J. T. Riddle


Joshua Travis Riddle is an American professional baseball shortstop and outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. He previously played for the Miami Marlins. Prior to paying professionally, Riddle attended the University of Kentucky, where he played college baseball for the Wildcats

Amateur career

Riddle attended Western Hills High School in Frankfort, Kentucky. He graduated in 2010. While playing for the school's baseball team, Riddle was named Mr. Kentucky Baseball. He then enrolled at the University of Kentucky, where he played college baseball for the Kentucky Wildcats. In 2012, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Professional career

Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins selected Riddle in the 13th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with Miami and began his professional career with the Batavia Muckdogs of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League. He spent all of 2013 there, batting.243 with two home runs and 18 RBIs in 59 games. He played for the Greensboro Grasshoppers of the Class A South Atlantic League in 2014 and batted.280 with nine home runs and 60 RBIs in 103 games. Riddle began the 2015 season with the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League, and after batting.270/.311/.314 in 45 games, received a midseason promotion to the Jacksonville Suns of the Class AA Southern League. In 44 games for Jacksonville he posted a.289 batting average with five home runs and 20 RBIs. After the 2015 season, the Marlins assigned Riddle to the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League.
In 2016, the Marlins invited Riddle to spring training. The Marlins added him to their 40-man roster after the season. He spent the season with both Jacksonville and the New Orleans Baby Cakes of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League, compiling a combined.276 batting average with four home runs and 53 RBIs in 116 games between both teams.
Riddle began 2017 with New Orleans, and was promoted to the major leagues on April 10. He recorded his first major league hit on April 12, on a checked swing infield single against the Atlanta Braves. On April 16, he hit a walk-off home run against the New York Mets, his first major league home run.
Following the trade of Adeiny Hechavarria in June, Riddle became the Marlins' primary shortstop. In mid-July Riddle tore a shoulder labrum, requiring season-ending surgery in August. He had batted.250 with a.282 on-base percentage, a.355 slugging percentage, three home runs, and 31 runs batted in in 70 games prior to his injury.
Riddle began 2018 on the disabled list and was optioned to New Orleans after he was activated. He was recalled to Miami on May 26. Riddle was non-tendered on December 2, 2019, and became a free agent.

Pittsburgh Pirates

On January 31, 2020, Riddle signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates.