Marcus Semien facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marcus Semien |
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Semien with the Oakland Athletics in 2015
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| Texas Rangers – No. 2 | |||
| Shortstop / Second baseman | |||
| Born: September 17, 1990 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 4, 2013, for the Chicago White Sox | |||
| MLB statistics (through July 26, 2025) |
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| Batting average | .254 | ||
| Hits | 1,591 | ||
| Home runs | 251 | ||
| Runs batted in | 791 | ||
| Stolen bases | 137 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
MLB records
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Marcus Andrew Semien (born September 17, 1990) is a professional baseball player from America. He plays as a shortstop and second baseman for the Texas Rangers team in Major League Baseball (MLB). Before joining the Rangers, he played for the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, and Toronto Blue Jays.
Marcus was chosen as an All-Star in 2021 while playing for the Blue Jays. That same year, he also won the Gold Glove Award and the Silver Slugger Award. After the 2021 season, Marcus signed a big contract with the Rangers. He then helped his team win the World Series in 2023.
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Early Life and High School Baseball
Marcus Andrew Semien was born on September 17, 1990, in San Francisco, California. He grew up playing baseball in El Cerrito. He was a talented player, often chosen for the area's All-Star teams.
Marcus went to St. Mary's College High School in Berkeley, California. He was a great hitter there, batting .471 in his junior year. He was named all-league three times. The Chicago White Sox first drafted him in 2008, but he decided to go to college instead.
College Baseball Career
Marcus chose to attend the University of California, Berkeley. He played college baseball for the California Golden Bears. He worked hard and improved a lot after his first year. As a sophomore, he hit .328. In his junior year, he was the starting shortstop for the team.
Professional Baseball Journey
Starting with the Chicago White Sox (2011–2014)
Minor League Years
The White Sox drafted Marcus again in 2011. He started his professional career in the minor leagues. He played for the Kannapolis Intimidators and the Winston-Salem Dash. He showed good hitting skills, getting many doubles and home runs. By 2013, he was considered one of the White Sox's top young players.
First Time in the Major Leagues
On September 3, 2013, Marcus was called up to the major leagues. He played his first MLB game the next day against the New York Yankees. He got his first hit, a single, in his very first try. Later that month, he hit his first major league home run. In his first season, he played 21 games, hitting .261 with 2 home runs. In 2014, he played in 64 games for the White Sox.
Playing for the Oakland Athletics (2015–2020)
In December 2014, Marcus was traded to the Oakland Athletics. He became their starting shortstop in 2015. At first, he had some trouble with his defense, making many errors. However, he still hit well, with fifteen home runs.
After that season, the Athletics brought in a special coach to help Marcus improve his defense. He worked hard and showed great improvement in 2016. He made fewer errors and led the league in assists. He also hit 27 home runs that year.
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In 2017, Marcus had a wrist injury that needed surgery. He still played well when he returned. By 2018, his defense was much better. He was even a finalist for the Gold Glove award, which is given to the best defensive players.
His best year with the Athletics was 2019. He hit .285 with 33 home runs. He was recognized as one of the best shortstops in baseball. He finished third in the voting for the American League MVP award. In 2020, he played 53 games for the Athletics.
Time with the Toronto Blue Jays (2021)
On January 30, 2021, Marcus signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. This was a fantastic year for him! On July 1, he was named an All-Star for the first time. He was chosen to start at second base for the American League team.
On September 29, Marcus hit his 44th home run of the 2021 season. This broke a long-standing MLB record for the most home runs by a primary second baseman in a single season. He finished the 2021 season with 45 home runs and 102 RBIs. He was also third in the voting for the American League MVP award.
Joining the Texas Rangers (2022–Present)
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On December 1, 2021, Marcus agreed to a seven-year contract with the Texas Rangers. In 2022, he played in almost every game. He hit 26 home runs and had 83 RBIs.
In 2023, Marcus played in all 162 games of the season. He led the league in runs scored with 122. He also set a new MLB record for the most plate appearances in a single season, including both regular and postseason games. Marcus became one of only five players in MLB history to have at least 100 RBIs while batting in the leadoff spot. He won another Silver Slugger Award for his great hitting. He finished third in the AL MVP voting again.
Marcus helped the Rangers win the 2023 World Series! They defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks in five games.
In 2024, Marcus continued to be a key player for the Rangers. He played in almost all games, hitting 23 home runs and getting 74 RBIs. He also reached a special milestone, recording his 1,500th career hit.
Personal Life
Marcus Semien's parents also went to the University of California, Berkeley. His father, Damien, played football there. Marcus's uncle, Daryl Semien, is a high school baseball coach.
Marcus is married and has three sons and a daughter. During the off-season, Marcus and his family live in Berkeley, California.
See also
In Spanish: Marcus Semien para niños
