Grayson Greiner
{{short description|American baseball player (born 1992)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox MLB player
| name = Grayson Greiner
| image = Grayson Greiner (32830206797) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Greiner with the Tigers in 2019
| team =
| number =
| position = Catcher
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|10|11}}
| birth_place = Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
| bats = Right
| throws = Right
| debutleague = MLB
| debutdate = May 6
| debutyear = 2018
| debutteam = Detroit Tigers
| finalleague = MLB
| finaldate = May 23
| finalyear = 2022
| finalteam = Arizona Diamondbacks
| statleague = MLB
| stat1label = Batting average
| stat1value = .201
| stat2label = Home runs
| stat2value = 9
| stat3label = Runs batted in
| stat3value = 46
|teams=
- Detroit Tigers ({{mlby|2018}}–{{mlby|2021}})
- Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2022}})
}}
Grayson James Greiner (born October 11, 1992) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks from 2018 to 2022.
Career
=Amateur career=
Greiner graduated from Blythewood High School in Blythewood, South Carolina. He enrolled at the University of South Carolina to play college baseball for the South Carolina Gamecocks from 2012 to 2014. He played in 179 games during his Gamecocks career, hitting .278/.358/.435 with 18 home runs.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}
= Minor leagues =
File:Grayson Greiner catching in 15.jpg in 2015]]
The Detroit Tigers selected Greiner in the third round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140606/PC20/140609460|title=Detroit Tigers draft Gamecocks teammates Grayson Greiner, Joey Pankake|work=Post and Courier|accessdate=November 20, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/detroit/story/tigers-might-have-uncovered-a-second-round-gem-in-grayson-greiner-060614|title=Tigers might have uncovered a third-round gem in Grayson Greiner|author=Fox Sports|work=FOX Sports|date=June 6, 2014|accessdate=November 20, 2015}} He signed with the Tigers and made his professional debut with the West Michigan Whitecaps.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/whitecaps/index.ssf/2014/06/catcher_grayson_greiner_become.html|title=Catcher Grayson Greiner becomes first member from Tigers 2014 draft class to join Whitecaps|work=MLive.com|date=June 20, 2014|accessdate=November 20, 2015}} He played in 26 games before a broken hamate bone in his left wrist ended his season. He hit .322/.394/.444 with two home runs.[http://www.gogamecocks.com/2014/08/07/605396/injury-surgery-end-grayson-greiners.html Injury, surgery end Grayson Greiner’s season in minors] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209235740/http://www.gogamecocks.com/2014/08/07/605396/injury-surgery-end-grayson-greiners.html |date=December 9, 2014 }} Greiner spent 2015 with the Lakeland Flying Tigers, where he struggled, batting only .183 in 89 games. However, Greiner improved greatly in 2016, where he split time among Lakeland, the Erie SeaWolves, and the Toledo Mud Hens, posting a combined .293 batting average with seven home runs and 42 RBIs between the three clubs.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=606988#/career/R/hitting/2016/ALL|title=Grayson Greiner Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=|accessdate=November 19, 2016}} After the season, the Tigers assigned Greiner to the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League.
In 2017, Greiner played for both Erie and Toledo, batting a combined .237 with 14 home runs and 44 RBIs in 103 total games between the two teams.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?player_id=606988#/career/R/hitting/2017/ALL|title=Grayson Greiner Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball|publisher=MiLB.com|accessdate=March 21, 2018}} The Tigers added him to their 40-man roster after the season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2017/11/20/detroit-tigers-rule-5-draft/883229001/|title=Tigers add seven prospects to 40-man roster, sign LHP Ryan Carpenter|work=Detroit Free Press|access-date=May 4, 2018|language=en}}
= Detroit Tigers (2018–2021)=
On May 4, 2018, the Tigers promoted Greiner to the major leagues.{{Cite news|url=http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2018/05/grayson_greiner_tigers_1.html|title=Tigers calling up catcher Grayson Greiner after injury to Miguel Cabrera|work=MLive.com|access-date=May 4, 2018|language=en-US}} He made his major league debut two days later, and hit a single in his first-ever major league at-bat.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-baseball/article210535804.html|title=Gamecock great Grayson Greiner earns spot in history in first game in majors|last=Bezjak|first=Lou|work=thestate.com|date=May 6, 2018|accessdate=May 7, 2018|language=en-US}} Greiner was sent back down to Toledo on May 31.{{cite web |last1=McCosky |first1=Chris |title=Tigers call up infielder Ronny Rodriguez, send down Greiner |url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2018/05/31/detroit-tigers-call-up-infielder-ronny-rodriguez-send-down-greiner/658560002/ |website=detroitnews.com |publisher=The Detroit News |accessdate=June 14, 2018 |date=May 31, 2018}} He was recalled by Detroit on June 12.{{cite web |last1=Woodbery |first1=Evan |title=Tigers call up catcher Grayson Greiner from Toledo |url=http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2018/06/tigers_grayson_greiner.html |website=mlive.com |publisher=MLive |accessdate=June 14, 2018 |date=June 12, 2018}}
The Tigers decided not to retain James McCann for the 2019 season which elevated Greiner to the starting catcher position after only playing in 30 games the previous season, his first season in the majors.{{Cite web|url=https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2019/01/26/grayson-greiner-anxious-validate-gardenhires-faith-seize-starting-catcher-role/2691085002/|title=Grayson Greiner anxious to validate Gardenhire's faith, seize starting catcher role|website=Detroit News|language=en|access-date=May 13, 2019}} On June 14, the Tigers placed Greiner on the 10-day Injured List due to a lower back strain.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/06/tigers-to-place-grayson-greiner-on-il-select-bobby-wilson.html|title=Tigers To Place Grayson Greiner On IL, Select Bobby Wilson|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=June 14, 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=June 15, 2019}} He was later moved to the 60-day IL. He was activated from the IL on August 24 and optioned to triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/tigers-grayson-greiner-activated-and-optioned/|title=Tigers' Grayson Greiner: Activated and optioned|website=CBSSports.com|date=August 24, 2019 |language=en|access-date=August 24, 2019}} Greiner was added to the major league roster as a September call-up. On the season, he hit .202 with 5 home runs and 19 RBI in 208 major league at-bats. Overall with the 2020 Detroit Tigers, Greiner batted .118 with three home runs and 8 RBIs in 18 games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/grayson-greiner-606988?stats=career-r-hitting-mlb&year=2020|title = MLB Players|website = MLB.com}}
Greiner made the Tigers Opening Day roster out of 2021 spring training, and was expected to back up newly acquired Wilson Ramos.{{cite web|title=Detroit Tigers set Opening Day roster: Renato Nunez out, Harold Castro, Akil Baddoo in |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2021/03/27/detroit-tigers-opening-day-roster-akil-baddoo-renato-nunez/7026985002/|last=Petzold |first=Evan |website=freep.com |date=March 27, 2021 |access-date=March 28, 2021}} Greiner was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 12.{{cite web|title=Detroit Tigers send catcher Grayson Greiner to injured list, release Franklin Perez |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2021/05/12/detroit-tigers-franklin-perez-released-grayson-greiner-injured/5055550001/|last=Petzold |first=Evan |website=freep.com |date=May 12, 2021 |access-date=July 23, 2021}} He was optioned to Toledo after coming off the injured list due to the strong performance of his replacement, Eric Haase. Greiner was recalled to the major league club on July 19 following an injury to Jake Rogers.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2021/07/tigers-jake-rogers-out-2-3-weeks-with-forearm-strain.html |title=Tigers' Jake Rogers out 2-3 weeks with forearm strain |last=Woodbery |first=Evan |website=mlive.com |date=July 19, 2021 |access-date=July 23, 2019}} He played 31 games at the MLB level in 2021, hitting .236 with one home run and seven RBI. On November 29, 2021, Greiner was outrighted off the 40-man roster and elected free agency.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/grayson-greiner-heads-to-open-market/|title = Grayson Greiner: Heads to open market| date=November 29, 2021 }}
=Arizona Diamondbacks (2022)=
On March 15, 2022, Greiner signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/diamondbacks-sign-grayson-greiner-catcher.html |title=Diamondbacks Sign Grayson Greiner To Minor League Deal |last=Adams |first=Steve |website=mlbtraderumors.com |date=March 15, 2022 |access-date=March 15, 2022}} He was assigned to the Triple-A Reno Aces to begin the year. On May 19, Greiner was selected to the active roster after José Herrera was placed on the injured list.{{Cite web|title=Diamondbacks' Grayson Greiner: Contract selected by Arizona|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/diamondbacks-grayson-greiner-contract-selected-by-arizona/|access-date=February 7, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=May 19, 2022 |language=en}} He was returned to the minors on May 22 after going 1–for–6 in two games.{{Cite web|title=Diamondbacks' Grayson Greiner: Returned to Reno|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/diamondbacks-grayson-greiner-returned-to-reno/|access-date=June 13, 2023|website=cbssports.com|date=May 29, 2022 |language=en}} In 45 games for Reno, Greiner batted .232/.318/.391 with 6 home runs and 20 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 10.{{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=June 12, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 13, 2022 |language=en}}
=Colorado Rockies (2023)=
On January 13, 2023, Greiner signed a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins. Greiner was released by the organization on March 24.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-03-24/p-1 | title=Transactions }}
On March 28, 2023, Greiner signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies organization and was assigned to the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes.{{Cite web|title=Rockies' Grayson Greiner: Inks MiLB deal with COL|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rockies-grayson-greiner-inks-milb-deal-with-col/amp/|access-date=March 28, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He played in 20 games for Albuquerque, hitting .186/.269/.286 with one home run and 8 RBI. On May 7, Greiner retired from professional baseball.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-05-07 | title=Transactions }}
Personal life
Greiner and his wife, Madison, have two sons together.{{Cite web|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/carolina/former-gamecock-grayson-greiner-living-the-dream-in-mlb-even-if-hes-a-tiger/article_6951c1e0-887a-11e9-82b2-67b1d32ac2c0.html|title = Former Gamecock Grayson Greiner living the dream in MLB, even if he's a Tiger| date=June 6, 2019 }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Baseballstats|mlb=606988|espn=33693|br=g/greingr01|fangraphs=17062|brm=greine000gra|retro=G/Pgreig001}}
- [http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/grayson_greiner_795648.html South Carolina Gamecocks bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121053641/http://www.gamecocksonline.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/grayson_greiner_795648.html |date=January 21, 2015 }}
{{Portal bar|Biography|Baseball}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Greiner, Grayson}}
Category:Arizona Diamondbacks players
Category:Baseball players from Columbia, South Carolina
Category:Detroit Tigers players
Category:Erie SeaWolves players
Category:Lakeland Flying Tigers players
Category:Major League Baseball catchers
Category:Salt River Rafters players
Category:South Carolina Gamecocks baseball players