Joey Gathright

Infobox MLB player
name=Joey Gathright

---

width=200
position=Center fielder
team=Kansas City Royals
number=2
bats=Left
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1981|4|27
birthplace=city-state|Hattiesburg|Mississippi
debutdate=June 25
debutyear=2004
debutteam=Tampa Bay Devil Rays
statyear=July 2, 2008
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.262
stat2label=Home runs| stat2value=1
stat3label=Stolen bases
stat3value=75
teams=
*Tampa Bay Devil Rays (by|2004-by|2006)
*Kansas City Royals (by|2006-present)

Joey Renard Gathright (born April 27 1981 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi) is a center fielder in Major League Baseball for the Kansas City Royals. He made his major league debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on June 25, by|2004. He attended Bonnabel High School in Kenner, Louisiana, and played baseball as a junior. He was drafted by the Devil Rays in the 32nd round of the by|2001 draft, and signed in August after playing that summer in a Louisiana Sugar Daddy Cane League in Sorrento, Louisiana.

Gathright is arguably one of the fastest players in major league baseball, and shows this speed very well in the fieldFact|date=June 2008, as he led all major league outfielders in range factor (3.06) in 2006. He is also is a very good defensive player, partially because his speed allows him to track down balls most other outfielders wouldn't be able to get to, along with his excellent jumping ability. He is not a player who hits for power (with only one home run in his MLB career), however he is known to hit for average, although he will have slumps which cause his batting average to fall.

He has been clocked at 6-6.7 seconds in the 60-yard dash.Fact|date=September 2007 Most scouts consider him to be the fastest player in all of baseball [http://www.sptimes.com/2004/07/25/Rays/Rays_tales.shtml Rays tales] . While in high school, he jumped over his coach's car.Topkin, Mark (2004). [http://www.sptimes.com/2004/07/25/Rays/Rays_tales.shtml Rays tales] . "St. Petersburg Times" ] . That jumping ability proved useful on the field, as in a by|2008 spring training game Gathright jumped over Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Hiroki Kuroda, who was trying to tag him out en route to first base. Other than his abillity to hit for average, and his remarkable speed, he is also a feared Outfielder. His range and speed compined together can equal spectacular diving and runing plays in the field. He jumped over Steve Gress twice in '99.

In by|2005, he hit .276 in 76 games, and drew 10 walks.

On June 20, by|2006 he was traded to the Kansas City Royals, along with infielder Fernando Cortez, for left-handed pitcher J. P. Howell.

In by|2007, Joey broke up Bobby Jenks's major league record-tying streak of 41 consecutive batters retired. Gathright, who would have been the record 42nd batter, was able to record a hit.

ee also

*Tampa Bay Rays all-time roster

References

External links

*baseballstats |mlb=431157 |espn=5990 |br=g/gathrjo01 |fangraphs=3913 |cube=G/joey-gathright
* [http://youtube.com/watch?v=cySfw8f0beg Gathright jumping over a car]