Eric Filia
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1992)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Eric Filia
|image=Eric Filia.jpg
|caption=Filia with the Arkansas Travelers
|team=Conspiradores de Querétaro
|number=
|position=Outfielder
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1992|7|6}}
|birth_place=Carlsbad, California, U.S.
|bats=Left
|throws=Right
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport | Men's baseball}}
{{MedalCountry | {{USA}}}}
{{Medal|Comp|Olympic Games}}
{{MedalSilver| 2020 Tokyo | Team}}
}}
Eric Robert Filia (born July 6, 1992), formerly known as Eric Snyder, is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Conspiradores de Querétaro of the Mexican League. He played internationally for the United States national baseball team at the 2020 Olympics.
Amateur career
Filia graduated from Edison High School in Huntington Beach, California. As a freshman, he had a .500 batting average for the baseball team, tying a school record set by Jeff Kent, and set a school record for hits.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kenoshanews.com/sports/swinging-again/article_762765a6-414c-5606-8de6-e6cc43fb9841.html|title=Swinging again|first=Jeremy|last=Reeves|work=Kenosha News|date=June 2, 2015|accessdate=May 25, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-xpm-2008-08-28-hbi-spbaseball082808-story.html|title=Snyder one of a handful invited|date=August 28, 2008|website=Daily Pilot|accessdate=May 25, 2021}} He enrolled at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he played college baseball for the UCLA Bruins. He was a member of the 2013 College World Series champions, and had five runs batted in during the decisive game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2013/06/30/proud-moment-for-filia-family-after-ucla-clinches-world-series-title/|title=Proud moment for Filia family after UCLA clinches World Series title|work=Orange County Register|date=June 30, 2013|accessdate=May 25, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/sports/tn-dpt-xpm-2013-06-26-tn-hbi-sp-0627-sports-briefs-20130619-21-story.html|title=Briefs: Filia stars in CWS triumph|date=June 26, 2013|website=Daily Pilot|accessdate=May 25, 2021}}
After the 2013 college season, Filia played collegiate summer baseball for the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox in Cape Cod Baseball League,{{cite web|url=http://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=470554&seasonid=21954 |title=Eric Filia |publisher=pointstreak.com |accessdate=July 20, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2013/07/04/a-lucky-man-college-world-series-title-and-that-girl/|title=A lucky man: College World Series title and that girl|work=Orange County Register|date=July 4, 2013|accessdate=May 25, 2021}} and tore the labrum in his right shoulder, causing him to miss the 2014 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2014/02/10/ucla-of-eric-filia-out-for-the-season/|title=UCLA OF Eric Filia out for the season|work=Orange County Register|date=February 10, 2014|accessdate=May 25, 2021}} He took a redshirt in 2014, and was suspended for the 2014–15 academic year for plagiarizing a paper. While he was suspended from UCLA, Filia worked as a butler at the Playboy Mansion.{{cite web|first=Jesse |last=Geleynse |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/sports/setbacks-have-made-frogs-filia-a-better-player-person/ |title=Setbacks have made Frogs' Filia a better player, person |publisher=HeraldNet.com |date=July 25, 2016 |accessdate=May 25, 2021}} He played summer collegiate baseball for the Kenosha Kingfish in the Northwoods League in 2015.
Professional career
=Seattle Mariners=
The Seattle Mariners selected Filia in the 20th round of the 2016 MLB draft. He played for the Everett AquaSox after signing, and for the Modesto Nuts in 2017. After the 2017 season, the Mariners assigned him to the Arizona Fall League, where he earned the Dernell Stenson Sportsmanship Award. Filia was suspended for 50 games during the 2018 season for his second positive test for a drug of abuse.{{cite web|url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-prospect-eric-filia-suspended-for-50-games-for-second-positive-drug-test/ |title=Mariners prospect Eric Filia suspended for 50 games for second positive drug test |publisher=The Seattle Times |date=January 12, 2018 |accessdate=May 25, 2021}} After his suspension, he joined the Arkansas Travelers, before the Mariners traded Filia to the Boston Red Sox as the player to be named later from the Roenis Elías trade.{{cite web|last=Mastrodonato |first=Jason |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2018/06/12/red-sox-acquire-previously-suspended-prospect-eric-filia-from-mariners/ |title=Red Sox acquire previously-suspended prospect Eric Filia from Mariners – Boston Herald |publisher=Bostonherald.com |date=June 12, 2018 |accessdate=May 25, 2021}} He failed his physical exam with the Red Sox and was returned to Seattle, with the Red Sox acquiring cash considerations instead.{{Cite web|url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2018/06/boston_red_sox_return_eric_fil.html|title=Sox return Filia to Mariners because he didn't pass physical|date=June 16, 2018|website=masslive|accessdate=May 25, 2021}}
Before the 2019 season, Filia was suspended for 100 games for his third positive drug test.{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/26334586/mariners-prospect-filia-suspended-100-games|title=Mariners prospect Filia suspended 100 games|date=March 22, 2019|website=ESPN.com|accessdate=May 25, 2021}} He played for the Tacoma Rainiers in 2019 after his suspension, but did not play organized baseball in 2020 because of the cancellation of the minor league season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Filia began the 2021 season with Tacoma.{{cite web|url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/article251076314.html|title=Mariners announce minor league rosters for 2021 — that means Kelenic and Gilbert in Tacoma|first=Lauren|last=Smith|work=The News Tribune|date=April 30, 2021|accessdate=June 9, 2021}}
Filia spent the 2021 season with Triple-A Tacoma. He played in 44 games, hitting .262 with 3 home runs and 15 RBI. On November 1, 2021, Filia was released by the Mariners organization.{{cite web | url=http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=l_trn&lid=112 | title=The Official Site of Minor League Baseball }}
=Guerreros de Oaxaca=
After taking the 2022 season off, on January 18, 2023, Filia signed with the Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/guerreros-eric-filia-refuerza-a-los-belicos | title=Guerreros: Eric Filia refuerza a los bélicos }} In 52 games, he batted .361/.461/.513 with 5 home runs and 19 RBI. Filia was waived on July 3.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-3-de-julio-de-2023|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 3 de julio de 2023|website=MiLB.com|language=ES|date=July 3, 2023|access-date=July 4, 2023}}
=Acereros de Monclova=
On July 4, 2023, Filia was claimed off waivers by the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-4-de-julio-de-2023|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 4 de julio de 2023|website=MiLB.com|language=ES|date=July 4, 2023|access-date=July 5, 2023}} In 29 appearances for Monclova, he batted .327/.425/.443 with two home runs and 21 RBI.{{Cite web|title=Acereros: Contarán en 2024 con Eric Filia|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/acereros-contaran-en-2024-con-eric-filia|access-date=February 4, 2024|website=milb.com|language=en}}
Filia made 83 appearances for Monclova during the 2024 campaign, slashing .280/.384/.363 with three home runs, 43 RBI, and six stolen bases.
=Conspiradores de Querétaro=
On February 5, 2025, Filia was traded to the Conspiradores de Querétaro.{{Cite web|title=LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 5 de febrero de 2025|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-movimientos-en-listas-de-reserva-5-de-febrero-de-2025|access-date=February 6, 2025|website=milb.com|language=en}}
International career
Filia played for the United States national baseball team during qualification for baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics, contested in 2021 in Tokyo.{{cite web|last=Perry |first=Dayn |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/team-usa-olympic-qualifying-baseball-roster-includes-matt-kemp-todd-frazier-homer-bailey/ |title=Team USA Olympic qualifying baseball roster includes Matt Kemp, Todd Frazier, Homer Bailey |publisher=CBSSports.com |date= May 23, 2021|accessdate=May 25, 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.usabaseball.com/news/topic/professional/team-usa-announces-olympic-qualifying-roster |title=Team USA Announces Olympic Qualifying Roster |website=usabaseball.com |date=May 30, 2021 |accessdate=June 1, 2021}} After the team qualified, he was named to the Olympics roster on July 2.{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/us-baseball-roster-announced-for-2021-olympics |title=USA Baseball announces Olympics roster |website=MLB.com |date=July 2, 2021 |accessdate=July 2, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.king5.com/article/sports/olympics/olympic-dreams-mariners-outfielder-eric-filia-to-play-for-team-usa-at-tokyo-olympics/281-9256d33c-abc6-4cd8-8436-83268d031cbc|title=Olympic Dreams: Mariners outfielder Eric Filia to play for Team USA at Tokyo Olympics|date=June 30, 2021}} The team went on to win silver, falling to Japan in the gold-medal game.{{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/baseball-softball/results-baseball-fnl-000100-.htm |title=Baseball/Softball - United States vs Japan - Gold Medal Game Results |website=olympics.com |date=August 7, 2021 |accessdate=August 8, 2021 |archive-date=August 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816171932/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/olympic-games/en/results/baseball-softball/results-baseball-fnl-000100-.htm |url-status=dead }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{baseballstats|brm=filia-000eri}}
- [https://www.usabaseball.com/player/eric-filia Eric Filia] at USA Baseball
- {{Team USA|new_id=eric-filia-1220359|old_id=Eric-Filia|sport=usa-baseball|archive=20230602023415}}
- {{Olympedia}}
- {{Olympics.com|eric-filia}}
{{2013 UCLA Bruins baseball}}
{{United States baseball roster 2020 Summer Olympics}}
{{Northwest League MVP}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Filia, Eric}}
Category:Sportspeople from Carlsbad, California
Category:Baseball players at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Category:Baseball players from San Diego County, California
Category:UCLA Bruins baseball players
Category:Everett AquaSox players
Category:Peoria Javelinas players
Category:Arkansas Travelers players
Category:Tacoma Rainiers players
Category:Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox players
Category:United States national baseball team players
Category:Olympic baseball players for the United States
Category:Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Category:Olympic silver medalists for the United States in baseball