Chris Latham (baseball) facts for kids

Christopher Joseph Latham, born on May 26, 1973, is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He played as an outfielder, which means he was one of the players who catch balls hit into the outfield. Chris was a switch hitter, able to bat both left-handed and right-handed. He was 6 feet tall and threw the ball with his right hand.

Chris Latham's Baseball Journey

Starting in High School

Chris Latham played baseball in high school in Henderson, Nevada. In 1991, when he was 18, the Los Angeles Dodgers chose him in the amateur draft. This is when professional teams pick young players to join their organizations. He was picked as the 300th player overall.

A Standout Season

In 1994, Chris had a fantastic season with the Yakima Bears. He played in the Northwest League and set a team record. His batting average was .340, which means he got a hit in 34% of his turns at bat. Because of his great performance, he was chosen for the Northwest League's All-Star team. This showed everyone he was a promising player.

Joining the Major Leagues

In 1995, Chris Latham was part of a trade between the Dodgers and the Minnesota Twins. He joined the Twins organization. On April 12, 1997, Chris made his first appearance in a Major League Baseball game. He entered the game as a pinch runner for another player, Todd Walker. The Twins won that game against the Kansas City Royals.

Chris played for the Twins for parts of three seasons. He worked hard to become a regular player in the major leagues. In 1999, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies.

Moving to New Teams

Chris spent the entire 2000 season playing at the AAA level, which is just below the major leagues. After that, he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He had his best major league season with the Blue Jays in 2001. He batted .274 and showed good skills at getting on base.

After another season in AAA, Chris briefly played for the New York Yankees in 2003. Later that year, he signed with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan. He played for them until October 2003.

Later Career

In 2005, Chris Latham played for an independent team called the Bridgeport Bluefish. Independent teams are not part of the Major League Baseball system. That same year, he also represented the United States in the 2005 Baseball World Cup. He was one of four outfielders on the American team.