Cody Marshall Decker (born January 17, 1987) is an American former MiLB professional baseball outfielder. He had 11 at bats in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres in 2015. A right-handed power hitter, he played first base, third base, left field, and could catch."Red Sox bring another 'character' to Portland; Veteran Cody Decker can hit with power, field several positions, play pranks on teammates and belt out Seventy-Six Trombones," The Portland Press Herald, June 26, 2016.
Playing for Santa Monica High School in California, Decker batted .490 and was Ocean League MVP his senior year. Playing college baseball for UCLA, he led the Pac-10 in home runs with 21 during his senior year in 2009, was a two-time All-Pac-10 selection, and ended his college career tied for 7th on UCLA's all-time home run list with 47.Dan Watson (November 9, 2009). "Cody Decker Wins AZL Player of Year Honors," MiLB.com."Cody Decker, El Paso 1B - Player Evaluation," Scout.
Decker was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 22nd round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. That summer he batted .354 and led the Arizona League (AZL) in home runs, RBIs (63, an AZL record), total bases (142, an AZL record), and slugging percentage (.717), and had the best fielding percentage for a first baseman. He was named the AZL Most Valuable Player and a Topps Post-Season All Star. In 2010, he was fourth in the California League in home runs (28) and seventh in RBIs (90). He was named an MiLB.com San Diego Organization All Star and MiLB.com Short-Season Best Hitter of the Year. In 2012, he was second in the Texas League in home runs (25) and third in slugging percentage (.540).
That fall, he played for the Israel national baseball team in the qualifying rounds of the 2013 World Baseball Classic. In 2014, Decker tied for fourth in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) in home runs (27), led all Padres minor leaguers in homers, and tied for third among Padres minor leaguers in RBIs (79). He was named a 2014 MiLB.com San Diego Organization All Star. In 2015, he was a PCL mid-season all-star, and an MiLB.com San Diego Organization All Star.
Decker made his major-league debut on September 14, 2015, after 2,566 at bats in 761 games over seven seasons in the minor leagues. At the time, his 154 home runs in the minors were the most by any MLB-affiliated minor-league player since he was drafted in 2009. He played for Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
Early life Decker was born in Santa Monica, California, and is Jewish."Cody Decker Stats, Fantasy & News," mlb.com.Hillel Kutler (April 3, 2016). "8 Jewish Baseball Players To Watch — and One Manager," The Forward. His parents are Jay and Terri Decker, and he has an older brother (Jesse) and an older sister (Jenifer).
He attended Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica, California. There, playing first base, third base, and catcher he batted .490 over three seasons, and was a three-time All Bay League pick. In 2005, Decker was Ocean League MVP, Division IV Southern Section All-CIF first-team, and named to the Los Angeles Times All-South Bay/Westside Region team.
College Decker then attended UCLA on a baseball scholarship, where he majored in history, minored in film, and was a designated hitter, first baseman, and left fielder for the UCLA baseball team.Rustin Dodd (March 10, 2016). "Meet Cody Decker, the Royals’ utility man with a Screen Actors Guild card," The Kansas City Star.Josh Jackson (January 3, 2010). "Even off the field, Decker stays under lights; Minor League slugger finds opportunities for himself in entertainment," milb.com. In his sophomore year in 2007, he was third in the Pac-10 in home runs with 14.2007 "Pacific-10 Conference - Season Review," The Baseball Cube. He led the Pac-10 in home runs with 21 during his senior year in 2009, and was third in walks (46), fifth in runs (55), and sixth in RBIs (53)."2009 Pacific-10 Conference - Season Review," The Baseball Cube. Decker was the first hitter since Eric Byrnes with at least five homers in each of his four college seasons, and ended his college career tied with Ryan McGuire for seventh on UCLA's all-time home run list with 47. He was a two-time All-Pac-10 selection, in 2007 and 2009.
Professional career San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres selected Decker in the 22nd round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft. He said his after-tax signing bonus was $638.
In 2009, Decker batted .354 (third in the league) and led the Arizona League in home runs (15), RBIs (63-an Arizona League record), doubles (21), extra-base hits (39), total bases (142-an Arizona League record), slugging percentage (.717), and OPS (1.138), was second in hits (70), fourth in runs (46), and on-base percentage (.421), and had the best fielding percentage for a first baseman while playing for the Arizona League Padres.Dan Watson (January 4, 2010). "Cody Decker MiLB's Best Short-Season Hitter," MiLB.com. Decker was named the AZL Most Valuable Player (beating out Mike Trout), a Topps Short-Season/Rookie All Star, and Topps Post-Season All Star.John Conniff (July 18, 2015). "El Paso Notebook-2015," San Diego - Scout.
In 2010, Decker was fourth in the California League in home runs (28; tied for the lead among Padres minor leaguers), sixth in doubles (35), seventh in RBIs (90; second-best among Padres minor leaguers), and ninth in walks (60), with the High-A Lake Elsinore Storm.Robert Emrich (December 3, 2010). "Deckers form Padres' dynamic duo; Cody, Jaff team up for 45 homers, 148 RBIs in Cal League," milb.com. He then was named an MiLB.com San Diego Organization All Star and MiLB.com Short-Season Best Hitter of the Year with the Arizona League Padres, and voted California League Player of the Week on August 30, 2010, with the Storm.
Decker missed nearly three months of the 2011 season with a severe third-degree right ankle sprain, though he hit 15 home runs in 59 games, 13 of them in Double–A."Cody Decker Stats, Highlights, Bio," MiLB.com.John Parker (May 7, 2012). "Offensive Players of the Week; For the week ending May 6," MiLB.com.UCLA 2012 Baseball Media Guide , UCLA."Cody Decker Activated From Disabled List", OurSports Central, August 23, 2011.
In 2012, Decker finished second in the Texas League in home runs (25), third in slugging percentage (.540), and 10th in RBIs (68) with the AA San Antonio Missions. He was twice named Texas League Player of the Week, on May 7 and May 14.
Decker split the 2013 season between San Antonio and Tucson, hitting 19 home runs (second among Padres minor leaguers) with 70 RBIs."Cody Decker Debuts with the Padres," Northwoods League, September 15, 2015."Possible 2014 Chihuahuas Position Players," El Paso Chihuahuas News, November 24, 2013. He was third in the Pacific Coast League in slugging percentage (.534)."2013 Pacific Coast League - Season Review," The Baseball Cube.
In 2014, Decker tied for fourth in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) in home runs with 27 for the Triple–A El Paso Chihuahuas, and led all Padres minor leaguers in homers.Bill Center (September 3, 2014). "From the Farm, 9/2/14: Playoff Schedules; El Paso, San Antonio, Eugene Season Reviews," FriarWire."MadFriars' End of the Year Review: El Paso," FOX Sports, October 17, 2014. He also tied for third among Padres minor leaguers in RBI, with 79.Mark Emery (October 6, 2014). "First-round pick Trea Turner headlines San Diego Padres' Organization All-Stars," MiLB.com. He was named a 2014 MiLB.com San Diego Organization All Star.
In 2015, he was a PCL mid-season All Star with El Paso, and an MiLB.com San Diego Organization All Star. Decker had the fourth-best home run/at bat ratio in the league, with a homer every 17.78 at bats.2016 Memphis Redbirds Media Guide, Memphis Redbirds. On May 11, 2015, he was voted PCL Player of the Week. Through 2015, he was the all-time minor league home run leader for the Padres, with 154.2015 San Diego Padres Season Review, San Diego Padres. Sam Geaney, the Padres' director of player development, described him as "big-time right-handed power.""MadFriars' Preview: 2015 El Paso Chihuahuas," Fox Sports, April 9, 2015. Afterwards, newspaper El Paso Times called him "the most popular player during the El Paso Chihuahuas' first two seasons.""Chihuahuas' Cody Decker called up to San Diego Padres,", El Paso Times, September 13, 2015. Announcer Tim Hagerty said he had not ever seen a ballplayer connect with a team's fan base as Decker did with El Paso.John Conniff (March 19, 2016). "Ex-Chihuahua Cody Decker now with Kansas City," El Paso Times.
Decker made his major-league debut with the Padres on September 14, 2015, after 2,566 at bats in 761 games over seven seasons in the minor leagues.Jeff Goodman (September 21, 2015). "Samohi grad Cody Decker called up by Padres," Santa Monica Daily Press."Cody Decker Earns Call-Up From Padres," UCLA Bruins, September 14, 2015. At the time, his 154 home runs in the minors were the most by any MLB-affiliated minor-league player since he was drafted in 2009, and the most by a Padres minor leaguer. Decker went hitless with an RBI in 11 at bats,Barry M. Bloom (March 19, 2016). "Easy to root for good-natured Decker; 29-year-old trying to earn a job with Royals after long stint in Padres' system," mlb.com. and became a free agent after his debut season.
Kansas City Royals Decker signed a minor-league contract with the Kansas City Royals on December 3, 2015. In seven games for the Triple–A Omaha Storm Chasers, he went 5-for-18 (.278) with three home runs and five RBI.
Colorado Rockies Decker was traded to the Colorado Rockies on April 20, 2016. He played 14 games for the Triple–A Albuquerque Isotopes, batting .208/.246/.377 with two home runs and four RBI. Decker was released by the Rockies organization on May 17.
Boston Red Sox On June 13, 2016, Decker signed a minor-league contract with the Boston Red Sox, who assigned him to the Portland Sea Dogs in the Double-A Eastern League. In 63 games for Portland, he slashed .232/.284/.481 with 14 home runs and 37 RBI. Decker elected free agency following the season on November 7.
Milwaukee Brewers On January 8, 2017, Decker signed a minor-league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers."Brewers' Cody Decker: Signs minor league deal," CBS Sports, January 8, 2017. Decker was to convert full-time to catcher.Adam McCalvy (January 8, 2017). "Brewers sign Cody Decker", mlb.com. Decker had been managed by Pat Murphy, the Brewers bench coach, when both of them were in the San Diego Padres system.Tom Haudricourt (January 9, 2017). "Brewers sign Decker to minor-league deal", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The Brewers released him on March 27.
New York Mets On April 12, 2017, the New York Mets signed Decker to a minor-league deal. He was the leading active career minor league home run hitter at the time, with 173. He initially played for the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, of the Double–A Eastern League, for whom he batted .257/.351/.522 with 7 home runs and 24 RBIs in 113 at bats."Decker leads Binghamton to 7-5 win over Erie" | stltoday.com In June, he was promoted to the Las Vegas 51s of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League, for whom he batted .238/.304/.460 with 8 home runs and 21 RBIs in 126 at bats. Decker elected free agency following the season.
Arizona Diamondbacks Decker signed a minor-league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks on February 1, 2018. He spent nearly the entire season playing for the Reno Aces in the Pacific Coast League, batting .268/.363/.516, with nine home runs and 28 RBI in 153 at bats. He finished the season with 197 career home runs in the minor leagues.
In October 2018, the Diamondbacks re-signed Decker and again assigned him to the Triple–A Reno Aces. In 2019 for Reno, he batted .240/.348/.521, with seven home runs and 21 RBI in 96 at-bats.
On July 7, 2019, Decker announced his retirement from professional baseball.
Team Israel