Vital Statistics:
Born: April 11, 1980
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland
Height: 6-3
Weight: 200
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
Family: Wife, Georgia
Primary position: First base
Before The Bigs:
- Originally chosen in the ninth round of the 1998 draft, he opted to play baseball for Georgia Tech instead.
- Hit .427 with 18 home runs in 2001, his final season for the Yellow Jackets, when he was named the Baseball America College Player of the Year, and was drafted fifth overall by the Texas Rangers in the 2001 draft.
- Hit 19 home runs, splitting time between Single-A Charlotte and Double-A Tulsa in 2002, his only minor-league season.
Career Highlights:
- Made his debut as Texas’ opening day first baseman in 2003 and hit 26 home runs.
- Was elected an All-Star Game starter in 2004, hitting a home run in the game. He hit .288 with 38 home runs and 112 RBI.
- Improved on his stats in 2005, hitting a career-best .301 with 43 home runs and 144 RBI. He led the AL in total bases.
- Won Gold Gloves at first base in 2005 and 2006, and played in all 162 games for the Rangers in both seasons.
- Traded to the Atlanta Braves for three prospects on July 30, 2007.
- Traded to the Los Angeles Angels for Casey Kotchman and pitcher Stephen Marek on July 29, 2008.
- Signed an eight-year, $180 million contract with the New York Yankees in December 2008.
- Led the AL in home runs with 39 and in RBI with 122 and won his first World Series championship in 2009, his first season in New York. Finished second in the AL MVP balloting.[.li]
