Jody Gerut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jody Gerut |
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Gerut with the Milwaukee Brewers
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| Outfielder | ||||||||||||||
| Born: September 18, 1977 Elmhurst, Illinois, U.S. |
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| debut | ||||||||||||||
| April 26, 2003, for the Cleveland Indians | ||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | ||||||||||||||
| May 22, 2010, for the Milwaukee Brewers | ||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | ||||||||||||||
| Batting average | .262 | |||||||||||||
| Home runs | 59 | |||||||||||||
| Runs batted in | 226 | |||||||||||||
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Medals
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Joseph Diego Gerut, born on September 18, 1977, is a former American professional baseball player. He was a talented center fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Jody, as he is known, played for six seasons with different teams between 2003 and 2010. He was first chosen by the Colorado Rockies in the draft.
Contents
Jody Gerut: A Baseball Star
Jody's Early Baseball Days
Jody Gerut grew up in Elmhurst, Illinois. He went to Willowbrook High School and then studied at Stanford University. While in college, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Harwich Mariners. This was part of the Cape Cod Baseball League in 1996 and 1997. He was even named an all-star in the league in 1996.
Starting His Professional Journey
The Colorado Rockies picked Jody in the second round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft. Later, on June 2, 2001, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians. This trade also included Josh Bard, in exchange for Jacob Cruz.
In 2003, Jody had a fantastic first year in MLB. He finished fourth in the voting for the American League Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award. He also won the Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award.
Facing Challenges and New Teams
In 2004, Jody's season ended early. He hurt his right knee, tearing a ligament. This kind of injury can be tough for athletes.
On July 18, 2005, Jody was traded again. He went from the Indians to the Chicago Cubs for Jason Dubois. Just a few days later, on July 31, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. This trade was for another outfielder, Matt Lawton. Jody played a short time for the Pirates in 2005. He did not play for them in 2006. The Pirates released him on March 8, 2007. Jody did not play baseball at all that year.
A Comeback with the Padres
On January 21, 2008, Jody signed a contract with the San Diego Padres. He was invited to their spring training. Jody played very well for the Padres that year. He had a batting average of .296. He also hit 14 home runs and had 48 RBIs (Runs Batted In). He mostly played in center field.
Making History at Citi Field
On April 13, 2009, Jody made history. He hit the very first home run at Citi Field, the new stadium for the New York Mets. He hit it on the third pitch of the game! This made him the first player in MLB history to start a new ballpark's first game with a home run.
Moving to the Brewers
On May 21, 2009, Jody was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers. This trade was for outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr.
On May 8, 2010, Jody achieved a rare feat. He hit for the cycle in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. This means he hit a single, a double, a triple, and a home run all in the same game! The Brewers won that game 17-3.
Later that year, on August 13, the Brewers released Jody. He then signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres on August 19. In 2010, Sporting News named him the 12th-smartest athlete in sports.
Retirement from Baseball
On January 20, 2011, Jody signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners. However, on February 27, he announced his retirement from baseball. He explained that his heart was no longer fully in the game. He did not want to play just for the money.
After Baseball: Broadcasting
On August 1, 2018, Jody Gerut worked as a baseball analyst. He helped broadcast an Indians-Twins game on Facebook Live.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle
