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| Trevor Plouffe | |
|---|---|
| Name | Trevor Plouffe |
| Position | Third baseman / Right fielder |
| Birth date | 19 November 1986 |
| Birth place | Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Bats | Right |
| Throws | Right |
| Debutleague | MLB |
| Debutdate | July 8 |
| Debutyear | 2010 |
| Debutteam | Minnesota Twins |
| Finalleague | MLB |
| Finaldate | September 29 |
| Finalyear | 2019 |
| Finalteam | Oakland Athletics |
Trevor Plouffe is an American former professional baseball player who played as a third baseman and right fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Minnesota Twins, Tampa Bay Rays, Oakland Athletics, and Philadelphia Phillies organizations across a career spanning the 2010s, and appeared for the United States national baseball team in international competition. Plouffe is noted for occasional power hitting, defensive versatility, and postseason contributions.
Plouffe was born in Long Beach, California and attended Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach, where he played high school baseball and was scouted by Major League Baseball organizations including the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. He enrolled at University of California, Berkeley and played college baseball for the California Golden Bears under head coach David Esquer, competing in the Pac-10 Conference and earning recognition in collegiate tournaments such as the College World Series regionals. During summers he played in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Harwich Mariners and faced future major leaguers scouted by franchises like the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels, drawing attention from scouts for the Minnesota Twins who selected him in the 2008 Major League Baseball draft.
Plouffe progressed through the minor league system with stops at affiliates including the Fort Myers Miracle, Rochester Red Wings, and New Britain Rock Cats, where he played in the Florida State League and International League and faced pitching prospects from organizations such as the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, and Houston Astros. He made his MLB debut with the Minnesota Twins on July 8, 2010, and spent multiple seasons competing in the American League Central against teams like the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Indians, and Kansas City Royals. Plouffe recorded a notable season in 2012 with a multi-homer game against the Chicago White Sox and participated in postseason roster discussions during seasons that included clashes with the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers.
In 2016 he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies organization and later signed with the Tampa Bay Rays and Oakland Athletics, appearing for the Rays in the Tropicana Field and for the Athletics in Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum. His tenure included stints on injured lists and minor league assignments with clubs like the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and Durham Bulls, as well as winter league play in Puerto Rico and exhibition games against international clubs such as the Boston Red Sox during spring training. Plouffe's MLB career concluded after the 2019 season following free agent signings and brief contracts with organizations like the Baltimore Orioles and independent league interest from teams such as the Sugar Land Skeeters and Long Island Ducks.
Plouffe represented the United States national baseball team in events including the World Baseball Classic qualifiers and international exhibitions, sharing rosters with players from the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and New York Mets. He played alongside and against international stars from Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball and Cuban national baseball team members in tournaments governed by World Baseball Softball Confederation affiliates and coordinated by USA Baseball. His international appearances included friendly series and qualifying tournaments that involved national squads from countries such as Mexico, Canada, and Dominican Republic.
Plouffe was a right-handed batter and thrower known for gap-to-gap power and occasional home run bursts, including a three-homer performance in a single game that drew comparisons to sluggers from teams like the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees. Defensively he saw time at third base, corner outfield, and designated hitter roles while facing pitching staffs featuring aces from the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels. Across his MLB career he compiled power metrics, slugging percentages, and Wins Above Replacement (WAR) values tracked by analytics providers used by franchises such as the Oakland Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays, with seasonal highs reflecting impact at the plate during contests versus competitors like the Minnesota Twins' divisional rivals. Advanced metrics from sources followed by the Society for American Baseball Research and front offices indicated strengths in isolated power and situational hitting, with platoon splits versus left-handed starters from clubs like the Houston Astros.
Plouffe has been involved in community and charitable initiatives through team foundations such as the Minnesota Twins Community Fund and youth programs associated with organizations like Little League Baseball and local charities in Minneapolis and Long Beach. Off the field he has engaged in media appearances on regional sports networks affiliated with the Fox Sports and Bally Sports regional networks, commentary that drew on teammates and contemporaries from franchises including the Cleveland Guardians and Seattle Mariners. He has family ties to athletes and has participated in golf exhibitions and celebrity charity events that included figures from the National Basketball Association and National Football League.
Category:1986 births Category:Major League Baseball third basemen Category:Baseball players from California