Graduated from Durango High School in Las Vegas and played baseball at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas...at UNLV in 1997 was named to Baseball America's Freshman All-America squad...his uniform number 18 is 1 of only 3 retired at UNLV, along with Matt Williams (15) and coach Fred Dallimore (13)...his brother, Eric, was selected by the Mets in the second round of the June 1993 free-agent draft and from 1996-1999 appeared in 31 Major League games as a righthanded pitcher for the Cardinals, Athletics, Marlins and Blue Jays (31g, 12gs, 2-10, 8.35).
2013
Spent most of the season on the disabled list following surgery on 4/3 to repair the torn labrum and anterior capsule in his right shoulder...suffered the injury while sliding head first into third base on Opening Day vs LAA...didn't play for the Reds again until 8/12 at Chi...made his last 3 starts of the season batting second, his first apps at that spot in the order since 7/25/10 for StL at Cubs...in the 6-2 loss at Pit in the Wild Card playoff produced 3 of the Reds' 6 hits, including a pair of doubles.
2012
In his first season with the Reds was
a finalist for the Players Choice Comeback Player of
the Year Award ... tied the Reds' record for fewest errors
in a season by a left fielder (1, George Foster 1980) ...
in his last 80 apps of the season beginning 6/14 hit .313 (87-278, 21 2b, 18hr, 53rbi) ... with RISP produced
24 hits in his last 57ab (.421) ... while Joey Votto was injured led the team in hitting (.340), HR (12, tied w/ Jay
Bruce) and RBI (36) ... from 9/20-9/28 missed 8g with tightness in his left groin but played in each of the Reds'
last 5g of the season (3-12, 3 2b) ... his 12rbi from 7/27-8/1 were a career-high over any 4-game span ... hit his
second career grand slam in the first inning of the 11-inning, 8-5 win on 4/15 at Wsh (off Ross Detwiler) ... in
the 5-2 win on 5/20 at NYY produced a solo HR in the seventh inning off CC Sabathia that pulled the Reds to
within 2-1 and a 2-out, 2-run double in the ninth that extended their lead to 5-2 ...in the seventh inning of the
10-3 win on 5/26 vs Col produced his fifth career pinch-hit HR, a 3-run shot off Matt Reynolds that extended
the Reds' lead to the final score ... on 6/7 vs Pit produced his 13th career 2-homer game (off Kevin Correia,
Joel Hanrahan) ... in the 10th inning of the 3-2 win on 7/14 vs StL hit his fifth career walkoff HR (solo off Victor
Marte) ... during the Division Series vs SF hit 3 of the Reds' 5 homers, the first Postseason home runs of his
career (solo off Madison Bumgarner in Game 2, solo off Barry Zito in Game 4, solo off Matt Cain in Game
5) ... led both teams in home runs, the most in an entire single Postseason by a Reds player since Tony Perez
produced 4 homers in 1975 ... hit safely in 4 of the 5 NLDS games overall, including each of the last 4g ... was
the club's nominee for the Hutch Award, given annually to the player who best exemplifies the character and
fighting spirit of the late Reds manager Fred Hutchinson ... on 10/31 declined his mutual contract option for
the 2013 season but on 12/10 was re-signed to a 2-year contract through 2014 with a mutual option for '15.
2011
In 139 apps for the Padres and Pirates
combined to hit .237 (13hr, 75rbi)...at the 7/31 trading
deadline was sent from SD to Pit for a player to be named or cash...among National League left fielders ranked
third in both fielding percentage (.995) and assists (9)...recorded 9 outfield assists for SD, which ranked T2nd in
the National League when he was traded...missed time in August while disabled with lower back spasms.
2010
Split the season between the St. Louis Cardinals and
Padres after being acquired by San Diego 7/31 as part of a
three-team trade with the Indians.
Played in 77 games for the Cardinals and 59 for the Padres,
combining to hit .251 (123-for-490) with 27 doubles, two triples, 17
home runs, 69 RBI and 63 runs scored...Ranked fifth in the National League, hitting .345 (40-for-116) with
RISP...Hit .273 (72-for-264) prior to the All-Star break and .226 (51-for-226)
after, with 11 of his 17 homers coming before the break...Belted two home runs 8/10 vs. PIT, his third multi-homer game of
the season and number 11 of his career...Missed time when placed on the disabled list 7/3 with a strained left calf...reinstated from the
DL 7/24, following a rehab assignment with Memphis...Following trade to San Diego, started 57 of the Padres 60 games in right field...Reached base via hit, walk or hit by pitch in 45 of his 59 games with San Diego.
2009
Led the team's outfielders with 22 HR & 97 RBI...Was voted N.L. Player of the Month for July after batting .340 with 6 HR's and 28 RBI...The Cardinals were 34-20 in games he had an RBI. He had hits in 53 of his final 77 games, batting .292 (79-271)...Enjoyed a career day on 9/4 at PIT when he had career high 5 hits, 5 RBI and 8th career 2-homer game...Led the team's outfielders with 9 assists and made just one error...His 93 RBI as an outfielder ranked 6th among N.L. fly chasers. Had 27 two-out RBI, 2nd on the club to Pujols (28) and batted.323 (51-158) w/RISP, 18th in the N.L.
2008
The popular outfielder earned playing time and responded with an All-Star season, posting career highs in batting average
(.299), home runs (37) and RBI (113).
... Became first player since Hideki Matsui (2004) and Lefty O'Doul (1929) to hit 30 HRs and have 100 RBI at age 30 while
having had 750 or less career at-bats in prior years. Source: Elias.
... Was voted to N.L. Silver Slugger team and named to the Sporting News N.L. postseason All-Star team.
... Was selected (by players) to his first MLB All-Star game.
... His 37 HRs were tied for the team lead (Pujols) and ranked T4th in the N.L. His 113 RBI were 6th-most in the N.L.
... Led the club with 104 runs scored, 10th-most in the N.L., and the most by a STL outfielder since Jim Edmonds scored 129
runs in 2000.
... His 80 extra-base hits ranked 3rd in the N.L., his .591 SLG% was 3rd in MLB and his .966 OPS ranked 6th in the Majors.
... Collected 40 doubles, 2nd-most on the team (Pujols-44) and the most by a Cardinals outfielder since 1993 when Bernard
Gilkey also had 40.
... Ranked T7th in the N.L. with 318 total bases. Ranked 8th in N.L. with a .316 batting average vs. RHPs.
... Had a .320 (78-244) batting average at Busch Stadium; batted .282 (83-294) on the road.
... Hit 19 home runs on the road, T5th-most in MLB.
... Averaged 4.8 at-bats per RBI (3rd-best in the N.L.); averaged 14.5 at-bats per HR, 4th-best in the N.L.
... Batted .308 (49-159) with runners in scoring position.
... Was T4th in N.L. w/ 12 outfield assists.
... Batted .320 (33-103) with 22 runs, 9 HRs & 24 RBI in August. The 24 RBI for August ranked T3rd in the N.L.
... Tied a club season record for consecutive games with a HR (5) from 8/1-6. Was the 5th Cardinal to do so (J. Bottomley, R.
Collins, J. Edmonds & A. Pujols). M. McGwire had 6-straight over 2 seasons.
... Accumulated a team-high 7-game RBI streak from 7/30-8/6 (10 RBI).
... Named N.L. Player of Week for the week of 7/28-8/3 (.539 BA, 14-26, .613 OBP, 8 RBI, 27 TB).
... Finished the season with an 11-game hitting streak intact (.429, 15-35), matching his career high.
... Batted .402 (43-107) vs. N.L. West foes. Was 12-for-20 (.600) in six games vs. the Rockies.
... Batted .455 (5-11) with 3 HRs & 5 RBI in 4-game series at SF 4/10-13. HRed in 3-straight games from 4/11-13 at AT&T Park.
... Reached base safely in 10 of 15 PA's in 5/5-8 COL series. Had 2-HR game 5/8 at COL & batted (.692, 9-13) in 4-game
series at Coors Field.
... Homered in 4-straight games from 7/11-18 and totaled 9 RBI in that span.
... Was double shy of the cycle 7/12 at PIT as he drove in four runs with a 3B, HR &1B.
... Hit 23rd HR on 7/22 vs. MIL, the longest (450 ft) in Busch Stadium III history.
... Belted 3rd career walk-off HR and 2nd of 2008 (also 5/17) on 8/5 vs. LA.
2007
Outfielder earned a promotion from Triple-A to the Majors in May and never left. Played all three outfield positions, committing
just one error.
Made 65 starts and appeared in 120 games for St. Louis, hitting a career high 14 homers, third most on the team, with 52 RBI.
His 11 go-ahead RBI were tied for fourth on the team and his nine game-winning RBI were second behind A. Pujols (13). Had
an RBI and/or hit in 44 of his 65 starts.
Had 11 pinch hits in 35 at bats for .314 average with three home runs, four RBI and five walks. His 11 PH's were second on
the club behind Taguchi (13) and tied for 11th in the National League.
Was purchased from Memphis (AAA) on 5/6 when OF Preston Wilson was placed on the D.L. and started that day.
At the time of his purchase, with 29 games played, Ludwick was leading Memphis with a .340 batting average and leading the
Pacific Coast League with 36 RBI and 27 runs scored...his eight homers were T2nd in the PCL.
Had a pair of hits 5/9 vs. COL, including RBI double that proved to be GWRBI. Had two hits 5/15 at LA with 3 RBI.
Had pinch single 5/25 vs. WSH, PH-double 5/27 vs. WSH and hit pinch single 5/31 at COL.
Hit his 1st HR as a Cardinal on 6/6 vs. CIN, tying the game in the 7th. It was his first career pinch homer. Hit 430-ft pinch HR
in the 9th on 6/12 at KC to prevent shutout.
Had career-high three hits, three runs and five RBI on 6/17 at OAK, including 3-run home run for GWRBI.
Belted 14th inning walk-off HR in win 6/20 vs. KC, his 2nd-straight game-winning HR.
Collected first multi-HR game as Card with two home runs on 7/1 at CIN (solo, 3-run). His solo shot traveled estimated 473 ft.
atop CIN's Great American Boathouse in CF.
Doubled in five straight games 7/4-8 (six doubles) in the midst of a 7-game hitting streak (10-25, .400).
Came in game 7/7 vs. SF as PH & doubled in two runs in the 8th. Had two doubles & single in 3-hit game 7/8 vs. SF.
Had a pair of GWRBI vs. MIL on 7/28 [1] and 7/29, including bases-loaded walk in 9th inning on 7/29...had a two-out runscoring
single in the 9th inning in Game 1 on 7/28 for the GWRBI.
His two-out double scored the go-ahead run in the 6th 7/31 at PIT, giving him his seventh GWRBI.
Homered in back-to-back games 8/5-6. Followed S. Rolen's blast with a HR in the 10-run, 5th inning on 8/6 vs. SD.
Clubbed a three-run 1st inning HR (#10) 8/12 vs. LA into Big Mac Land, his 8th GWRBI.
Broke open game vs. FLA on 8/21 with a two-run HR in the 8th, his 2nd-straight game with a home run at Busch.
Had career-best 11-game hit streak (.432; 16-for-37) snapped on 9/29
2006
Spent the season at Triple-A Toledo in the Detroit organization...Represented the team at the Triple-A All Star game...Finished second in the league with 28 home runs and 64 extra-base hits and ranked third with 81 runs scored and 34 doubles...Earned International League Player of the Week honors for 8/21-27 after hitting .400 (10-for-25) with seven runs scored, four
doubles, four home runs and 11 RBI...Recorded four hits, that included two doubles and a home run and drove in five runs on 5/11 vs. Norfolk...Had a seven-game hitting streak from 8/17-23 in which he batted .516 (16-31) with five home runs and nine RBI. During that
stretch had two, two-homer games: 8/18 vs. Richmond and 8/22 at Columbus.
2005
Made the Cleveland Indians Opening Day roster, the
first time he had done so at the major league level...managed a
.220 batting average in 19 games with the Indians, before he had
his contract outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo on 6/3...belted two
home runs for Buffalo on 6/6 vs. Columbus...sidelined 8/11-19 with
a left calf strain...returned to action and played in four games
before his season ended after landing on the disabled list 8/27
with a right ulna bone fracture.
2004
Opened the 2004 campaign on the Indians disabled list after undergoing a second procedure on his right knee on 3/31 by Dr. Richard Steadman in Vail, Colo. to remove scar tissue from
his patella and patellar tendon...played in eight games with Double-A Akron during a rehab assignment 6/21-7/5 before the
Indians optioned him to Buffalo on 7/5 after being reinstated
from the disabled list...hit safely in 11 of his first 12 games with Buffalo 7/6-23, batting .340 (17-for-50) with five doubles, two
home runs and 10 RBI...drove in a season-high six runs on 7/23 at Syracuse -- matched the high with six RBI on 8/17 at Pawtucket, belting a season-best three home runs in that contest...joined the Indians following his recall from Triple A on 8/31 -- batted .220 in
15 games.
2003
Began the season at Oklahoma, before being recalled by
the Rangers on 7/2...in 30 games during May batted .308 (37-for-
120) with 21 runs scored, 10 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs
and 25 RBI...posted a 12-game hitting streak 6/13-24, batting .326
(15-for-46) with three doubles, two home runs and 10 RBI...hit .327
(37-for-113) with 16 runs scored, nine doubles, four home runs
and 16 RBI in 28 games during June...hit .353 (18-for-51) with
runners on base and two outs and .395 (15-for-38) when hitting
with runners in scoring position and two outs...named the 10thbest
prospect in the Pacific Coast League following the season
by Baseball America...recalled by the Texas Rangers from Triple
A Oklahoma on 7/2...saw action in eight games with Texas
before he was acquired by the Indians in a three-player deal on
7/18... established a career high with two home runs, while
matching a career best with three RBI on 8/12 at MIN...recorded
two five-game hitting streaks, 8/17-22 and 8/24-29 to establish
a career best...batted .274 (26-for-95) with 11 runs scored, four
doubles,a triple, five home runs and 21 RBI in 25 games
duringAugust -- tied for 13th in the American League with 21
RBI during the month... jammed his right knee and bruised his
patella tendon sliding back into first base in the fifth inning on 9/3
at Detroit following a single -- landed on the 60-day disabled list
on 9/9 and rehabbed the injury in Cleveland...underwent
athroscopic surgery on his right knee to repair torn cartilage in the
joint on 10/23 after experiencing persistent inflammation during
the rehab process.
2002
Acquired by the Rangers from the Oakland Athletics in
a six-player deal on January 14, 2002, and opened the season
at Oklahoma...third on his club in Oklahoma with 27 doubles
and 15 home runs...earned Rangers Minor League Player of
the Month honors in April after hitting .305 (29-for-95) with 22 runs
scored, seven doubles, a triple, six home runs and 20 RBI in 25
games...recalled by the Rangers from Oklahoma for his first
major league action on 6/5 -- made his major league debut that
night at Anaheim as a defensive replacement in right field...
collected his first major league hit on 6/6 at ANA a single off
Kevin Appier in the second inning...established career highs with
three hits and three RBI on 6/11 vs. CIN -- matched the high of
three hits on 6/14 at HOU...belted his first major league home run
on 6/25 vs. ANA, a solo shot in the third inning off Scott
Schoeneweis...optioned to Oklahoma on 7/1...batted .344 (32-
for-93) over a 24-game stretch 5/31-7/27, scoring 19 runs and collecting 10 doubles, seven home runs and 18 RBI at Oklahoma
...landed on the disabled list on 8/3 for the remainder of the
season with a left femur stress fracture...underwent surgery on
8/22 to repair a hip fracture, having a screw inserted into the hip
in a procedure know as internal fixation...named the seventh-best
prospect in the Rangers organization following the season by
Baseball America.
2001
Split his season between Double-A Midland and Triple-A Sacramento...led all Oakland minor
leaguers with 103 RBI and was second with 26 home runs...Earned a spot on the Texas League postseason All-Star squad after finishing fifth in the league with 96 RBI...averaged
one home run every 17.72 at-bats...Named the Texas League's best defensive outfielder by Baseball America...Participated in the Futures Game in Seattle.
2000
Earned California League postseason honors for Single-A Modesto...Ranked second in the CL with 29 home runs and one every 17.0 at-bats...finished third with 249 total bases, fourth
with 58 extra-base hits and 102 RBI and tied for fourth with a .505 slugging percentage...Named the best power prospect in the CL by Baseball America.
1999
Made his professional debut with Single-A Modesto after being selected by OAK in the second
round of the First-Year Player Draft...Belted two home runs in his professional debut 7/20 vs. Bakersfield.