Jake Cronenworth

Jake Cronenworth's Biography

Jacob John Cronenworth, popularly known as Jake Cronenworth, was born on January 21, 1994. He is an eminent professional baseball infielder playing for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). Hailing from eastern Michigan, he had already demonstrated a knack for baseball during his early years.

For his formal education, he attended St. Clair High School in St. Clair, Michigan. While there, he also honed his baseball skills, maintaining a steady performance that garnered attention. After completing high school, he advanced to the University of Michigan, where he played college baseball for the renowned Michigan Wolverines as an infielder and closing pitcher. His journey in college baseball was nothing short of stellar, and he played for three seasons, choosing to forego his final year of eligibility when he was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the seventh round of the 2015 MLB draft.

During the summer of 2014, Cronenworth played collegiate summer baseball for the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League. His performance during that league catapulted his reputation, proving he was ready for the professional sector.

Embarking on his major league career, he played five seasons in the Rays farm system. His debut was marked with the Hudson Valley Renegades before progressing and playing in 2016 with the Bowling Green Hot Rods and Charlotte Stone Crabs. He batted a combined score of .282/.389/.386. In 2017, he played with Montgomery Biscuits and Charlotte, batting a combined .274/.364/.358. The following year, he played with Montgomery and Durham Bulls, with a combined batting score of .253/.321/.345.

In 2019, Cronenworth started off his season with the Durham Bulls and made an impressive move, pitching in a game for the first time since his college days. This act led to over seven scoreless innings with nine strikeouts across seven games. He continued his excellent performance by playing in the minor leagues, where he batted .329/.422/.511 with 10 home runs and 45 RBIs. This stellar display led to him being selected for the United States national baseball team in the 2019 WBSC Premier 12, demonstrating his skill and versatility on a global stage.

The climax of 2019 had Cronenworth being traded to the San Diego Padres in December as part of a multi-player deal which included Tommy Pham. His debut in the Major League was on July 26, 2020, where he scored a hit and an RBI against the Arizona Diamondbacks. His success followed him in August the same year when he hit his first MLB home run off Dustin May in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. He achieved another remarkable feat when he hit his first career grand slam off Humberto Castellanos of the Houston Astros.

His performance in August 2020 garnered him the title of NL Rookie of the Month—he scored .356 with 16 extra base hits, 17 RBIs, and 20 runs over 31 games. By the end of the season, he had an impressive record of .285 with four home runs and 20 RBIs in 54 games, tying for second place in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

The year 2021 brought more laurels for Cronenworth—he was selected for his first All-Star Game as a reserve and on July 16, he hit for the cycle against the Washington Nationals. His year wrapped up with a batting score of .266/.340/.460 and 21 home runs, 71 RBIs, and 94 runs scored.

Cronenworth kept proving his worth and on October 14, 2022, he had a game-winning 2-run single in the 7th inning of Game 4 of the NLDS. This crucial moment led to the Padres defeating their rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in what is considered one of the biggest upsets in baseball history. His performance was rewarded with a one-year, $4.225 million contract in early 2023, a clear testament to his rising importance to the Padres.

By April 1, 2023, Cronenworth had signed a seven-year, $80 million contract extension with the Padres—an affirmation of his significant contributions to the team. This deal ensures that Cronenworth will remain with the Padres until the 2030 season, a promising omen for both him and his team.