Gbenga Olayemi

Gbenga Olayemi

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 1", Weight 190 lb.

• Born September 8, 1982 in Ilorin Nigeria

BR Minors page

Biographical information

Gbenga Olayemi and Augustine Ozorede signed with the Milwaukee Brewers in May 2002, believed to be the first MLB club signees out of Nigeria. Ozorede died in a car crash less than a year later, leaving Olayemi alone for the trip to Organized Baseball. Playing for the 2003 AZL Brewers, he hit .170/.224/.189 in 24 games with 17 K in 53 AB; he fielded .975 at catcher with 4 passed balls in 16 games and threw out 4 baserunners in 15 steal attempts. He was not the only African on the club as South Africa's Jonathan Phillips was a backup infielder. He also was not the only catcher on the team from a country not noted for baseball - Germany's Simon Gühring shared the position with him.