Grady Sizemore

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Grady Sizemore
Cleveland Indians — No. 24
Center fielder
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Major League Baseball debut
July 21, 2004 for the Cleveland Indians
Selected MLB statistics
(through 2006)
Batting average     .285
Runs batted in     181
Home runs     54
Former teams

    Grady Sizemore III (born August 2, 1982, in Seattle, Washington) is a Major League Baseball center fielder who currently plays for the Cleveland Indians. A fan favorite in Cleveland, Sizemore was acquired from the Montreal Expos in 2002 along with Brandon Phillips, Cliff Lee, and Lee Stevens in exchange for Bartolo Colón and Tim Drew.

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    [edit] Early career

    Sizemore graduated from Cascade High School in Everett, Washington in 2000. A noted high school star in football, basketball, and baseball, Sizemore signed a letter of intent to play football and baseball at the University of Washington. At the time of his high school graduation, Sizemore was the Cascade all-time leader in rushing yards with 3,081 yards and interceptions with 16.

    The college year was not to be, however, as the Expos selected Sizemore in the 3rd round of the 2000 Draft. The team offered him a $2 million signing bonus to lure him away from college. Sizemore signed and almost immediately began his rapid ascent to the big leagues. Sizemore currently resides in Mill Creek, Washington and Tempe, Arizona. He is not married and remains single.

    [edit] 2005

    In 2005 Sizemore spent his first full season in the majors. He quickly established himself as one of baseball's up and coming stars in center field. He was supposed to be in Triple A, but Juan Gonzalez's injury secured his spot on the major league roster. He also became the only player in Cleveland Indians history since Roberto Alomar to record 20 doubles, 10 triples, 20 HR and 20 SB in the same season. Sizemore's best month in 2005 came in June when he hit .377 (40-106) with 4 HR and 16 RBI in 25 games. He finished the season batting .289 with 22 home runs, 81 RBI, and 22 SB. Before the start of the 2006 season, Sizemore signed a 6-year contract with the Indians worth $23.45 million with a club option for 2012. Sizemore's contract is the largest ever for a player with less than 2 years service time in Major League Baseball.

    [edit] 2006

    In 2006, Sizemore had perhaps his best major league season to date. He was selected to his first All-Star Game as a reserve outfielder. In the All-Star game he had two at bats and went 0-2. In addition to all of his offense, he also was a very fine center fielder making some spectacular plays in center, left-center, and right-center field. Overall in 2006 Sizemore batted .290 with 28 home runs and 78 RBI. He played in all 162 games the Indians played. He scored 134 runs, had 190 hits, 52 double, 11 triples and 22 steals. His OBP was .375, and his SLG was .533.

    In addtion he became one of only two players in Major League Baseball history to have at least 50 doubles, 10 triples, 25 home runs, and 20 stolen bases in a single season (2006).

    [edit] Career Statistics and Accomplishments

    Career Stats:
    G: 363
    AB: 1433
    R: 260
    H: 409
    2B: 96
    3B: 24
    HR: 54
    RBI: 181
    BB: 184
    K: 319
    SB: 46
    AVG: .285
    OBP: .359
    SLG: .499
    OPS: .858
    Grand Slam(s): 1
    All-Star Selections: 1(2006)

    Stats as of October 2, 2006

    [edit] External links

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