Jemile Weeks

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Jemile Weeks

| image = Jemile Weeks on June 7, 2011.jpg

| width =

| caption = Weeks with the Oakland Athletics, 2011

| team =

| number =

| position = Second baseman / Outfielder

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1987|1|26}}

| birth_place = Orlando, Florida, U.S.

| bats = Switch

| throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = June 7

| debutyear = 2011

| debutteam = Oakland Athletics

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = May 7

|finalyear = 2016

|finalteam = San Diego Padres

| statyear =

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .254

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 4

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 62

| stat4label = Stolen bases

| stat4value = 41

| teams =

Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|2011}}–{{mlby|2013}})
Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|2014}})
Boston Red Sox ({{mlby|2014}}–{{mlby|2015}})
San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2016}})

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}

}}

Jemile Nykiwa Weeks ({{IPAc-en|dʒ|ə|ˈ|m|aɪ|l}} {{respell|jə|MYLE}};[https://archive.today/20140514063238/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-12-03/sports/bal-orioles-trade-closer-jim-johnson-to-oakland-as-for-2b-jemile-weeks-20131202_1_orioles-trade-tommy-hunter-dan-duquette Connolly, Dan. "Orioles trade closer Jim Johnson to Oakland A's for 2B Jemile Weeks," The Baltimore Sun, Tuesday, December 3, 2013.] born January 26, 1987) is an American former professional baseball second baseman and outfielder. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, and San Diego Padres.

He is the younger brother of former MLB second baseman Rickie Weeks.{{cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Jemile-Weeks-comes-up-big-against-brother-s-team-3161678.php|title=Jemile Weeks comes up big against brother's team|author=John Shea, Chronicle Staff Writer|date=March 7, 2011|work=SFGate|access-date=April 20, 2016}} He played college baseball at the University of Miami.

Amateur career

Weeks attended Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs, Florida. At Altamonte Springs, Weeks hit .472 as a junior and led the team to a conference title, and also won All-State honors twice. Weeks also went 3-3 with a home run in the 2005 PlayStation All-America Baseball Game and played football for two seasons. Weeks then attended the University of Miami. As a freshman, Weeks hit .352 and was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American. In his junior and final season for Miami, Weeks hit .363 with 13 home runs and a .641 slugging percentage.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?P=Jemile-Weeks|title = Major Leaguers - the Baseball Cube}}{{cite web|url=http://www.hurricanesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205554862|title=Player Bio: Jemile Weeks|work=Hurricanesports.com|access-date=April 20, 2016|archive-date=March 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309134028/http://www.hurricanesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=205554862|url-status=dead}}

Weeks was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the eighth round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft, but he chose, instead, to attend the University of Miami. He played college baseball for the Miami Hurricanes.

Professional career

=Oakland Athletics=

The Oakland Athletics then selected him twelfth overall in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft.

Weeks was batting .297 in nineteen games for the Kane County Cougars in 2008 when a torn hip flexor ended his season. He played fall ball with the Phoenix Desert Dogs in 2009, and was named an Arizona Fall League Rising Star. At the start of the 2010 season, Weeks was ranked seventh in Oakland's farm system according to Baseball America{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2010/269399.html|title=BaseballAmerica.com: Prospects: Rankings: Organization Top 10 Prospects: Oakland Athletics: Top 10 Prospects|date=January 19, 2010|access-date=April 20, 2016}} and appeared as a non-roster invitee for the Athletics in spring 2011.

He was called up to the majors for the first time on June 7, 2011.{{cite web|last=Gleeman|first=Aaron|title=A's place Mark Ellis on DL, call up Jemile Weeks from Triple-A|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/07/as-place-mark-ellis-on-dl-call-up-jemile-weeks-from-triple-a/|work=NBC Sports|date=June 7, 2011|access-date=June 7, 2011}} He won the MLB Rookie of the Month Award for the American League in June 2011. He batted .309, with seven doubles, three triples, six RBIs, and six stolen bases in this month.

In 2012, Weeks hit .220 with 14 doubles, 8 triples, 2 homers, 20 RBIs, 50 walks, and 15 stolen bases. On August 22, 2012, Weeks was demoted to the Triple-A's Sacramento River Cats when the A's activated outfielder Seth Smith and acquired Stephen Drew from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

=Baltimore Orioles=

On December 2, 2013, Weeks and a player to be named later (PTBNL) were traded to the Baltimore Orioles for pitcher Jim Johnson. The PTBNL was identified as David Freitas on December 12.{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2013/12/12/orioles-acquire-minor-league-catcher-david-freitas-to-complete-jim-johnson-trade/|title=Orioles acquire minor league catcher David Freitas to complete Jim Johnson trade|work=tribunedigital-baltimoresun|date=December 12, 2013 |access-date=April 20, 2016}} He played in only three games for Baltimore, going 3–for–11 (.273). Weeks split 73 games in the minor leagues between the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Orioles, Low–A Aberdeen IronBirds, and Triple–A Norfolk Tides, accumulating a .303/.411/.427 batting line with one home run, 22 RBI, and 10 stolen bases.{{Cite web|title=Red Sox acquire Jemile Weeks, Ivan Dejesus from Orioles|url=https://www.mlbdailydish.com/2014/8/30/6088693/red-sox-acquire-jemile-weeks-ivan-dejesus-orioles-news|access-date=June 21, 2024|website=mlbdailydish.com|date=August 30, 2014 |language=en}}

=Boston Red Sox=

The Orioles traded Weeks and Iván DeJesús Jr. to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Michael Almanzar and Kelly Johnson on August 30, 2014. On December 8,, he was removed from the 40–man roster and outrighted to the Triple–A Pawtucket Red Sox.{{cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2014/08/30/orioles-add-kelly-johnson-and-michael-almanzar-from-boston/|title=Orioles add Kelly Johnson and Michael Almanzar from Boston|work=tribunedigital-baltimoresun|date=August 30, 2014 |access-date=April 20, 2016}}

=San Diego Padres=

On January 14, 2016, Weeks signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres that included an invitation to spring training.{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/mar/09/padres-jemile-weeks-happy-for-opportunity/|title=Padres not short on opportunity for Jemile Weeks|first=Jeff|last=Sanders|date=March 9, 2016|work=San Diego Union-Tribune|access-date=April 20, 2016}} He began the season with the El Paso Chihuahuas of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League,{{cite web|url=http://www.pe.com/articles/rhp-798799-roster-padres.html|title=PADRES: Rea, Buchter, Rosales grab final roster spots|first=Kyle|last=Glaser|date=April 3, 2016|work=Press Enterprise|access-date=April 20, 2016}} and was promoted to the major leagues on April 20.{{cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/apr/20/padres-put-spangenberg-on-dl-select-jemile-weeks/|title=Padres promote Jemile Weeks|work=San Diego Union-Tribune|date=April 20, 2016|access-date=April 21, 2016}}

In 17 games with Padres, Weeks hit only .140 with 2 runs batted in and one stolen base. On October 26, Weeks was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A, but rejected the assignment in favor of free agency.{{Cite web|title=Padres Outright Jemile Weeks, Jake Smith, Jose Dominguez|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/10/padres-outright-jemile-weeks-jake-smith-jose-dominguez.html|access-date=October 22, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=October 26, 2016 |language=en}}

=Chicago Cubs=

On December 22, 2016, Weeks signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs organization.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-transactions-dec-10-22-2/#RqTSwuaBayDGT0yV.97|title=Minor League Transactions: Dec. 10-22|last=Eddy|first=Matt|work=baseballamerica.com|date=December 24, 2016|access-date=December 24, 2016}} In 63 games he hit .235 with 2 home runs and 24 runs batted in for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2017.{{Cite web|title=Outgoing Cubs Minor League Free Agents: John Andreoli, Trey Martin, Among Others|url=https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2017/11/07/outgoing-cubs-minor-league-free-agents-john-andreoli-trey-martin-among-others/|access-date=May 24, 2023|website=bleachernation.com|date=November 7, 2017 |language=en}}

=Acereros de Monclova=

On February 13, 2018, Weeks signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican Baseball League.{{cite web|title=Jemile Weeks refuerza a Acereros|url=http://periodicolavoz.com.mx/jemile-weeks-refuerza-a-acereros/|work=Periódico La Voz|language=es|access-date=February 14, 2018}} He was released on July 3, 2018.