James Naile

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = James Naile

|image =

|team = Kia Tigers

|number = 40

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1993|2|8}}

|birth_place = Cape Girardeau, Missouri, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = June 27

|debutyear = 2022

|debutteam = St. Louis Cardinals

|debut2league= KBO

|debut2date = March 27

|debut2year = 2024

|debut2team = Kia Tigers

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2023 season

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 0–0

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 7.40

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 12

|stat2league = KBO

|stat2year = March 28, 2025

|stat21label = Win–loss record

|stat21value = 12–5

|stat22label = Earned run average

|stat22value = 2.36

|stat23label = Strikeouts

|stat23value = 148

|teams =

St. Louis Cardinals ({{mlby|2022}}–{{mlby|2023}})
Kia Tigers ({{kboy|2024}}–present)

|awards=

Korean Series champion ({{kboy|2024}})

}}

James Aubrey Naile (born February 8, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Kia Tigers of the KBO League. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Amateur career

Naile graduated from Charleston High School in Charleston, Missouri. He attended Parkland College, a junior college, despite receiving offers from Arkansas State University and Southeast Missouri State University, which both play college baseball in NCAA Division I.{{cite web|author=Chris Pobst |url=https://standard-democrat.com/story/1696633.html |title=High School Sports: Naile joins prestigious junior college program (1/20/11) |publisher=Standard Democrat |date=January 20, 2011 |accessdate=June 27, 2022}} After spending two years at Parkland, Naile transferred to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to play for the UAB Blazers.{{cite web|author=Chris Pobst |url=http://standard-democrat.com/story/1854546.html |title=High School Sports: Naile takes next step, signs with University of Alabama at Birmingham (5/30/12) |publisher=Standard Democrat |date=May 30, 2012 |accessdate=June 27, 2022}} Naile had Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament of the elbow in 2013.{{cite web|author=Alabama |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2013/06/uab_pitcher_james_naile_who_le.html |title=UAB pitcher James Naile, who led Blazers in wins, has Tommy John surgery |publisher=al.com |date=June 27, 2013 |accessdate=June 27, 2022}}

Professional career

=Oakland Athletics=

The Oakland Athletics drafted Naile in the 20th round, with the 608th overall selection, of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.{{cite web|author=Posted by PManning_is$$$$$ on Fri, June 12, 2015, at 7:35 PM |url=http://standard-democrat.com/blogs/pobst/entry/62653 |title=Blog: Former Charleston pitcher James Naile drafted by Oakland (6/10/15) |publisher=Standard Democrat |date=June 10, 2015 |accessdate=June 27, 2022}} He split his first professional season between the rookie–level Arizona League Athletics and Low–A Vermont Lake Monsters. Naile split the 2016 campaign between the Single–A Beloit Snappers, High–A Stockton Ports, Double–A Midland RockHounds, and Triple–A Nashville Sounds, accumulating a 9–11 record and 3.39 ERA with 125 strikeouts across 28 games (26 starts). Following the season, Naile was named the best defensive pitcher in Minor League Baseball.{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/gcs-203455186 |title=Rawlings, Minors announce '16 Gold Glovers |publisher=MiLB.com |date=September 26, 2016 |accessdate=June 27, 2022}}

Naile split 2017 between Midland, Stockton, and the AZL Athletics, compiling a 2–3 record and 3.30 ERA with 57 strikeouts across 18 games (14 starts).{{Cite web|title=James Naile Player Card|url=https://www.baseballprospectus.com/player/106543/james-naile/|access-date=September 26, 2024|website=baseballprospectus.com|language=en}} He made 26 starts for Midland and Nashville in 2018, registering an 8–10 record and 4.54 ERA with 84 strikeouts across {{fraction|150|2|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|title=James Naile Stats & Scouting Report|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/3702-james-naile/stats/|access-date=September 26, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}} Naile split the 2019 season between Midland and the Triple–A Las Vegas Aviators. In 27 games (24 starts) for the two affiliates, he compiled a 10–7 record and 5.41 ERA with 92 strikeouts over {{fraction|141|1|3}} innings of work.{{Cite web|title=James Naile - Stats - Pitching|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/james-naile/18186/stats?position=P|access-date=September 26, 2024|website=fangraphs.com|language=en}}

Naile did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=September 26, 2024|website=mlb.com|language=en}} He spent 2021 with Las Vegas, making 51 appearances out of the bullpen and posting an 8–0 record and 4.04 ERA with 51 strikeouts across {{fraction|62|1|3}} innings pitched. Naile elected free agency following the season on November 7, 2021.{{cite web|title=2021-22 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2021-22-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=September 26, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

=St. Louis Cardinals=

On November 18, 2021, Naile signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.{{cite web|last=Heller |first=Marsha |url=https://www.kfvs12.com/2021/11/18/heartland-native-pitcher-james-naile-announces-he-signed-with-cardinals/ |title=Heartland native, pitcher, James Naile, announces he signed with Cardinals |publisher=Kfvs12.com |date=November 18, 2021 |accessdate=June 27, 2022}} The Cardinals promoted Naile to the major leagues for the first time on June 27, 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cardinals-james-naile-poised-for-first-mlb-call-up/ |title=Cardinals' James Naile: Poised for first MLB call-up |publisher=CBSSports.com |date= June 27, 2022|accessdate=June 27, 2022}} He made his MLB debut that night versus the Miami Marlins, pitching one scoreless inning of relief.{{cite web | url=https://www.startribune.com/two-yepez-hrs-goldschmidt-4-for-4-cards-top-marlins-9-0/600185808/ | title=Two Yepez HRS, Goldschmidt 4 for 4, Cards top Marlins 9-0 | website=Star Tribune | access-date=June 28, 2022 | archive-date=June 28, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628025710/https://www.startribune.com/two-yepez-hrs-goldschmidt-4-for-4-cards-top-marlins-9-0/600185808/ | url-status=dead }} He made seven total appearances for the Cardinals in his rookie campaign, posting a 5.00 ERA with five strikeouts in nine innings pitched.

On February 8, 2023, Naile was designated for assignment by St. Louis following the acquisition of Anthony Misiewicz.{{cite news |title=Cardinals acquire LHP Anthony Misiewicz from Royals for cash |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/cardinals-acquire-lhp-anthony-misiewicz-from-royals-for-cash/ |access-date=September 10, 2024 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Sportsnet |date=February 8, 2023}} On February 10, Naile cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.{{Cite web|title=Cardinals' James Naile: Outrighted to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cardinals-james-naile-outrighted-to-triple-a/amp/|access-date=2023-02-10|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In 6 games with Memphis, Naile posted a 3-1 record and 2.50 ERA with 19 strikeouts. On May 5, his contract was selected to the active roster.{{cite web|title=Cardinals' James Naile: Selected by Cards|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/cardinals-james-naile-selected-by-cards/amp/|access-date=2023-05-05|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In 10 major league contests for St. Louis, Naile struggled to an 8.80 ERA with 7 strikeouts across {{fraction|15|1|3}} innings of work.

=Kia Tigers=

On January 19, 2024, the Cardinals sold Naile's contract to the Kia Tigers of the KBO League.{{Cite web|title=Kia Tigers sign ex-MLB pitcher Naile|url=https://m-en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20240119005600315|access-date=January 16, 2024|website=m-en.yna.co.kr|language=en}} On August 24, Naile was struck in the face by a comebacker off the bat of Matt Davidson, and later diagnosed with a fractured jaw. He was temporarily replaced by Eric Stout.{{Cite web|title=KBO's Kia Tigers Sign Eric Stout from CPBL|url=http://cpblstats.com/kbo-kia-tigers-sign-eric-stout-cpbl/|access-date=August 28, 2024|website=cpblstats.com|language=en}} In 26 total starts for the Tigers, he compiled a 12–5 record and 2.53 ERA with 138 strikeouts across {{fraction|149|1|3}} innings pitched. With Kia, Naile won the 2024 Korean Series.{{Cite web|title=Kia Tigers win Korean Series for 1st time in 7 years|url=https://m.koreatimes.co.kr/pages/article.amp.asp?newsIdx=385163|access-date=November 11, 2024|website=koreatimes.co.kr|language=en}}

On November 26, 2024, Naile re–signed with the Tigers on a $1.6 million contract.{{Cite web|title=KBO Signings: Heredia, Naile, Reyes|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/kbo-signings-heredia-naile-reyes.html|access-date=November 28, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

Personal life

Naile grew up as a fan of the Cardinals. His mother died in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/lifelong-cardinals-fan-and-now-player-james-naile-comes-home-in-big-league-debut/article_60cdf44a-7b27-53c9-a038-6133b1789c72.html|title=Lifelong Cardinals fan, and now player, James Naile comes home in big league debut|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|first=Rick|last=Hummel|date=June 29, 2022|accessdate=August 8, 2022}}