Daniel Palka

Summary

Daniel Bennett Palka (born October 28, 1991) is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox and in the KBO League for the Samsung Lions.

Daniel Palka
Palka batting for the Chicago White Sox in 2018
Free agent
Outfielder
Born: (1991-10-28) October 28, 1991 (age 32)
Greenville, South Carolina, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Professional debut
MLB: April 25, 2018, for the Chicago White Sox
KBO: August 23, 2020, for the Samsung Lions
MLB statistics
(through 2019 season)
Batting average.218
Home runs29
Runs batted in71
KBO statistics
(through 2020 season)
Batting average.209
Home runs8
Runs batted in23
Teams

Career edit

Amateur edit

Palka attended Greer High School in Greer, South Carolina. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 19th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft. He did not sign with the Phillies and attended Georgia Tech, where he played college baseball.[1] In 2011 and 2012, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League, where he was the West division MVP of the league's all-star game in 2012.[2][3][4] Palka’s junior year finished with him being Georgia Tech’s first position player All American since Matt Wieters. After his junior year, he was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third round of the 2013 MLB Draft.[5]

Arizona Diamondbacks edit

Palka made his professional debut with the Missoula Osprey and was later promoted to the Hillsboro Hops. He played for the South Bend Silver Hawks in 2014 and the Visalia Rawhide in 2015.[6] After the 2015 season he played in the Arizona Fall League.

Minnesota Twins edit

 
Palka batting for the Minnesota Twins organization in 2015

On November 10, 2015, Palka was traded from the Diamondbacks to the Minnesota Twins for Chris Herrmann.[7] He started 2016 with the Chattanooga Lookouts and was promoted to the Rochester Red Wings in July.[8][9] Palka finished 2016 with a combined .254 batting average, 34 home runs and 90 RBI's between both clubs.[10] The Twins added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[11] In 2017, he played for Rochester, posting a .274 batting average with 11 home runs and 42 RBIs in 84 games.[12]

Chicago White Sox edit

He was claimed off waivers by the Chicago White Sox on November 3, 2017. Palka was called up to the Major Leagues on April 24, 2018, and made his major league debut the next day.[13] Palka led the 2018 Chicago White Sox with 27 home runs and finished fifth in AL Rookie of the Year voting. He began the following season on a 0-32 slump before snapping it on April 17, 2019.[14] He was sent down to the Triple-A Charlotte Knights the following day. He was named International League Player of the Week from May 13-20.[15] For the rest of the season, he led the Knights with 27 home runs.

On November 21, 2019, Palka was designated for assignment by the White Sox.[16] He was outrighted to AAA on November 25.[17]

Samsung Lions edit

On July 29, 2020, Palka left the White Sox organization to sign with the Samsung Lions of the KBO League. In 51 games for Samsung, Palka slashed .209/.272/.367 with 8 home runs and 23 RBI. He became a free agent following the season.

Washington Nationals edit

On April 16, 2021, Palka signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals organization.[18] Palka spent the 2021 season with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings. He played in 106 games, hitting .256 with 18 home runs and 58 RBI's. Palka became a free agent following the season.

New York Mets edit

On December 13, 2021, Palka signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets.[19] He was assigned to the Triple-A Syracuse Mets to begin the 2022 season. Palka appeared in 109 games for Syracuse, slashing .263/.344/.506 with 26 home runs and 79 RBI. He elected free agency following the season on November 10, 2022.[20]

Boston Red Sox edit

On February 24, 2023, Palka signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox organization.[21] In 79 games for the Triple–A Worcester Red Sox, he batted .233/.309/.410 with 12 home runs and 48 RBI. On July 30, Palka was released by Boston.[22]

New York Mets (second stint) edit

On August 26, 2023, Palka signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets organization.[23] In 23 games for the Triple–A Syracuse Mets, he batted .250/.320/.455 with 5 home runs and 12 RBI. Palka elected free agency following the season on November 6.[24]

On January 9, 2024, Palka signed with the Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League.[25] However, he did not make the Opening Day roster and was released on April 10, 2024.[26]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Phillies select Greer slugger Palka in 19th round". Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  2. ^ "#32 Daniel Palka (2011)". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "#32 Daniel Palka (2012)". pointstreak.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  4. ^ "Cape League All-Star game ends in draw". Yarmouth Register. Yarmouth, MA. August 2, 2012. p. 16.
  5. ^ "Greer product Palka drafted by Arizona Diamondbacks". Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  6. ^ Magruder, Jack (28 May 2015). "D-backs minor-league report: Palka's bat booms as he climbs ladder". Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  7. ^ "Twins acquire Daniel Palka from Diamondbacks". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 14, 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  8. ^ "Daniel Palka happy to have fresh start with the Lookouts". 21 April 2016. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  9. ^ "Daniel Palka powers Wings with two HRs in debut". Retrieved July 29, 2016.
  10. ^ "Daniel Palka Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  11. ^ "Ex-Lookouts On The Move As Twins Make Roster Changes". 18 November 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  12. ^ "Daniel Palka Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  13. ^ Greenstein, Teddy. "With Avisail Garcia on 10-day DL, White Sox call up Daniel Palka". Chicago Tribune.
  14. ^ "Palka optioned after ending 32-AB hitless streak". MLB.com.
  15. ^ "Palka Named IL Batter of the Week". MiLB.com. Retrieved 2021-02-19.
  16. ^ "Chicago White Sox Transactions - November 2019". mlb.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  17. ^ RotoWire Staff (November 25, 2019). "White Sox's Daniel Palka: Remains in organization". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  18. ^ "Major League Baseball Transactions".
  19. ^ "Mets, Daniel Palka Agree To Minor League Contract".
  20. ^ "2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  21. ^ "Red Sox's Daniel Palka: Joins Red Sox on NRI deal". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-02-24.
  22. ^ "Daniel Palka: Cut by Boston". cbssports.com. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  23. ^ "Mets Take Chance On Ex-Red Sox Sluggers After An Impressive Stint With Organization". si.com. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  24. ^ "2023 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  25. ^ "LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 9 de enero de 2023". milb.com. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  26. ^ "LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva - 10 de abril de 2024". milb.com (in Spanish). Retrieved April 13, 2024.

External links edit

  • Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
  • Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets bio Archived 2016-09-14 at the Wayback Machine