Daniel Palka

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Daniel Palka

|image = Daniel Palka batting for the Chicago White Sox in 2018 (Cropped).jpg

|width =

|caption = Palka batting for the Chicago White Sox in 2018

|team = Algodoneros de Unión Laguna

|number = 14

|position = Outfielder

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|10|28}}

|birth_place = Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = April 25

|debutyear = 2018

|debutteam = Chicago White Sox

|debut2league= KBO

|debut2date = August 23

|debut2year = 2020

|debut2team = Samsung Lions

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2019 season

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .218

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 29

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 71

|stat2league = KBO

|stat2year = 2020 season

|stat21label = Batting average

|stat21value = .209

|stat22label = Home runs

|stat22value = 8

|stat23label = Runs batted in

|stat23value = 23

|teams =

Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|2018}}–{{mlby|2019}})
Samsung Lions ({{by|2020}})

}}

Daniel Bennett Palka (born October 28, 1991) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox and in the KBO League for the Samsung Lions.

Career

=Amateur=

Palka attended Greer High School in Greer, South Carolina. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 19th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft. He did not sign with the Phillies and attended Georgia Tech, where he played college baseball.{{cite web|url=http://www.goupstate.com/article/20100608/news/100609649|title=Phillies select Greer slugger Palka in 19th round|access-date=July 29, 2016}} In 2011 and 2012, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he was the West division MVP of the league's all-star game in 2012.{{cite web|url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=142821&seasonid=532 |title=#32 Daniel Palka (2011) |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=318575&seasonid=12252 |title=#32 Daniel Palka (2012) |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}}{{cite news | title = Cape League All-Star game ends in draw | pages = 16 | newspaper = Yarmouth Register | location = Yarmouth, MA | date = August 2, 2012 | url = http://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/APA/Sturgis/SharedView.Article.aspx?href=DPLTR%2F2012%2F08%2F02&id=Ar01602&sk=9A9A0FDC&viewMode=image }} Palka’s junior year finished with him being Georgia Tech’s first position player All American since Matt Wieters. After his junior year, he was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third round of the 2013 MLB Draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.goupstate.com/article/20130607/ARTICLES/130609797|title=Greer product Palka drafted by Arizona Diamondbacks|access-date=July 29, 2016}}

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

Palka made his professional debut with the Missoula Osprey and was later promoted to the Hillsboro Hops. He played for the South Bend Silver Hawks in 2014 and the Visalia Rawhide in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/arizona/story/d-backs-minor-league-report-daniel-palka-hot-start-at-visalia-052815|title=D-backs minor-league report: Palka's bat booms as he climbs ladder|first=Jack|last=Magruder|date=28 May 2015|access-date=July 29, 2016}} After the 2015 season he played in the Arizona Fall League.

=Minnesota Twins=

File:Daniel Palka batting for the Minnesota Twins organization in 2015 (Cropped).jpg]]

On November 10, 2015, Palka was traded from the Diamondbacks to the Minnesota Twins for Chris Herrmann.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/twins-acquire-daniel-palka-from-diamondbacks/c-156989460|title=Twins acquire Daniel Palka from Diamondbacks|website=MLB.com|access-date=July 29, 2016|archive-date=August 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814132811/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/156989460/twins-acquire-daniel-palka-from-diamondbacks/|url-status=live}} He started 2016 with the Chattanooga Lookouts and was promoted to the Rochester Red Wings in July.{{cite web|url=http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/sports/professional/story/2016/apr/21/palkhappy-have-fresh-start-lookouts/361300/|title=Daniel Palka happy to have fresh start with the Lookouts|date=21 April 2016 |access-date=July 29, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/baseball/minors/2016/07/07/daniel-palka-powers-wings-two-hrs-debut/86836854/|title=Daniel Palka powers Wings with two HRs in debut|access-date=July 29, 2016}} Palka finished 2016 with a combined .254 batting average, 34 home runs and 90 RBI's between both clubs.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=594953#/career/R/hitting/2016/ALL|title=Daniel Palka Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|access-date=November 19, 2016}} The Twins added him to their 40-man roster after the season.{{cite web|url=http://www.chattanoogan.com/2016/11/18/336446/Ex-Lookouts-On-The-Move-As-Twins-Make.aspx|title=Ex-Lookouts On The Move As Twins Make Roster Changes|date=18 November 2016|access-date=November 19, 2016}} In 2017, he played for Rochester, posting a .274 batting average with 11 home runs and 42 RBIs in 84 games.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=594953#/career/R/hitting/2017/ALL|title=Daniel Palka Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=MiLB.com|access-date=February 12, 2018}}

=Chicago White Sox=

He was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox on November 3, 2017. Palka was called up to the Major Leagues on April 24, 2018, and made his major league debut the next day.{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/ct-spt-white-sox-avisail-garcia-dl-hamstring-20180424-story.html|title=With Avisail Garcia on 10-day DL, White Sox call up Daniel Palka|first=Teddy|last=Greenstein|website=Chicago Tribune}} Palka led the 2018 Chicago White Sox with 27 home runs and finished fifth in AL Rookie of the Year voting. He began the following season on a 0-32 slump before snapping it on April 17, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/daniel-palka-sits-vs-pitcher-he-s-hit-well|title = Palka optioned after ending 32-AB hitless streak| website=MLB.com }} He was sent down to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights the following day. He was named International League Player of the Week from May 13-20.{{Cite web|title=Palka Named IL Batter of the Week|url=https://www.milb.com/news/palka-named-il-batter-of-the-week-307282502|access-date=2021-02-19|website=MiLB.com|language=en}} For the rest of the season, he led the Knights with 27 home runs.

On November 21, 2019, Palka was designated for assignment by the White Sox.{{cite web |title=Chicago White Sox Transactions - November 2019 |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/#month=11&year=2019&team_id=145 |website=mlb.com |publisher=Major League Baseball |access-date=21 November 2019}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Charlotte on November 25.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/white-soxs-daniel-palka-remains-in-organization/|title=White Sox's Daniel Palka: Remains in organization|website=CBSSports.com|author=RotoWire Staff|date=November 25, 2019|access-date=November 25, 2019}}

=Samsung Lions=

On July 29, 2020, Palka left the White Sox organization to sign with the Samsung Lions of the KBO League. In 51 games for Samsung, Palka slashed .209/.272/.367 with 8 home runs and 23 RBI. He became a free agent following the season.

=Washington Nationals=

On April 16, 2021, Palka signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals organization.{{Cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/transactions/#month=4&year=2021|title=Major League Baseball Transactions}} Palka spent the 2021 season with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. He played in 106 games, hitting .256 with 18 home runs and 58 RBI. Palka became a free agent following the season.

=New York Mets=

On December 13, 2021, Palka signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/12/mets-daniel-palka-agree-to-minor-league-contract.html|title=Mets, Daniel Palka Agree To Minor League Contract|date=December 22, 2021 }} He was assigned to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets to begin the 2022 season. Palka appeared in 109 games for Syracuse, slashing .263/.344/.506 with 26 home runs and 79 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 10, 2022.{{Cite web|title=2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-23-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=August 1, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 13, 2022 |language=en}}

=Boston Red Sox=

On February 24, 2023, Palka signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox organization.{{Cite web|title=Red Sox's Daniel Palka: Joins Red Sox on NRI deal|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/red-soxs-daniel-palka-joins-red-sox-on-nri-deal/amp/|access-date=2023-02-24|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In 79 games for the Triple–A Worcester Red Sox, he batted .233/.309/.410 with 12 home runs and 48 RBI. On July 30, Palka was released by Boston.{{Cite web|title=Daniel Palka: Cut by Boston|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/daniel-palka-cut-by-boston/|access-date=August 1, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=August 2023 |language=en}}

=New York Mets (second stint)=

On August 26, 2023, Palka signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets organization.{{Cite web|title=Mets Take Chance On Ex-Red Sox Sluggers After An Impressive Stint With Organization|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/red-sox/news/mets-take-chance-on-ex-red-sox-slugger-after-after-impressive-stint-with-organization-pat3|access-date=August 31, 2023|website=si.com|date=August 29, 2023 |language=en}} In 23 games for the Triple–A Syracuse Mets, he batted .250/.320/.455 with 5 home runs and 12 RBI. Palka elected free agency following the season on November 6.{{Cite web|title=2023 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2023-milb-free-agents/|access-date=January 14, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 8, 2023 |language=en}}

On January 9, 2024, Palka signed with the Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 9 de enero de 2023|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-9-de-enero-de-2023|access-date=January 14, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}} However, he did not make the Opening Day roster after asking for his release. on April 10, 2024.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 10 de abril de 2024|url=https://www.milb.com/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-10-de-abril-de-2024|access-date=April 13, 2024|website=milb.com|language=ES}}

=Algodoneros de Unión Laguna=

On May 17, 2024, Palka signed with the Algodoneros de Unión Laguna of the Mexican League.{{Cite tweet|user=AlgodonerosUL|number=1791620526697295899|title=Seguimos trabajando en reforzar a nuestro equipo 👊 Con paso por el mejor beisbol del mundo, se suma el bateador norteamericano, Daniel Palka 🔥 Welcome home 🙌 #HéroesEnRevolución 🦸⚾️|date=17 May 2024|language=ES|access-date=18 May 2024}} He was placed on the reserve list on July 19. In 41 games he hit .298/.372/.553 with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs.

Palka re-signed with Laguna for a second season for 2025.

References

External links

{{Baseballstats|mlb=594953|espn=34108|br=p/palkada01|fangraphs=14897|brm=palka-001dan}}

[http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/daniel_palka_725574.html Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914045342/http://www.ramblinwreck.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/daniel_palka_725574.html |date=2016-09-14 }}

Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:Águilas Cibaeñas players

Category:American expatriate baseball players in South Korea

Category:American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela

Category:American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic

Category:Cangrejeros de Santurce (baseball) players

Category:Charlotte Knights players

Category:Chattanooga Lookouts players

Category:Chicago White Sox players

Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball players

Category:Gulf Coast Twins players