Andre Ethier facts for kids
Andre Everett Ethier (born April 10, 1982) is an American former professional baseball player. He was an outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2006 to 2017. He is known for playing in many post-season games for the Dodgers, with 51 appearances.
Ethier was first chosen by the Oakland Athletics in the 2003 MLB draft. He played his entire major league career with the Dodgers. Some of his biggest achievements include being selected for the All-Star team in 2010 and 2011. He also won a Silver Slugger Award in 2009 and a Gold Glove Award in 2011. Ethier mostly played right field, but he also played left field and center field. Towards the end of his career, leg and back injuries limited his playing time.
Quick facts for kids Andre Ethier |
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Ethier with the Dodgers in 2013
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: April 10, 1982 Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| May 2, 2006, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 1, 2017, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .285 | ||
| Home runs | 162 | ||
| Runs batted in | 687 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Contents
Early Life and Family Background
Andre Everett Ethier was born on April 10, 1982, in Phoenix, Arizona. He went to St. Mary's High School in Phoenix.
Baseball runs in his family. His grandfather, Pierre "Pete" Ethier, played professional minor league baseball. Andre's father, Byron Ethier, also played baseball and even won a national title in junior college. One of Andre's three brothers, Devon, was also drafted by the Dodgers in 2010.
College Baseball Career
Ethier started his college baseball journey at Arizona State University in 2000. He then transferred to Chandler-Gilbert Community College. There, he played very well, hitting for a .468 batting average and earning the team's Most Valuable Player award.
He returned to Arizona State University in 2001 and played there until 2003. During his time at ASU, he had a career batting average of .371. He was also a two-time All-Star in the Pacific-10 Conference. While at ASU, he was teammates and good friends with future MLB stars Dustin Pedroia and Ian Kinsler.
Professional Baseball Journey
Drafted and Minor Leagues
Andre Ethier was first drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 2001, but he chose to go to college instead. The Athletics drafted him again in the second round of the 2003 draft, and this time he signed with them.
He started his professional career in the minor leagues. In 2005, he played for the Midland RockHounds and had a great season, hitting .319 with 18 home runs. He was named the Texas League Most Valuable Player and the Oakland Athletics Minor League Player of the Year. In December 2005, the Oakland Athletics traded Ethier to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2006–2017)
2006: Rookie Season
Ethier made his Major League Baseball debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 2, 2006. He got his first home run the very next night. He had a fantastic start to his career, even going 5-for-5 in one game. He was considered a strong candidate for the National League Rookie of the Year Award, finishing fifth in the voting.
2007-2008: Becoming a Regular
In 2007, Ethier played in 153 games, hitting .284 with 13 home runs. In 2008, he became the Dodgers' starting left fielder. When the Dodgers got Manny Ramirez, Ethier moved to his preferred position of right field. He finished the 2008 season with a .305 batting average, 20 home runs, and 77 RBIs.
2009: Silver Slugger Year
The 2009 season was a career-best for Ethier. He hit 31 home runs and had 106 RBIs. For his excellent hitting, he won a Silver Slugger Award. He was also known for hitting six "walk-off" hits that season, which means he got the hit that won the game in the final inning. Four of these were walk-off home runs, tying a major league record.
2010-2011: All-Star Selections
Ethier started the 2010 season very strong, leading the National League in home runs and RBIs. He was chosen to start for the National League All-Star team. He finished the season with a .292 batting average and 23 home runs.
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In 2011, Ethier set a new MLB record for April with a 23-game hitting streak. This streak eventually reached 30 games, which was the second-longest in Dodgers history. He was selected to the All-Star team again that year. On November 1, 2011, Ethier won a Gold Glove Award for his excellent fielding. This was a special year for the Dodgers, as three of their players won Gold Gloves.
2012-2013: Contract and Milestones
In June 2012, Ethier signed a five-year contract extension with the Dodgers. On August 25, he set a new Los Angeles Dodgers record by getting ten straight base hits. On September 4, he got his 1,000th career hit with a solo home run. He finished 2012 with 20 home runs and 89 RBIs.
In 2013, Ethier played center field for the first time in his major league career due to injuries to other players. He became the first Dodger player to have seven seasons with 30 or more doubles.
2014-2017: Later Career and Retirement
In 2014, Ethier became more of a reserve player, often coming into games as a pinch-hitter. Despite less playing time, his teammates praised him for being professional and supportive.
In 2015, due to injuries to other outfielders, Ethier played more often. He hit two game-winning home runs in one game, including a walk-off home run in the 10th inning. This was his seventh walk-off home run, placing him second in Dodgers history. He finished the season hitting .294 with 14 home runs.
Ethier faced injuries in 2016 and 2017, limiting his playing time. He mostly played as a pinch-hitter. In Game 6 of the 2017 World Series, he played in his 50th career post-season game, setting a new Dodgers record. After the 2017 season, the Dodgers decided not to keep him, making him a free agent.
On July 25, 2018, Andre Ethier officially announced his retirement from baseball. The Dodgers held a special ceremony for him on August 3, 2018.
Personal Life
Andre Ethier met Maggie Germaine while they were both students at Arizona State University. Maggie was a talented gymnast who set school records. They got married in 2006 and have three sons and a daughter. In 2014, Andre and Maggie were honored as the first husband-wife pair to be inducted into the Arizona State Sports Hall of Fame.
Ethier and his family live in Phoenix, Arizona. He is Catholic and attends church regularly.
See also
In Spanish: Andre Ethier para niños
- List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise
