Curtis Granderson Jr. ... Attended Thornton Fractional South HS in Lansing, Illinois...There he was named SICA Central All-Conference and received Illinois Times, Daily Southtown and Star Newspaper All-Area recognition ... Graduated from the University of Illinois-Chicago with a business degree, completing his final two years of school while playing in the Tigers' organization...As a junior, was named Horizon League Player of the Year and earned All-Horizon League honors...Was also selected as a Second-Team All-American by Baseball America and USA Today's Baseball Weekly, and a Third-Team Louisville Slugger NCAA Division I All-American...Ranked 2nd among all NCAA Division I players with a .483 batting average as a junior and established single-season records at UIC in batting average, runs (76) and hits (100) ... Concluded his college career as the school's all-time leader with 178 runs, placing 2nd on the all-time list with 41 doubles and 24 home runs, 3rd with nine triples, 4th with 220 hits and 624 at-bats, T-4th with 125 RBI and T-5th with a .350 average...Was inducted into the University of Illinois-Chicago Athletics Hall of Fame on January 18, 2008 and had his No. 28 jersey retired on February 6, 2013 ... Received the 2009 Marvin Miller Award (voted by MLB players) for his work on and off the field that inspires others to higher levels of achievement, and for displaying as much passion to give back to others as he shows between the lines on the baseball diamond....Received a 2009 Jefferson Award for Public Service from All-Stars Helping Kids as a top athlete who has given back to the community...Received the Pop Lloyd Award from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum on January 10, 2009 for his baseball and community leadership ... Acted as an official spokesman for the White House's anti-obesity campaign, joining First Lady Michelle Obama as MLB's representative for the official announcement on February 8, 2010 at the White House ... Selected as the recipient of the 2011 American League Oscar Charleston "MVP" Award by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum ... Donated $5 million in 2013, the largest known one-time donation by a professional athlete, to the University of Illinois at Chicago for the Curtis Granderson Stadium, home to the school's baseball program and 38 area Little Leagues ... Was named the 2015 New York Player of the Year by the BBWAA New York Chapter ... Was the 2015 Lou Gehrig Award Winner ... Was named the 2016 Roberto Clemente Award Winner and 2016 Marvin Miller Man of the Year ... Is a captain for the MLBPA Action Teams, which joins with Volunteers of America to encourage youth to volunteer within their communities ... Is now expanding his Grand Kids Foundation (grandkids.org) efforts into Canada...Granderson originally founded the program in 2007 to aid positive youth development through education, physical fitness and nutrition initiatives.
2017
19 of his 26 home runs came on the road...21 of his 26 homers came vs. RHPs ... Went 6-for-19 (.316) as a pinch-hitter with two doubles and a home run ... Hit .292 (14-for-48) with runners in scoring position and two out, including five extra-base hits and six walks ... Posted a .991 fielding percentage (2 ER/980.1 IP), 13th best among NL outfielders ... Hit his 300th home run on June 14 vs. CHC, a solo shot off of Carl Edwards Jr. ... Recorded his 300th double on June 29 at MIA...He then became the 8th active player with 300 doubles and 300 homers, joining Adrian Beltre, Carlos Beltrán, Miguel Cabrera, Edwin Encarnacion, Adrián González, Matt Holliday and Albert Pujols ... Hit leadoff home runs on June 21, 22 and 27, giving him 45 for his career - 6th most all-time and 2nd most among active players (Kinsler-46)...His 21 leadoff HR as a Met are the most in NYM franchise history...All three HR came on the same road trip, making him the 1st Met ever to record three leadoff blasts on the same trip ... Hit his 3rd career pinch-hit home run on July 3 at WAS, a game-tying two-run blast in the 9th inning...The HR marked his 4th in his last eight games and 6th in his last 12 games ... Matched a career-long hitless streak (22AB) from July 7-25 ... Batted .228 over 111 games with the Mets (22-2B, 3-3B, 19-HR, 52-RBI) before being traded along with cash considerations to the Dodgers in exchange for RHP Jacob Rhame on Aug. 18 ... Hit a go-ahead grand slam on Aug. 21 at PIT, giving him 8-GS for his career...Marked his 1st season with multiple slams, this one coming just four days after his other 2017 GS (Aug. 17 vs. NYY) ... Stole his 150th career base on Aug. 22 at PIT, becoming the 36th player all-time with 300+ HR and 150+ SB ... Broke a 1-1 tie with a solo homer on Aug. 24 at PIT...Marked his 151st go-ahead or game-tying home run - 6th most among active players at the time ... Hit .161 (18-for-112) in his 36 games with LAD...However, recorded a hit in each of his last six games, batting .375 (6-for16) with five runs, a double and a home run ... Went 1-for-15 for the Dodgers in the playoffs with eight strikeouts and no walks...Was left off LA's World Series roster
2016
Hit 30 or more home runs for the first time as a Met and the fourth time in his career (first time since 2012 with the Yankees)...By reaching 30 homers, Granderson is the first player ever with seasons of 30 or more home runs for two New York teams (including the Mets, Yankees, New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers)...Information courtesy of Elias...His 30 home runs were tied for 11th-most in the National League...Recorded his third consecutive 20-homer season and the ninth of his major league career...The nine seasons of 20 or more homers are tied for 11th-most among active major leaguers...His 18 career leadoff homers as a Met are secondmost in franchise history behind José Reyes (19)...His 18 leadoff homers since 2014 are second-most in the majors behind Colorado's Charlie Blackmon, who has 21 in that time...His seven leadoff home runs in 2016 were tied for fifth in the majors...The seven homers tie his own Mets' franchise record for leadoff homers (seven) from 2015...Had a 37-game road on-base streak from August 8, 2015-May 6, 2016...Was the second-longest streak in Mets history...Moises Alou reached base safely in 39 straight (May 3, 2007-May 20, 2008)...Collected his 19th career multi-homer game with a two-homer game on April 22 at Atlanta...One of the two home runs was a grand slam, his first since joining the Mets...His five RBI tied a career-high...Was the seventh 5 RBI game of his career...Turned in his second multi-homer game of the season with two homers on August 30 vs. Miami...One was a pinch-hit homer, the second of his career and first since September 9, 2012 at Baltimore (off Jake Arrieta)...The multi-homer game off the bench was the third in Mets history and first since Scott Hairston did it on July 31, 2011 at Washington...Hawk Taylor also did it on June 20, 1964 vs. Philadelphia...Homered in four consecutive games from September 4-9, the first time in his career he homered in four consecutive games...He was the first Met to homer in four consecutive games since John Buck did so April 8-12, 2013...Hit two home runs on September 17 vs. Minnesota...Both of his home runs came in extra innings...Was the first Met to hit a pair of home runs in extras in team history and the first player in the majors to do so since the Cardinals' Matt Adams in 2013...His home run in the 11th inning tied the game before hitting a walk-off homer in the 12th inning...Was his second walk-off homer of the season (also May 27 vs. Los Angeles-NL) and the third walk-off homer of his career...Hit .317 (32-101) with four doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 24 RBI, 29 runs scored and 22 walks in his last 30 games of the season.
POSTSEASON
Started in centerfield in the NL Wild Card Game vs. San Francisco and made a spectacular catch in the sixth inning on a ball off the bat of Brandon Belt to preserve a scoreless tie.
2015
Underwent surgery on November 3 to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb....Recorded his eighth season of 20 or more home runs and finished the year with 26, his highest total since 2012 with the Yankees...Set a Mets single-season record with seven leadoff home runs, passing Jose Reyes' previous mark of six...Has 35 career leadoff home runs, third-most among active players...Granderson's 11 leadoff homers as a Met are second-most in team history (Jose Reyes leads with 16)....Established a franchise record with 26 home runs from the leadoff spot...Passed Tommie Agee (24 home runs in 1970)....Eleven of his 26 home runs gave the Mets a
lead, including his final home run in a 1-0 win on October 4 vs. Washington...Was the 27th time the Mets won a 1-0 game with a home run in franchise history....Hit his 250th career home run on June 27 vs. Cincinnati... Set a career-high with 91 walks, surpassing his total of 85 from 2011...Ranked ninth in the majors and sixth in the NL... Scored 98 runs, the sixth most in the NL...Hit .278 (72-259) after the All-Star Break...Batted .455 (5-11) with the bases loaded...Hit 33 doubles, his highest output since he compiled 38 two-base hits in 2007 with the Tigers...Led the Mets with nine outfield assists... Reached base safely in 20 straight games from July 12-August 5...Hit .321 (27-84) during the onbase streak with seven doubles, four home runs, 12 RBI and 16 runs scored...Went 5-for-5 with one double, three home runs and 10 RBI in five at-bats with runners in scoring position from July 28-August 4...Drove in 22 runs in August, his highest total for a month since driving in 29 in August of 2011 while with the Yankees...His 22 RBI in August were the seventh-most in the National League (tied for 11th-most in the major leagues)...Walked in 11 consecutive games, a career-high, from September 4-15 (16 total walks)...Was the longest walk streak in the majors in 2015... Hit a pair of home runs on August 18 at Baltimore, his third multi-home run game of the year...Also had multiple home runs on June 7 at Arizona and August 8 at Tampa Bay...Has 18 multi-home run games in his career....Was tied for ninth in the majors with 21 runs scored in September...Was also tied for fifth in
the majors with 22 walks in September.
POSTSEASON
Had 12 RBI, tied for the most in team history in a single postseason (John Olerud 12 RBI in 1999)...Scored six runs in the World Series and 10 runs in the postseason...Hit safely in 11 of 14 games...Was second in the majors with four stolen bases in the postseason...Was tied for second in team history with those four stolen bases...Became the first leadoff man to hit a multi-run go-ahead homer in the World Series (Game 3) since Bert Campaneris for the A's on Oct 21, 1973...Scored three times, hit a homer and had two RBI in Game 3 of the World Series....At 34 years and 229 days, became the oldest Met to hit a World Series home run with his Game 3 blast...Also went deep in Game 1.... Tied a franchise record with five RBI in a single postseason game in Game 3 of the NLDS vs. LA.
2014
Walked 79 times, the seventh most in the NL and the second-highest total of his career...Finished with 20 home runs, his seventh-career 20-home run season and first since hitting a career-best 43 in 2012...11 of his home runs gave the Mets a lead or tied the game...Hit first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth in the starting lineup...Hit four leadoff home runs (June 15 vs. San Diego, June 30 at Atlanta, July 8 vs. Atlanta, August 22 at Los Angeles (NL), the most by a Mets player since Jose Reyes also hit four in 2008...Reyes has the single-season franchise record (6, 2006)...Collected the third game-ending RBI of his career with a sac fly on April 20 vs. Atlanta and then the fourth on April 25 vs. Miami with a single...Became the first Met in franchise history with two game-ending RBI in the same April...Hit a two-run home run on April 5 vs. Cincinnati (off Johnny Cueto) for his first home run in a Mets uniform...Snapped a career-worst 0-22 with a single on April 23...Had another 0-22, May 25-May 31...Walked in 10 straight, May 24-June 1, the longest such stretch of his career and the longest by a Mets player since David Wright in 2007...It tied the third longest run in team history and ended two off the record held by Darryl Strawberry (May 16-May 30, 1987)...Tied a major league long streak with a walk in seven consecutive hitless games, May 25-May 30...Three other players have done it: Barry Bonds (2004), Gene Tenace (1980) and Babe Ruth (1935)...Went 4-8 (.500) with two home runs and five RBI in two games at Yankee Stadium (May 12-13)...Became the third former Yankee to hit a home run in each of his first two games against them after leaving the club...Reached in 24 straight games, May 18-June 12, the second-longest streak of his career (Went 28 straight in 2012)...Also reached in a career-best 34 consecutive starts before going 0-5 on June 27 at Pittsburgh...Hit two home runs on June 8 at San Francisco (off Tim Lincecum-2), his 15th multi-home run game and first since October 3, 2012 for New York (AL) vs. Boston...Added a double off Jeremy Affeldt, giving him a career high-tying three extra-base hits in a game for the fourth time (last, April 19, 2012)...Finished fourth in the NL with a .411 June on-base mark and tied for third with 19 walks...Over his final 22 games of the season, hit .333 (26-78) with four home runs and 17 RBI...Became the third player to hit 20 home runs in a season for both the Mets and Yankees, joining Darryl Strawberry and Robin Ventura.
2013
Limited to 61 games, his lowest total since his rookie season of 2005, after suffering a broken right wrist in Spring Training and a broken finger on his left hand in May. Placed on the 15-Day Disabled List on March 31, retroactive to March 22, after a J.A. Happ pitch broke his right wrist during his first Spring Training plate appearance on February 24 vs. Toronto…Missed the first 38 games of the season. Returned on May 14 and appeared in eight games before landing back on the 15-Day Disabled List on May 25…Broke his left fifth metacarpal after being hit with a pitch by Tampa Bay's Cesar Ramos on May 24 at Tampa Bay…Transferred to the 60-Day Disabled List on July 7 before being reinstated on August 2. Hit two home runs off lefthanders after returning from his second DL stint, giving him 32 home runs against lefties since 2011, tied for the most in the majors with Jay Bruce and Mark Trumbo. Made nine starts in the leadoff spot, his most starts there since 2009 when he was used primarily as the Tigers' leadoff man.
2012
Hit .232 (138-for-596) with 102 R, 18 doubles, a career-high 43 HRs, 106 RBIs, 10 SB and 75 BB in 160 games (152 starts in CF, one at DH)...tied the Rangers' Josh Hamilton for second in the Majors in home runs, trailing only AL Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera (44)...finished the season with a franchise-record 195 strikeouts...Did not make an error in 349 total chances in CF...was the only center fielder without a miscue in 2012 (min. 120 G in CF)...Made his sixth career Opening Day roster and third with the Yankees...played in CF in each of the Yankees' first 503.0 defensive innings of the season (through the seventh inning of 6/8 win vs. the Mets)...Had 14 HRs off lefties in 2012, second-most among Major League left-handed batters (Adam Dunn - 15 HRs off LHP)...hit 26 of his team-leading 43 HRs at Yankee Stadium...19 of his 43 HRs tied the game or gave the Yankees the lead...Homered in games started from the first, second, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh spots in the batting order in 2012...according to Elias, is the sixth player in Major League history to homer in starts from six different batting order positions in a season in which he hit at least 40 HRs (also Harmon Killebrew - 1959, Mark McGwire - 1987, Carlos Pena - 2007, Adam Dunn - 2008 and Jose Bautista - 2010)...His 43 HRs in 2012 marked the most home runs by a Yankees CF since Mantle hit 54 HRs in 1961...Set a franchise record with 195 Ks, second-most among all Major Leaguers behind Adam Dunn (222)...Was selected to his third career All-Star Game and second straight with the Yankees...went 0-for-2 as the AL's starting CF in the 8-0 National League win...became the first Yankees outfielder to earn back-to-back fan-elected starts since Hall of Famers Rickey Henderson and Dave Winfield from 1987-88...Recorded 8 HRs and 16 RBIs in April, his highest career March/April totals for HRs and RBIs...Made his sixth career Opening Day roster (began 2008 on the 15-day DL)...Reached base safely (via hit, walk or hit-by-pitch) in a career-high 28 consecutive games from 4/7-5/8 (previous best was 23 straight games 5/27-6/22/07)...Hit 10 HRs at Yankee Stadium in the team's first 16 home games (through 5/10), becoming the fastest Yankee to reach double-digits in homers at home in franchise history (previous was Babe Ruth who reached 10 HRs at home in the Yankees' 19th home game in 1926)-credit: Elias...hit 7 HRs in the Yankees' first 10 home games of the season, tying the franchise record for homers in the club's first 10 home games of a season (also Alex Rodriguez in 2007 and Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra in 1956)-credit: Elias...Went 5-for-5 and hit a career-high 3 HRs in 4/19 win vs. Minnesota, hitting a solo HR in the first, two-run HR in the second and solo HR in the fourth...became the 20th Yankee to homer at least three times in a game (28th time, first since Alex Rodriguez on 8/4/10 at Kansas City, also 3 HRs) and the first player overall (Yankee or opponent) to do so at the current Yankee Stadium...was the first Yankee with at least 3HR in a home game since Rodriguez on 4/26/05 vs. the Angels (3 HRs, 10 RBIs)...including postseason games, became the 21st Yankee with at least 3 HRs in a game (31st time, 28th in the regular season)...Was the first Yankees CF with at least 3 HRs in a game since Bobby Murcer in 1973 and just the second Yankees No. 2 batter with 3 HRs in a game (also Murcer in '70)...was his 12th career multi-HR game and eighth as a Yankee...Was the first Yankee to homer in each of the first two innings of a game since Jason Giambi on 6/26/06 vs. Atlanta...became the 12th Major Leaguer all-time to hit 3 HRs through a game's first four innings (credit: STATS, LLC and SABR Home Run log) and first since the Cubs' Alfonso Soriano on 6/8/07 at Atlanta...Went 5-for-5 in the contest, becoming the first Yankee ever to collect 5 H and 3 HRs in a single game...was the first Yankee with at least 14 total bases in a game since Joe DiMaggio in 1950...according to Elias, was the fourth active player to accomplish the feat, joining Victor Martinez (7/16/04 w/ Cleveland at Seattle), Albert Pujols (7/20/04 w/ St. Louis at Chicago-NL) and Dustin Pedroia (6/24/10 at Colorado - 10 innings)...tied his career high in hits (third time-also 7/30/08 at Cleveland and 9/18/05 at Los Angeles-AL, both with Detroit)...Tallied 14 total bases in the game, the most by a Yankee since Joe DiMaggio on 9/10/50 at Washington and matching DiMaggio (14 TB on 7/9/37) for the most total bases by a Yankee in a home game...Recorded his 500th career RBI with his second-inning, bases-loaded walk in 4/29 win vs. Detroit...Collected his 1,000th career hit with a third-inning single in 5/6 win at Kansas City, going 2-for-5 with 1 R and 1 RBI...appeared in his 1,000th career game in 5/13 loss vs. Seattle...Walked in a career-high eight-straight games from 5/19-27...Hit his fourth career grand slam in 6/1 win at Detroit...was his first grand slam since 8/25/11 vs. Oakland...Struck out a career-high-tying four times in 6/7 loss vs. Tampa Bay (fifth time, first since 7/4/10 vs. Toronto)...Walked a career-high-tying three times in 6/16 win at Washington (seventh time, first since 8/7/11 at Boston)...Hit his fifth career grand slam - and second of the season (also 6/1 at Detroit) - in 7/27 win vs. Boston...Hit in the leadoff position in five straight games from 8/3-7...Drove in at least one run in a career-high five consecutive games from 8/17-21...Hit in the cleanup spot in the starting lineup for just the second time in his career in 8/19 win vs. Boston (also 5/31/09 at Baltimore w/ Detroit), going 1-for-2 with 1 double, 1 RBI and 2 BB/1 IBB...Hit his 200th career home run in 8/26 win at Cleveland...Hit 5 HRs in six games from 9/9-15, and 9 HRs over his final 23 games...Was 3-for-3 with 1 R, 1 double, 1 HR and 5 RBIs in 9/9 win at Baltimore - all after entering the game as a pinch-hitter in the sixth inning...became the first Yankee in the Live Ball Era to record 3 H and 5 RBIs as a substitute...Elias notes the last Major Leaguer with at least 3 H, 1 HR and 5 RBIs in a game that he didn't start was Toronto's Kelly Gruber, who went 4-for-6 with 2 HRs and 5 RBIs off the bench in a 17-9 win vs. the Yankees on 4/11/88...his sixth-inning home run was his 100th as a Yankee and his first career pinch-hit HR...Recorded his 14th career multi-HR game and third of the season in 10/3 win vs. Boston (also 4/19 vs. Minnesota-3 HR and 9/12 at Boston-2 HR)...were his 42nd and 43rd home runs of the season, setting a new career high (previous high was 41 HRs in 2011)...Played in all nine of the Yankees' playoff games (3-for-30), homering in the Yankees' ALDS-clinching Game 5 win.
2011
Hit .262 (153-for-583) with 136R, 26 doubles, 41HR, 119RBI, 25SB and 85BB in 156 games
(150 starts in CF and one at DH) with the Yankees, setting career highs in runs, HR
and RBI ... led the Majors in runs scored, ranked second in HR and extra-base hits (81),
third in RBI and total bases (332) ... also led the Majors with 4.44 pitches seen per plate
appearance ... came in fourth place in AL MVP voting, garnering three first-place votes. ... Earned his first Silver Slugger Award and was named the Sporting News All-Star
team ... also named the Yankees' 2011 nominee for the Hank Aaron Award, given to
the top off ensive performer in each league ... selected as the recipient of the 2011 AL
Oscar Charleston MVP Award by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM). ... Reached double digits in doubles (26), triples (10), HR (41) and SB (25) ... since stolen
bases became an official stat in the AL in 1913, became the first Yankee since 1945 and
the ninth overall to reach the double digits in those categories: also Ben Chapman
(1930, '31 and '32), Lou Gehrig (1927, '30 and '31), Joe Gordon (1940), Tony Lazzeri (1926,
'28, '32 and '33), Bob Meusel (1921, '22, '24 and '25), Wally Pipp (1916), Babe Ruth (1921
and '3) and Snuffy Stirnweiss (1945) -- credit: Elias.
Became the first player in Major
League history to record at least
40HR, 10 triples and 25SB in a season. ... Became the seventh Yankee to
collect 130R and 40HR in a single
season, joining Joe DiMaggio (1937),
Lou Gehrig (1927, '30-31, '36), Mickey
Mantle (1956, '61), Roger Maris (1961),
Alex Rodriguez (2007) and Babe Ruth
(1920-21, '23-24, '26-28, '30-31). ... Became the first centerfielder to
record at least 130R and 115RBI in a
season since Atlanta's Dale Murphy
in 1983 and the first in the AL since
Mickey Mantle in 1961. ... Scored 136 runs (15 more than any
other player in 2011), the most by a Yankees outfi elder since Rickey Henderson in 1985 (146R). ... Became the third Yankees centerfi elder with at least 41HR in a single season, joining Mickey Mantle (three times)
and Joe DiMaggio (once) ... marked the most home runs by a Yankees CF since Mantle hit 54HR in 1961. ... Homered in back-to-back games four times and three straight games three times ... collected four multi-HR
games (5/6 at Texas, 7/5 at Cleveland, 8/10 vs. Los Angeles-AL and 8/28-G2 at Baltimore). ... Hit a career-high 16HR off left-handed pitching in 2011 (previous high was 5HR in 147 such at-bats in
2008) ... had 20 such home runs in his career entering the season ... led the Majors with 16HR and ranked second
to teammate Robinson Cano with 44RBI against left-handed pitching in 2011 ... marked the most home runs
in a season by a Yankee vs. LHP since Bernie Williams (16) in 1996 and most by a Yankees left-handed batter
since Don Mattingly (18) in 1985. ... Of his 119RBI in 2011, 46 either tied the game or gave
the Yankees the lead (38.7%) ... 20 of his 41HR came with
runners on base (48.8%). ... Had 109R and 92RBI in 112 games when hitting second
in the lineup, the most such runs and RBI out of that
spot in the Majors in 2011. ... Became the first Yankee since Joe DiMaggio in 1937
(15 triples, 46HR) with at least 10 triples and 40HR in a
season, and just the fourth Yankee (seventh time) since
1903 to reach the totals¡Xcredit: STATS, Inc ... according
to Elias, is the first player in club history with at least 10
triples, 30HR and 20SB in a single year. ... Set a franchise record with 169K in 2011, marking the
sixth-most among all Major Leaguers. ... Earned his second All-Star Game selection, making his first start (in CF) in 7/12 All-Star Game, going 0-for-2
in the NL's 5-1 victory ... with 6,683,877 fan votes, received the second-highest vote total of all-time (behind
Jose Bautista's 7,454,753 in 2011) ... became the Yankees' first centerfi elder to be named to the All-Star team
since Bernie Williams in 2001.
Had 25HR before the All-Star break ... over the last 50 years (1962-2011), only three Yankees hit more home runs
prior to the All-Star break¡XAlex Rodriguez (30HR in 2007), Tino Martinez (28HR in 1997) and Jason Giambi
(27HR in 2006 and 26HR in 2003) ... became just the third player in Major League history to accumulate at
least 7 triples and 25HR in a season before the All-Star break, joining Willie Mays (1955, NY Giants) and Eddie
Mathews (1959, Milwaukee) ... was the first Yankee with at least seven triples before the All-Star game since
Derek Jeter in 1999 (eight)¡Xcredit: Elias ... was the first Yankee to accumulate at least 25HR and 15SB before
the All-Star break. ... Had 11 assists in 2011, setting a single-season career high (previous high was 10CF assists in 2007). ... Made his fi fth career Opening Day roster (began the 2008 season on the 15-day D.L.) ... hit game-winning
solo HR and was 1-for-3 in 3/31 win vs. Detroit ... has now homered on Opening Day in each of the last three
seasons, becoming the third player in the last decade (since 2002) to homer in three straight Opening Day
games, joining Adam Lind (2009-11) and Adam Dunn (2005-07) ... the homer came off LHP Phil Coke, his first
AB vs. a LHP in 2011 ... did not homer of a lefty in 2010 until 6/1 vs. Baltimore (off Brian Matusz) in his 36th AB
of the season facing a LHP. ... Hit 7HR by the end of April, becoming the first Yankees centerfi elder with at least 7HR by the end of the
month since Mickey Mantle in 1961 (credit: ESPN Research) ... hit 5HR in a seven-game span from 4/15-24,
batting .414 (12-for-29) over the stretch
Became the fi fth player in Yankees history to hit 14
or more home runs before the team's 40th game
of the season (through 5/17), joining Babe Ruth (six
times), Mickey Mantle (1956), Tino Martinez (1997)
and Alex Rodriguez (2007) ... hit 16HR through the
team's first 45 games (through 5/22), becoming
the third Yankee in the last 50 years to reach the
total in 45 games or less, joining Martinez (17HR
in 1997) and Rodriguez (16HR in 2005; 18HR in
2007)¡Xcredit: Elias Sports Bureau. ... Scored at least one run in eight consecutive
games from 5/21-29, matching the longest such
streak of his career (also 8/27-9/4/08 w/ Detroit). ... Drove in the game-tying run with a two-out
RBI single in the ninth inning of 5/24 win vs.
Toronto ... was his second game-tying hit with
two outs in the ninth inning or later in 2011
(also 5/11 vs. Kansas City) ... according to ESPN
Research, joined Gary Sheffi eld (two in 2005),
Roberto Kelly (two in 1991), Willie Randolph (two
in 1980) and Graig Nettles (two in 1975) as the
only Yankees since 1962 to have two such hits in
the same season. ... With 5 triples and 17HR by the close of play on
5/31, joined Babe Ruth (5 triples and 19HR though
5/31 in 1928) as the only two players in Major
League history to reach those totals in a season
before June 1¡Xcredit: Elias Sports Bureau. ... Hit his 20th home run of the season in 6/11 win vs. Cleveland¡Xhis 62nd game of the season ... became the first
Yankees left-handed batter to hit at least 20HR in 62-or-fewer games since Tino Martinez in 1997 (21HR in first
62G) ... became the first Yankees OF to do so since Maris and Mantle in 1961¡Xcredit: Elias. ... Drew a walk in a career-high seven straight games from 6/26-7/4, matching Brett Gardner (4/28-5/4) for
longest such streak by a Yankee in 2011¡XElias. ... Scored 70 runs through 6/29, becoming the first Yankee to score at least 70 runs before 7/1 since Alex Rodriguez
in 2007 (73R through 6/30) ... Elias also notes he became the seventh player in Baseball history with at least
seven triples and 20HR in a season before 7/1, joining Babe Ruth (1921), Lou Gehrig (1927), Chuck Klein (1932),
Willie Mays (1955), Jim Rice (1978) and Vladimir Guerrero (2000).
Was named AL "Player of the Month" for August, marking his first career monthly award ... during the month,
hit .286 (30-for-105) with 29R, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 10HR and 29RBI ... led the Majors in runs scored and tied
for first in home runs ... was tied for the AL lead in RBI with teammate Robinson Cano. ... Tied his career high with 5RBI in 8/3 win at Chicago-AL (fourth time), going 4-for-6 with 2R, 1 double and 1 triple. ... Scored his 100th run of the season in 8/6 loss at Boston¡Xin the team's 112th game of the season¡Xbecoming
the third-quickest Yankee to reach the mark since 1986, trailing only Rickey Henderson (106 games in 1986)
and Alex Rodriguez (110 games in 2007)¡Xcredit: Elias ... also stole his 100th career base in the contest. ... Hit inside-the-park HR¡Xhis 35th homer of the season and the first of back-to-back home runs with Mark
Teixeira¡Xand was 1-for-4 with 1BB and 1SB in 8/21 win at Minnesota ... was his third career inside-the-park
HR and first by a Yankee since Jeter on 7/22/10 vs. Kansas City ... according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last
time a player hit an ITP HR for his 35th or later home run in a season was Sammy Sosa in 2001 (HR No. 63 was
an inside-the-park HR) ... the last Yankee with at least 35HR in a season and at least one of them being an ITP
homer was Mickey Mantle in 1961. ... Hit his third career grand slam in 8/25 win vs. Oakland ... was the Yankees' third GS of the game to set a Major
League record (also Cano and Martin) ... tied career highs in runs scored (4R, second time, also 7/21/08 at Kansas
City) and RBI (5RBI, fi fth time, first since 8/3 at Chicago-AL) ... was his next homer after the inside-the-park HR,
becoming the first player since Carl Crawford (April 2007) to have consecutive homers be an inside-the-park
and grand slam. ... Recorded outfi eld assists on plays at home plate in the seventh and eighth innings of 9/8 loss at Baltimore ... was
the second time in 2011 he recorded two outfi eld assists in a game, becoming the first Yankee outfi elder
with multiple games of multiple OF assists since Mel Hall in 1992 (credit: Elias). ... Went 5-for-20 (.250) with 4R, 1 double, 1 triple, 1HR and 3RBI in the ALDS vs. Detroit, hitting safely in each game.
2010
Batted .247 (115-for-466) with 76R, 17 doubles, 7 triples,
24HR, 67RBI and 12SB in 136 games (134 starts in CF)
with the Yankees....started at five different spots in the
batting order (No. 2 and 6-9)....the Yankees were 36-8
when he drove in a run. ... From 8/12 through the end of the season, hit .286 (16-for-56) with 3HR vs. lefthanded
pitching....batted just .206 (21-for-102) o. lefties through 8/11 and had hit only 3HR
against LH pitchers from Opening Day 2009 through 8/11/10....overall in 2010, hit
.234 (37-for-158) with 4HR vs. left-handed pitchers and .253 (78-for-308) with 20HR
against righties. ... Hit a team-high 14HR in 157AB over his final 46 games of the season (from 8/14) after
hitting just 10HR in 309AB over his first 90 games of the season....hit 9HR over his
last 23 home games of the season. ... Committed just two errors in 323 total chances, a .994 fielding percentage, eighthbest
among AL outfielders. ... Made his fourth career Opening Day roster....hit solo HR in his first plate appearance
as a Yankee in the second inning of 4/4 Opening Day loss at Boston, going 1-for-4
with 1BB....was his second straight year with an Opening Day homer....was the first Yankee to homer in his first
at-bat as a Yankee on Opening Day
since Jimmy Wynn on 4/7/77 vs.
Milwaukee....became the fourth
player to homer in his first AB or PA as
a Yankee coming at Fenway Park (also
John Miller-1966, Graig Nettles-1973
and Andy Phillips-2004)-credit:
Elias.... .was the second of back-toback
homers with Jorge Posada,
becoming the first pair of Yankees
to hit back-to-back home runs on
Opening Day since Dave Winfield
and Steve Kemp on 4/5/83 at Seattle
(credit: Elias)
Was 1-for-4 with 1R in 4/6 win at
Boston, batting ninth in the starting
batting order for the first time since 6/30/08 at Minnesota and 11th time in his career....marked the first time
in franchise history the Yankees batted a 30-or-more HR hitter from the previous season in the ninth spot
(credit: Elias). ... Hit a game-winning solo HR in the 10th inning of 4/7 win at Boston o. Jonathan Papelbon....marked his
second career go-ahead HR in the ninth inning or later (also 9/26/05 vs. Chicago-AL o. Cli. Politte). ... Was 2-for-4 with 1R, 2 triples and 1RBI in 4/15 win vs. Los Angeles-AL....tripled twice in the same game for the
fifth time in his career and first since 8/18/08 at Texas....became the first Yankee to triple twice in the same
contest since Bobby Abreu on 5/30/08 at Minnesota and the first Yankee to do so at home since Enrique
Wilson on 7/3/02 vs. Cleveland....became the first Yankee to triple in consecutive at-bats in the same game
since Clay Bellinger on 8/26/00 at Oakland. ... Went hitless in 17 consecutive at-bats from 4/21-27....was the second-longest hitless stretch of his career
behind a 21AB hitless streak from 8/15-23/06. ... Was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a Grade 2 strain of the left groin from 5/2-28....su. ered the injury
while running the bases in 5/1 loss vs. Chicago-AL....was taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital for an MRI
following the game....rehabbed with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, going 4-for-16 (.250) with 2RBI and
2BB/1IBB in 5G (3GS in CF, 2GS at DH). ... Was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list prior to 5/28 win vs. Cleveland and batted second in the starting
lineup for just the third time in his career (also 7/23/05 Game 2 vs. Minnesota and 9/30/07 at Chicago-AL)-
credit: Elias. ... Hit a solo HR o. Brian Matusz in 6/1 win vs. Baltimore, marking his first homer since 4/7 at Boston and his
first home run o. a left-hander since 4/22/09 at Los Angeles-AL o. Joe Saunders. ... Hit a grand slam and was 2-for-5 with 2R, 4RBI and 1SB in 6/8 win at Baltimore....was his second career grand
slam (also 4/4/07 vs. Toronto) and his most RBI in a game since 9/28/08 vs. Tampa Bay (also 4RBI). ... Hit a game-winning solo-HR in the 10th and was 3-for-5 with 2R, 1 double and 1SB in 6/23 win at Arizona....was his
third career extra-inning HR and second this season (also 10th inning of 4/7 win at Boston o. Jonathan Papelbon). ... Was 3-for-3 with 1 double and 1BB in 8/16 loss vs. Detroit....was caught stealing in the fifth, marking his first
CS since 7/31/09 at Cleveland to snap a streak of 13 straight successful
stolen base attempts. ... Collected 9HR and 23RBI in September, each marking highs for any
calendar month in his career. ... Went 2-for-3, with his second multi-HR game this season in 9/2
win vs. Oakland, entering the game defensively in the second in
CF when Swisher left with a left knee injury....became the third
player in franchise history to collect a multi-homer game despite
not being in the starting lineup, joining Steve Balboni (5/23/90
at Minnesota) and Cody Ransom (9/26/08 at Boston)-credit: Elias
Sports Bureau. ... Collected his seventh career multi-HR game and third this season
in 9/20 win vs. Tampa Bay....tied his career high with 5RBI in the contest. ... Hit 4HR with 9RBI in seven games over the Yankees' final homestand of the season (9/20-26)....overall, homered
seven times in his final 16 games from 9/15 through the end of the season, collecting 19RBI over the stretch. ... Hit a team-high .357 (10-for-28) with 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1HR, a team-high-tying 6RBI and a team-high 8BB
in nine postseason games....the Yankees were 5-1 in the playoffs when he hit safely.
2009
Batted .249 (157-for-631) with 91R, 23 doubles, 8 triples,
30HR, 71RBI and 20SB in 160 games for the Tigers... set
a career high in home runs... was tied for fifth in the
American League in triples and ranked ninth with
141K... led the Majors by grounding into a double play
in just 0.9 percent of GDP situations in 2009 (1 GDP in
106 GDP)...Was one of three American Leaguers to record 30HR
and 20SB, joining Texas' Ian Kinsler and Nelson
Cruz... marked his second straight season with at least 20HR and 20SB, becoming one
of just three Tigers players to reach the totals in multiple seasons, joining Kirk Gibson
(four times) and Alan Trammell (three times)...Hit .275 (124-for-451) with 28HR vs. right-handed pitchers and .183 (33-for-180) with
2HR against left-handed pitchers... batted .267 (86-for-322) in 81 games on the road,
tying for fourth in the AL with 20 road homers... hit .230 (71-for-309) with 10HR in
79 games at home...Connected for seven leadoff homers, matching his own 2007 Tigers club record...Was selected to the American League All-Star team for the first time in his
career... tripled in his only AB (off Heath Bell) and scored the game-winning run in
the eighth inning of the 4-3 AL win at St. Louis...Made 155 starts in CF, committing just 3E in 407 total chances (.993 fielding
percentage)... ranked fifth in fielding percentage among AL outfielders with at
least 125 games... did not commit an error in his first 96 games of the season from
4/6-7/26, a total of 221 errorless chances...Connected for three two-homer
games in 2009 (4/21 at Los Angeles-
AL, 6/17 at St. Louis and 7/29 at Texas)...Hit his 100th career home run on 9/27
at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field, a solo
homer off Daniel Hudson in the first
inning...Following the season was tabbed the
third-best defensive outfielder in the
American League by Baseball America.
2008
Led the American League with 13 triples during the 2008 season, becoming the first Tigers player to lead the league in triples in consecutive seasons since Ty Cobb did so with 24 triples in 1917 and 14 triples in 1918...Second in the American League with 112 runs scored -- first Tigers player to score 100-or-more runs in back-to-back seasons since Tony Phillips did so in 1992-93...Grounded into a double play once every 79.0 at-bats -- ninth-hardest player in the league to double up...Finished the season with 26 doubles, 13 triples, 22 home runs and 12 stolen bases -- marked the 17th time in Tigers
history a player has posted double-digit totals in a single-season in those four categories...he accomplished the feat in 2007 as well to become the fourth player in franchise history to accomplish the feat multiple times, joining Bobby Veach (1920-21), Ty Cobb (1921, 1925) and Charlie Gehringer (1929-30)...Began the season on the disabled list as he was sidelined March 23-April 23 with a non-displaced fracture of the third
metacarpal in his right hand...Combined to hit .350 (7x20) with a double, two triples and an RBI in five games during an injury rehab assignment with Single A West Michigan and Triple A Toledo April 18-22...Reinstated from the disabled list by the Tigers on April 23, he hit safely in six of his first seven games with Detroit April
23-30 -- batted .375 (9x24) with 11 runs scored, three doubles, a triple, three home runs and five RBI during the stretch...Led off the game on April 24 versus Texas with a home run off Jason Jennings, his 14th career lead-off home run -- led off the game with a home run three more times during the season: May 4 at Minnesota (Boof Bonser), June 20 at San Diego (Greg Maddux) and August 27 versus Cleveland (Fausto Carmona)...Established a career high with a 15-game hitting streak June 10-27, batting .443 (27x61) with four doubles, three triples,
a home run and seven RBI..Posted back-to-back four-hit games June 26 versus St. Louis and June 27 versus Colorado -- first Tigers player to do
so since Placido Polanco September 10-11, 2005...Matched his career best with two triples on June 27 versus Colorado -- equaled the high with two triples on August 18
at Texas...Hit .364 (36x99) with 22 runs scored, four doubles, three triples, three home runs and 11 RBI in 27 games during June -- tied for fifth in the American League with 22 runs scored during the month, while he was seventh with a .364 batting average and tied for 10th with 36 hits...Established a career high with four runs scored on July 21 at Kansas City...Compiled a 14-game hitting streak July 21-August 5, batting .348 (23x66) with 19 runs scored, three doubles, a triple, three home runs and six RBI...Equaled a career high with five hits on July 30 at Cleveland...Batted .324 (36x111) with 23 runs scored, seven doubles, two triples, two home runs and nine RBI in 26 games during July -- tied for second in the American League with 23 runs scored and 36 hits during the month, while he was ninth with a .419 on-base percentage.Led the American League with six triples during August, while he was fifth with 24 runs scored -- hit .275 (30x109) with four doubles, five home runs and 15 RBI in 28 games during the month...Collected his 100th career double on September 7 at Minnesota in the second inning off Glen Perkins...Tied for third in the American League with 21 runs scored during September, while he tied for sixth with six home runs...Batted .288 (117x406) against righthanded pitchers...hit .259 (38x147) with lefties on the mound...Hit .292 (81x277) in 73 games prior to the all-star break...batted .268 (74x276) in 68 games following the all-star break
-- led the American League with 62 runs scored and eight triples following the all-star break.
2007
Became the second player in major league history to
collect at least 30 doubles, 20 triples, 20 home runs and
20 stolen bases in a single season, joining Wildfire
Schulte (1911) -- finished with 38 doubles, 23 triples, 23
home runs and 26 stolen bases during his second full
season at the major league level with the Tigers...
Philadelphia's Jimmy Rollins accomplished the feat in
2007 as well to become the third player in major league
history...Led the American League with 23 triples, while he finished
third with 122 runs scored and 84 extra-base hits,
fourth with 338 total bases, sixth with a .552 slugging percentage
and tied for ninth with 57 multi-hit games...Seventh in the league with 141 strikeouts...His 122 runs scored were the most by a Tigers player
since Ron LeFlore scored 126 runs in 1978, while his 23
triples were the most since Ty Cobb finished with 24
triples for the franchise in 1917...His 84 extra-base hits are the second-highest total by
a lefthanded hitter in franchise history -- Charlie Gehringer
collected 87 extra-base hits in 1936...Posted double-digits in doubles, triples, home runs and
stolen bases, becoming the 13th player in Tigers history
to do so in a single season...Became the sixth player in Tigers history to collect at
least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a single season
-- joined Gary Sheffield in accomplishing the feat in
2007...Successful in 96.3 percent of his stolen base attempts
(26x27), marking the best single-season stolen base percentage
by a Tigers player since the statistic started being
kept in 1920...Belted his first career grand slam on April 4 versus
Toronto, connecting in the third inning against Shaun
Marcum -- matched a career high with five RBI...Led off the game on April 23 at the Los Angeles Angels
of Anaheim with a home run off Jered Weaver, his seventh
career lead-off home run -- led off the game with a home
run six more times during the season: May 9 versus
Seattle (Cha Seung Baek), July 14 at Seattle (Miguel
Batista), July 23 at U.S. Cellular Field against the White
Sox (Mark Buehrle), August 26 versus the New York
Yankees (Phil Hughes), September 16 at Minnesota
(Scott Baker) and September 22 versus Kansas City (Kyle
Davies)...his seven lead-off home runs establish a Tigers
single-season record...Third in the American League with 10 doubles during
April, while he was fourth with 16 extra-base hits, tied for
seventh with 18 runs scored and tied for eighth with 52
total bases -- hit .263 (26x99) with 18 runs scored, 10
doubles, two triples, four home runs and 11 RBI in 25 games during the month...Established a career best with a 13-game hitting streak
May 29-June 13, batting .352 (19x54) with nine runs
scored, three doubles, seven triples and eight RBI...Hit .297 (30x101) with 19 runs scored, seven doubles,
six triples, four home runs and 16 RBI in 28 games during
May -- led the American League with six triples during the
month, while he was fifth with 17 extra-base hits and tied
for ninth with 61 total bases...first Tigers players to collect
six triples in a month since Jake Wood did so in May of
1961...Collected two triples on June 7 at Texas -- first Tigers
player to do so in a game since Chris Shelton on April 8,
2006 at Texas...finished with two triples on August 24 versus
the New York Yankees...Connected for his 10th home run of the season on
June 26 versus Texas to become the ninth major league
player since 1957 to post double-digit totals in doubles,
triples and home runs prior to the all-star break...Batted .306 (33x108) in 25 games during June, scoring
21 runs and collecting five doubles, six triples, three home
runs and 14 RBI -- led the American League with six
triples during the month, while he tied for eighth with 21
runs scored...Tabbed the American League Player of the Week for
July 9-15 after hitting .563 (9x16) with seven runs scored,
two doubles, a triple, home run and two RBI in four
games...Earned Tigers Player of the Month honors for July after
hitting .340 (36x106) with 27 runs scored, seven doubles,
three triples, five home runs and 12 RBI in 27 games during
the month -- second in the American League with 27
runs scored during July, while he tied for third with three
triples, tied for fifth with 36 hits and finished ninth with a
.604 slugging percentage...Collected a season-high four hits on August 24 versus
the New York Yankees -- matched the high with four hits
on September 1 at Oakland and September 9 versus
Seattle...Connected for his second career inside-the-park home run on August 26 versus New York Yankees...Tied for second in the American League with four
triples during August...Swiped a career-high three bases on September 30 at
U.S. Cellular Field against the White Sox -- most stolen
bases by a Tigers player in a single game since Alex
Sanchez stole four bases on September 27, 2003 versus
Minnesota...Hit .348 (32x92) in 25 games during September, scoring
21 runs and collecting four doubles, two triples, five
home runs and nine RBI -- tied for fifth in the American
League during the month with 21 runs scored, while he
tied for ninth with five home runs and finished 10th with a
.598 slugging percentage...Batted .283 (96x339) with 62 runs scored, 24 doubles,
15 triples, 12 home runs and 43 RBI in 85 games prior to
the all-star break -- led the American League with 15
triples prior to the all-star break, while he tied for the lead
with 51 extra-base hits, finished fourth with 186 total
bases, tied for sixth with 62 runs scored, tied for seventh
with 24 doubles and 10th with a .549 slugging percentage
...hit .326 (89x273) with 60 runs scored, 14 doubles, eight
triples, 11 home runs and 31 RBI in 73 games following
the break -- led the league with eight triples after the
break, while he finished fourth with 60 runs scored and
tied for 10th with 89 hits...Hit .337 (166x493) against righthanded pitchers --
fourth in the league with a .621 slugging percentage
against righthanded pitchers, while he was sixth with a
.337 batting average...batted .160 (19x119) with lefties on
the mound, the lowest batting average in the league
against lefthanded pitchers...Tied for ninth in the American League with a .318 batting
average (99x311) in 80 games on the road...batted
.286 (86x301) in 78 games at Comerica Park...Led all American League outfielders with 428 putouts,
while he tied for eighth with 10 assists -- his 428 putouts
are tied for third-most by a Tigers outfielder in franchise
history (Barney McCoskey, 1939).
2006
Served as the Tigers center fielder in his first full season
at the major league level...Led the American League with 174 strikeouts -- thirdhighest
single-season strikeout total in club history...Topped all league outfielders with a .997 fielding percentage,
while he finished second with 389 total chances and 385 putouts...Posted four four-hit games during the season: May 25
at Kansas City, July 12 versus Tampa Bay, June 24 versus
St. Louis and July 25 at Cleveland...Established a career high with five RBI on May 26 versus
Cleveland...Batted .287 (29x101) with 13 runs scored, five doubles,
a triple, four home runs and 18 RBI in 27 games during May...Hit .345 (30x87) over a 21-game stretch June 4-26,
scoring 22 runs and collecting seven doubles, two triples, three home runs and 15 RBI...Led off the game on June 18 at Wrigley Field with a home run off Mark Prior of the Cubs, his first career leadoff home run -- led off the game with a home run five more times during the season: June 23 versus St. Louis (Chris Carpenter), August 27 at Cleveland (Cliff Lee), September 7 at Minnesota (Scott Baker), September 23 at Kansas City (Mark Redman) and September 29 versus Kansas
City (Runelvys Hernandez)...Second in the American League with 25 runs scored during June -- batted .303 (33x109) in 27 games during the month...Committed the first error of his major league career on
July 25 at Cleveland, snapping a 150-game errorless streak -- longest such streak by a Tigers outfielder to
begin his major league career...longest errorless streak to begin a major league career by a non-pitcher since Dave
Roberts did not commit an error in his first 205 games August 7, 1999-April 20, 2003...Managed a .156 batting average (14x90) in 27 games during August, before rebounding to hit .273 (30x110) in 27 games during September -- tied for the lead in the American League with four triples during September, while he tied for 11th with 19 runs scored...Homered and tripled in the first inning on September 23 at Kansas City -- became just the fifth major leaguer since 1987 to accomplish the feat in the same inning, joining Detroit's Tony Phillips (1991), Arizona's Steve Finley (1999), Detroit's Brandon Inge (2004) and Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford (2005)...Connected for two home runs on September 29 versus Kansas City, establishing a career high...Batted .274 (123x449) against righthanded pitchers...managed a .218 batting average (32x147) with
lefties on the mound...Hit .278 (92x331) in 87 games prior to the all-star break -- tied for seventh in the league with four triples prior to the break...in 72 games following the all-star break, he batted .238 (63x265)...His .997 fielding percentage was the best fielding percentage by a Tigers centerfielder since Mickey Stanley posted a 1.000 fielding percentage in 1970...Belted two home runs during the American League Division Series against the Yankees, matching a club
record for home runs during a single post-season series -- finished with three home runs during the playoffs, tied
for second-most in franchise history in a single post-season...Drew three walks during Game Three of the American
League Championship Series on October 13 versus Oakland, matching the club record for walks during a league championship series game.
2005
Played the majority of the season at Triple A Toledo before receiving his first extended action at the major league level with the Tigers -- tabbed the Detroit Sports Broadcasters' Association Tigers Rookie of the Year...Named to the International League's post-season all-star squad...Finished second in the league with 13 triples...led all league outfielders with 15 assists...Batted .316 (25x79) in 19 games during April for the Mud Hens, scoring 13 runs and collecting nine doubles, a triple and 11 RBI...Belted two home runs June 9 versus Pawtucket to establish a season best -- matched the high with two home runs on July 4 at Durham...Recalled from Toledo by the Tigers on July 22...Belted his first major league home run July 23 versus
Minnesota, a solo shot off Carlos Silva...Became the first major league player to hit two triples
and two home runs in his first four games of the season since Milwaukee's Pedro Garcia did so in 1974...Optioned back to Toledo on July 27 after hitting .318 (7x22) with two triples, two home runs and four RBI in six games for the Tigers...Finished the month of July with a .337 batting average (30x89) in 22 games for Toledo...scored 18 runs and collected nine doubles, two triples, five home runs and 18
RBI during the month...Joined the Tigers for the remainder of the season after being recalled from Triple A on August 15...Established a career high with three RBI on August 21 versus Toronto -- matched the high with three RBI on September 15 at the Los Angeles Angels...Legged out an inside-the-park home run on September
15 at the Los Angeles Angels...Collected five hits against the Angels on September 18 to establish a career high...Belted a walk-off home run in the ninth inning against the Chicago White Sox on September 26...Batted .320 (8x25) with lefties on the mound while with the Tigers...hit .263 (36x137) against righthanded pitchers...Named the 19th-best prospect in the International
League following the season by
Baseball America.
2004
Named the Tigers Minor League Player of the Year for his efforts at Double A Erie before joining the Tigers for his first major league action in September...Selected to the Eastern League's post-season all-star squad and
Baseball America's Double A all-star team...Second in the Eastern League with a .405 on-base percentage, tied for third with 89 runs scored and eight triples, tied for fourth with 94 RBI, ninth with 139 hits and
tied for ninth with a .301 batting average...In 19 games during April, he batted .258 (17x66) with 10 runs scored, three doubles, a triple and seven RBI...Belted a season-high two home runs May 1 at Altoona, while adding a triple and three RBI -- matched the season best with two home runs August 1 at Harrisburg and August 13 versus Arkansas...Reached base safely via a hit or walk in 33 straight games May 28-July 16, batting .323 (43x133) with 27 runs scored, seven doubles, two triples, four home runs, 26 RBI and a .419 on-base percentage...Posted an 11-game hitting streak May 28-June 8, batting .327 (16x49) with nine runs scored, four doubles, three home runs and 10 RBI..Hit .257 (29x113) with 14 runs scored, two triples, four home runs and 14 RBI in 28 games during May...Over his final 62 games of the season June 17-September 6, he batted .343 (79x230) with 57 runs scored, 11 doubles, five triples, 15 home runs and 61 RBI...Sidelined June 21-July 3 with a left ankle sprain...Batted .296 (21x71) with 12 runs scored, five doubles,
a triple, three home runs and 17 RBI in 18 games during June...Collected four hits July 16 at Akron...Selected the Eastern League's Player of the Week for July 26-August 1 after hitting .364 (8x22) with eight runs scored, a triple, four home runs and 11 RBI in six games...Drove in a run in eight straight games July 28-August 4, collecting a total of 19 RBI...Homered in five consecutive games July 30-August 3, belting six home runs...Finished the month of July with a .344 batting average (33x96) in 24 games, scoring 26 runs and recording two doubles, two triples, four home runs and 24 RBI to earn Tigers Minor League Player of the Month honors -- led the
league with 26 runs scored and 21 walks, while he tied for second with 24 RBI and tied for 10th with 33 hits...Collected a season-best five hits August 3 at Portland...Hit safely in 11 straight games August 9-21, batting .400 (16x40) with 15 runs scored, three doubles, two triples, five home runs and 15 RBI...Drove in a season-high five runs at Akron August 18...Batted .371 (36x97) with 26 runs scored, nine doubles,
two triples, 10 home runs and 30 RBI in 27 games during August -- tied for second in the league with 10 home runs, third with 26 runs scored and 30 RBI, tied for fourth with 20 walks, fifth with a .371 batting average, tied for fifth with 36 hits and tied for ninth with nine doubles...Hit .301 (101x335) against righthanders in the Eastern League, while he batted .299 (38x127) with lefties on the mound...When leading off an inning, he batted .319 (22x69)...Batted .338 (44x130) when hitting with runners in scoring
position...Saw action in three games during the Eastern League playoffs for the SeaWolves, batting .182 (2x11) with a double and an RBI...Named the seventh-best prospect in the Eastern League following the season by
Baseball America...Had his contract purchased by the Tigers from Erie on September 12...Made his major league debut on September 13 versus
Minnesota, starting in center field -- hitless in four at-bats, but he registered his first outfield assist...Singled as a pinch-hitter against Chicago's Freddy Garcia in the eighth inning on September 19 at U.S. Cellular Field for the first hit of his major league career...Reached base safely via a hit or walk in his final six games of the season with a plate appearance September 19-October 1...Recorded a career-high two hits in the first game of a
doubleheader at Tampa Bay on September 30...Named the 16th-best outfield prospect in baseball following the season by
Baseball America...Rated as the best hitter for average and possessing the
best strike-zone discipline in the Tigers organization following the season by
Baseball America.
2003
Selected to the Florida State League's mid-season all-star squad for Single ALakeland in 2003...Led the Florida State League with 10 triples, while tying for second with 218 total bases, finishing fourth with 71 runs scored, 136 hits and a .458 slugging percentage, fifth with 50 extra-base hits and eighth with a .286 batting average...Tied for the lead among league outfielders with 15 assists...His .286 batting average tied for fourth-best among Tigers minor leaguers...Collected a season-high four hits April 18 versus Daytona...Drove in a season-best three runs against Fort Myers on June 10...Tied for fifth in the Florida State League with three
home runs during June -- batted .284 (19x67) in 20
games during the month...Posted a nine-game hitting streak July 7-16, batting .405 (17x42) with a double, three triples and five RBI...Hit .318 (35x110) with 15 runs scored, six doubles, four triples, two home runs and 12 RBI in 29 games during July -- his .318 batting average during the month was tied for 11th-best in the league, while he finished fourth with 55 total bases...Finished fourth in the Florida State League with 46 total
bases during August -- hit .298 (28x94) in 24 games during the month, collecting six doubles, three triples, two home runs and seven RBI...Fared better against lefthanded pitchers in the Florida
State League, batting .325 (41x126)...hit .271 (95x350) with righties on the mound...Named the eighth-best prospect in the Tigers organization following the season by
Baseball America.
2002
Named the New York-Penn League's Most Valuable
Player at Single A Oneonta in 2002...Selected to the league's post-season all-star squad and
Baseball America's short-season all-star team...Selected as the New York-Penn League's Stedler Award winner, an award named after the league's first president, Robert Stedler, and given to the player deemed likely to go the farthest in professional baseball...Named to
Baseball America's College Draft All-Star
squad and rated by the publication as the fifth-best pure hitter and having the fifth-best debut among college players in the draft...Second in the New York-Penn League with a .344
batting average and .417 on-base percentage, fifth with a .495 slugging percentage and tied for fifth with 45 runs scored...Reached base safely via a hit or walk in 21 straight games July 10-August 1, batting .400 (38x95) with 20 runs scored, eight doubles, three triples, two home runs and six walks...Posted a 10-game hitting streak July 21-August 1, batting .444 (20x45) with eight runs scored, four doubles, a triple, home run and nine RBI...Hit .388 (38x98) with 22 runs scored, eight doubles, three triples, two home runs and 16 RBI in 22 games during July...Drove in a season-high five runs at Lowell on August 3...Collected a season-best four hits on August 16 against
Lowell...In 26 games during August, he batted .310 (31x100) with 20 runs scored, five doubles, a triple, home run and 16 RBI...Appeared in five games for Oneonta during the New York-Penn League playoffs, going hitless in 16 at-bats...Named the 10th-best prospect in the New York-Penn League and 18th-best prospect in the Tigers organization following the season by
Baseball America.
