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Jason Lane
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Jason Dean Lane (born December 22, 1976) is an American professional baseball former player who currently serves as the offense and strategy coordinator for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Houston Astros and San Diego Padres. Originally starting his career as an outfielder, Lane switched positions and became a pitcher.
Key Information
Playing career
[edit]Amateur career
[edit]Lane graduated from El Molino High School in Forestville, California in 1995. He attended Santa Rosa Junior College, where he was selected as the 1997 California Junior College Northern California Player of the Year and Bay Valley Conference MVP before transferring to University of Southern California. In 1998, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Hyannis Mets of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[1]
At Southern California, Lane earned All-America honors during his senior season (1999), including pitching 2+2⁄3 innings in the 1998 College World Series championship game to pick up the win and help USC to its 12th NCAA baseball championship, topping Arizona State University 21–14. Lane served as the designated hitter (DH) in the game, going 3-for-6 with a ninth inning grand slam, setting a CWS record with 11 hits overall, and led the tournament with a .417 batting average. Morgan Ensberg was also his college teammate on the USC national championship squad.
Professional career
[edit]Houston Astros
[edit]The Houston Astros selected Lane in the sixth round of the 1999 Major League Baseball draft. The Astros believed Lane's future was at the plate rather than on the mound, so he began his professional career as a first baseman. He was later moved to the outfield because of Jeff Bagwell, who played first base. He made his major league debut in 2002.
In 2005, while hitting 26 home runs, he led the major leagues in fly ball percentage (51.3%).[2] When asked after Game 4 of the 2005 National League Division Series (an 18-inning game) who would pitch if Roger Clemens had begun to tire (as he threw three innings of relief three days after pitching in Game 2), Astros manager Phil Garner stated that he would have had Lane pitch for the victory with Clemens taking his place in the outfield.[3] Lane hit the last home run and made the last out at Busch Memorial Stadium on October 19, 2005 as the Astros clinched their first league pennant.
On July 12, 2006, Lane was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock after Houston acquired utility slugger Aubrey Huff. In August, Lane was called back to the majors, and on August 29, 2006, he hit a pinch hit grand slam off Milwaukee Brewers relief pitcher Dan Kolb in the 8th inning.
Lane finished the 2006 season with 15 home runs, although he hit just .201 over 112 games.
Lane began the 2007 season with the Astros, but carried an abysmal .165 batting average into June. With Rookie of the Year candidate Hunter Pence's spectacular play earning him the starting job in center field, Lane became expendable and was demoted to Round Rock. On July 23, with Pence out with a fractured wrist and Lance Berkman struggling with a hand injury, Lane was called back up to the big league club. Lane batted .308 with eight home runs and 35 RBI in Round Rock in 42 games. While Pence was on the injured list, Lane received the bulk of the playing time at center field.
On August 22, 2007, Lane was demoted once more to Triple-A. The Astros recalled relief pitcher Travis Driskill to the majors to help their bullpen. Lane was recalled when rosters expanded in September.
San Diego Padres
[edit]On September 24, 2007, he was traded to the San Diego Padres for cash consideration. Lane was not offered a new contract by the Padres and became a free agent on December 12, 2007.
New York Yankees
[edit]On January 10, 2008, Lane agreed to a minor league contract with the New York Yankees and was invited to spring training. However, he did not make the team, and was assigned to the Yankees Triple-A affiliate in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Boston Red Sox
[edit]On August 19, 2008, after opting out of his contract with the Yankees, Lane signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
Toronto Blue Jays
[edit]Lane signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays in December and was invited to spring training.[4] Lane had a chance to take the DH role, but instead it went to Adam Lind. He was then sent to triple-A Las Vegas.[4]
Florida Marlins
[edit]Lane signed a minor league deal with the Florida Marlins in 2010. He played in 47 games and hit .229 with three home runs.
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
[edit]Lane signed a contract with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. His first appearance for the Blue Crabs was pinch hitting on June 28, 2010. At his first and only at bat of the game he was walked.
Arizona Diamondbacks
[edit]On December 9, 2011, Lane signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks, now playing as a pitcher. He was invited to spring training, and in his first professional outing, allowed three hits and an unearned run in one inning.
Sugar Land Skeeters
[edit]In June 2012, Lane signed a contract with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League in their inaugural season. In July 2012, Lane was awarded Pitcher of The Month of the Atlantic League. At the end of the Sugar Land Skeeters 2012 season, Lane was named as the Skeeters' first-ever MVP. In his first year as a full-time pitcher since college, Lane was the ace of the pitching staff and an anchor in the middle of the batting order. Lane returned to the Skeeters for the 2013 season.
San Diego Padres (second stint)
[edit]Lane signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres on July 23, 2013.[5] He was called up to the major leagues on June 3, 2014, entering the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 4th inning. Lane retired all 10 hitters he faced.[6] He was designated for assignment on June 7.[7] He was called back up to start on July 28, 2014, against the Atlanta Braves. Lane became the oldest starting pitcher to make his debut for the Padres, breaking the mark set by Walter Silva, who was 32 in his first start for San Diego.[8] Lane pitched well, allowing just one earned run in six innings in a losing effort.[9] He was designated for assignment for the second time the next day.[10] Lane started the 2015 baseball season with the El Paso Chihuahuas on April 9, 2015.[11]
Coaching career
[edit]
On December 7, 2015, Lane was hired as an assistant hitting coach by the Milwaukee Brewers.[12] Lane became the Brewers' first base coach prior to the 2020 season.[13] He is later assumed the role of third base coach.
On January 5, 2026, Lane was promoted to the role of "offense and strategy coordinator."[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
- ^ "Major League Leaderboards » 2005 » Batters » Batted Ball Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball". www.fangraphs.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
- ^ Ortiz, Jose de Jesus (2006). Houston Astros: Armed and Dangerous. Sports Publishing. p. 197. ISBN 1-59670-071-8.
- ^ a b Okamoto, Brett (April 13, 2009). "Lane's chase for '500' milestone resumes with 51s". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved April 30, 2009.
- ^ Walk, John (July 23, 2013). "Atlantic League news, transactions July 15–21". The York Dispatch. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
- ^ Laws, Will (May 3, 2014). "Lane retires 10 straight in dazzling pitching debut". MLB.com. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
- ^ "Padres activate Cashner, designate LHP Lane". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 7, 2014. Retrieved June 8, 2014.
- ^ "Jason Lane takes loss in first start". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 28, 2014. Retrieved July 29, 2014.
- ^ Calcaterra, Craig (July 28, 2014). "Jason Lane made his starting debut today. He lost, but pitched pretty darn well". NBC Sports. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
- ^ "Padres reinstate Cabrera, designate Lane". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 29, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
- ^ "Jason Lane Stats, Highlights, Bio - El Paso Chihuahuas Stats". El Paso Chihuahuas. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
- ^ McCalvy, Adam (December 7, 2015). "Brewers add Subero, Lane to coaching staff". MLB.com. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ Hadricourt, Tom (November 15, 2019). "Brewers hire Jacob Cruz as assistant hitting coach, move Jason Lane to first-base duties". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
- ^ "Brewers Add Daniel Vogelbach To Coaching Staff". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
External links
[edit]- Career statistics from MLB · ESPN · Baseball Reference · Fangraphs · Baseball Reference (Minors) · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac , or Retrosheet
Jason Lane
View on GrokipediaEarly life and amateur career
Early life
Jason Lane was born on December 22, 1976, in Santa Rosa, California.[2][1] He grew up in the nearby community of Graton in Sonoma County, where he enjoyed a fulfilling childhood heavily focused on sports such as baseball and basketball.[7] Lane's parents, Pam and Glen Lane, reside in Graton, and he has a twin brother, Jon, who lives in Santa Rosa.[7] During his early education, Lane attended Oak Grove Elementary School in Sebastopol and Willowside Middle School in Santa Rosa.[7]High school and junior college
Lane attended El Molino High School in Forestville, California, graduating in 1995. During his time there, he competed in baseball, football, and basketball.[2] Following high school, Lane enrolled at Santa Rosa Junior College, where he played baseball for the Bear Cubs. In 1997, he earned CCCAA Northern California Player of the Year honors and the Bay Valley Conference Most Valuable Player Award, recognizing his outstanding performance as a first baseman and outfielder.[8][9]College career at USC
Jason Lane transferred to the University of Southern California (USC) after two seasons at Santa Rosa Junior College, where he played as a two-way contributor, primarily as an outfielder and first baseman with occasional pitching duties.[6] During his time at USC from 1998 to 1999, Lane showcased his versatility and power hitting, contributing to the Trojans' success in the Pac-10 Conference and national tournaments. He also played two summers (1996–1997) in the Alaska Baseball League for the Goldpanners of Fairbanks, honing his skills against top amateur competition.[2] In the 1998 season, Lane batted .332 with 14 home runs and 50 RBIs in 61 games, while posting a 9–2 record with a 5.34 ERA in 34 pitching appearances, including 62.1 innings pitched.[3] His standout performance came in the College World Series, where USC won the national championship. Lane set a single-tournament record with 15 hits in six games, batting .517 with four home runs—tying the CWS mark for most in a tournament—and driving in key runs, including a ninth-inning grand slam in the finals against Arizona State that helped secure a 21–14 victory.[10] He also earned the win as a reliever in that game, pitching 2⅔ scoreless innings, and was named to the All-Tournament Team as the designated hitter.[6][11] Lane's senior year in 1999 marked his most productive offensively, as he hit .356 with a team-high 20 home runs and 68 RBIs in 54 games, along with 20 doubles and a .764 slugging percentage, earning him first-team All-America honors from USA Today/Baseball Weekly.[12] Despite missing the first eight games due to a broken thumb, he led USC to a 17–7 Pac-10 record and a second-place conference finish, though the Trojans did not advance to the College World Series that year.[12] On the mound, Lane appeared in 14 games with a 2–0 record and 5.30 ERA over 18⅔ innings.[3] His senior-season performance, combining power and on-base skills (OBP .422), solidified his draft stock, leading to his selection by the Houston Astros in the sixth round (203rd overall) of the 1999 MLB Draft.[13]Professional playing career
Draft and early minor leagues
The Houston Astros selected Lane in the sixth round (203rd overall) of the 1999 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft from the University of Southern California.[1] He signed with the organization and began his professional career that summer in the Astros' farm system as an outfielder, having transitioned from first base during his college years.[2] In 1999, Lane made his debut with the Auburn Doubledays of the Class A- New York-Penn League, where he hit .279 with 13 home runs and 59 RBIs over 74 games, showcasing early power potential in short-season play.[14] Promoted to full-season ball the following year, he joined the Battle Creek Battle Jacks (later known as Michigan) in the Class A Midwest League, posting a .299 average with 23 home runs and 104 RBIs in 133 games, which highlighted his ability to handle everyday playing time and drive in runs consistently.[14] Lane's ascent continued in 2001 with the Double-A Round Rock Express in the Texas League, where he enjoyed a breakout season, batting .316 with 38 home runs and 124 RBIs across 137 games.[14] His performance earned him the Texas League Most Valuable Player Award (Player of the Year), as he led the league in home runs and RBIs while finishing second in total bases, positioning him as one of the top prospects in the Astros' system.[2][15] Entering 2002, Lane advanced to Triple-A with the New Orleans Zephyrs of the Pacific Coast League, where he batted .272 with 15 home runs and 83 RBIs in 111 games before earning his first major league call-up on May 10.[14] This rapid progression through the minors—from rookie ball to Triple-A in just three full seasons—underscored his offensive promise, though he split the year between the upper levels and his MLB debut.[2]Houston Astros (2002–2004)
Jason Lane made his Major League Baseball debut with the Houston Astros on May 10, 2002, at the age of 25, after being drafted by the team in the sixth round of the 1999 MLB Draft out of the University of Southern California.[2] Initially called up from Triple-A New Orleans, Lane primarily played as an outfielder, appearing in 44 games that season with a batting average of .290, four home runs, and 10 RBIs over 80 plate appearances.[1] His debut season showcased his potential as a right-handed power hitter, though his role remained limited to spot starts and pinch-hitting duties amid a crowded Astros outfield featuring players like Craig Biggio and Lance Berkman.[16] In 2003, Lane's playing time with the Astros diminished further, as he appeared in only 18 games, posting a .296 batting average with another four home runs and 10 RBIs in 27 plate appearances.[1] Spending most of the year in the minors with New Orleans, his brief major league stints were confined to outfield roles, reflecting the team's preference for established veterans during their push toward the playoffs. Despite the limited opportunities, Lane's consistent minor league performance—hitting .295 with 21 home runs in Triple-A—kept him on the Astros' radar as a depth option. Lane's most extensive major league exposure with Houston came in 2004, when he played in 107 games, primarily as a bench outfielder and occasional first baseman, batting .272 with four home runs and 19 RBIs across 156 plate appearances.[1] This season marked a step forward in his utility role, contributing to the Astros' National League pennant-winning campaign, though he did not appear in the postseason.[17] His steady presence off the bench provided the team with versatile defensive options and right-handed power against left-handed pitching, aligning with manager Phil Garner's strategy for a balanced roster en route to the National League Championship Series.| Year | Games | AVG | HR | RBI | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 44 | .290 | 4 | 10 | 80 |
| 2003 | 18 | .296 | 4 | 10 | 27 |
| 2004 | 107 | .272 | 4 | 19 | 156 |
San Diego Padres first stint and 2005 transitions
In 2005, Lane experienced a breakout season with the Houston Astros, establishing himself as the primary right fielder and playing in a career-high 145 games. He batted .267 with 26 home runs and 78 RBIs, contributing significantly to the team's National League pennant win, while posting a .815 OPS and 1.8 WAR.[1] His postseason performance was notable, as he appeared in 14 games across the NLDS, NLCS, and World Series, hitting .232 with three home runs and eight RBIs, including a solo homer in Game 4 of the NLCS that helped tie the score against the St. Louis Cardinals.[1] This year marked a transition for Lane from a part-time role in prior seasons to a full-time starter, though it also represented the peak of his offensive output before a subsequent decline.[18] Following the 2005 World Series appearance, Lane's production dropped sharply in 2006, where he hit just .201 with 15 home runs over 112 games for the Astros, splitting time between right field and other outfield positions amid reduced playing time.[1] The 2007 season brought further challenges, with Lane batting .175 in 68 games for Houston, prompting the team to designate him for assignment amid a crowded outfield and his ongoing slump.[1] On September 24, 2007, the Astros traded Lane to the San Diego Padres in exchange for cash considerations, as the contending Padres sought outfield depth after an injury to Milton Bradley.[19] Lane's first stint with the Padres was brief, consisting of three games in late September 2007, where he went 0-for-2 with one strikeout as a late-inning substitute in right field.[1] He made his Padres debut on September 26 against the San Francisco Giants, replacing Brian Giles in the eighth inning of an 11-3 victory.[20] This move capped a transitional period for Lane, who became a free agent after the season and pursued opportunities elsewhere, signaling the end of his regular major league playing time as an outfielder.[1]Toronto Blue Jays and Florida Marlins (2009–2011)
In late 2008, following his release from the San Diego Padres organization, Jason Lane signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays on December 18, accompanied by an invitation to spring training.[21] During the 2009 season, Lane spent the entire year at the Triple-A level with the Las Vegas 51s of the Pacific Coast League, where he appeared in 113 games, batting .253 with 13 home runs and 47 RBIs.[14] His performance in Las Vegas provided depth to the Blue Jays' outfield prospects but did not lead to a major league call-up, as he focused on maintaining consistency in a hitter-friendly league environment.[22] After electing free agency on November 9, 2009, Lane briefly joined the Florida Marlins organization, signing a minor league deal on February 6, 2010.[21] He played 47 games for the Marlins' Triple-A affiliate, the New Orleans Zephyrs, in the Pacific Coast League, posting a .229 batting average with 3 home runs and 14 RBIs before being released on June 5, 2010.[14] Lane returned to the Toronto Blue Jays later that summer, signing another minor league contract on July 23, 2010, and rejoining the Las Vegas 51s.[2] In 42 games with Las Vegas that year, he improved markedly, hitting .323 with 6 home runs and 35 RBIs, demonstrating a resurgence in plate discipline and extra-base hits.[14] The following season, in 2011, Lane signed yet another minor league deal with Toronto on January 21 and played 62 games for the 51s, batting .291 with 6 home runs and 34 RBIs before electing free agency again in October.[21] These affiliations underscored Lane's role as a veteran outfielder providing leadership and insurance in Triple-A, though he remained without major league opportunities during this period.[23]| Year | Team (Affiliation) | League (Level) | G | AB | BA | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Las Vegas 51s (TOR) | PCL (AAA) | 113 | 411 | .253 | 13 | 47 |
| 2010 | New Orleans Zephyrs (FLA) | PCL (AAA) | 47 | 170 | .229 | 3 | 14 |
| 2010 | Las Vegas 51s (TOR) | PCL (AAA) | 42 | 164 | .323 | 6 | 35 |
| 2011 | Las Vegas 51s (TOR) | PCL (AAA) | 62 | 213 | .291 | 6 | 34 |