Vital Statistics:
Born: December 12, 1979
Hometown: Orange, Calif.
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Family: Single
Primary position: Third base
Before The Bigs:
- Was drafted by the New York Mets in the 10th round (300th overall) out of high school in 1997, but instead chose to attend UCLA, where he was a teammate of Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley. Atkins hit .375 with 14 home runs in 1999 and .352 with 17 home runs and 72 RBI in his final season in 2000.
- Was drafted by the Rockies in the fifth round (137th overall) in 2000 and signed.
- Hit .302 in five minor-league seasons, moving up roughly one level per season. He made his big-league debut on Aug. 3, 2003, but played most of 2004 at Triple-A Colorado Springs, where he hit .366 with 15 home runs and 94 RBI.
Career Highlights:
- Was named NL rookie of the month for June 2005, when he had 26 RBI and 29 hits. He finished the season with a .287 batting average, 13 home runs and a rookie-best 89 RBI. He finished fourth in NL rookie of the year balloting.
- Finished fourth in the National League in hitting in 2006 at .329 and was fifth in the NL with 120 RBI.
- Hit .305 with 25 home runs and 111 RBI in 2007, when the Rockies qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 13 seasons.
