James Meeker
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1995)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = James Meeker
|image =
|team = Staten Island FerryHawks
|number = 37
|position = Pitcher
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1995|3|22}}
|birth_place = Livingston, New Jersey, U.S.
|bats = Right
|throws = Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = June 7
|debutyear = 2024
|debutteam = Milwaukee Brewers
|statyear = 2024 season
|statleague = MLB
|stat1label = Win–loss record
|stat1value = 0–0
|stat2label = Earned run average
|stat2value = 0.00
|stat3label = Strikeouts
|stat3value = 0
|teams =
- Milwaukee Brewers ({{mlby|2024}})
}}
James Henry Meeker III (born March 22, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Career
=Amateur career=
Meeker attended North Allegheny Senior High School in Wexford, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Akron to play college baseball for the Akron Zips. When Akron ended their baseball program, he transferred to the University of Delaware to play for the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens.{{Cite web|url=https://www.observer-reporter.com/sports/2021/jul/21/meekers-ability-has-gone-relatively-unnoticed/|title=Meeker’s ability has gone relatively unnoticed|work=Observer-Reporter|date=July 21, 2021|accessdate=June 7, 2024}}
=Washington Wild Things=
Meeker was not selected in the 2018 MLB Draft and signed with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League on June 20, 2018.{{Cite web|title=2018 Transactions|url=https://www.frontierleague.com/information/Transactions/2018_Transactions|access-date=June 7, 2024|website=frontierleague.com|language=en}} He made 19 appearances on the year, recording a 3.94 ERA with 26 strikeouts across {{fraction|29|2|3}} innings pitched. In 2019, Meeker appeared in 40 games for Washington, compiling a 3.17 ERA with 57 strikeouts across 54 innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=James Meeker - Baseball Stats|url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/187752/|access-date=June 7, 2024|website=thebaseballcube.com|language=en}}
In 2020, after the Frontier League season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic,{{Cite web|title=Frontier League suspends 2020 season|url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/06/24/frontier-league-suspends-2020-season/|access-date=June 7, 2024|website=ballparkdigest.com|language=en}} Meeker played for the Steel City Slammin' Slammers of the Washington League. He made eight scoreless appearances for the club, striking out 12 across {{fraction|7|2|3}} innings.{{Cite web|title=James Meeker College, Amateur, Independent & Minor Leagues Stats|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=meeker000jam|access-date=June 7, 2024|website=baseball-reference.com|language=en}}
Meeker returned to the Wild Things in 2021, making 30 appearances and remarkably tossing {{fraction|31|2|3}} scoreless innings with 43 strikeouts.{{Cite web|title=James Meeker Headed to Brewers' Organization|url=https://www.washingtonwildthings.com/team/news/2021/936/james-meeker-headed-to-brewers-organization/|access-date=June 7, 2024|website=washingtonwildthings.com|language=en}}
=Milwaukee Brewers=
On August 14, 2021, Meeker's contract was purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers organization.{{Cite web|title=North Allegheny grad James Meeker parlays remarkable streak with Wild Things into first big-league contract|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/hsother/2021/08/12/james-meeker-washington-wild-things-north-allegheny-baseball-wpial-frontier-league-tom-vaeth-milwaukee-brewers-affiliate/stories/202108110021|access-date=June 7, 2024|website=post-gazette.com|language=en}} He finished the year with the Single–A Carolina Mudcats, posting an 0.50 ERA with 25 strikeouts and 5 saves in 12 appearances.
Meeker spent the 2022 campaign with the High–A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, also making two scoreless appearances for the Double–A Biloxi Shuckers. In 42 games for Wisconsin, he registered a 2.45 ERA with 57 strikeouts and 17 saves across {{fraction|62|1|3}} innings of work.{{Cite web|title=1 Underrated Brewers Prospect at Each Minor League Level Who'll Excel in 2023|url=https://reviewingthebrew.com/posts/1-underrated-brewers-prospect-each-minor-league-level-excel-2023/2|access-date=June 7, 2024|website=reviewingthebrew.com|language=en}} Meeker spent the majority of 2023 with Biloxi, also making two appearances for the Triple–A Nashville Sounds. In 34 games for Biloxi, he accumulated an 8–4 record and 3.13 ERA with 80 strikeouts across 89 innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=James Meeker Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/20457-james-meeker/stats/|access-date=June 7, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}
Meeker began 2024 with Biloxi, and was promoted to Nashville after four scoreless appearances. Pitching in 14 games for Nashville, he logged a 3.48 ERA with 20 strikeouts across {{fraction|20|2|3}} innings.{{Cite web|title=James Meeker - Stats - Pitching|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/james-meeker/sa3017476/stats?position=P|access-date=June 7, 2024|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}} On June 7, 2024, Meeker was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{Cite web|title=Brewers Select James Meeker|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/06/brewers-select-james-meeker.html|access-date=June 7, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} In his debut, he tossed a scoreless inning, allowing one hit and issuing one walk with no strikeouts. On June 11, Meeker was designated for assignment by the Brewers.{{Cite web|title=Brewers Designate James Meeker For Assignment|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/06/brewers-designate-james-meeker-for-assignment.html|access-date=June 11, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Nashville on June 15.{{Cite web|title=Brewers' James Meeker: Receives outright assignment|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/brewers-james-meeker-receives-outright-assignment/amp/|access-date=June 17, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} Meeker was released by the Brewers organization on October 8.https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-10-08
=Staten Island FerryHawks=
On April 15, 2025, Meeker signed with the Staten Island FerryHawks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|title=Transactions|url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/transactions.html?leagueid=174&seasonid=34102|access-date=April 17, 2025|website=baseball.pointstreak.com|language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=703231|espn=4228713|br=m/meekeja01|fangraphs=29891|brm=meeker000jam|retro=M/Pmeekj001}}
- [https://gozips.com/sports/baseball/roster/james-meeker-iii/326 Akron Zips bio]
- [https://bluehens.com/sports/baseball/roster/james-meeker/7012 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meeker, James}}
Category:Akron Zips baseball players
Category:Baseball players from Essex County, New Jersey
Category:Biloxi Shuckers players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:Brisbane Bandits players
Category:Carolina Mudcats players
Category:Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens baseball players
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers
Category:Milwaukee Brewers players
Category:Nashville Sounds players