Jay Payton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jay Payton |
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Payton with the Baltimore Orioles
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: November 22, 1972 Zanesville, Ohio, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 1, 1998, for the New York Mets | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 3, 2010, for the Colorado Rockies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .279 | ||
| Home runs | 119 | ||
| Runs batted in | 522 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Jason Lee "Jay" Payton (born November 22, 1972) is a former American outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for several teams, including the New York Mets, Colorado Rockies, and Boston Red Sox. He was known for hitting to the opposite field and had good power.
Payton was a fast runner, but he didn't steal many bases. In the outfield, he was a skilled defender with a strong throwing arm. His quickness helped prevent runners from advancing. Today, he works as a college baseball analyst for ESPNU.
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Early Life and School Sports
Payton grew up in Zanesville, Ohio, where he was a star athlete at Zanesville High School. He played soccer, basketball, and baseball. He was also a top student, graduating fourth in his class.
After high school, Payton played for a team called the Midland Redskins and helped them win the Connie Mack World Series. His performance earned him the MVP award for the tournament. This success led to a scholarship to Georgia Tech.
At Georgia Tech, he played baseball with future MLB All-Stars Nomar Garciaparra and Jason Varitek. Together, they led their team to the College World Series for the first time in the school's history in 1994. They lost the championship game to Oklahoma.
Professional Baseball Career
New York Mets (1998–2002)
The New York Mets chose Payton in the first round of the 1994 MLB draft. His early career was slowed by injuries. He had four surgeries, including three on his elbow, which kept him in the minor leagues for several years.
He finally made his MLB debut in 1998. In 2000, his first full season, he was the starting center fielder for the Mets and helped them reach the World Series. He finished third in the voting for Rookie of the Year. During Game 2 of the World Series, he hit a memorable three-run home run against the famous pitcher Mariano Rivera.
Colorado Rockies (2002–2003)
On July 31, 2002, the Mets traded Payton to the Colorado Rockies. The 2003 season was his best ever. He set personal records with 28 home runs, 89 RBIs, and 181 hits. He also had a strong .302 batting average.
San Diego Padres (2004)
In 2004, Payton signed a two-year contract with the San Diego Padres. He became the team's starting center fielder. His performance that year was not as strong, as he batted .260 with eight home runs in 143 games.
Boston Red Sox (2005)
The Padres traded Payton to the Boston Red Sox on December 20, 2004. He served as the team's fourth outfielder, a role for a player who fills in for the regular starters.
Payton became unhappy with his limited playing time. The Red Sox placed him on a special list called "designated for assignment" on July 7, 2005, which meant he could be traded or released.
Oakland Athletics (2005–2006)
Six days later, the Red Sox traded Payton to the Oakland Athletics. In his very first at-bat with the A's, he hit a home run. He became popular with fans for helping the team win several games.
In 2006, Payton played regularly for the Athletics. He had a .296 batting average, 10 home runs, and 59 RBIs. On July 3, 2006, he hit his 100th career home run.
Baltimore Orioles (2007–2008)
In December 2006, Payton signed a two-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles. He played for the team for two seasons. After his contract ended, he injured his shoulder while working out and did not play in the 2009 season.
Return to the Colorado Rockies (2010)
Payton signed a minor league contract to return to the Colorado Rockies in January 2010. He spent most of the season playing for their Triple-A team. The Rockies called him up to the major league team in September.
In 20 games, he hit .343. Payton officially retired from baseball in February 2011.
Career Numbers
Over his 12-year career in the major leagues, Payton played in 1,259 games. Here are some of his final statistics:
- Batting Average: .279
- Hits: 1,157
- Home runs: 119
- Runs Batted In (RBIs): 522
- Stolen Bases: 47
He was also a reliable fielder, successfully catching the ball 98.7% of the time. In 21 playoff games, he hit .253 with three home runs and 10 RBIs.
