Joe Borchard
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Joe Borchard (born November 25, 1978 in Panorama City, California) was the 12th pick of the first round in the 2000 MLB amateur draft out of Stanford University by the Chicago White Sox. Borchard was the starting quarterback for the Stanford football team, and took a $5.3 million signing bonus to play for the White Sox. The signing bonus was the highest ever given to a player for a minor league contract until Justin Upton received $6.1 million to sign with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the winter of 2005. Drafted for his blend of talent and baseball intellect, Borchard posted extremely impressive numbers while at Stanford, both as an outfielder and a quarterback.
Joe Borchard's career with the White Sox was extremely unimpressive, as his struggles with consistent contact have continued to plague him throughout his career. Borchard's most significant big-league playing time came in the 2004 season, where he received 201 at-bats. He hit .174 that year with 9 home runs and 20 RBIs. Borchard's most notable feat was setting the US Cellular Field home run distance record, yet to be eclipsed at 504 feet off of Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Brett Myers. Chicago White Sox general manager Kenny Williams believes that Borchard still has a great professional baseball career ahead of him if he can "get the football mentality out of him."
Borchard was traded to the Seattle Mariners on March 20, 2006 for Matt Thornton, a journeyman LHRP. On 5/3/05 the Florida Marlins claimed Joe Borchard off waivers.
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