Jake Whitesides

Jacob Andrew Whitesides

• Bats Left, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 190 lb.
• High School Hickman High School

• Born June 23, 1981 in Columbia, MO USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

The cousin of Blake Tekotte, Jake Whitesides spent nine seasons in professional baseball. He twice led his league in triples.

The Houston Astros took Whitesides in the 5th round of the 2000 amateur draft. He was the highest-drafted position player they signed from that year's selections. He made his pro debut with the Martinsville Astros, hitting only .178/.267/.233 with 49 strikeouts in 129 at-bats. Returning to Martinsville in 2001, he improved to .230/.281/.326 with 55 strikeouts in 178 AB. He also had seven outfield assists. He ended his run in the Astros chain with the 2002 Tri-City ValleyCats, posting a .222/.295/.325 line.

Going to the independent leagues, Whitesides feasted on the weaker competition, hitting .298/.382/.476 for the Mid-Missouri Mavericks with 11 triples and 22 steals in 29 tries. He led the Frontier League in triples (almost as many as the next two players combined) and was second to Matt McCay in runs, winning All-Star honors in the outfield.

Whitesides began 2004 with the Bangor Lumberjacks and looked even better than in 2003 (.307/.392/.524, 31 R, 30 RBI in 48 G). That earned him a second try in Organized Baseball, as the Chicago White Sox signed him. He hit .223/.259/.359 in 33 games for the Kannapolis Intimidators. Finding himself back in the independent leagues in 2005, Jake struggled with the Lincoln Saltdogs (.245/.319/.385 in 62 G) and New Jersey Jackals (.202/.216/.309 in 29 G). He kicked off 2006 with the St. Joe Blacksnakes and was at .299/.349/.467 with 13 triples in 88 games. He led the American Association in three-baggers. Signed by the Chicago Cubs, he again struggled in Organized Baseball (2 for 13, 3 BB for the Peoria Chiefs) in his last look at that level.

Whitesides ended his career back in the indies. In 2007, he played for St. Joe (.279/.341/.433, 7 3B) and the Joliet Jackhammers (.284/.327/.390, 4 3B). He was 4th in the AA in triples despite not spending the full year there. He concluded his career with the 2008 Traverse City Beach Bums (.256/.346/.414).

Overall, the Missouri native had hit .263/.331/.407 in 656 games in pro ball.