Saw extended Major League action last season, emerging as potential 1st base option
for SF in 2008...switch-hitter with power and speed has put together solid minor league numbers
through 1st 6 professional seasons, batting .271 with 129 2Bs, 61 HRs, 312 RBI and 100 SBs in
599 games...became 1st player in history of double-A Connecticut, and just 3rd in Eastern League
annals, to post 20-HR/20-steal season with his 2005 effort...made switch from outfield to 1st
base late in 2007 campaign, logging 22 games at position in minors and 22 more at ML level...was
solely outfielder prior to conversion...26-year-old was Giants' 3rd round selection in 2002 First-
Year Player Draft.
Graduated from Lewisville (TX) High School, where he earned honorable mention
All-America accolades by USA Today after batting .474 with 7 HRs and 41 RBI as senior...was
drafted by Chicago White Sox in 27th round of 1999 First-Year Player Draft, but elected to attend
University of Texas-Arlington...was tabbed by Baseball America as Southland Conference's 2ndbest
pro prospect...1st team All-Conference performer batted .339 and led Mavericks with 14 HRs
and 66 RBI as junior in 2002...married (Whitney Code, Dec. 3, 2005).
A Giant in the Community:
Lent time to fans at 2007 "Picnic in the Park" season ticket holder event at AT&T Park...attends KNBR/Giants Winter FanFest.
2007
Was impressive during most extended ML time of career, batting .287 with 7 2Bs,
4 3Bs, 6 HRs and 16 RBI in 62 games with Giants...was with SF May 10-June 10, then again Aug.
10-remainder of season...hit at .316 clip (30-for-95) over his final 33 games (beginning Aug. 13),
including 19-for-55 (.345) effort over 19 Sept. contests...was .301 hitter (41-for-136) with 7 2Bs, 2
3Bs, 6 HRs and 16 RBI in his 37 ML starts (20 at 1B, 9 in RF and 8 in LF)...made 1st big league
start at 1st base Aug. 12 vs. Pittsburgh...adapted well to position, handling 182 chances without
error over 22 games...in fact, over full year, his .871 zone rating would have been 4th-best in
NL...established career high with 3 hits May 20 at Oakland, which he later matched Sept. 23 vs.
Cincinnati...belted 1st ML home run May 29 at Shea Stadium, 7th-inning solo shot off Mets' Oliver
Perez...2nd clout came June 5 at Arizona off future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson, as 4 of his 6 big
league HRs were hit batting right-handed...hammered walk-off HR Sept. 7 vs. LA, drilling solo
shot off Jonathan Broxton with 1 out in 9th to give SF 5-4 win...logged 79 games with triple-A
Fresno, batting .262 with 19 2Bs, 10 HRs, 54 RBI and 16 steals...played in just 6 Arizona Fall
League games with Scottsdale Scorpions before fracturing tip of left middle finger during infield
practice...was off to hot start, going 9-for-22 (.409) with 2B, 3B and 2 RBI.
2006
Split time between triple-A Fresno and Connecticut...struggled to find stroke, batting .247 (106-for-429) with 23 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 8 HRs, 44 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 115 minor league games...went 3-for-12 (.250) during 9-game ML stint May 10-24...delivered game-tying, pinch-hit single (off Danys Baez) in 9th inning of SF's 6-5 victory May 13 vs. Dodgers...had surgery Nov. 15 to prepare chip fracture of patella in left knee, with Dr. Ken Akizuki presiding.
2005
Earned September call-up to majors after stellar season at double-A Norwich...appeared in 15 games for Giants down stretch, getting 22 at-bats (3-for-22, .136, 1 RBI)...collected his 1st Major League hit Sept. 5 in Los Angeles, beating out infield single to shortstop (off Steve Schmoll) while appearing as pinch hitter in 9th inning of big league debut...made 4 starts overall for SF (all in RF), while also going 1-for-8 as pinch hitter...drove in winning run Sept. 9 vs. Chicago with 1st career RBI, delivering run-scoring single in 6th inning to snap 1-1 tie in 2-1 SF victory...was recalled from minors prior to Sept. 4 game in Arizona...with Norwich, hit .274 (138-for-503) with 85 runs scored, 23 2Bs, 6 3Bs, 20 HR, 79 RBI and 35 stolen bases, earning both mid-season and post-season All-Star honors for Eastern League...paced Navigators in runs, homers, RBI and stolen bases...in fact, became 1st player in Norwich history, and just 3rd in Eastern League annals, to post 20/20 numbers in home runs and steals...appeared in 126 games in RF (13 outfield assists, only 3 errors) and 1 in CF (0 assists, 1 error)...will play for Mesa Solar Sox in Arizona Fall League.
2004
Belted career-high 10 homers in 1st season with double-A Norwich...also set career standard with 18 thefts, while being caught only twice...in 106 games, batted .252 with 23 2Bs, 6 3Bs and 48 RBI...was 2nd on club for both HRs and 3Bs.
2003
Was among top position players in Giants' minor league chain, earning Vic Corsigilia Award as MVP at single-A San Jose...led club with .304 avg., 32 2Bs, .378 on-base pct. and .471 slugging mark, while ranking 2nd with 124 hits, tied for 2nd with 6 3Bs and 3rd with 56 RBI...also swiped 13 bases in 19 attempts...batting avg. was 3rd-best among all SF farmhands, while doubles total paced system...tabbed as California League Player of Week for May 12-18 by Howe SportsData...earned San Jose Player of Month accolades in both June and August...saw majority of action in right field (71 games), while playing center field twice and making 40 starts as designated hitter.
2002
Opened professional career by finishing 7th in Northwest League batting race with .292 mark...collected 57 hits in 49 games for single-A Salem-Keizer, ranking 2nd on club with 31 RBI...garnered Volcanoes' Player of Month honors for July after batting .342 (39-for-114) with 3 HRs and 25 RBI...logged 29 games in left field, 10 contests in right and 12 as designated hitter.
