Jerry Hairston Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jerry Hairston Jr. |
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Hairston with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012
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| Infielder / Outfielder | |||
| Born: May 29, 1976 Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 11, 1998, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 25, 2013, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .257 | ||
| Home runs | 70 | ||
| Runs batted in | 420 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Jerry Wayne Hairston Jr. (born May 29, 1976) is a former professional baseball player from America. He played for 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Jerry was a very flexible player. He could play almost any position on the field except for pitcher and catcher!
Jerry comes from a famous baseball family. His grandfather, Sam Hairston, his father, Jerry Hairston Sr., and his brother, Scott Hairston, all played in the major leagues too.
Contents
Jerry's Early Life and College Baseball
Jerry Hairston Jr. went to Naperville North High School in Illinois. He was a great athlete there. He was chosen as an All-State player in baseball twice. He was also an all-area player in basketball.
The Baltimore Orioles picked Jerry in the 1995 baseball draft. But he decided to go to college instead.
Jerry played college baseball at Southern Illinois University in 1996 and 1997. He had a great batting average of .360 during his college career. In 1996, he was named the Freshman of the Year in his conference. He also played summer baseball in the Cape Cod Baseball League. Later, in 2009, he was honored in the Saluki Hall of Fame.
Jerry's Professional Baseball Career
Playing for the Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles drafted Jerry again in 1997. He started his professional career as a shortstop. In 1997, he hit .330 in 59 games for the Bluefield Orioles. He quickly moved up through the minor league teams. In 1998, he switched to playing second base.
Jerry made his first big league game with the Orioles on September 11, 1998. He played in seven games that year. He was often used as a pinch runner or a late-game defender.
In 1999, Jerry started in Triple-A. He was called up to the Orioles in June. He hit .277 in 25 games before going back to the minors. He got his first hit on June 27. He hit his first home run on July 1. The Orioles wanted him to be their everyday second baseman in 2000. But a shoulder injury changed those plans. He returned in August and played in 49 games.
In 2001, Jerry was the Orioles' main second baseman. He played in 159 games. He hit eight home runs and stole 29 bases. In 2002, the Orioles tried him as their leadoff hitter. He played in 122 games that year.
In 2003, Jerry started the season very well. He was hitting .287 and had stolen 14 bases. But he broke his foot in May. This injury needed surgery. He was out until September.
In 2004, Jerry broke his finger during spring training. When he came back in May, he played as a designated hitter. He also played in the outfield. But his season ended early in August due to a broken ankle.
Time with the Chicago Cubs
In January 2005, Jerry was traded to the Chicago Cubs. He played all three outfield positions. He also shared time at second base. On July 15, he hit his first career grand slam. This helped the Cubs win 11–1. In 2006, he played in 38 games for the Cubs.
Adventures with the Texas Rangers
On May 31, 2006, Jerry was traded to the Texas Rangers. He played in 63 games for them. He was a starter sometimes and a defensive player in other games. He missed some time in 2007 due to neck and back injuries.
Playing for the Cincinnati Reds
On March 3, 2008, Jerry signed with the Cincinnati Reds. He said that manager Dusty Baker helped his career a lot. Jerry had a good season in 2008. He hit .326 and stole 15 bases. This was his most stolen bases since 2002. He did this even though he only played in 80 games.
In 2009, he signed with the Reds again. Jerry also played for Mexico in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. His mother was born in Mexico, so he could play for their team. He played alongside his brother, Scott Hairston. Jerry hit .254 with eight home runs for the Reds that year.
Winning with the New York Yankees
On July 31, 2009, Jerry was traded to the New York Yankees. He joined the team to help their bench. He could fill in for star players like Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. He hit .237 in 45 games for the Yankees.
On October 17, 2009, Jerry got his first hit in the playoffs. He later scored the winning run in a long 13-inning game. This helped the Yankees take a 2–0 lead in the series. He played in the 2009 World Series with the Yankees. The Yankees won the World Series that year, making Jerry a champion!
Time with the San Diego Padres
On January 18, 2010, Jerry signed with the San Diego Padres. His brother, Scott Hairston, was also playing for the Padres. Jerry became the starting shortstop for a while. He also played second base.
Jerry's 2010 season was cut short by injuries. He hurt his elbow and then broke a bone in his leg. Even with injuries, he played in 119 games. He hit a career-high 10 home runs for the Padres.
With the Washington Nationals
On January 19, 2011, Jerry signed with the Washington Nationals. He became the team's starting third baseman. He missed some time in July with a broken wrist. He played in 75 games for the Nationals. He hit .268 with four home runs.
Playing for the Milwaukee Brewers
On July 30, 2011, Jerry was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. He helped the team by filling in for injured players. He hit .274 in 45 games for the Brewers.
Jerry was on the Brewers' playoff team. In one playoff game, he hit a big double. He later scored a tying run with a great slide. Overall, he hit .385 in 11 playoff games.
Final Years with the Los Angeles Dodgers
On December 5, 2011, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Jerry to a two-year contract.
On June 1, 2012, Jerry was part of a special Dodgers lineup. It included five sons of former major league players. This was the first time this had ever happened in MLB history! Jerry played many different positions for the Dodgers.
In August 2012, Jerry needed hip surgery. This ended his season early. He played in 78 games for the Dodgers that year. In 2013, Jerry was a key reserve player for the Dodgers. He played many positions, including third base, first base, and outfield.
Jerry's Broadcasting Career
On December 11, 2013, Jerry announced he was retiring as a player. He then joined the Dodgers' TV team. He became part of the pre-game and post-game shows on SportsNet LA.
Jerry's Personal Life
Jerry Hairston is both Black and Mexican. His family history goes back to slaves owned by the Hairston family in the American South.
As mentioned, Jerry's brother Scott Hairston also played professional baseball. His father Jerry Hairston Sr., uncle Johnny Hairston, and grandfather Sam Hairston were all major league players. Many other family members played in the minor leagues. Jerry became a Jehovah's Witness in July 2000.
See also
- Third-generation Major League Baseball families
