Billy Ashley

Infobox MLB retired
bgcolor1=#083c6b
bgcolor2=#083c6b
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
name=Billy Ashley
position=Outfielder
birthdate=birth date and age|1970|7|11
bats=Right
throws=Right
debutdate=September 1
debutyear=1992
debutteam=Los Angeles Dodgers
finaldate=July 30
finalyear=1998
finalteam=Boston Red Sox
stat1label=AVG
stat1value=.233
stat2label=HRs
stat2value=28
stat3label=RBI
stat3value=84
teams=
*Los Angeles Dodgers (by|1992-by|1997)
*Boston Red Sox (by|1998)
highlights=

Billy Manual Ashley (born July 11, 1970) in Trenton, Michigan, is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.

Ashley was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 3rd round of the 1988 MLB Draft. He started his professional career with the Gulf Coast Dodgers in 1988 and 1989. Played with the Bakersfield Dodgers in 1990, Vero Beach Dodgers in 1991, San Antonio Missions in 1992 and Albuquerque Dukes for most of 1992-1994. A big time home run threat in the minors, Ashley hit 24 homers with San Antonio, 26 with the Dukes in 1993 and 37 in 1994. He was a Triple-A All-Star &Pacific Coast League All-Star in 1993 and in 1994 he repeated those honors and also was selected as Baseball America 1st team Minor League All-Star in 1994, Pacific Coast League Most Valuable Player in 1994, Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year in 1994 and AAA Player of the Year.

He made his major league debut on September 1, 1992 against the Chicago Cubs and recorded his first major league hit on September 6 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Ashley made the Dodgers opening day roster as a full-time player for the 1995 season and for the next three seasons was a spot starter/pinch hitter for the Dodgers.. Tying the Dodgers single-season record for pinch hit homers in 1996.

However, his inability to hit for a high average, high strikeout frequency and poor play in the field, led to the Dodgers releasing him prior to the 1998 season.

He was picked up as a free agent by the Boston Red Sox. He spent most of the season with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox but played in 13 games with the major league team. His most productive day with the Red Sox was on July 3, 1998 when went 3 for 4 and hit a grand slam home run against the Chicago White Sox.

Spent 1999 with the Toledo Mud Hens in the Detroit Tigers farm system and then retired from the game.

Throughout his Minor League career, Ashley was a highly touted power-hitting prospect. However, his success in the Minors was not transferred to the big league level, and he would not accumulate a batting average higher than .237, or hit any more that 9 home runs in a season.

His career concluded with 144 total hits and 236 total strikeouts.

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/a/ashlebi01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/Pashlb001.htm Retrosheet]