Photo by Tom Miller/Carolina Mudcats

– Article appears courtesy of Mike Brandyberry of DidtheTribeWinLastNight.com

Little Leaguers and boys in the backyard always dream of playing all over the field and having the ball hit to them all night long. Few get the opportunity, and even fewer get the chance to do it professionally.

For Cleveland Indians minor leaguer Justin Toole, Saturday night was a reward and tribute to his versatility.

“At the beginning of the season he and the Indians told me he could play everywhere,” Carolina Mudcats Manager Edwin Rodriguez said. “Originally, I thought, ‘yeah right,’ but after working with him, he really could play anywhere.”

Toole, a utility infielder in the Indians system playing most of his season with the High-A Carolina Mudcats, played all nine positions for one inning each on Saturday night during a 4-2 Mudcats victory against the Salem Red Sox. He has had brief stints this year at both Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus, but has played in 77 games in Carolina, hitting .236, while playing five different positions before Saturday evening. Toole’s chance to play all nine positions started with a promise from Rodriguez.

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