Brandon Laird

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Brandon Laird

| image = LM-Brandon-Laird20210606.jpg

| image_size = 240px

| caption = Laird with the Chiba Lotte Marines

| position = Third baseman / First baseman

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|9|11}}

| birth_place = Cypress, California, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = July 22

| debutyear = 2011

| debutteam = New York Yankees

| debut2league= NPB

| debut2date = March 27

| debut2year = 2015

| debut2team = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = September 29

| finalyear = 2013

| finalteam = Houston Astros

| final2league = NPB

| final2date = October 2

| final2year = 2022

| final2team = Chiba Lotte Marines

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .197

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 6

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 16

| stat2league = NPB

| stat21label = Batting average

| stat21value = .238

| stat22label = Home runs

| stat22value = 213

| stat23label = Runs batted in

| stat23value = 596

| teams =

New York Yankees ({{mlby|2011}})
Houston Astros ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2013}})
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters ({{npby|2015}}–{{npby|2018}})
Chiba Lotte Marines ({{npby|2019}}–{{npby|2022}})

|highlights=

5× NPB All-Star ({{npby|2016}}, {{npby|2017}}, {{npby|2019}}, {{npby|2021}}, {{npby|2022}})
Pacific League home run leader (2016)
2× Pacific League Best Nine Award (2016, 2021)
Japan Series champion (2016)
Japan Series MVP (2016)
NPB Home Run Derby winner (2022){{cite news | url=https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220728/p2g/00m/0sp/004000c | title=Baseball: Yanagita home run wins All-Star Game 2 | newspaper=Mainichi Daily News | date=July 28, 2022 | access-date=August 3, 2022 | archive-date=August 3, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803164630/https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20220728/p2g/00m/0sp/004000c | url-status=dead }}

|medaltemplates=

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

}}

Brandon J. Laird (born September 11, 1987), nicknamed "Sushi Boy",{{cite web | url=https://www.marines.co.jp/special/2019marinefesta/#nickname | title=ニックネーム | work=千葉ロッテマリーンズオフィシャルサイト「マリンフェスタ」特設サイト | language=ja | access-date=March 12, 2019 | archive-date=March 30, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330165024/https://www.marines.co.jp/special/2019marinefesta/#nickname | url-status=dead }} is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He has played for the New York Yankees and the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB), and the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

High school and college career

Laird attended La Quinta High School in Westminster, California.{{cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/first-309396-game-major.html|title=Perfect debut for La Quinta's Laird|first=RANDY|last=YOUNGMAN|date=July 23, 2011|access-date=November 1, 2016}} He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 27th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft. He did not sign,{{cite web|url=http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/team/draft.jsp?c_id=cle&year=2005|title=Cleveland Indians 2005 Draft Results|access-date=November 1, 2016|archive-date=June 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627202346/http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/team/draft.jsp?c_id=cle&year=2005|url-status=dead}} opting to attend Cypress College, where he played college baseball for the Cypress Chargers.{{cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/team-159184-cypress-one.html|title=Cypress got inspiration from a 4-legged friend|first=Kevin|last=Metz|date=May 25, 2007|access-date=November 1, 2016}}

Professional career

=New York Yankees=

The New York Yankees selected Laird in the 27th round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=http://web.yesnetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20160510&content_id=177327912&vkey=news_milb|title=Former Yankees INF Brandon Laird wins $10,000, year's worth of free beer with home run in Japan|access-date=November 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627202725/http://web.yesnetwork.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20160510&content_id=177327912&vkey=news_milb|archive-date=June 27, 2018|url-status=dead}} He signed with the Yankees. Laird was named a Post-Season All-Star for the GCL Yankees that same year after hitting .339/.367/.577 with eight homer runs and 29 RBI in 45 games.{{Cite web |title=2007 GCL Yankees Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=646c8e76 |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He was named a Post-Season All-Star following the 2009 season after hitting .266/.329/.415 with 13 home run and 75 RBI in 124 games for the Tampa Yankees.{{Cite web |title=2009 Tampa Yankees Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=7119f45d |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

Laird was a non-roster invitee to Yankees spring training before the 2010 season.{{Cite web |last=Star-Ledger |first=Marc Carig/The |date=February 17, 2010 |title=After offseason legal trouble, NY Yankees prospect lands spring training invite |url=https://www.nj.com/yankees/2010/02/after_offseason_legal_trouble.html |access-date=November 30, 2023 |website=nj |language=en}} On August 2, 2010, Laird was promoted from the Trenton Thunder of the Double-A Eastern League to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees of the Triple-A International League.{{cite news|first=John |last=Nalbone |url=http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2010/08/thunder_lose_franklin_ejected.html |title=Thunder lose; Franklin ejected; Laird promoted |publisher=Nj.com |access-date=July 23, 2011}} Laird was named both the Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year of the Eastern League in 2010, following a breakout season.{{cite news |url=http://blogs.thetimes-tribune.com/yankees/?p=7237 |title=Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees Blog » Laird named Eastern League MVP, ROY |publisher=Blogs.thetimes-tribune.com |date=September 2, 2010 |access-date=July 23, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306135801/http://blogs.thetimes-tribune.com/yankees/?p=7237 |archive-date=March 6, 2012 }} After the 2010 season, he was added to the Yankees' 40 man roster in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft.{{Cite web |date=November 23, 2010 |title=Yankees add three to 40-man roster {{!}} The Lohud Yankees Blog |url=http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2010/11/19/yankees-add-three-to-40-man-roster/ |access-date=November 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123041934/http://yankees.lhblogs.com/2010/11/19/yankees-add-three-to-40-man-roster/ |archive-date=November 23, 2010 }} Baseball America named him the organization's 10th best prospect.{{Cite web |last=Manuel |first=John |date=November 10, 2010 |title=New York Yankees Top 10 Prospects 2011 |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/new-york-yankees-top-10-prospects-2011/ |access-date=November 30, 2023 |website=College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America |language=en-US}}

File:Brandon Laird on July 23, 2011.jpg]]

Laird was promoted to the majors for the first time on July 18, 2011, when Ramiro Peña was placed on the disabled list.{{Cite web |date=July 22, 2011 |title=Hurt corner: Pena to DL thins options at third |url=http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110718&content_id=21955204&vkey=news_nyy&c_id=nyy |access-date=November 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722135620/http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110718&content_id=21955204&vkey=news_nyy&c_id=nyy |archive-date=July 22, 2011 }} On July 22, at Yankee Stadium, Laird made his major league debut, and got his first major league hit and RBI against Oakland Athletics pitcher Craig Breslow on a single to center field. He scored his first run earlier in the game, scoring on a single by Nick Swisher after working a walk off of A's pitcher Joey Devine.{{Cite web |date=July 23, 2011 |title=Yankees 17-7 Athletics (Jul 22, 2011) Game Recap |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/310722110 |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212134659/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/310722110 |archive-date=2023-12-12 |website=ESPN |language=en |agency=Associated Press}} Following the season, he won the Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove Award at third base.{{Cite web |date=September 29, 2011 |title=Gillespie Earns Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove Award |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/gillespie-earns-rawlings-minor-league-gold-glove-award/n-4300606 |access-date=November 30, 2023 |website=OurSports Central |language=en}} The Yankees designated Laird for assignment on August 27, 2012.{{cite news|last1=Stephenson|first1=Colin|title=Yankees' acquisition of Steve Pearce proves timely with injury to Mark Teixeira|url=http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2012/08/yankees_acquisition_of_steve_p.html|access-date=December 27, 2014|work=The Star Ledger|publisher=NJ.com|date=August 28, 2012}}

=Houston Astros=

Laird was claimed by the Houston Astros on September 1, 2012.{{Cite web |date=December 27, 2014 |title=Astros claim Laird from Yankees |url=http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/37723036/ |access-date=November 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227083515/http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/37723036/ |archive-date=December 27, 2014 }} Laird started the 2013 season with the Triple-A Oklahoma City RedHawks. The Astros promoted Laird to the big leagues on April 18, 2013, after Brett Wallace was optioned to Oklahoma City. Laird had been hitting .353 in 12 games to earn his promotion.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/astros-option-infielder-wallace-to-triple-a/|title=Astros option infielder Wallace to Triple-A|date=April 18, 2013|access-date=April 18, 2013}} He was outrighted off the roster on October 2, 2013.{{cite news|last1=McTaggert|first1=Brian|title=Astros add Singleton to 40-man roster|url=http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/62352696/|access-date=December 27, 2014|work=MLB.com|date=October 2, 2013|archive-date=December 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227083639/http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/62352696/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last1=de Jesus Ortiz|first1=Jose|title=Astros continue staff shakeup by making Tremley bench coach|url=http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-continue-staff-shakeup-by-making-Tremley-4864759.php|access-date=December 27, 2014|work=Houston Chronicle|date=October 2, 2013}} Laird ended his 2013 season batting .169.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/lairdbr01.shtml|title=Brandon Laird Statistics and History {{!}} Baseball-Reference.com|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=November 1, 2016}}

=Washington Nationals=

Laird signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals on November 23, 2013.{{cite news|last1=Kaegel|first1=Dick|title=Infielder Laird among five signed to Minor League deals|url=http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/64175436/|access-date=December 27, 2014|work=MLB.com|date=November 23, 2013|archive-date=December 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222095705/http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/64175436/|url-status=dead}} On March 15, 2014, Laird was traded to the Washington Nationals for a player to be named later.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2014/03/15/nationals-acquire-infielder-brandon-laird-from-the-royals/|title=Nationals acquire infielder Brandon Laird from the Royals|first=Bill|last=Baer|date=March 16, 2014}} He played for the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League, and was named the league's player of the week for the week of June 16-22{{cite web|url=http://www.syracuse.com/chiefs/index.ssf/2014/06/syracuse_chiefs_sizzling_brandon_laird_named_il_batter_of_the_week.html|title=Syracuse Chiefs' sizzling Brandon Laird named IL batter of the week|date=June 23, 2014|access-date=November 1, 2016}} and was a Post-Season All-Star.{{Cite web |title=Brandon Laird Stats, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.milb.com/player/brandon-laird-477186 |access-date=November 30, 2023 |website=Minor League Baseball |language=en}}

=Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters=

File:Fighters Brandon Laird.jpg in 2016]]

In November 2014, Laird signed with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).{{Cite web |date=December 9, 2014 |title=Brandon Laird signed a contract to play in Japan in 2015 for the Nippon Ham Fighters, the New York Post reports. |url=https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/653284 |access-date=November 30, 2023 |website=theScore.com |language=en |agency=Rotowire}} Laird struggled to start the 2015 season with Hokkaido, batting under .200 into June. On the final day of the All-Star break, Fighters third base coach Shirai took Laird out to dinner at a local sushi restaurant to get him to relax. The chef, a big Fighters fan, suggested that Laird should act like he is making sushi when he got into the batter's box to intimidate the pitcher. The next day, he did not do the gesture getting into the batter's box, but after he hit a home run, he acted like he was making sushi and thus the nickname "sushi boy" was born.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEAdpZ6D8ls |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/fEAdpZ6D8ls |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=【レアード寿司】陽岱鋼も寿司を握ってHRを祝福！@札幌ドーム 2015.08.07 ファイターズの攻撃中の相手チームの投手交代時に流れるビーマニ風～レアードの打席前にビジョンに流れ|website=YouTube |date=February 26, 2017 }}{{cbignore}} He started to gain momentum after that performance and had a nice second half, finishing his first season in NPB with 34 home runs and a batting average of .231.{{cite web|url=https://www.oneworldsports.com/blogs/brandon-laird-powers-nippon-ham-fighters/|title=ONE World Sports :: Brandon Laird powers Nippon Ham Fighters|access-date=April 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012170508/https://www.oneworldsports.com/blogs/brandon-laird-powers-nippon-ham-fighters/|archive-date=October 12, 2016|url-status=dead}}

In May 2016, Laird made international headlines after a home run hit the Kirin sign at the Sapporo Dome, earning him a year's supply of beer and $10,000.{{Cite magazine |last=Mustard |first=Extra |date=May 10, 2016 |title=Baseball player wins year's supply of beer |url=https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2016/05/10/nippon-ham-fighters-brandon-laird-years-supply-beer-home-run |access-date=November 30, 2023 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}} That year, he led the Pacific League with 39 home runs. He hit the game-winning home run in Game 4 of the 2016 Japan Series,{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/10/27/baseball/japanese-baseball/laird-sends-fighters-past-carp-tie-japan-series/|title=Laird sends Fighters past Carp to tie Japan Series|first=Jason|last=Coskrey|work=The Japan Times|date=October 27, 2016|access-date=October 27, 2016}} and a grand slam in Game 6. Laird won the Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/10/29/former-yankee-laird-leads-nippon-ham-to-japan-series-title/92948436/|title=Former Yankee Laird leads Nippon Ham to Japan Series title|website=USA Today |agency=Associated Press|date=October 29, 2016|access-date=October 29, 2016}}

He played for Mexico during the 2017 World Baseball Classic.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=December 7, 2016 |title=Fighters' Laird in line to play for Mexico during WBC |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2016/12/07/baseball/japanese-baseball/fighters-laird-line-play-mexico-wbc/ |access-date=November 30, 2023 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Lara-Cinisomo |first=Vince |date=February 8, 2017 |title=2017 Mexico World Baseball Classic Roster |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2017-mexico-world-baseball-classic-roster/ |access-date=November 30, 2023 |website=College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America |language=en-US}} Laird spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons with the club, but failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension prior to the 2019 season and became a free agent.{{Cite news |url=https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20181220-00000234-kyodonews-base |title=レアード内野手、日本ハム退団へ |date=December 20, 2018 |work=Yahoo.co.jp |access-date=December 20, 2018 |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221134543/https://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20181220-00000234-kyodonews-base |archive-date=December 21, 2018 |url-status=dead }}

=Chiba Lotte Marines=

On January 15, 2019, Laird signed with the Chiba Lotte Marines of NPB.{{ cite web | url=https://www.marines.co.jp/news/detail/00003619.html | title=ブランドン・レアード選手獲得について | work=千葉ロッテマリーンズオフィシャルサイト | language=ja | date=January 15, 2018 | access-date=January 25, 2019 }} On July 27, 2022 Chiba Lotte Marines hitter Brandon Laird won the 2022 NPB Home Run Derby {{cite web | url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2022/07/28/baseball/japanese-baseball/npg-all-star/ | title=Yuki Yanagita lifts Pacific League with home run in All-Star series finale | date=July 28, 2022 }} He became a free agent following the 2022 season.

=Mumbai Cobras=

On October 23, 2023, Laird was selected in the fifth round by the Mumbai Cobras, with the 40th overall pick, of the 2023 Baseball United inaugural draft.{{Cite web |last=Ramasubramanian |first=Deepa |date=October 28, 2023 |title=Mumbai Cobras' inaugural draft picks for Baseball United |url=https://thebridge.in/baseball/mumbai-cobras-inaugural-draft-picks-for-baseball-united-44565 |access-date=November 30, 2023 |website=thebridge.in |language=en}}

Personal life

Brandon's brother, Gerald, is a catcher who played in the major leagues.{{Cite web |last=Coskrey |first=Jason |date=May 2, 2018 |title=Fighters' Brandon Laird still getting kick of out fans' excitement |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2018/05/02/baseball/japanese-baseball/fighters-brandon-laird-still-getting-kick-fans-excitement/ |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=Japan Times}} In December 2010, Laird, his brother, and their uncle were arrested following an altercation at a Phoenix Suns game. The fight stemmed from accusations that Laird's grandfather had inappropriately touched the wife of Boston Celtics guard Eddie House.{{Cite web |last=Schmehl |first=James |date=January 29, 2010 |title=Police report says incident involving NBA player's wife led to Tigers catcher Gerald Laird's arrest on Dec. 30 |url=https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2010/01/police_report_says_incident_in.html |access-date=November 30, 2023 |website=mlive |language=en}} A relative of Laird's was killed in the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting at Route 91 Harvest music festival.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=October 3, 2017 |title=Fighters' Brandon Laird returning to U.S. after relative killed in Las Vegas shooting |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/10/03/baseball/japanese-baseball/fighters-brandon-laird-returning-u-s-relative-killed-las-vegas-shooting/ |access-date=November 30, 2023 |website=The Japan Times |language=en}}

References

External links

{{baseballstats |mlb=477186 |espn=30623 |br=l/lairdbr01 |fangraphs=5476 |brm=laird-001bra}}

[http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2011/02/yankees_prospect_brandon_laird_shows_major_signs_of_progress.html Yankees prospect Brandon Laird shows major signs of progress / New Jersey Star Ledger]
{{Instagram|brandonlaird_5|Brandon Laird}}

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Category:1987 births

Category:Living people

Category:American baseball players of Mexican descent

Category:American expatriate baseball players in Japan

Category:Charleston RiverDogs players

Category:Chiba Lotte Marines players

Category:Gulf Coast Yankees players

Category:Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters players