J. D. Closser

Infobox MLB player


width = 150
name = J. D. Closser
team = San Diego Padres
number = --
position = Catcher
birthdate = birth date and age|1980|1|15
birthplace = city-state|Beech Grove|Indiana
bats = Switch
throws = Right
debutdate = June 30
debutyear = 2004
debutteam = Colorado Rockies
statyear = 2007
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value = .239
stat2label = Home runs
stat2value = 10
stat3label = Runs batted in
stat3value = 48
teams =
*Colorado Rockies (by|2004-by|2006)

Jeffrey Darrin "J. D." Closser (born January 15, 1980 in Beech Grove, Indiana) is a Major League Baseball catcher in the San Diego Padres organization. Closser and his wife, Holley, have two daughters, Isabelle and Callie McKenna. He attended Alexandria Monroe High School in Indiana.

Baseball career

Closser made his debut midway through the mlby|2004 season. He posted very impressive statistics in his rookie year. J.D. walked into the mlby|2005 season as the starting catcher for the Colorado Rockies. However, his offensive doldrums coupled with his near-complete inability to throw-out potential base stealers cost him. The second half of the 2005 campaign, he lost his starting role to backup catcher Danny Ardoin. Closser was up and down from the minors to the majors in the mlby|2006 season with the Rockies. He was claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers on October 13, 2006.

On May 4, mlby|2007, he was traded to the Athletics for outfielder Charles Thomas.

On April 10, mlby|2008, Closser was released from the Iowa Cubs, the Triple-A team for the Chicago Cubs. On May 1, 2008, Closser signed with New York Yankees and was assigned to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, their Triple-A affiliate. He was released by the Yankees on August 6. On August 11, 2008, he made his debut for the Portland Beavers, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.