Logan Forsythe

John Logan Forsythe (born January 14, 1987) is an American former professional baseball infielder.

He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers and Miami Marlins.

While primarily a second baseman, Forsythe has played at least one game at every position except for center field and catcher.

Prior to playing professionally, Forsythe played college baseball for the University of Arkansas.

He has also competed for the United States national baseball team.

Forsythe played baseball at Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, Tennessee, where he led his team to the 2005 state championship while batting .527 with 58 runs batted in (RBIs) and two stolen bases.

He was recruited by the University of Arkansas to play college baseball for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Forsythe's mother had also attended Arkansas.

Forsythe intended to take a medical redshirt in 2006, but entered a game after an early-season injury.

As a Freshman, he appeared in 28 games and had a batting average of .189.

He became the team's starting third baseman as a Sophomore and improved to hit .347 in 61 games with nine home runs, 55 RBI and 18 stolen bases.

He led the team in hits (78), doubles (16), steals and on-base percentage (.556).

In post-season play, he hit .333 in the SEC baseball tournament and .267 in the Fayetteville Regional.

As a Junior, he was named a third-team pre-season All-American, and also named to USA Baseball's pre-season Golden Spikes Award Watch list.

He played in 51 games, hitting .351 with seven homers and 34 RBI.

He was named to the All-Southeastern Conference first team at the conclusion of the season.

The San Diego Padres chose Forsythe in the supplemental first round (46th overall pick) of the 2008 MLB draft.

He signed with the Padres on June 5, 2008 for a $835,000 bonus.

He began his career that season in the low minors, appearing in nine games for the Arizona League Padres and three for the Eugene Emeralds.

Forsythe began 2009 with the Lake Elsinore Storm of the California League where he hit .322 in 66 games and was named to the mid-season All-Star Team.

On June 25, 2009, he was promoted to the Double-A San Antonio Missions of the Texas League, and he hit .279 in 66 games for them.

In 2010, Forsythe was switched to second base and played the entire season for the Missions, hitting .253 in 107 games with 38 RBI and 17 steals.

He also led the league in walks, despite missing over a month with a broken hand.

He was invited to spring training by the Padres as a non-roster player in 2011 before he was assigned to the Triple-A Tucson Padres of the Pacific Coast League to begin the season.

Forsythe was called up to the MLB for the first time on May 4, 2011 and made his MLB debut that day, appearing as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning against Kevin Correia of the Pittsburgh Pirates and grounding out to shortstop.

Forsythe was optioned and recalled three more times during the summer of 2011 and recorded his first MLB hit on May 28, a single to left field of Henry Rodríguez of the Washington Nationals.

Forsythe was mostly used as a pinch hitter or late inning defensive replacement until Chase Headley broke his pinkie and went on the disabled list in August, and Forsythe took over as the regular third baseman until his 2011 season was ended by knee surgery.

He finished 2011 with a .213/.281/.287 line in 36 starts and 62 total games.

Forsythe was a candidate to make the 2012 Opening Day roster as a utility infielder, but a broken sesamoid in his left foot required surgery during spring training and he opened the season on the disabled list.

After a brief stop in Triple-A, Forsythe returned to the Major League club on June 3 and became the regular second baseman.

Forsythe made 73 starts at second base and also put in time at shortstop and third base.

He finished 2012 hitting .273/.343/.390 with 6 home runs.

He hit for a .313 batting average at Petco Park, the highest single-season average for any player at Petco Park with more than 110 at-bats.

His first major league home run was a walk-off on June 5 off of Steve Edlefsen of the San Francisco Giants.

Forsythe was sidelined by plantar fasciitis in spring training and opened the 2013 season on the 60-day disabled list.

After a brief rehab stint with Triple-A Tucson, he was activated on June 10 when Jedd Gyorko went to the DL with a groin strain.

Forsythe manned second base until Gyorko returned in mid-July, and then served the club in a utility role playing shortstop, second, and third as well as both corner outfield positions.

His plantar fasciitis returned at the end of the season, and he was largely limited to a pinch hitting role.

Forsythe batted .214/.281/.332 on the season with 6 home runs in 75 games played and 220 at-bats.

On January 22, 2014, the Padres traded Forsythe, Brad Boxberger, Matt Lollis, Matt Andriese, and Maxx Tissenbaum to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Alex Torres and Jesse Hahn.