Damon Hollins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Damon Hollins |
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Hollins with the Kansas City Royals in 2023
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| Kansas City Royals – No. 39 | |||
| Outfielder / Coach | |||
| Born: June 12, 1974 Fairfield, California, U.S. |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: April 24, 1998, for the Atlanta Braves | |||
| NPB: 2007, for the Yomiuri Giants | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: October 1, 2006, for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays | |||
| NPB: 2007, for the Yomiuri Giants | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .242 | ||
| Home runs | 28 | ||
| Runs batted in | 86 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .257 | ||
| Home runs | 12 | ||
| Runs batted in | 45 | ||
| Teams | |||
As Coach
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Damon Jamall Hollins (born June 12, 1974) is an American former professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Damon played for teams like the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He spent most of his time playing in the outfield for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Today, he is a coach for the Kansas City Royals.
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Early Life and Baseball Dreams
Damon Hollins was born in Fairfield, California. He grew up close to the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum. As a kid, he often went to watch the Oakland Athletics play baseball. His mother, Deborah Watson, raised him.
In 1991, Damon showed his talent in the PONY Baseball and Softball Palomino World Series. He played baseball for Vallejo High School in Vallejo, California. After high school, the Atlanta Braves picked him in the fourth round of the 1992 MLB Draft. This was a big step toward his dream of playing professional baseball.
Damon's Professional Baseball Journey
Damon Hollins started his professional career right after graduating high school in 1992. He played in the Gulf Coast League. In 1993, a magazine called Baseball America said he was the best young player in the Appalachian League.
Damon made his first appearance in Major League Baseball on April 24, 1998. He played for the Braves at Turner Field. He even got a hit against Brian Anderson of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played in three games for the Braves that year. Later, he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in September 1998.
From 1999 to 2003, Damon played in the minor leagues. He was part of the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, and Braves teams. He briefly returned to the major leagues with the Braves in 2004. His biggest chance to play regularly came in 2005 and 2006. This was when he joined the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
On Mother's Day, May 14, 2006, Damon did something special. He was one of over 50 players who used a pink bat. This was to help raise money for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. This foundation supports breast cancer research.
In December 2006, Damon signed with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan. He played for them during the 2007 season. He played in 124 games, hitting for a .257 average. He also hit 12 home runs and had 45 RBI. Two of his home runs even won the game!
After playing for the Kansas City Royals organization in 2008, Damon signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009. However, he was released during spring training. In December 2009, he signed another contract with the Kansas City Royals.
Becoming a Baseball Coach
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After his playing career, Damon Hollins became a baseball coach. In 2010, he was the hitting coach for the Burlington Royals. He continued coaching for other teams like the Kane County Cougars in 2011 and the Wilmington Blue Rocks in 2012.
In 2013, Damon became the hitting coach for the Idaho Falls Chukars. He stayed in that role for two years. Then, in 2015, he joined the Lexington Legends as a hitting coach. By 2019, he was not only a coach for the Chukars but also helped coordinate outfield, base running, and bunting for the Kansas City Royals organization.
Before the 2020 season, Damon was named the first base coach for the Royals. He took over from Rusty Kuntz. When Kuntz returned in 2021, Damon went back to being a minor league instructor. However, in November 2021, Damon Hollins was again named the first base coach for the Royals for the 2022 season. He continues in this role today.
Damon's Family Life
In July 2006, Damon and his fiancée, Patrice, welcomed their first child, a daughter named Tahari. As of 2016, Damon and Patrice were married. They lived in Litchfield Park, Arizona with their three children.
