Tony Gwynn Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tony Gwynn Jr. |
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Gwynn with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2011
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: October 4, 1982 Long Beach, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 15, 2006, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 28, 2014, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .238 | ||
| Home runs | 7 | ||
| Runs batted in | 98 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Anthony Keith Gwynn Jr. (born October 4, 1982) is an American former baseball player. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Tony Jr. played for the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Philadelphia Phillies.
He is the son of Baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn. After his playing career, Tony Jr. became a broadcaster for the Padres' radio team. He also hosts a sports talk show on the Padres' main radio station.
Contents
Early Life and College Baseball
Tony Gwynn Jr. grew up in California. He went to Poway High School. After high school, the Atlanta Braves picked him in the 2000 MLB draft. However, he decided not to sign with them.
Instead, he chose to play college baseball. He went to San Diego State University, just like his famous dad. In 2002, he played summer baseball for the Brewster Whitecaps. He was even chosen as an all-star player in that league. In 2003, he was a Mountain West Conference All-Star. He had a great year, hitting for a .359 average and stealing 25 bases.
Playing in the Major Leagues
Milwaukee Brewers Team
The Milwaukee Brewers drafted Gwynn in 2003. After playing in the minor leagues for a few years, he made his MLB debut. This happened on July 15, 2006. He came into the game as a pinch hitter against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
His first major league hit was a double. It happened on July 19, 2006. This was exactly 24 years after his father's first MLB hit, which was also a double! Tony Jr. played in 32 games for the Brewers in 2006. He hit for a .260 average.
In 2007, the San Diego Padres were playing the Brewers. The Padres needed one more out to make the playoffs. Tony Jr. came in to pinch-hit against his dad's old team. He hit a triple that tied the game! The Padres ended up losing that game and missed the playoffs. In three years with the Brewers, Tony Jr. played in 130 games. He had a .248 batting average.
San Diego Padres Team
On May 21, 2009, Tony Gwynn Jr. was traded to the San Diego Padres. His father, who played his whole career for the Padres, called him to tell him the news. In his very first game with the Padres, he helped them win. He got on base and then scored the winning run.
He played for the Padres for two seasons. In 236 games, he had 165 hits. He also hit 5 home runs, including two that were "inside the park" home runs. His batting average with the Padres was .242. Tony Jr. wore number 18 for the Padres. His father's number 19 had been retired, meaning no one else could wear it.
Los Angeles Dodgers Team
Tony Gwynn Jr. joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2010. In 2011, he played in 136 games for the Dodgers. This was the most games he played in a single season. He hit for a .256 average and stole 22 bases.
In 2012, he 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! He played in 103 games that year. He hit .232 and stole 13 bases.
Philadelphia Phillies Team
In December 2013, Gwynn signed a contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He worked hard and made the team for the 2014 season. He was the Phillies' starting left fielder on opening day.
Tony Jr. took some time off in June 2014 after his father passed away. He was later released by the Phillies in July. However, he signed another minor league contract with them in August. He was called back up to the Phillies in September 2014. After the season, he decided not to go back to the minor leagues and became a free agent.
Washington Nationals Team
In March 2015, Gwynn signed a contract with the Washington Nationals. He played in their minor league system. He became a free agent again in November 2015.
After Playing Baseball
After his playing career, Tony Gwynn Jr. started working in broadcasting. In 2016, he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers radio team. He co-hosted their post-game show.
Later, he moved back to the San Diego Padres. He became an analyst for their radio and TV broadcasts. In 2018, he started hosting a sports talk show called Gwynn & Chris. This show became very popular in San Diego. In 2022, he became a full-time color commentator for Padres radio broadcasts.
Family Life
Tony Gwynn Jr. is the son of baseball legend Tony Gwynn Sr. and Alicia Gwynn. His father passed away on June 16, 2014. Tony Jr. also has an uncle, Chris Gwynn, who played baseball. His sister, Anisha Nicole, is a musician.
Tony Gwynn Jr. is married to Alyse Mallek. They have four children together. They have three daughters named Makayla, Jordan, and Leighton. They also have a son named Anthony Keith III.
See also
- List of second-generation Major League Baseball players
