Craig Gentry is a former American professional baseball player who played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on November 29, 1983, in Fort Smith, Arkansas, and attended the University of Arkansas, where he played college baseball for the Razorbacks.
Gentry was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 10th round of the 2006 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with the team in 2009. He spent most of his early career as a backup outfielder and pinch-runner, known for his speed and defensive skills. He played for the Rangers until 2013, when he was traded to the Oakland Athletics.
With the Athletics, Gentry had his best season in 2014, batting .254 with 20 stolen bases and a career-high 33 runs batted in (RBIs). He also played a key role in the Athletics' playoff run that year, hitting .304 in the American League Wild Card Game against the Kansas City Royals.
After two seasons with the Athletics, Gentry signed with the Los Angeles Angels in 2016. He struggled with injuries during his time with the Angels, playing in just 14 games in 2016 and 70 games in 2017. He became a free agent after the 2017 season and signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles for the 2018 season.
Gentry played in 68 games for the Orioles in 2018, batting .269 with two home runs and 13 RBIs. He became a free agent again after the season and announced his retirement from professional baseball in January 2019.
Throughout his career, Gentry was known for his speed and defensive abilities, particularly his range in the outfield. He was also a reliable pinch-runner and occasional pinch-hitter, often used in late-game situations to spark a rally or steal a base.
Overall, Gentry played in 657 MLB games over 10 seasons, batting .262 with 14 home runs, 117 RBIs, and 80 stolen bases. He was a valuable role player for several teams throughout his career and was respected by teammates and coaches for his work ethic and positive attitude.
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