Product Code Database
Morgan Paul Ensberg (born August 26, 1975) is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, and New York Yankees. Ensberg bats and throws right-handed. From 2011–12 he was the co-host of MLB Roundtrip on SiriusXM's MLB Network Radio. As of 2025, Ensberg is the manager of the Durham Bulls, the Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Ensberg enjoyed a stellar season, batting .283 with 36 home runs and compiling a career high 101 RBI while helping lead the Astros to the World Series. He was named to the National League All-Star team at the last minute in 2005, replacing the injured Scott Rolen. He was also awarded the Silver Slugger Award for NL third basemen.
Other than Barry Bonds, Ensberg was the only major league player to record at least 100 walks and have fewer hits than walks in 2006.
On July 31, 2007, the Astros traded Ensberg to the San Diego Padres. This was only days after the Astros traded pitcher Dan Wheeler to the Tampa Bay Rays for utility man Ty Wigginton. Houston paid the remainder of Ensberg's $4.35 million salary. He hit two home runs and a single in his Padres debut.
Ensberg was not offered a new contract by the Padres and became a free agent on December 12, 2007. On January 31, , he signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees with an invitation to spring training, anticipating to compete for the first base position. On March 22, he was added to the Yankees 40-man roster.
In 2008, Ensberg hit .203 with a home run and 4 runs batted in for the Yankees. The Yankees designated him for assignment on June 1, and released him on June 8. On June 17, he signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
On February 9, , Ensberg signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays and was invited to the major league camp. However, he was released at the end of spring training. After the 2009 season, he decided to retire from baseball. He started a public blog and announced his intent to transition into a broadcasting career.
Ensberg is the only MLB player in history to have won championship rings in college (USC '98), rookie league (Auburn '98), single A (Kissimmee '99), AA (Round Rock '00), AAA (New Orleans '01), and to have played in a World Series (2005, Houston Astros).
On January 9, 2017, Ensberg was named manager of the Tri-City ValleyCats, the Low-A affiliate of the Astros in the New York–Penn League.
On January 19, 2018, Ensberg became the manager of the Buies Creek Astros, the High-A affiliate of the Astros in the Carolina League. He was named 2018 Best Managerial Prospect in the Carolina League by Baseball America. The Buies Creek Astros won the 2018 Carolina League with a record of 80–57.
After the 2023 minor league season, Ensberg managed the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League. The Javelinas reached the finals, but fell to the Surprise Saguaros, 5–4.
On January 23, 2024, Ensberg was announced as the manager of the Durham Bulls, the Triple-A affiliate of the Rays.
Ensberg was named manager of the Caribes de Anzoátegui prior to the start of the 2024–25 Venezuelan Professional Baseball League season. He lasted one season in the role, and was replaced by Asdrúbal Cabrera for the following season.
|
|
