Josh Sale
{{short description|American baseball player (born 1991)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox MLB player
|name = Josh Sale
|position = Outfielder / Third baseman
|team = Free agent
|number =
|bats = Left
|throws = Right
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|7|5}}
|birth_place = Seattle, Washington, U.S.
}}
Joshua Ezekiel Gasu Sale (born July 5, 1991) is an American professional baseball outfielder and third baseman who is a free agent. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 1st round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft.
Career
Sale attended Bishop Blanchet High School in Seattle, Washington.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/high-school/baseball/story/_/id/4159489/opposites-attract-slugging-pair/ |title=Bishop Blanchet (Seattle) sluggers Jake Lamb and Josh Sale may not have a ton in common off the field, but when it comes to baseball they're on the same page. - ESPN |publisher=Espn.go.com |date=June 16, 2009 |access-date=August 8, 2014}} During his senior year Sale batted .520 with 5 home runs, 6 doubles, and drove in 20 runs. Sale led Washington state with 13 home runs as a junior.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}
=Tampa Bay Rays=
The Tampa Bay Rays selected Sale in the first round, with the 17th overall selection, of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft.{{Cite web|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/bishop-blanchet-slugger-josh-sale-selected-by-tampa-bay-with-no-17-pick/|title = Bishop Blanchet slugger Josh Sale selected by Tampa Bay with No. 17 pick|date = June 7, 2010}} Sale was one of three Seattle area players selected by the Rays in the first three rounds of the draft, the others being Drew Vettleson and Ryan Brett. He made his professional debut in 2011 with the rookie ball Princeton Rays, slashing .210/.289/.346 in 60 games. In 2012, Sale played in 74 games for the Single-A Bowling Green Hot Rods, hitting .264/.391/.464 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=sale--001jos|title = Josh Sale Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics & History}} In August 2012, Sale was suspended for fifty games for the use of banned stimulants.{{cite web|url=http://www.bgdailynews.com/sports/fourth-hot-rod-suspended-by-baseball/article_78b607bc-f160-11e1-bb97-0019bb2963f4.html |title=Fourth Hot Rod suspended by baseball - Bowling Green Daily News: Sports |publisher=Bgdailynews.com |date=August 28, 2012 |accessdate=December 14, 2013}} On May 29, 2013, the Rays suspended Sale for conduct detrimental to the organization regarding an incident involving a post on Facebook regarding a visit to a strip club.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/9323420/jose-sale-suspended-tampa-bay-rays |title=Jose Sale suspended by Tampa Bay Rays - ESPN |publisher=Espn.go.com |date=May 30, 2013 |access-date=December 14, 2013}} In 2014, Sale appeared in 90 games for the High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs, batting .238/.313/.344 with 4 home runs and 46 RBI. He was suspended yet again in August 2014 for a second drug violation.{{cite web|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/08/12/rays-minor-leaguer-josh-sale-is-suspended-again/|title=Rays minor leaguer Josh Sale is suspended. Again.|date=August 12, 2014}} On February 27, 2015, Sale was released by the Rays organization.{{cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/for-rays-dick-bosman-port-charlotte-memories-strike-a-chord/2219467/|title=Rays right to cut ties with ex-top pick Josh Sale|first=Marc|last=Topkin|work=Tampa Bay Times|date=February 27, 2015|access-date=March 1, 2015}}
=Gastonia Honey Hunters=
After spending 2015 through 2020 out of professional baseball, on May 21, 2021, Sale signed with the Gastonia Honey Hunters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlanticleague.com/stats/transactions/|title = Atlantic League Professional Baseball: Transactions}} Over 120 games in 2021, he hit .284/.394/.593/.986 with 34 home runs and 104 RBI.{{Cite web|last=Grant|first=Evan|date=2022-01-26|title=Rangers sign RHP Nick Tropeano and 3B Josh Sale, whose story bears resemblance to Josh Hamilton's|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2022/01/26/rangers-sign-rhp-nick-tropeano-and-3b-josh-sale-whose-story-bears-resemblance-to-josh-hamiltons/|access-date=2022-01-27|website=The Dallas Morning News}} He became a free agent following the season.
=Texas Rangers=
On January 26, 2022, Sale signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers.{{Cite web|date=January 26, 2021|title=Rangers agree to terms with RHP Nick Tropeano on Minor League contract|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-rangers-agree-to-terms-with-rhp-nick-tropeano-on-minor-league-cont|access-date=2022-01-26|website=MLB.com}}{{Cite web|last=Levi Weaver|first=Mr.|date=February 2, 2022|title=After seven years away, Josh Sale returns to baseball with a 'big-picture goal' of helping others|url=https://theathletic.com/3100199/2022/02/02/after-seven-years-away-josh-sale-returns-to-baseball-with-a-big-picture-goal-of-helping-others/|access-date=2022-02-03|website=The Athletic|language=}} In his first action in affiliated ball since 2014, he spent the majority of the season (72 games) with the Triple-A Round Rock Express, also appearing in 1 game for the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders. In 239 total at-bats, Sale slashed .226/.342/.414 with 11 home runs and 33 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=December 30, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}
On February 3, 2023, Sale re-signed with the Rangers on a new minor league contract.{{Cite web|title=Rangers' Josh Sale: Re-signs on MiLB deal|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rangers-josh-sale-re-signs-on-milb-deal/|access-date=2023-02-03|website=cbssports.com|date=February 3, 2023 |language=en}} Sale hit just .179/.329/.328 with 3 home runs and 10 RBI in 24 games split between Frisco and Round Rock. He was released by the Rangers organization on June 3.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-06-03/p-1 | title=Transactions }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=592714|espn=|br=|fangraphs=|brm=sale--001jos}}
{{Tampa Bay Rays first-round draft picks}}
{{2010 MLB Draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sale, Josh}}
Category:Baseball players from Seattle
Category:Baseball players from Washington (state)
Category:Bishop Blanchet High School alumni
Category:Baseball third basemen
Category:Princeton Rays players
Category:Bowling Green Hot Rods players
Category:Charlotte Stone Crabs players
Category:Gastonia Honey Hunters players