game.{{Cite web|url=http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_26135874/ben-paulsen-is-hitting-his-stride-sky-sox|title=Ben Paulsen is hitting his stride with Colorado Springs Sky Sox|date=11 July 2014}} The Rockies promoted Paulsen to the majors for the first time on July 21, 2014, and he made his debut that day.[http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_26189741/justin-morneau-placed-dl-by-rockies-ben-paulsen Justin Morneau placed on DL by Rockies; Ben Paulsen to make MLB debut] However, MLB recognizes Paulsen's official debut as May 22, 2014, as he entered a game against the San Francisco Giants that started that day but was suspended due to rain and resumed on September 1, collecting a single (which counts as his first big league hit) in his only at-bat. Paulsen finished the 2014 season with a slash line of .317/.348/.571 in 66 plate appearances, hitting 4 home runs and driving in 10.

Paulsen played in 39 games for Colorado in 2016, hitting .217/.258/.304 with one home run and 11 RBI. On September 6, 2016, Paulsen was designated for assignment by the Rockies.{{Cite web|title=Rockies Designate Ben Paulsen, Rafael Ynoa For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/09/ben-paulsen-dfa-rockies-rafael-ynoa.html|access-date=July 20, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A Albuquerque Isotopes on September 8.{{Cite web|title=Rockies Outright Ben Paulsen, Rafael Ynoa|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/09/rockies-outright-ben-paulsen-rafael-ynoa.html|access-date=July 20, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} Paulsen elected free agency following the season on November 7.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2016|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2016/|access-date=July 19, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

=Minnesota Twins=

On December 3, 2016, Paulsen signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins. In 22 games for the Triple–A Rochester Red Wings, he hit .230/.279/.432 with three home runs and 12 RBI. On May 15, 2017, Paulsen was released by the Twins organization.{{Cite web|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 5/16/17|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/05/minor-mlb-transactions-51617.html|access-date=June 15, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

Post-playing career

In July 2017, Paulsen returned to Clemson to finish his degree, also joining the baseball team as an assistant coach. Paulsen shared a house with former Rockies teammate Kyle Parker while finishing his degree.{{Cite web|url=https://theclemsoninsider.com/2017/07/11/parker-excited-to-be-coming-home-to-clemson/|title = Parker excited to be coming home to Clemson|date = 11 July 2017}}