Brandon Inge

Infobox MLB player
name = Brandon Inge

---

width = 300
caption =
positionplain = Catcher, Third baseman
team = Detroit Tigers
number = 15
bats = Right
throws = Right
birthdate = birth date and age|mf=yes|1977|5|19
birthplace = city-state|Lynchburg|Virginia
debutdate = April 3
debutyear = 2001
debutteam = Detroit Tigers
statyear = 2008
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value = .237
stat2label = Home runs
stat2value = 96
stat3label = Runs batted in
stat3value = 410
teams =
*Detroit Tigers (by|2001–present)

Charles Brandon Inge [INJ] (born May 19, 1977, in Lynchburg, Virginia) is a Major League Baseball third baseman and catcher currently playing for the Detroit Tigers. He bats and throws right-handed.

Sportswriter Jayson Stark described Inge as a "super-utility dervish." [cite web | title=Honoring the very best (and worst) of the first half | first=Jayson | last=Stark | publisher=ESPN.com | date=July 12, 2008 | accessdate=2008-07-14 | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=3483646] In 2006, his diving stop and subsequent throw from his knees to put out Gary Bennett in an interleague game, on June 25 against the St. Louis Cardinals earned him the ESPN defensive play of the year for a third baseman. [cite web | url=http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=502758&w=mms%3A//a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2006/open/tp/archive06/062506_slndet_inge_def_tp_350.wmv&pid=mlb_tp&gid=2006/06/25/slnmlb-detmlb-1&mid=200606251522891&cid=mlb&fid=mlb_tp350&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_free&_mp=1
title=Brandon Inge Diving Stop | date=2006-06-25 | Publisher=MLB.com]

He attended the Virginia Commonwealth University, where he was a shortstop and relief pitcher. Inge was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in by|1998.

Initially assigned as a catcher, Inge struggled offensively in his first three seasons. After the Tigers signed free-agent Iván Rodríguez in by|2004, Inge played in the outfield, catcher and at third base, batting .287 with 13 home runs that season.

He started 159 games at third base in by|2005, leading all MLB third basemen in assists (378) and double plays (42). [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL_2005_field.shtml#3B 2005 American League third basemen fielding statistics] ] In 2006, Inge exceeded his 2005 totals with 398 assists. [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlbhist/stats/fielding?groupId=9&season=2006&seasonType=2&split=81&sortColumn=errors] That number broke the Detroit Tigers single season record for assists by a 3rd basemen (previously 389 by Aurelio Rodriguez in 1974) and was only 14 short of the all time MLB record for assists by a third basemen (set by Graig Nettles in 1971). Only five third basemen (including Graig Nettles, Brooks Robinson, and Mike Schmidt) have collected more assists in a season than Inge.

In 2006, Inge showed a lot of power during the first half, his 17 home runs tied for the team lead, but batted for an average of only .221. His slugging percentage was .463 and he also placed third on the Tigers with 47 RBIs. After the All-Star Break, he raised his average to .253 and finished with 27 home runs.

2008 season

Inge became expendable at third base after the Tigers acquired Miguel Cabrera in a blockbuster trade with the Florida Marlins. Despite his intentions to stay in Detroit, Inge asked management to trade him to a team where he would have a chance to be an everyday player. However, a deal was never made, and the team stated that he would be used as a utility player for the 2008 season. Inge reported to spring training early with the pitchers and catchers. He was named the opening day center fielder after Curtis Granderson was placed on the disabled list.

With the absence of backup catcher Vance Wilson, Inge began alternating catching duties with 13-time Gold Glove winner Iván Rodríguez. On June 26, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list. On July 7, he made his rehab assignment in AAA Toledo. On July 10, he was activated from the DL.

Inge took over the catching position full time after Iván Rodríguez was traded to the New York Yankees on July 30, 2008.cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3511535&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines|title=Yankees find their catcher for stretch, trade for Rodriguez|date=July 30, 2008|publisher=ESPN.com|accessdate=2008-07-30]

On September 27, Tigers manager Jim Leyland announced that he will move Inge back to third base for the 2009 season. [http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2008/09/detroit_tigers_4_tampa_bay_ray.html]

References

External links

* [http://www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2007/ingecontest.htm Inge donates $100k to University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital]