Garrett Atkins
| Garrett Atkins | |
|---|---|
 Atkins during his tenure with the Rockies |
|
| Free Agent – No. -- | |
| Third basemen | |
| Born: Orange, California | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .285 |
| Home runs | 99 |
| Runs batted in | 488 |
| Teams | |
Garrett Bernard Atkins (born December 12, 1979, in Orange, California) is a Major League Baseball first baseman who is currently a Free Agent. He bats and throws right-handed.
In 2005, his 89 runs batted in led not only the Rockies, but all major league rookies as well. In 2006, Atkins ranked in the top ten of nearly all batting categories in the National League, posting a .329 batting average with 120 runs batted in and 117 runs scored.
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[edit] High school career
Atkins attended University High School in Irvine, California.[1] As a senior, he was named the Irvine World News All-City MVP, after posting a .557 batting average, along with a school single-season record 13 home runs.
[edit] College career
After being drafted by the New York Mets in 1997 out of high school, Atkins elected to attend college instead.[1] He was recruited by Pepperdine, USC, Oklahoma State, Cal State Fullerton and UCLA, choosing the latter. At UCLA, Atkins majored in sociology[2] and became the first three-time All-American.[1] His accomplishments included compiling a 33-game hitting streak. He began as a first baseman before converting to third base, where he made 51 starts in 1998. However, in 1999, his sophomore campaign, Atkins played first base again and led the team in hits. He was a teammate and roommate of Philadelphia Phillies' second baseman Chase Utley,[3] and along with him, was one of only two Bruins to start every game. Atkins was drafted in 2000 out of UCLA by the Colorado Rockies in the fifth round (137th overall).[3] This time, he chose to accept the offer from an MLB club and began the process of reaching the majors.
[edit] Professional career
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This section requires expansion. |
[edit] Colorado Rockies
[edit] 2008 season
In 2008, Atkins spent much of the season playing first base in the absence of injured teammate Todd Helton, marking a defensive transition to "a more natural position for him." [4]
[edit] 2009 season
Prior to the start of the 2009 season, Atkins accepted a one-year $7 million dollar contract from the Rockies. He struggled in the 2009 season hitting .226 with nine home runs, and 48 RBIs. With the emergence of Ian Stewart Atkins became less of a priority in the Rockies long-term plans, he was thus non-tendered by the Rockies on December 12, 2009, officially making him a free agent.[5]
[edit] Baltimore Orioles
[edit] 2010 season
Atkins agreed to a 1-year, $4 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles. The deal includes a one-year club option for $8.5 million, with a $500,000 buyout. He was expected to be the starting first baseman.[6]
On June 27, the Orioles designated Atkins for assignment.[7]
On July 6, the Orioles released Atkins.
[edit] Pittsburgh Pirates
[edit] 2011 Season
Atkins agreed to a minor league deal with the Pirates on December 23, 2010. It included an invite to spring training. On March 26, 2011, Atkins asked to be released by the Pittsburgh Pirates for unknown reasons.
[edit] Awards and honors
- 2005 Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team; 3B
- National League Rookie of the Month (June 2005)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Troy E. Renck (2007-03-18). "With this sweet swing, hits just keep comin' - The Denver Post". Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. http://www.webcitation.org/5ZYhWjnsK. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- ^ "Q & A with Garrett Atkins". ColoradoRockies.com. 2006-07-24. Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. http://www.webcitation.org/5ZYiaoycX. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- ^ a b Gerry Fraley (2007-10-05). "The friendship baseball made : rockymountainnews.com". Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. http://www.webcitation.org/5ZYivW1ya. Retrieved 2008-07-24.
- ^ Thomas Harding (2008-08-18). "Helton's injury leaves void in clubhouse : mlb.com". http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080818&content_id=3329539&vkey=news_col&fext=.jsp&c_id=col. Retrieved 2008-08-18.
- ^ Thomas Harding (2009-12-12). "Rockies part ways with Atkins : mlb.com". http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091211&content_id=7802094&vkey=news_col&fext=.jsp&c_id=col.
- ^ http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20091222&content_id=7843838&vkey=pr_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal
- ^ Ghiroli, Brittany (2010-06-27). "Orioles designate Atkins for assignment". MLB.com. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100627&content_id=11642170&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb. Retrieved 2010-06-27.
[edit] External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Garrett Atkins |
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ryan Church |
National League Rookie of the Month June 2005 |
Succeeded by Zach Duke |
| Preceded by Chad Tracy |
Topps Rookie All-Star Third Baseman 2005 |
Succeeded by Ryan Zimmerman |
