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Blake Gailen

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Blake Gailen
Gailen with theLancaster Barnstormersin 2021
Outfielder
Born:(1985-03-27)March 27, 1985(age 39)
Verdugo Hills,California
Bats:Left
Throws:Left

Blake Shane Gailen(בלייק גיילין; born March 27, 1985) is anAmerican-Israelihitting coach for theArizona Complex League Dodgersand left-handed formerprofessional baseballoutfielder.He also plays for theIsrael National Baseball Team.

In high school, Gailen was first-team All-West Valley League in California in his junior and senior seasons. He played baseball forGlendale Community College,where he was All-Western State Conferenceas a freshman and All-Southern California Team as a sophomore. He played summer ball, and was aCoastal Plain LeagueAll Star during the 2005 and 2006 seasons.

In 2011 Gailen won theAmerican Associationbatting title with a.406 batting average, a new league record. In 2012, he was named theAtlantic LeagueMost Valuable Player as well asBaseball America's Independent League Player of the Year, and starting All Star in left field, after batting.338 (winning his second consecutive league batting title) with 22 home runs, 89 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases. In 2014, he was named to the Atlantic League's All-Star team.

He played inDouble–Afor theToronto Blue Jaysorganization in 2011 and 2015, and inTriple–Afor theLos Angeles Angelsorganization in 2013. Through 2018, Gailen had played 1,226 games over 12 seasons, and batted.306 with 167 home runs in aggregate.[1]Gailen played forTeam Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classicin 2017, and in theConfederation of European Baseball2019 European Baseball Championship - B-Poolin 2019, where he was named the MVP. He signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017. After finishing the season with the Tulsa Drillers, Gailen was brought back for spring training. He did not make the team out of spring training and played the season out with the Lancaster Barnstormers. In 2018, he became a dualIsraeli citizen.Gailen again signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in January 2019. Out of spring training, he was assigned to the Triple-AOklahoma City Dodgers.He played for Team Israel at the2019 European Baseball Championship.He also played for the team at theAfrica/Europe 2020 Olympic Qualification tournamentin Italy in 2019, which Israel won to qualify to playbaseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics.In October 2020, Gailen signed a contract with theMelbourne Acesof theAustralian Baseball League.He played center field for Team Israel at the2020 Summer Olympicsin Tokyo in the summer of 2021.

Early life

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Gailen was born inVerdugo Hills,California, to Scott and Charlene ( "Char" ) Gailen, and grew up inWest Hills, California.[2][3][4]He has an older sister named Jenni.[3]Gailen is Jewish.[5]He and major league infielderJosh Satin—also a member of the Israeli national baseball team—have been friends since they were children, and Gailen attended Satin'sbar mitzvah.[6]Asked about his height, Gailen said: "I like to say, 5-8¾."[7]

He played baseball in high school forEl Camino Real High SchoolinWoodland Hills, California,where Gailen pitched (throwing ano-hitteras a senior, and going 19-4 his last two seasons) as well as played outfield and hit, graduating in 2003.[8][3]He was first-team All-West Valley League in his junior and senior seasons.[3]He went un-drafted after high school.[9]

College

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Gailen played baseball in college first forGlendale Community College(graduating in 2005), where he was All-Western State Conferenceas a freshman and All-Southern California Team as a sophomore.[3]He played summer ball for theFayetteville SwampDogsduring the 2005 and 2006 seasons, both pitching and playing outfield, and was aCoastal Plain LeagueAll Star both seasons.[10]

He then played for theUniversity of Nevada-Las VegasRebels baseball team,where Gailen was named theMountain West ConferencePlayer of the Week on February 12, 2007, and graduated with a degree in Communications in 2007.[2][11][12][13][6]He went un-drafted after college.[9]

Professional career

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Gailen was signed in 2011 and 2015 by theLos Angeles Angels.[2]He has also played in theToronto Blue Jaysorganization (which signed him in 2013), theLos Angeles Dodgersorganization (which signed him in 2017 and 2019), on independent league teams, and in Mexico and Venezuela.[2]

Anderson Joes

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Gailen began his professional career in 2007 with the minor league baseball independent team theAnderson Joesof theSouth Coast League,batting.368/.455/.526 in 42 games.[8][14]

Wichita Wingnuts

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On July 28, 2008, playing for theWichita Wingnuts,he was named theAmerican AssociationBatter of the Week.[15]

Chico Outlaws

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In 2009, Gailen batted.355 with theChico Outlawsof theGolden Baseball League,and was the youngest batter in the top 10 in batting in the league.[14][16]In 2010, he batted.387. (finishing 2nd in the league toLarry Bigbiein batting average)/.480 (3rd in the league)/.603 for Chico, and was a league All Star.[14]

Lincoln Saltdogs

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In 2011, he won theAmerican Associationbatting title with a league-leading.406 batting average, a new league record, while playing for theLincoln Saltdogs.[17]He played center field and batted leadoff for the Saltdogs, and also led the league in on-base percentage (.479) and slugging percentage (.622).[18][19]

Los Angeles Angels

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Gailen was then signed to a minor league contract by theLos Angeles Angelsin July 2011, and played for the Double–AArkansas Travelersof theTexas League,replacingMike Troutwho had just been called up.[1][8]In 29 games, playing right field primarily, he batted.208.[1]

Lancaster Barnstormers

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In 2012 Gailen was named theAtlantic LeagueMost Valuable Player as well asBaseball America's Independent League Player of the Year, and starting All Star in left field, after batting.338 (winning his second consecutive league batting title, and setting a team record)/.415 (leading the league)/.534 with 22 home runs, 89 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases for theLancaster Barnstormers.[11][20]

Toronto Blue Jays

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In August 2013, he was signed to a minor league contract by theToronto Blue Jays,as Gailen was leading the Atlantic League in doubles and walks while playing in 113 games for the Lancaster Barnstormers.[11][20]He played in eight games for Toronto’s Triple-A affiliate, theBuffalo Bisons,batting.286.[21]He then played in 46 games for theVenados de Mazatlanin theMexican Pacific Winter League.[1]

Lancaster Barnstormers (second stint)

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In 2014, playing again for the Lancaster Barnstormers, Gailen was named to the Atlantic League's All-Star team, and for the season batted.350/.460/.646 with 18 homers, 52 RBIs, and a 1.107 OPS.[14]ManagerButch Hobsonsaid: "This guy is one of the best, if not the best, players in the league."[14]He also played 51 games forToros de Tijuanaof theMexican League,batting.271/.385/.537 with 11 home runs.[14][1]He then played 22 games forLeones del Caracasof theVenezuelan Winter League,and 19 games for the Venados de Mazatlan in the Mexican Pacific Winter League.[1]

Los Angeles Angels (second stint)

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In 2015, he started the season again playing for the Lancaster Barnstormers, and in June after 44 games was again signed to a minor league contract by the Los Angeles Angels.[1]The Angels assigned him to the Double–A Arkansas Travelers, and that month he was Player of the Month for the Travelers, for whom he played in 76 games during the season.[22][1]

Lancaster Barnstormers (third stint)

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In 2016, after off-season surgery he played in 48 games for the Lancaster Barnstormers.[1][23]

In 2017, Gailen began the season back with the Lancaster Barnstormers.[23]In 54 games he batted.323/.408/.521, raising his career records with the Barnstormers to first all-time in home runs (72), runs scored (309), hits (524), and doubles (108), and tied for first in RBIs (273), while tied for second in steals (75 steals).[24]

Los Angeles Dodgers

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Gailen signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 25, 2017, and was assigned to the Double–ATulsa Drillersin theTexas League.[25]In 49 games for Tulsa, he hit.300/.369/.500.[1]He was released by the organization on March 22, 2018.

Lancaster Barnstormers (fourth stint)

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On March 30, 2018, Gailen re-signed with the Lancaster Barnstormers.[26]In 126 games he batted.282/.378/.511 and led the Atlantic League in home runs (28; one short of the franchise record) and RBIs (91), while coming in second in walks (72).[27][28][29]He was named an All Star for the third time.[29]His 99 career home runs in the Atlantic League were 10th-most in league history.[29]He became a free agent following the 2018 season.

On October 31, 2018, Gailen signed with theTomateros de Culiacánof theMexican Pacific League.[30]

Los Angeles Dodgers (second stint)

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On January 22, 2019, Gailen signed a minor league contract with theLos Angeles Dodgers.[31]Playing for the Triple-AOklahoma City Dodgersin 2019, he batted.250/.321/.396 with one home run and six RBI.[32]Gailen elected free agency following the season on November 4.[33]

On January 9, 2020, Gailen re-signed with the Dodgers organization on a minor league contract. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[34]Gailen was released by the Dodgers organization on July 1.[35]

Melbourne Aces

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On October 3, 2020, Gailen signed a contract with theMelbourne Acesof theAustralian Baseball Leaguefor the 2020-21 season.[36]

Lancaster Barnstormers (fifth stint)

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On March 24, 2021, Gailen signed with theLancaster Barnstormersof theAtlantic League of Professional Baseballfor the 2021 season.[37]In 2021 he batted.279/.421/.519 with 18 home runs, 72 RBIs, and 68 walks (7th in the league) in 287 at bats for Lancaster.[38]He became a free agent following the season.

Coaching career

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On December 23, 2021, Gailen announced that he would be joining theLos Angeles Dodgersorganization as a coach in the hitting department and retire as an active player.[39]In 2022, he was the hitting coach for theArizona League Dodgers.[40]

On February 23, 2024, Gailen was announced as the hitting coach for the Single–ARancho Cucamonga Quakes.[41]

Team Israel

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Gailen played forIsrael at the 2017 World Baseball Classicqualifier.[42]After not playing in the first game, he was a late-inning defensive replacement in the second game, but did not bat.[43][44]Gailen started the third game in center field, and hit a two-run home run in the 5th inning, while walking twice and scoring an additional run.[45]

Gailen played left field forTeam Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classicmain tournament, in March 2017.[5][46]He said: "it was the best experience of my life, there’s not even a question."[47]

In October 2018 he became adual Israeli citizen,partly to help Israel’s baseball team make the2020 Olympics.[48][49]He played forTeam Israelin theConfederation of European Baseball2019 European Baseball Championship - B-Poolin early July 2019 inBlagoevgrad,Bulgaria,as it won all six of its games and advanced to the playoffsagainstTeam Lithuaniain the2019 Playoff Seriesat the end of July 2019 for the last qualifying spot for the2019 European Baseball Championship.[8]He was named the MVP of the tournament, as he batted.571 (2nd in the tournament)/.654 (leading the tournament)/1.048 (2nd).[50][51]

He played for Team Israel at the2019 European Baseball Championship,where he batted.355/.412/.742 with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs in 31 at bats in seven games and was tied for second among all Championship batters in doubles (3), fifth in total bases (23), and tied for sixth in hits (11).[52][53]He also played for the team at theAfrica/Europe 2020 Olympic Qualification tournamentin Italy in September 2019, which Israel won to qualify to playbaseball at the 2020 Summer Olympicsin Tokyo.[54]He played center field and batted.286/.375/.333 in the tournament.[55]

Gailen said that as the last game of the tournament ended, with Israel qualifying for the 2020 Olympics: "I don't remember ever crying during a game... But I was super emotional. This is the Olympics. It hit me so hard. And I saw how hard it was hitting the guys around me."[56]

He played center field for Team Israel at the2020 Summer Olympicsin Tokyo in the summer of 2021.[57]

Awards

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References

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  1. ^abcdefghij"Blake Gailen Independent, Winter, Minor & Mexican Leagues Statistics & History,Baseball-Reference.com
  2. ^abcd"Blake Gailen Stats, Highlights, Bio",milb.com.
  3. ^abcde"Blake Gailen Bio"Archived2018-01-28 at theWayback Machine,UNLVRebels.com.
  4. ^"Obituaries--Charlene Gailen",Glendale News-Press,July 7, 2006.
  5. ^ab"MLB Players Ty Kelly, Sam Fuld Commit to World Baseball Classic Roster; Team Israel stated that it is finalizing its roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic in March in South Korea.",Haaretz,January 20, 2017.
  6. ^abRob Isbitts (November 10, 2016)."Blake Gailen’s long road to Team Israel,"Jewish Baseball News
  7. ^"Bisons blank Lehigh Valley as well traveled Gailen stands tall in AAA debut,"The Buffalo News.
  8. ^abcdJ.J. Cooper (October 17, 2012)."Blake Gailen Earns Independent Leagues Player Of The Year Honors",Baseball America
  9. ^abEric Sondheimer (August 25, 2013)."Baseball: Ex-ECR outfielder Blake Gailen won't give up",Los Angeles Times
  10. ^"Ex-Fayetteville SwampDogs' Blake Gailen named Independent Leagues Player of the Year",Fay Observer,October 19, 2012.
  11. ^abcKyle Franzoni (August 24, 2013)."Blue Jays Sign Former Atlantic League MVP Blake Gailen",Jays Journal
  12. ^Charles Rich (November 21, 2012)."Blake Gailen picks up independent baseball honor",Los Angeles Times
  13. ^"Gailen Gets It; Rebel leftfielder named MWC Player of the Week after blistering series at the plate against No. 9 Cal State Fullerton.",UNLVRebels.com, February 12, 2007.
  14. ^abcdef"Gailen Signs up for Fourth Barnstormers Season",OurSports Central, March 12, 2015.
  15. ^"Gailen Wins Batter of the Week",OurSports Central, July 28, 2008.
  16. ^Patrick Kinmartin (December 17, 2009)."Padres-bound DeHaan is leaving the Outlaws",ChicoER News
  17. ^Devon Teeple (November 4, 2012)."Colorado Rockies Sign Baseball America's Indy Player of the Year Blake Gailen",Bleacher Report
  18. ^"Gailen New American Association Batting King,"[permanent dead link]saltdogs.com, October 5, 2011
  19. ^"2011 American Association Batting Leaders",Baseball-Reference
  20. ^ab"Blue Jays sign OF Blake Gailen; Former Atlantic League MVP joins Bisons",milb.com, August 24, 2013.
  21. ^"Blake Gailen leads Travelers to 6-4 win over Drillers; The much-traveled outfielder has two key hits in Arkansas victory,"Tulsa World
  22. ^Taylor Blake Ward (July 8, 2015)."June Recap: Arkansas Travelers - Los Angeles; Player of the Month: Blake Gailen, Outfielder",Scout.
  23. ^ab"Blake Gailen returning to Barnstormers,"Lancaster Online.
  24. ^"Dodgers sign Barnstormers' Blake Gailen",Lancaster Online.
  25. ^"Gailen’s Contract Purchased by Dodgers,"Lancaster Barnstormers.
  26. ^"'Stormers All-Time Hits, Homers Leader Returns for Seventh Season ".Lancaster Barnstormers.March 30, 2018.RetrievedMarch 30,2018.
  27. ^"404 Not Found".alpb.bbstats.pointstreak.com.{{cite web}}:Cite uses generic title (help)
  28. ^"Blake Gailen Independent, Winter, Minor & Mexican Leagues Statistics & History".Baseball-Reference.com.
  29. ^abc"Barnstormers' Blake Gailen signs with Dodgers,"Lancaster Online,January 22, 2019.
  30. ^"Blake Gailen Refuerza a Tomateros".www.purobeisbol.mx.November 1, 2018.RetrievedNovember 6,2018.
  31. ^"Gailen Joins Dodgers".Lancaster Barnstormers.January 22, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 22,2019.
  32. ^"Blake Gailen Independent, Winter, Minor & Mexican Leagues Statistics & History".Baseball-Reference.com.RetrievedSeptember 26,2019.
  33. ^"Minor League Free Agents 2019".baseballamerica.com.RetrievedAugust 6,2024.
  34. ^"2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled".mlb.com.RetrievedAugust 6,2024.
  35. ^"Giants make Little addition to outfield".theabl.com.au.December 7, 2020.
  36. ^"Baseball Australia".melbourneaces.com.au.
  37. ^"GAILEN MAKES RETURN TO LANCASTER: All-Time Club HR Leader Back for Eighth 'Stormer Season".Lancaster Barnstormers.March 24, 2021.RetrievedMarch 24,2021.
  38. ^"2021 Atlantic League Batting Leaders".
  39. ^"Blake Gailen on Instagram:" Excited to announce the next chapter will be back with the Dodgers in the hitting department! Thank you to all the teams, my teammates, my friends, my family, and baseball for giving me love, support, and opportunity over the last 16 years of chasing a dream. "".
  40. ^Williams, Blake (March 21, 2022)."Arizona Complex League And Dodgers Dominican Summer League Coaching Staffs For 2022".
  41. ^"Dodgers 2024 minor league coaching staffs".truebluela.com.February 23, 2024.RetrievedFebruary 25,2024.
  42. ^Vince Lara-Cinisomo (September 22, 2016)."Rosters for WBC Qualifier in Brooklyn",Baseball America
  43. ^"Israel 5, Great Britain 2"ArchivedSeptember 27, 2016, at theWayback Machine,mlb.com, September 22, 2016.
  44. ^"Israel 1, Brazil 0,"ArchivedSeptember 27, 2016, at theWayback Machine,mlb.com, September 23, 2016
  45. ^"Israel 9, Great Britain 1,"ArchivedSeptember 30, 2016, at theWayback Machine,mlb.com, September 25, 2016.
  46. ^David Adler (April 8, 2017)."Israel brings MLB experience to 1st WBC main draw"ArchivedAugust 29, 2017, at theWayback Machine,mlb.com.
  47. ^Burt Wilson (April 6, 2017)."Just back from World Baseball Classic, Blake Gailen returns to Barnstormers for 6th season,"Lancaster Online.
  48. ^"10 U.S.-Jewish baseball players to get dual Israeli citizenship in bid to make 2020 Olympics,"Haaretz,October 11, 2018.
  49. ^"US baseball players get Israeli citizenship in boost to Olympic team,"The Times of Israel,October 20, 2018.
  50. ^"Israel team wins European baseball Olympic qualification tournament,"The Jerusalem Post,July 7, 2019.
  51. ^"European Championship Seniors B - Pool 2 - Individual Statistics,"baseballstats.eu.
  52. ^"EUROPEAN Championship A-Pool - Individual Statistics".Baseballstats.eu.RetrievedSeptember 26,2019.
  53. ^"EUROPEAN Championship A-Pool - Standings & Leaders".Baseballstats.eu.RetrievedSeptember 26,2019.
  54. ^Scott Barancik (September 13, 2019)."Moving on up".Jewish Baseball News.RetrievedSeptember 26,2019.
  55. ^"Gailen, Blake,"olympicbaseball.wbsc.org.
  56. ^"Rosenthal: A stunning, tear-filled conclusion for Team Israel, with inspiration and history".The Athletic.September 23, 2019.RetrievedSeptember 26,2019.
  57. ^"Israel".World Baseball Softball Confederation.
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