Michael Cuddyer

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**Michael Cuddyer**

Minnesota Twins — No. 5
Right field
Born: March 27, 1979 (1979-03-27) (age 29)
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
September 23, 2001 for the Minnesota Twins
Selected MLB statistics (through June 5, 2008)
Batting average	.269
Runs batted in	324
Home runs	74
Teams
Minnesota Twins (2001-present)

Michael Brent Cuddyer (IPA: /kəˈdaɪər/; born on March 27, 1979 in Norfolk, Virginia) is a Major League Baseball player. He is currently the starting right fielder for the Minnesota Twins. He bats and throws right-handed and wears number 5.

1 High School
2 Professional career
3 Personal life
4 Statistics
5 References
6 External links

[edit] High School

Cuddyer is a 1997 graduate of Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia, where he was a standout athlete in baseball, basketball, and football. Cuddyer was named Virginia's Player of the Year and Gatorade National baseball Player of the Year in 1997. He was also a member of USA Today's All-Star and the USA Junior National teams in 1997. He did not attend college.

[edit] Professional career

Cuddyer made his Major League Baseball debut on September 23, 2001 for the Twins. Prior to 2004, Cuddyer saw little playing time except as an occasional fill-in in the outfield. During 2004, Cuddyer made the transition to the infield, playing second and third bases. After the departure of veteran Twins third baseman Corey Koskie to the Toronto Blue Jays by way of free agency in 2005, Cuddyer became the Twins' starting third baseman. He struggled at third base and was relegated to a reserve role for much of 2005.

Cuddyer underwent surgery to repair a tear in his right lateral meniscus in October 2005. The Twins then extended his contract on January 21, 2006, giving him a one-year deal worth $1.3 million. After beginning the 2006 season on the bench, Cuddyer emerged as a regular in right field and in the cleanup spot of the Twins batting order. He is known for his home run power, and only Justin Morneau had more RBI for the Twins in 2006. In right field, he has excellent throwing power and accuracy.

Prior to the 2008 season, Cuddyer resigned with the Twins for 3 years, $24 million with a $10.5 million club option for 2011.

On April 4th, 2008, Cuddyer suffered a dislocated right index finger after slid headfirst into third base. He also suffered a laceration on the knuckle after getting stepped on by Kansas City Royals third baseman Alex Gordon^[1]. He was put on 15-day disabled list and was later activated on April 25th against the Texas Rangers. On his second game after being activated, Cuddyer hit a three-run home run off Rangers' Scott Feldman, his first of the 2008 season.

Through June 1, 2008, he is batting .245 with 25 RBIs and 2 home runs. ^[2]

[edit] Personal life

Cuddyer is well-known as a magician in the clubhouse, often pulling out cards or stabbing himself in the foot to get a few laughs out of his teammates. He married Claudia Rente, a Portuguese-American English teacher from Chesapeake, on November 11, 2006.

[edit] Statistics

Season	Team	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
2001	MIN	8	18	1	4	2	0	0	1	2	6	1	0	.222	.300	.333
2002	MIN	41	112	12	29	7	0	4	13	8	30	2	0	.259	.311	.429
2003	MIN	35	102	14	25	1	3	4	8	12	19	1	1	.245	.325	.431
2004	MIN	115	339	49	89	22	1	12	45	37	74	5	5	.263	.339	.440
2005	MIN	126	422	55	111	25	3	12	42	41	93	3	4	.263	.330	.422
2006	MIN	150	557	102	158	41	5	24	109	62	130	6	0	.284	.362	.504
2007	MIN	144	547	87	151	28	5	16	81	64	107	5	0	.276	.356	.433
Totals*		619	2097	320	567	126	17	72	299	226	459	23	10	.270	.346	.450