Eli Whiteside is a former professional baseball player who played as a catcher for various teams in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on October 22, 1979, in New Albany, Mississippi, and attended Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi.
Whiteside began his professional baseball career in 2001 when he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the sixth round of the MLB draft. He spent several years in the minor leagues, playing for various teams in the Orioles' farm system. In 2005, he made his MLB debut with the Orioles, appearing in just one game.
Over the next few years, Whiteside bounced around between several different teams, including the San Francisco Giants, Texas Rangers, and New York Yankees. He spent most of his time in the minor leagues during this period, but did manage to appear in a handful of MLB games.
Whiteside's breakthrough came in 2009 when he was traded to the San Francisco Giants. He spent the next few seasons as the team's backup catcher, playing behind starter Buster Posey. During this time, he became known for his strong defensive skills and ability to handle the Giants' pitching staff.
Whiteside played a key role in the Giants' 2010 World Series championship run, appearing in 56 games and batting .238 with two home runs and 13 RBI. He also played in the 2012 World Series, although he had a much smaller role on that team.
After the 2012 season, Whiteside became a free agent and signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. He spent most of the 2013 season in the minor leagues, but did appear in 12 games with the Rangers. In 2014, he signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins, but was released before the start of the season.
Overall, Whiteside played in 301 MLB games over the course of his career, batting .215 with 10 home runs and 43 RBI. While he was never a star player, he was known for his strong defensive skills and ability to work well with pitchers. After retiring from baseball, he became a coach and instructor, working with young players to help them develop their skills.
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