Quentin Harley went to play everyday, saw AA with Padres

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Quentin Al Harley 1991 Asheville Tourists baseball card


Speaking to The Los Angeles Daily News in August 1994 for a feature on the minor leagues, Padres farmhand Quentin Harley described previously getting released by the Astros.

He'd called his mother and told her he was done, he was going to college. Two weeks later, he called his agent looking to get back in, he told The Daily News.

"You just have to make the most of it," Harley told The Daily News. "When I was with Houston I took it for granted. I really did."

Back in the game, Harley eventually made it to AA. He then later returned in independent ball. He topped out at AA.

Harley's career began in 1990, taken by the Astros in the fifth round of the draft out of Sheldon High School in Oregon. Harley was also credited as Al Harley or Alquentin Harley.

Harley started with the Astros in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He got into 35 games and hit .321.

He them moved to single-A Asheville for 1991 and single-A Burlington for 1992. He hit .237 at Asheville and .265 at Burlington.

Harley made high-A Osceola for 1993 and hit .228, his final year with the Astros. He then signed on with the Padres and played 1994 at high-A Rancho Cucamonga.

For 1995, he made AA Memphis. That May, he spoke to The Memphis Commercial Appeal about Memphis manager Jerry Royster.

"He teaches us not to worry so much about numbers, but to go out and focus on doing everything the way it should be done and doing that everyday," Harley told The Commercial Appeal. "But that's easier said than done. Otherwise, we all wouldn't be here."

Harley saw 50 games there and hit .245. He then isn't credited as playing in 1996 or 1997. But he returned in 1998 with independent Chico. In 83 games, he hit .325.

That June, he spoke to The Chico Enterprise-Record about trying to close out a first-place first half. 

"We just have to come to play every day ... it's like life. It is all relative," Harley told The Enterprise-Record. "We don't want to get a big head."

His season at Chico then earned him a look with the Expos in spring 1999, but after hitting well with the AAA team, he got returned to AA as a backup and asked for his release, The Enterprise-Record wrote. That look with the Expos turned out to be his last as a pro.

Quentin Al Harley 1991 Asheville Tourists baseball card


1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,503
Made the Majors:1,431-31.8%
Never Made Majors:3,072-68.2%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:581
10+ Seasons in the Minors:357

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