Eric Langill
{{Short description|Canadian baseball player (born 1979)}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name = Eric Langill
| image = Eric Langill on July 13, 2018 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Langill with the Mets in 2018
| team = New York Mets
| number = 78
| position = Catcher / Bullpen Catcher
| bats = Right
| throws = Right
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|4|9}}
| birth_place = Kirkland, Quebec, Canada
| teams =
- New York Mets ({{Baseball year|2011}}–present)
}}
Eric Joseph Langill (born April 9, 1979) is a Canadian former professional baseball player who is a bullpen catcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). Previously, he had played as a catcher in the minor league organizations of the Montreal Expos and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Early life
Langill was born on April 9, 1979, in Kirkland, Quebec. He attended St. Thomas High School in Pointe-Claire, Quebec, where he graduated in 1997. As a child, he played hockey, where he was a second-line Center who was used as a face-off specialist. He grew up idolizing hockey players such as Patrick Roy. In an interview, he attributed his passion for baseball to the Montreal Expos.{{cite web|url=http://lasvegassun.com/news/2006/may/18/qa-eric-langill/|title=Q+A: Eric Langill|date=16 May 2006|website=Las Vegas Sun}}
Amateur career
Langill, who was always a catcher, played baseball in his youth, ending up on the same junior team as Russell Martin, who was at the time the third baseman. Langill and Martin would later be minor league teammates. Langill did not have the opportunity to play high school baseball, but played during the summer, although his focus on it was secondary to his on hockey. After beginning school at Des Moines Area Community College, Langill now found more opportunities to play baseball instead of hockey.
Professional career
Langill was chosen by the Expos in the 34th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball draft with the 1020th overall pick. Langill began his professional career in the Expos system, making his debut with the Vermont Expos in 2000. He was promoted to Single-A Clinton LumberKings in 2001, before being traded in the offseason to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Langill would play from 2002 to 2006 in the Dodgers system, mostly in AA and AAA. In 2002, Langill pitched the last third of an inning of a game for the South Georgia Waves, getting an out against the one batter he faced. At the request of Grady Little, Langill was invited to major-league Spring Training with the Dodgers in 2006, mainly to act as an extra catcher. He was sent to minor-league camp on March 8. Considered by scouts a career minor-leaguer, Langill, aside from acting as the backup catcher for the Las Vegas 51s, served largely as a mentor to Edwin Bellorín. Langill became known as somewhat of a fan favorite due to his perceived lack of athletic ability combined with his strong passion for the game.{{cite book|year=2006|title=Media Guide|publisher=Las Vegas 51s}} In June 2011, Langill joined the New York Mets as a bullpen catcher. On March 30, 2017, Langill started for the Mets' Triple-A affiliate, the Las Vegas 51s, in a game against the major-league team; he led off as designated hitter but went hitless in the game.
Personal life
File:Eric Langill Arrest Photo.jpg
Langill has been a hockey fan since his youth. His favorite team is the Montreal Canadiens.
During 2012 Spring Training, Langill was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after failing tests conducted after a car crash he was involved in near the Mets Spring Training camp in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Langill had been out after a team bowling night and had told officers he had consumed two or three drinks.{{cite web|url=https://blogs.findlaw.com/tarnished_twenty/2012/03/mets-catcher-eric-langill-arrested-in-dui-rollover-crash-in-fla.html|title=Tarnished Twenty: Mets Catcher Eric Langill Arrested in DUI Rollover Crash in Fla.|website=FindLaw|date=12 March 2012|last=Chow|first=Andrew}} Langill had attempted to escape the scene of the collision on foot but was unable to get out of the car, a white Honda Accord, which had flipped upside-down. Langill was eventually helped out of the car through the passenger door. Langill initially told police that the incident had happened when he was cut off by another car while on the way back home from the team bowling event, which according to Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson occurred approximately three hours previously. Langill was held in prison for the night by local authorities. Afterward, Langill was suspended by the team for a week and was required to seek help from the Mets Employee Assistance Program.{{cite web|url=http://metsmerizedonline.com/2012/03/eric-langill-mets-bullpen-catcher-suspended.html/|title=Eric Langill, Mets Bullpen Catcher, Suspended|website=Mets Merized Online|date=12 March 2012|last=M|first=Tyler}}
Notes
{{reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=430002|espn=|br=|fangraphs=sa198987|brm=langil001eri|retro=}}
{{New York Mets roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Langill, Eric}}
Category:People from Kirkland, Quebec
Category:Canadian expatriate baseball players in the United States
Category:Las Vegas 51s players
Category:Major League Baseball bullpen catchers
Category:New York Mets coaches
Category:Clinton LumberKings players
Category:Great Falls Dodgers players
Category:Jacksonville Suns players
Category:South Georgia Waves players
Category:Vermont Expos players
Category:Vero Beach Dodgers players