{{short description|American baseball player (born 1988)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2015}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Rocky Gale | image = Rocky Gale (cropped).JPG | caption = Gale with the Portland Beavers in 2010 | team = | number = | position = Catcher | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|2|22}} | birth_place = Portland, Oregon, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | bats = Right | throws = Right | debutleague = MLB | debutdate = September 6 | debutyear = 2015 | debutteam = San Diego Padres |finalleague=MLB |finaldate=May 12 |finalyear=2019 |finalteam=Los Angeles Dodgers | statyear = | statleague = MLB | stat1label = Batting average | stat1value = .108 | stat2label = Home runs | stat2value = 1 | stat3label = Runs batted in | stat3value = 2 | teams = * San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2015}}, {{mlby|2017}}) * Los Angeles Dodgers ({{mlby|2018}}–{{mlby|2019}}) }} '''Rocky Michael Gale''' (born February 22, 1988) is an American former professional baseball catcher. He attended the University of Portland where he was named the West Coast Conference defensive player of the year before being drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 2010 MLB draft. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2015 for the Padres and also played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is currently a catching coordinator in the Dodgers farm system.
==Early life== Gale was born in Portland, Oregon on February 22, 1988.<ref name="milb">{{cite web|title=Rocky Gale Statistics|url=http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=C&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=502570|work=MiLB.com|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=September 7, 2010|archive-date=January 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200126125020/https://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?pos=C&sid=milb&t=p_pbp&pid=502570|url-status=dead}}</ref> He grew up in Yoncalla, Oregon, later moving to Keizer, Oregon where he attended junior high school.<ref name=statesman /> After graduating from North Salem High School in Salem, Oregon, Gale was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 49{{sup|th}} round of the 2006 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign.<ref>{{cite web|title=49th Round of the 2006 MLB June Amateur Draft|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?year_ID=2006&draft_round=49&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|access-date=September 7, 2010}}</ref> In 2006, Gale began attending the University of Portland where he played baseball with the Portland Pilots.<ref name="statesman">{{cite web|last=Horowitz|first=Gary|title=Ex-Vikings (and UP) star returns to Volcanoes Stadium|url=http://www.portlandpilots.com/news/2010/8/11/BSB_0811100518.aspx|work=Statesmen Journal|date=August 11, 2010 |publisher=University of Portland Athletics|access-date=September 7, 2010}}</ref> Gale also played with the Corvallis Knights, a collegiate summer league team.<ref name=statesman /> Gale batted .254 during his freshman season, .261 in his sophomore season, .194 in his junior season and .347 in his senior as a member of the Pilots.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rocky Gale Batting Statistics|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/G/Rocky-Gale.shtml|work=The Baseball Cube|access-date=September 7, 2010}}</ref> After the season, he was named to the first-team all-West Coast Conference (WCC) team and was the conference's defensive player of the year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Senior Southpaw Daniel Bibona of UC Irvine Named Big West Pitcher of the Year|url=http://www.corvallisknights.com/news.php?p=126|work=Corvallis Knights|access-date=September 7, 2010|date=June 8, 2010}}</ref> Gale was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 24{{sup|th}} round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft out of the University of Portland.<ref>{{cite web|title=24th Round of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?year_ID=2010&draft_round=24&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|access-date=September 7, 2010}}</ref>
==Professional career== ===San Diego Padres=== After being drafted by the Padres in 2010, Gale made his debut in professional baseball debut with the minor league Eugene Emeralds, a team which he grew up watching.<ref name=statesman /> During the season, Gale split playing time with the Emeralds other catcher, Emmanuel Quiles.<ref name=statesman /> Eugene manager Greg Riddoch said that Gale has a "tremendous makeup".<ref name=statesman /> Furthermore, Emeralds pitcher Dexter Carter commented that when working with Gale "he knows exactly what's going on".<ref name=statesman /> Gale's parents, who lived in the area, would drive to his games to watch him play.<ref name=statesman /> On the season, Gale batted .292 with 47 hits, five doubles and 16 runs batted in (RBIs) in 43 games played.<ref name="br">{{cite web|title=Rocky Gale Minor League Statistics & History|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=gale--001roc|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference, LLC|access-date=September 7, 2010}}</ref> He was called up to the Portland Beavers, who were members of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League (PCL), but did not play. On Labor Day 2011 Rocky hit his first Professional league home run.
In 2015, Gale played for the El Paso Chihuahuas of the PCL.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/sports/2015/08/06/rocky-gale-making-triple-opportunity/31218765/ |title=Rocky Gale making most of his triple-A opportunity |newspaper=Statesman Journal |author=Poehler, Bill |date=2015-08-06 |access-date=2021-11-20}}</ref> The Padres promoted him to the major leagues on December 8, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/trades.php?p=galero01 |title=Rocky Gale Trades and Transactions |website=baseball-almanac.com |access-date=2021-11-20}}</ref> He hit his first major league home run in a 13–7 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 20, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|title=D-backs 13, Padres 7|url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/d-backs-vs-padres/2017/09/20/492363#game_state=final,game_tab=,game=492363|work=MLB.com|date=September 20, 2017|access-date=September 21, 2017}}</ref> He was designated for assignment on February 20, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/02/padres-to-designate-rocky-gale.html |title=Padres To Designate Rocky Gale |website=mlbtraderumors.com |author=Todd, Jeff |date=2018-02-18 |access-date=2021-11-20}}</ref> He was released on February 22, 2018.
===Los Angeles Dodgers=== Gale signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on February 25, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/02/dodgers-to-sign-rocky-gale-to-minors-contract.html |website=mlbtraderumors.com |title=Dodgers To Sign Rocky Gale To Minors Contract |author=Polishuk, Mark |date=2018-02-25 |access-date=2021-11-20}}</ref> He was assigned to the Oklahoma City Dodgers where he was selected to represent the Pacific Coast League at the Triple-A All-Star Game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newsok.com/article/5599672/four-dodgers-selected-for-triple-a-all-star-game|title=Four OKC Dodgers selected for Triple-A All-Star Game|work=newsok|first=Cameron|last=Jourdan|date=2018-06-28|access-date=2018-07-08}}</ref> The Dodgers called him up to the majors on September 2.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.truebluela.com/2018/9/2/17812476/rocky-gale-added-dodgers-select-contract-third-catcher|title=Dodgers add catcher Rocky Gale for final month push|work=SB Nation|first=Craig|last=Minami|date=2018-09-02 |access-date=2018-09-02}}</ref> He was outrighted off the roster on July 23, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/07/dodgers-outright-rocky-gale.html|title=Dodgers Outright Rocky Gale|work=MLB Trade Rumors|first=Steve|last=Adams|date=2019-07-23|access-date=2019-07-25}}</ref>
===Tampa Bay Rays=== On July 31, 2019, Gale was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash considerations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/rays-add-catching-depth-in-rocky-gale/|title=Rays Add Catching Depth in Rocky Gale|work=Fangraphs|first=Devan|last=Fink|date=July 31, 2019|access-date=July 31, 2019}}</ref> In 17 games for the Triple-A Durham Bulls, he batted .323/.344/.355 with no home runs and six RBI. Gale elected free agency following the season on November 4.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2019/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2019|author=Matt Eddy|website=Baseball America|date=November 7, 2019|access-date=November 7, 2019}}</ref>
===Los Angeles Dodgers (second stint)=== Gale signed another minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on November 27, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/dodgers-rocky-gale-back-with-dodgers|title=Dodgers' Rocky Gale: Back with Dodgers|work=CBS Sports|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=November 27, 2019|access-date=November 27, 2019}}</ref> Gale did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=July 23, 2023|website=mlb.com|language=en}}</ref> He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/full-list-of-2020-2021-milb-free-agents/|access-date=September 21, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 2, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
===Cincinnati Reds=== On January 8, 2021, Gale signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds organization.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/01/minor-mlb-transactions-1821.html |title=Minor MLB Transactions: 2021-01-08 |author1=Franco, Anthony |author2=Byrne, Connor |date=2021-01-08 |website=mlbtraderumors.com |access-date=2021-11-20}}</ref> Gale spent the 2021 season with the Triple-A Louisville Bats. He appeared in 26 games for Louisville, hitting .208 and driving in 3 runs. On October 2, Gale was released by the Reds.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/rocky-gale-502570 |title=Rocky Gale #74 |website=mlb.com |access-date=2021-11-20}}</ref>
==Personal life== Gale's father, Paul Gale, was a coach at Western Baptist College/Corban University in Salem, Oregon. He is currently a scout for the Houston Astros.<ref name=statesman /> Rocky Gale married his wife Leah in December 2009, after dating her since high school.<ref name=statesman /> His mother's name is Janice Gale, and he has two brothers, K. C. and Ross, and a sister, Hannah.<ref name=statesman />
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{baseballstats| mlb=502570|espn=32353| br=g/galero01| fangraphs=10533| brm=gale--001roc}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gale, Rocky}} Category:Living people Category:1988 births Category:People from Keizer, Oregon Category:Baseball players from Portland, Oregon Category:North Salem High School (Salem, Oregon) alumni Category:Major League Baseball catchers Category:San Diego Padres players Category:Los Angeles Dodgers players Category:Portland Pilots baseball players Category:Eugene Emeralds players Category:Fort Wayne TinCaps players Category:Lake Elsinore Storm players Category:Tucson Padres players Category:San Antonio Missions players Category:El Paso Chihuahuas players Category:Adelaide Bite players Category:Leones del Escogido players Category:American expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic Category:Oklahoma City Dodgers players Category:People from Yoncalla, Oregon Category:Tulsa Drillers players Category:Durham Bulls players Category:Green Bay Bullfrogs players Category:American expatriate baseball players in Australia