Garrett Atkins

Infobox MLB player
name = Garrett Atkins


width = 250
caption =
team = Colorado Rockies
number = 27
position = Third baseman
birthdate = birth date and age|1979|12|12
birthplace = city-state|Orange|California
bats = Right
throws = Right
debutdate = August 3
debutyear = 2003
debutteam = Colorado Rockies
statyear = 2008
stat1label = Batting average
stat1value = .298
stat2label = Home runs
stat2value = 89
stat3label = Runs batted in
stat3value = 431
teams =
*Colorado Rockies (by|2003-present)

Garrett Bernard Atkins (born December 12, 1979 in city-state|Orange|California) has been the third baseman for the Major League Baseball team the Colorado Rockies since by|2003. He bats and throws right-handed. In by|2005, his 89 runs batted in led not only the Rockies, but all major league rookies as well. In by|2006, Atkins ranked in the top ten of nearly all batting categories in the National League, posting a .329 batting average with 120 runs batted in and 117 runs scored.

High school career

Atkins attended University High School in Irvine, California.cite web |url=http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_5462488 |title=With this sweet swing, hits just keep comin' - The Denver Post |author=Troy E. Renck |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= 2007-03-18|format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/5ZYhWjnsK|archivedate= 2008-07-24|quote= |accessdate=2008-07-24] As a senior, he was named the Irvine World News All-City MVP, after posting a .557 batting average, along with a school single-season record 13 home runs.

College career

After being drafted by the New York Mets in by|1997 out of high school, Atkins elected to attend college instead. He was recruited by Pepperdine, USC, Oklahoma State, Cal State Fullerton and UCLA, choosing the latter. At UCLA, Atkins majored in sociologycite web |url=http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060724&content_id=1572615&vkey=news_col&fext=.jsp&c_id=col |title=Q & A with Garrett Atkins | ColoradoRockies.com: News |author= 2008-07-24|authorlink= |coauthors= |date= 2006-07-24|format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/5ZYiaoycX|archivedate= 2008-07-24|quote= |accessdate=2008-07-24] and became the first three-time All-American. His accomplishments included compiling a 33-game hitting streak. He began as a first baseman before converting to third base, where he made 51 starts in by|1998. However, in by|1999, his sophomore campaign, Atkins played first base again and led the team in hits. He was a teammate and roomate of Philadelphia Phillies' second baseman Chase Utley,cite web |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/oct/05/the-friendship-baseball-made/?printer=1/ |title=The friendship baseball made : rockymountainnews.com |author= Gerry Fraley|authorlink= |coauthors= |date= 2007-10-05|format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/5ZYivW1ya|archivedate= 2008-07-24|quote= |accessdate=2008-07-24] and along with him, was one of only two Bruins to start every game. Atkins was drafted in by|2000 out of UCLA by the Colorado Rockies in the fifth round (137th overall). This time, he chose to accept the offer from an MLB club and began the process of reaching the majors.

Professional career

2007 season

Hit .301 overall, batting .349 at mile-high Coors Field, but hit only .254 in away games. However, it should be noted that one of the reasons for any substantial differences in home and road splits for Rockies batters is that they have to make adjustments in how they see pitches away from Coors Field - particularly breaking balls, such as sliders and curve balls - since those pitches act differently at Coors Field than on the road. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=rogers_phil&id=2046292 ESPN - Coors Field a truly unique environment - MLB ] ] On September 23 and 30 he was a factor during two Rockie wins in September during the Rockies' incredible run during September and October. He hit the 1st inside-the-park home run in Petco Park history in a win over the Padres [September 23] and hit the game winning single in the eighth inning at Coors Field [September 30] .

2008 season

In by|2008, Atkins spent much of the season playing first base in the absence of injured teammate Todd Helton, marking a defensive transition to "a more natural position for him." cite web |url=http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080818&content_id=3329539&vkey=news_col&fext=.jsp&c_id=col |title=Helton's injury leaves void in clubhouse : mlb.com |author= Thomas Harding|authorlink= |coauthors= |date= 2008-08-18|format= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |quote= |accessdate=2008-08-18]

Awards and honors

* 2005 Topps Major League Rookie All-Star Team; 3B
* National League Rookie of the Month (June 2005)

Personal

Atkins' parents are father Ron and mother Diana a breast cancer survivor. He has a younger sister named Kristan. Atkins used to reside in Irvine, California during the off-season, before moving to the Denver area after the 2006 season. For the past four seasons, he has lived with teammate Matt Holliday and family during spring training, even serving as babysitter to Holliday's two young sons. One of Atkins' primary hobbies is golf.

References

See also

* Colorado Rockies all-time roster

External links

*

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