| Bryce Ball | |
| Team: | Free agent |
| Position: | First baseman |
| Birth Date: | 8 July 1998 |
| Birth Place: | Mason City, Iowa |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Statleague: | MLB |
Brycelin Steven Ball (born July 8, 1998) is an American professional baseball first baseman who is a free agent.
Ball attended Newman Catholic High School in Mason City, Iowa, and played college baseball at North Iowa Area Community College and Dallas Baptist University.[1] He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 24th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.[2]
Ball made his professional debut with the Danville Braves and was later promoted to the Rome Braves. In 62 games, he hit .329/.395/.628 with 17 home runs and 52 runs batted in (RBIs) over 231 at-bats.[3] The Braves invited him to their Spring Training in 2020.[4] [5] However, he did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] Ball began the 2021 season with Rome.
On July 15, 2021, Ball was traded to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Joc Pederson.[7] [8] He was assigned to the South Bend Cubs with whom he finished the season.[9] Over 107 games between Rome and South Bend, he slashed .206/.351/.387 with 13 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 21 doubles.
Ball spent the 2022 season with the Double–A Tennessee Smokies. Playing in 131 games, he hit .265/.357/.405 with 11 home runs and a career–high 76 RBI.[10]
In 2023, Ball played in 52 games split between South Bend and Tennessee, accumulating a .214/.323/.305 batting line with 1 home runs and 28 RBI. On July 4, 2023, Ball was released by the Cubs organization.[11]
On July 20, 2023, Ball signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Guardians organization.[12] In 43 games with the Double–A Akron RubberDucks, he slashed .224/.305/.436 with eight home runs and 22 RBI.
On December 6, 2023, Ball was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 draft.[13] In 54 games for the Double–A Reading Fightin Phils, he batted .193/.301/.324 with three home runs and 19 RBI. Ball was released by the Phillies organization on July 1, 2024.[14]