Nevin Ashley

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Nevin Ashley

| image = Nevin Ashley (4970441009) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Ashley with the Durham Bulls in 2010

| width = 250

| team =

| number =

| position = Catcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|8|14}}

| birth_place = Vincennes, Indiana, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 9

| debutyear = 2015

| debutteam = Milwaukee Brewers

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = October 2

| finalyear = 2015

| finalteam = Milwaukee Brewers

|statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .100

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 0

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 1

| teams =

Milwaukee Brewers ({{mlby|2015}})

}}

Nevin Robert Ashley (born August 14, 1984) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers. He was a bullpen catcher with the Toronto Blue Jays from 2020 to 2021.

Playing career

=Tampa Bay Rays=

Prior to playing professionally, he attended North Knox High School in Bicknell, Indiana and then Indiana State University. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2006 amateur draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and began his professional career that year. With the Princeton Devil Rays in 2006, Ashley hit .333 with four home runs and 28 RBI in 47 games. The following year, with the Columbus Catfish, he hit .280 with 12 home runs, 60 RBI and 20 stolen bases - all career highs. In 2008, Ashley hit .235 with four home runs and 26 RBI in 102 games with the Vero Beach Devil Rays. He split 2009 between the Charlotte Stone Crabs and Montgomery Biscuits, hitting a combined .230 with three home runs and 36 RBI. In 2010, he hit .249 with eight home runs and 47 RBI with the Biscuits and Durham Bulls.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=ashley001nev|title=BR Minors|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=October 28, 2014}} In 2011, he hit .263/.358/.384 with 8 HR and 48 RBI between Montgomery and Durham. In 2012, Ashley hit .271/.379/.458 with 6 HR and 18 RBI between Durham and the GCL Rays. Ashley elected free agency on November 2, 2012.

=Cincinnati Reds=

On November 22, 2012, Ashley signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.{{cite web |url=http://www.mlbdailydish.com/2012/11/22/3679116/reds-sign-burriss-ashley-stevens-minor-league-deal |title=Reds sign Burriss, Ashley, Stevens to minor-league deals |work=MLB Daily Dish |first=Nathan |last=Aderhold |date=November 22, 2012}} He spent the entire 2013 season with the Louisville Bats, and finished batting .235 in 80 games with 6 home runs and 28 RBI. On November 5, 2013, he became a free agent.

=Pittsburgh Pirates=

Ashley signed a minor league deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates on November 26, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/pit/pirates-sign-minor-league-catcher-nevin-ashley-reliever-cody-eppley?ymd=20131126&content_id=64232110|title=Pirates sign Minor League catcher, reliever|work=Pittsburgh Pirates|access-date=October 28, 2014}} He spent the entire 2014 season with the Triple–A Indianapolis Indians and finished batting .246 in 70 games with two home runs and 24 RBI. On November 4, 2014, he became a free agent.

=Milwaukee Brewers=

Ashley signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on January 5, 2015, with an invite to spring training.{{cite web|url=http://reviewingthebrew.com/2015/01/05/milwaukee-brewers-sign-nevin-ashley/|title=Milwaukee Brewers Sign Nevin Ashley|work=Reviewing The Brew|date=5 January 2015|access-date=January 15, 2016}} He was promoted to their major league roster on September 7, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/wisconsin/story/milwaukee-brewers-call-up-31-year-old-minor-league-catcher-nevin-ashley-090715|title=Brewers call up 31-year-old minor-league catcher Nevin Ashley|work=FOX Sports|date=7 September 2015|access-date=September 7, 2015}} Two days later he made his debut against the Miami Marlins, hitting a two-out, RBI double off pitcher Tom Koehler in the top of the second inning in his first major league at-bat. The Brewers lost the game, 5–2. On October 7, 2015, he was designated for assignment by the Brewers,{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/wisconsin/story/milwaukee-brewers-designate-nevin-ashley-for-assignment-claim-junior-guerra-off-waivers-100715|title=Brewers designate Nevin Ashley for assignment, claim RHP Guerra off waivers|work=FOX Sports|date=7 October 2015|access-date=January 15, 2016}} and Ashley subsequently elected free agency on October 14 after being outrighted to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.

Ashley appeared in 12 games with the Brewers, batting .100 with one double and one RBI. In the minors with the Sky Sox he hit .306 with 14 doubles, eight home runs and 61 RBIs in 94 games.

=New York Mets=

On January 15, 2016, Ashley signed a minor league deal with the New York Mets.{{cite web|url=https://www.sny.tv/mets/news/mets-sign-catcher-ashley-invite-seven-to-spring-training/162048010|title=Mets sign catcher Ashley, invite seven to spring training|work=Metsblog.com|access-date=January 15, 2016}}

=Texas Rangers=

On August 31, 2016, the Mets traded Ashley to the Texas Rangers in exchange for cash considerations.{{cite news|title=Johnson lifts Mets pasts Marlins 5-2; Walker likely done|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/08/31/johnsons-double-send-mets-to-5-2-win-over-marlins/89683334/|access-date=2 September 2016|work=USA Today|agency=Associated Press|date=August 31, 2016}} In three games for the Triple–A Round Rock Express, he went 1–for–0 (.100) with one RBI. Ashley elected free agency following the season on November 7.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2016|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2016/|access-date=August 3, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 8, 2016 |language=en}}

=Seattle Mariners=

On January 26, 2017, Ashley signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners.{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/mariners-nevin-ashley-signs-minor-league-deal-with-mariners/|title=Mariners' Nevin Ashley: Signs minor league deal with Mariners|work=CBS Sports|date=January 26, 2017|access-date=March 22, 2017}} He was assigned to the Tacoma Rainiers on April 7,{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/player/nevin-ashley-502213|title = Nevin Ashley Stats, Fantasy & News}} but did not make an appearance for the organization and elected free agency following the season on November 6.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2017|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2017/?amphtml|access-date=April 26, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 7, 2017 |language=en}}

Post-playing career

=Toronto Blue Jays=

In February 2019, Ashley joined the Toronto Blue Jays as a bullpen catcher.

Personal life

Ashley and his wife, Ashley, have two sons, Gaige and Aiden.{{cite news|last1=Haudricourt|first1=Tom|title=Brewers surprise Nevin Ashley with his first taste of the majors|url=http://archive.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/brewers-surprise-nevin-ashley-with-his-first-taste-of-the-majors-b99572528z1-325832141.html|access-date=2 September 2016|work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|date=September 8, 2015}}