James Loney
From BR Bullpen
James Anthony Loney
- Bats Left, Throws Left
- Height 6' 2", Weight 220 lb.
[edit] Biographical Information
James Loney made his mark by slugging .559 as a rookie in 2006 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, he was sent to the minors at the end of spring training in 2007 after being told there wasn't a spot for him on the team. Nomar Garciaparra was playing first while Andre Ethier and Luis Gonzalez were set for the outfield corners. Loney was sent to Las Vegas to play, and he suggested that perhaps he could be traded. After some time in Las Vegas, he was brought back to the Dodgers, and in 2007, he hit .331 with a .538 slugging percentage in 96 games.
Loney was a pitcher and first baseman in high school and was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round of the 2002 amateur draft. He made his pro debut that summer, hitting .317 with 22 doubles for the Great Falls Dodgers of the Pioneer League. The next season, he advanced to A, where he hit .276 with 7 homers. In 2004, he struggled at AA, hitting just .238. He spent the following year in AA again, but in 2006, Loney made his big league debut with the Dodgers. He was rated the #12 prospect int he Pacific Coast League by Baseball America.
Loney's rookie season was highlighted by a 9 RBI day (September 28) at Colorado. He wound up the year batting .284 with 4 HRs and 18 RBIs in 102 plate appearances.
The 23 year old 1st baseman is currently engaged and is to be married to Melinda Travis, a 21 year old law student, sometime fall of 2008 Loney and his fiance currently own a house the eastern shores of Hawaii which Loney stays at on the off season. [citation needed]
