Clay Timpner

Clay William Timpner

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 195 lb.
• School University of Central Florida
• High School La Belle High School
• Debut April 8, 2008
• Final Game April 11, 2008
• Born May 13, 1983 in Lakeland, FL USA

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Biographical information

Clay Timpner had a cup of coffee in the majors in 2008.

In high school, he hit .448 with 75 stolen bases and also a 2.39 ERA. Originally drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 41st round of the 2001 amateur draft, Timpner chose not to sign. In 2002, Clay hit .361 as a college freshman at the University of Central Florida and his 5 triples led the Atlantic Sun Conference.

As a sophomore, Timpner batted .347 with 22 stolen bases. He followed with a very good 2004, hitting .371 (7th in the Conference) and leading the Atlantic Sun in hits (96), doubles (20), triples (6, tied for the lead) and stolen bases (43 in 65 games). He was named to the All-Conference team as an outfielder. He finished 6th in NCAA Division I in steals and was only thrown out running five times all year. Timpner was drafted in the fourth round of the 2004 amateur draft by the San Francisco Giants. He was signed by scout Paul Turco Jr. and made his pro debut that summer.

He started off his professional career in 2004, where - between time spent with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and San Jose Giants - he played in 74 games, collecting 93 hits in 319 at-bats for a .292 batting average. He stole 17 bases in 22 chances for a 77% success rate.

2005 was another good year for Timpner. In 126 games with the San Jose Giants, he hit 22 doubles, 12 triples and 4 home runs en route to a .291/.334/.397 batting line. He also stole a career-high 34 bases in 47 attempts. Timpner led Giants farmhands in triples and led the California League in both triples and stolen bases. Baseball America named him the best baserunner and best defensive outfielder in the Cal League.

In 2006, he split time between the Connecticut Defenders and Fresno Grizzlies. Combined, he hit only .253 in 128 games, stealing a then-career low 16 bases. He spent all of 2007 with the Grizzlies. He hit a career high .301/.363/.395 with a career-low 9 stolen bases despite 20 attempts. He struggled against southpaws, hitting .202, while batting .334 against right-handers.

He was called up to the Giants in early April 2008, to replace Dave Roberts who had been placed on the disabled list. In Timpner's major league debut on April 8th, he came in as a defensive substitute in left field in the 10th inning. He struck out against Cla Meredith in his first big-league at-bat. He hit .245/.301/.323 in the minors that year and was 0 for 2 in the the only big league action of his career.

In 2009, with Fresno, Timpner hit .250/.309/.375 with 7 home runs and 42 RBI. With the Richmond Flying Squirrels in 2010, he hit .290/.346/.372 with 4 home runs and 51 RBI. He moved to the Detroit Tigers system for 2011, where he hit .111/.226/.111 in 27 at-bats for the Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens.

Overall, he hit .273/.323/.367 in 812 minor league games.

At last check, he lived in Alva, FL.