Mike Eylward

Thomas Michael Eylward

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 210 lb.
• School University of South Florida
• High School Clearwater High School

• Born September 28, 1979 in Clearwater, FL USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Mike Eylward played three seasons in AAA but never got to the majors.

Eylward hit .338 as a college junior, winning All-Conference USA honors. Other first team infielders included Kevin Youkilis, J.J. Jurries and Jake Gautreau. His senior season, 2001, Mike batted .335 with 20 doubles. He failed to take All-Conference honors; the infielders were Youkilis, Gautreau, Dan Uggla, Jurries and Andy Cannizaro. Eylward fell to the 44th round of the 2001 amateur draft before the Anaheim Angels drafted him. The Angels sent him to the Provo Angels (.300/.440/.450, 7 R in 7 G) and Cedar Rapids Kernels (.233/.286/.389 in 23 G) to start his pro career.

In 2002, Eylward hit .263/.340/.417 for the Kernels, backing up a younger Casey Kotchman at first. The next season, Mike put up a .290/.355/.470 line with 27 doubles and 13 home runs for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. He split first with Kotchman and Al Corbeil and backed up Dallas McPherson at third.

The Floridian moved up to AA with the 2004 Arkansas Travelers and batted .260/.344/.335. He fielded .992 as their main first baseman. Eylward returned to the Travelers in '05 and hit .287/.350/.459 with 26 doubles and 72 RBI. He again shared action at first with a prospect, Kendry Morales this time.

In 2006, the veteran minor leaguer had an excellent campaign with Arkansas (.365/.407/.644, 25 RBI in 26 G) and the Salt Lake Bees (.314/.389/.427). Overall, he had 34 doubles and 88 RBI. He had made it to AAA, something very few 44th-round picks accomplish. He led Angels farmhands in both hits (166) and RBI (88). He was 6th in the 2006 Pacific Coast League in average, behind Alberto Callaspo, Carlos Rivera, Joe McEwing, Chad Allen and Vinny Rottino.

Eylward put up good numbers with Salt Lake in 2007 as well - .305/.365/.438, 31 doubles, 79 RBI - but Kotchman was hitting as well and fielding better in the majors and Morales was doing better for Salt Lake, denying Mike a look at the big leagues. He ended his playing career in 2008 with the Reading Phillies (only .225/.305/.346 in 72 G) and the Olmecas de Tabasco (.240/.309/.340 in 13 G).

Eylward coached in the Los Angeles Angels organization for the Orem Owlz in 2009-2010 and Cedar Rapids Kernels in 2011-2012. Moving to the Los Angeles Dodgers chain he was a coach for the Great Lakes Loons in 2013 and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in 2014-2015.