Utility player (baseball)

Utility player (baseball)

In baseball, a utility player is a player who can play several different positions.

In general, each major league baseball team has at least one player who can be described as a utility player. The most famous utility player is probably Pete Rose (though he was not described as such), because during his career, he played left field, right field, center field, third base, second base and finally, first base late in his career. Most professional teams have two types of utility players. There are "utility infielders", who usually play all of the infield positions (plus occasionally catcher). Utility outfielders, or fourth outfielders, tend to play all three outfield positions as various times. Occasionally, there will be players who perform a combination of the two duties. Utility players tend to be players who come off of the bench, though this isn't absolute. Often, players who don't have high prospects to be a major league star will learn additional positions so they can look more attractive to major league clubs as bench talent.

José "The Utilityman" Oquendo is regarded as the most versatile utility player in the modern game, having played every position, including Pitcher.

ee also

(Bold names indicate players active in 2008).

*Eric Bruntlett
*Willie Bloomquist
*Miguel Cairo
*Bert Campaneris
*Mark DeRosa
*Chone Figgins
*Ryan Freel
*Ricky Gutiérrez
*Rex Hudler
*Aubrey Huff
*Takuya Kimura
*Rob Mackowiak
*Eli Marrero
*Joe McEwing
*Mark McLemore
*Josh Phelps
*Tony Phillips
*Nick Punto
*Pete Rose
*Ramón Santiago
*Fernando Tatis
*Honus Wagner


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