Brian Giles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brian Giles |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg)
Giles with the San Diego Padres
|
|||
| Outfielder | |||
| Born: January 20, 1971 El Cajon, California, U.S. |
|||
|
|||
| debut | |||
| September 16, 1995, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 18, 2009, for the San Diego Padres | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .291 | ||
| Home runs | 287 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,078 | ||
| Teams | |||
|
|||
| Career highlights and awards | |||
|
|||
Brian Stephen Giles (born January 20, 1971) is a former professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Brian played for the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and San Diego Padres. He was a left-handed hitter and was chosen for the All-Star team twice.
During his career, Brian Giles had a batting average of .291. He hit 287 home runs and had 1,078 runs batted in (RBI). He also had 1,183 walks in 1,847 games. His younger brother, Marcus Giles, also played in MLB. They even played together for the 2007 San Diego Padres.
Contents
Brian Giles' Baseball Journey
Starting with the Cleveland Indians
Brian Giles was born in El Cajon, California. He went to Granite Hills High School. The Cleveland Indians picked him in the 1989 MLB draft. He worked his way up through the minor leagues.
By 1994, Brian was playing in Triple-A. He batted .313 for the Charlotte Knights. He was even named an All-Star in the International League. In 1995, he played for the Buffalo Bisons and made his first appearance in the major leagues. He played nine games for the Indians and batted an impressive .556. Brian continued to play well for the Indians in 1996 and 1997. He became a regular player for the team.
Becoming a Star with the Pittsburgh Pirates
In November 1998, Brian Giles was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. This was a big moment for his career. With the Pirates, Brian became a powerful outfielder. He was known for hitting home runs and getting on base often.
From 1999 to 2002, Brian hit at least 35 home runs every season. He also kept his batting average high, never dropping below .298. He was named the Pittsburgh Pirates Player of the Year multiple times. In 2000, he led the team in many stats, including home runs and RBIs. He was chosen for his first All-Star team that year.
In 2001, Brian played in more games and got more hits than ever before. He was an All-Star again. He hit his 100th home run as a Pirate, joining a special group of players. In 2002, he earned a career-high 135 walks. This showed how good he was at waiting for the right pitch.
Playing for His Hometown San Diego Padres
On August 26, 2003, Brian was traded to his hometown team, the San Diego Padres. He continued to be a patient and reliable hitter. In 2005, he led all of Major League Baseball with 119 walks.
From 2004 to 2006, Brian played in over 150 games each season for the Padres. In 2007, his brother Marcus Giles joined him on the team. Brian played through some injuries, including a knee problem. In 2008, he decided to stay with the Padres to be close to his family.
In 2009, Brian went on the disabled list because of an issue with his right knee. This injury caused him to miss the rest of the season.
Retiring from Baseball
On February 7, 2010, Brian Giles signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was invited to their spring training. However, after playing in only two games, he announced his retirement from baseball on March 11, 2010.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career doubles leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career bases on balls leaders
- List of Major League Baseball career runs scored leaders
