Willie Bloomquist

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name=Willie Bloomquist
position=Utility player
team=Seattle Mariners
number=16
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1977|11|27
birthplace=city-state|Bremerton|Washington
debutdate=September 1
debutyear=2002
debutteam=Seattle Mariners
statyear=2008 season
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.263
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=6
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=98
teams=
*Seattle Mariners (by|2002-present)

William Paul Bloomquist (born November 27, 1977 in Bremerton, Washington) is a Major League Baseball utility player who plays for the Seattle Mariners. He has played every position, aside from either of the battery positions, during his major league career.

At 5 ft 11 in, 195 lb, he is a versatile player that can play many positions, but is a limited contributor due to his below average offensive and defensive production and prowess. He has above-average speed and good baseball senses, leading him to be often used in late innings as a pinch runner for slower players. He is also used as a defensive specialist, though he does not excel at any given position. He is applauded for his versatility and intangibles.

Bloomquist had his greatest offensive contribution during his brief major league callup at the end of the mlby|2002 season. In 33 at-bats, Bloomquist had a batting average of .455 and an on-base plus slugging of 1.102.

Bloomquist was drafted out of South Kitsap High School in Port Orchard, Washington by the Mariners in the eighth round (237th overall) of the by|1996 amateur draft, but was not signed. He was drafted again by the Mariners out of Arizona State University in the third round (95th overall) of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft and signed.

The Mariners signed Bloomquist to a contract extension through the mlby|2008 season worth $1,875,000 [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2675363 ESPN - Mariners sign Bloomquist to two-year, $1.875M deal - MLB ] ] in 2006. On June 15, mlby|2007, he accomplished a rare feat of an inside-the-park home run in Minute Maid Park. On June 26, 2007, Bloomquist hit a lead-off home run in the second inning -- on what was his 1,000th career at-bat.

Some fans criticize the Mariners for overuse of Bloomquist feeling that his overall numbers do not merit the amount of playing time that he receives [ [http://ussmariner.com/2006/11/25/a-very-brief-reiteration-of-our-position-on-mr-bloomquist/ A very brief reiteration of our position on Mr. Bloomquist ] ] . As a result, some of the Seattle community has been known to call him by various nicknames including "Wee Willie", "Ballgame" [http://www.lookoutlanding.com/story/2006/2/3/213610/7389] . , "The Ignitor" [http://ussmariner.com/2006/08/17/game-121-mariners-at-athletics/] , "Effin", "WFB" [http://ussmariner.com/2006/11/25/a-very-brief-reiteration-of-our-position-on-mr-bloomquist/] , "WMFB", "W2008FB", "The Spork", "Princess Willie" [http://ussmariner.com/2007/04/18/espn-broadcasts-yankees-game/] , and "Willie Boom-Boom".

Due to his success early in his career against the Anaheim Angels, Angels broadcaster Rex Hudler began calling him "The Mighty Bloomquist."

Through 2008, Bloomquist is a career .263 hitter with 6 home runs and 71 stolen bases in 540 games. In his minor league career, he batted .281 with 12 home runs and 99 stolen bases in 387 games.

Bloomquist uses the song "In Bloom" by Nirvana as his entrance music.

Reference

External links

*baseballstats |mlb=217100 |espn=4603 |br=b/bloomwi01 |fangraphs=1066 |cube=B/Willie-Bloomquist
* [http://www.baseballprospectus.com/dt/bloomwi01.shtml Baseball Prospectus (statistics)]