Carter Alswinn Kieboom (/ˈkbm/ KEE-boom;[1] born September 3, 1997) is an American professional baseball third baseman in the Washington Nationals organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Nationals, for whom he made his MLB debut in 2019.

Carter Kieboom
Kieboom with the Washington Nationals in 2021
Washington Nationals
Third baseman / Shortstop
Born: (1997-09-03) September 3, 1997 (age 26)
Marietta, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 26, 2019, for the Washington Nationals
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.199
Home runs12
Runs batted in42
Teams

Amateur career edit

Kieboom attended George Walton Comprehensive High School in Marietta, Georgia. He committed to attend Clemson University to play college baseball for the Clemson Tigers. He was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the first round of the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft.[2][3]

Professional career edit

Kieboom announced he would be signing with the Nationals and joining the organization on June 11, 2016.[4][5] He spent his first professional season with the rookie–level Gulf Coast League Nationals where he batted .244 with four home runs and 25 RBIs.[6] In 2017 with the Single–A Hagerstown Suns, he was hitting .333 and six home runs and 20 RBIs before a hamstring injury on May 12 placed him on the disabled list.[7] Kieboom was named to the Northern Division All-Star team in the South Atlantic League, alongside several Suns teammates.[8] Both Baseball America and MLB Pipeline listed Kieboom as the Nationals' fourth-best prospect as of their 2017 season.[9][10] After returning to action late in the season, Kieboom played in six games with the GCL Nationals and seven games with the Low–A Auburn Doubledays before returning to Hagerstown.[11] Across all three levels, he had a .297 batting average with nine home runs in 61 games for the 2017 season.

Playing for the High-A Potomac Nationals in 2018, Kieboom was named a Carolina League All-Star, one of six Potomac players so honored.[12] In the All-Star Game, he hit a home run while going 3-for-5.[13] He was promoted to the Double–A Harrisburg Senators for the first time following the All-Star Game, homering off Baltimore Orioles prospect Keegan Akin in his first game at the higher level on June 21, 2018.[14] Representing Team USA, he was one of two Nationals minor league players, along with Dominican-raised infielder Luis García for Team World, selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park in 2018.[15][16][17]

Kieboom began the 2019 season with the Fresno Grizzlies of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League.[18] On April 26, 2019, the Nationals purchased Kieboom's contract and promoted him to the major league roster for a series against the San Diego Padres.[19] He made his debut that night and hit a home run for his first major league hit.[20]

Kieboom was named to the 2019 Futures Game.[21] Kieboom played 11 games with the Nationals with a .128 average and 2 home runs. The Nationals finished the 2019 year 93-69, clinching a wild card spot and eventually winning the World Series over the Houston Astros. Kieboom did not participate in any postseason action but still won his first world championship.[22]

Following the departure of veteran third baseman Anthony Rendon after the 2019 season, Nationals manager Dave Martinez said in January 2020 that Kieboom would move to third base full time, with the expectation that he would step in as Rendon's permanent replacement in the 2020 season.[23] In 2020 for the Nationals, Kieboom played in 33 games, hitting .202/.344/.212 with no home runs and 9 RBI before ending his season early due to a left wrist contusion.

On March 20, 2022, it was announced that Kieboom would miss 4-6 weeks while recovering from a flexor mass strain near his right elbow, and he was placed on the 60-day injured list the following day.[24] On May 20, it was announced that Kieboom would require Tommy John surgery, and would miss the 2022 season.[25] Kieboom began the 2023 season in extended spring training before being activated by the Rochester Red Wings of the Triple–A International League in May. He went on the injured list in June due to an oblique muscle injury.[26] Kieboom hit a home run in his first at-bat while returning to the Majors. In 26 games for Washington, he batted .207/.266/.368 with 4 home runs and 11 RBI.

On March 13, 2024, Kieboom was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Rochester.[27]

Personal life edit

His brother, Spencer Kieboom,[28] played for the Nationals in their 2018 season.[29]

References edit

  1. ^ 2019 Major League Baseball (MLB) Player Name Presentation Preferences and Pronunciations. Retrieved June 18, 2019
  2. ^ Hill, Jordan. "Washington Nationals draft Walton shortstop Carter Kieboom". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  3. ^ Brenner, Aaron. "Clemson C Chris Okey drafted by Cincinnati Reds; shortstop commit goes in first round". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  4. ^ Reddington, Patrick (June 12, 2016). "MLB Draft 2016: Washington Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo on the results of the 2016 Draft". Federal Baseball. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
  5. ^ Janes, Chelsea (June 13, 2016). "Nationals come to terms with first-round pick Carter Kieboom". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  6. ^ "Carter Kieboom Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  7. ^ Kerr, Byron (May 14, 2017). "Carter Kieboom on DL with hamstring injury, no time frame for return". MASN Sports. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  8. ^ "Rutherford, Kieboom among Sally All-Stars". Minor League Baseball. June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  9. ^ "2017 Prospect Watch". MLB.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  10. ^ Norris, Josh (July 24, 2017). "2017 Washington Nationals Midseason Top 10 Prospects". Baseball America. Retrieved July 25, 2017.
  11. ^ "Minor League Wednesday: A look at how the Nationals' prospects performed in 2017". The Washington Post. September 6, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  12. ^ Kerr, Byron (June 12, 2018). "Potomac nets six players on Carolina League All-Star squad". Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  13. ^ "Booker powers South to win in Carolina League All-Star game". The News & Advance. June 19, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  14. ^ "Carter Kieboom homers in Harrisburg Senators' loss to Bowie". The Sentinel. June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  15. ^ Kerzel, Pete (July 15, 2018). "Kieboom and Garcia on repping Nats in All-Star Futures Game". MASN Sports. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  16. ^ "Prospect Carter Kieboom's talent might force Nationals into some difficult decisions". The Washington Post. July 15, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  17. ^ Castillo, Jorge; Post, The Washington (July 16, 2018). "At MLB Futures Game, Nationals' Carter Kieboom gives fans a look ahead". Laredo Morning Times. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  18. ^ "Kieboom keeps crushing for Grizzlies". MiLB.com.
  19. ^ @Nationals (April 26, 2019). "We've selected the contract of INF..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "San Diego Padres at Washington Nationals Box Score, April 26, 2019". Baseball Reference. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  21. ^ Jim Callis (June 28, 2019). "Here are the 2019 Futures Game rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  22. ^ "Washington Nationals win 2019 World Series". MLB. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
  23. ^ Fortier, Sam (January 17, 2020). "Dave Martinez on rookie Carter Kieboom as Nats' third baseman: 'He can do the job'". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  24. ^ "Nationals' Carter Kieboom: Set to miss 4-6 weeks". cbssports.com. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  25. ^ "Nationals infielder Carter Kieboom to have Tommy John surgery". cbssports.com. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  26. ^ "Kieboom back on IL at Triple-A; lefties continue to struggle". MASNsports.com - Orioles and Nationals on MASNsports.com. June 20, 2023.
  27. ^ "Nationals Outright Carter Kieboom". MLB Trade Rumors. March 13, 2024.
  28. ^ "NHSI: Walton (Ga.) infielder Carter Kieboom shows he's willing to wait for his opportunity". March 25, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  29. ^ Parker, Wendy (May 22, 2018). "Ex-Walton baseball star Spencer Kieboom recalled by Washington Nationals, gets first major league hit". East Cobb News. Retrieved June 18, 2018.

External links edit