Professional Baseball
Borchard's career with the White Sox was less than impressive, as he struggled to make consistent contact, which has 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 RBI. Borchard's most notable feat was setting the US Cellular Field home run distance record, yet to be eclipsed at 504 feet off 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." To which Borchard replied, "have you ever won a state championship for football?"
Borchard was traded to the Seattle Mariners on March 20, 2006, for Matt Thornton, a left-handed relief pitcher. On May 3, 2006, the Florida Marlins claimed Borchard off waivers.
The Atlanta Braves signed Borchard to a minor league contract during the 2007 MLB winter meetings in Nashville, Tennessee.
On May 28, 2008, Borchard had season ending Tommy John surgery, but was re-signed by the Braves for the 2009 season. However, on April 24, Borchard was released.
On May 28, 2009 Borchard signed with the Giants. He played for the organization's AAA affiliate, the Fresno Grizzlies, for the next two years. On May 3, 2010, he became the second Grizzly to hit for the cycle (joining Nate Schierholtz) when he went five for six in the Grizzlies' 14–4 victory over the Colorado Springs Sky Sox.
On March 25, 2011 Borchard signed with the Bridgeport Bluefish of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. On June 2, 2011, he announced his retirement from baseball.
Read more about this topic: Joe Borchard
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