Dewayne Wise is a former professional baseball player who played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. He was born on February 24, 1978, in Columbia, South Carolina, and attended Chapin High School. Wise was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the fifth round of the 1997 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with the team in 2000.
Wise played for several teams during his career, including the Reds, Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Miami Marlins, and Philadelphia Phillies. He was primarily known for his defensive skills, particularly his ability to make spectacular catches in the outfield. Wise won a Gold Glove award in 2008 while playing for the White Sox.
One of Wise's most memorable moments came in 2009 while playing for the Yankees. In a game against the rival Boston Red Sox, Wise made a leaping catch over the wall in left-center field to rob Red Sox batter, Jason Bay, of a home run. The catch preserved a perfect game for Yankees pitcher, Mark Buehrle, and became an instant classic in baseball history.
Wise's offensive statistics were not as impressive as his defensive skills. He finished his career with a .228 batting average, 31 home runs, and 112 RBIs in 564 games played. However, he was a valuable role player and was often used as a defensive replacement or pinch-runner late in games.
Wise retired from professional baseball in 2015 after playing for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He finished his career with a .991 fielding percentage and 52 outfield assists. Wise is remembered as a reliable and versatile player who made a significant impact on the defensive side of the game.
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