Reggie Willits
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Reggie Willits | |
|---|---|
 Willits while with the Angels | |
| Oklahoma Sooners | |
| Outfielder / Coach | |
| Born: May 30, 1981 Chickasha, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 26, 2006, for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 3, 2011, for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .258 |
| Home runs | 0 |
| Runs batted in | 58 |
| Stolen bases | 40 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
| |
Reggie Gene Willits (born May 30, 1981) is an American former professional baseball outfielder and associate head baseball coach for the Oklahoma Sooners. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from 2006 through 2011, and was the first base coach for the New York Yankees from 2018 through 2021.
Reggie is the son of Gene and Judy Willits of Fort Cobb, Oklahoma. He attended junior high and high school at Fort Cobb-Broxton. He attended Seminole State College in Seminole, Oklahoma, and transferred to the University of Oklahoma, where he played for the Oklahoma Sooners.[1]
Playing career
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim selected Willits in the seventh round, with the 210th overall selection, of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional debut with the rookie-level Provo Angels, batting .300 in 59 games. Willits spent 2004 with the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, playing in 135 games and hitting .283/.373/.363 with five home runs, 52 RBI, and 44 stolen bases.[2] Willits made 123 appearances for the Double-A Arkansas Travelers in 2005, slashing .304/.377/.388 with two home runs, 46 RBI, and 40 stolen bases.[3]
Willits made his Major League Baseball debut with the Angels on April 26, 2006.[4] In 28 games during his rookie campaign, he batted .267/.411/.289 with two RBI and four stolen bases.[5]
Willits made the Angels' Opening Day roster in 2007.[1] He appeared in 136 games for the Angels, slashing .293/.391/.344 with no home runs, 34 RBI, and 27 stolen bases.[6] Willits played in 82 games for the team in 2008, batting .194/.321/.231 with seven RBI and two stolen bases.[7] He played in 49 contests for the Angels during the 2009 season, hitting .213/.256/.238 with six RBI and five stolen bases.[8]
Willits made 97 appearances for Los Angeles in 2010, batting .258/.341/.302 with eight RBI and two stolen bases.[9] He played in 22 games for the team in 2011, going 1-for-22 (.045) with one RBI.[10]
On August 17, 2011, Willits was designated for assignment by the Angels after five seasons in Anaheim.[11] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees on August 19. During his career Willits played 234 games for the Bees spread out over six years. His 2006 season with the Bees was notable for his .327 batting average, three home runs, and 31 stolen bases.[12]
Willits elected free agency on September 29.[13]
Coaching career
In 2013, Willits became the head baseball coach for Binger-Oney High School.[14] Willits joined the New York Yankees' organization in 2015 as their outfield and baserunning coordinator.[15] He was promoted to first base coach for the 2018 season.[16]
After the 2021 season, Willits accepted a volunteer coaching assistant position with the Oklahoma Sooners.[17]