Jeromy Burnitz

Jeromy Burnitz
Burnitz with the Rockies in 2004
Right fielder
Born:(1969-04-15)April 15, 1969 Westminster, California,U.S.
Batted:Left Threw:Right
MLB debut
June 21, 1993, for the New York Mets
Last MLB appearance
September 27, 2006, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Batting average	.253
Home runs	315
Runs batted in	981
Teams
New York Mets(1993–1994) Cleveland Indians(1995–1996) Milwaukee Brewers(1996–2001) New York Mets(2002–2003) Los Angeles Dodgers(2003) Colorado Rockies(2004) Chicago Cubs(2005) Pittsburgh Pirates(2006)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star(1999) Milwaukee Brewers Wall of Honor

Jeromy Neal Burnitz(born April 15, 1969) is an American former professional baseball player. Burnitz was aright fielderinMajor League Baseballwho played with theNew York Mets(1993–94, 2002–03),Cleveland Indians(1995–96),Milwaukee Brewers(1996–2001),Los Angeles Dodgers(2003),Colorado Rockies(2004),Chicago Cubs(2005), andPittsburgh Pirates(2006).

Early days

Burnitz played his collegiate ball atOklahoma State University,and in 1988, playedcollegiate summer baseballin theCape Cod Baseball Leaguefor theHyannis Mets.He played minor league ball with the Welsh Waves, the Pittsfield Mets and theBuffalo Bisons.

Career

Burnitz bats for the Pirates, 2006

Burnitz was drafted in the first round of the1990 draftby the New York Mets with the 17th overall selection. He made his major league debut in 1993. He exhibited both power and speed, but was traded by them to the Cleveland Indians. Burnitz never cracked the Cleveland lineup and it was only after his trade to Milwaukee in 1996 that he emerged as an everyday player.

Burnitz was a fan favorite in Milwaukee, providing many of the only thrills during an otherwise low point in Brewers' history, their first years in the National League. He clubbed a career-high 38 home runs and 125 RBIs in1998,and he played in theMajor League Baseball All-Star Gamein1999.In 1999 he started the game, replacing the injuredTony Gwynnand became the first Brewer sincePaul Molitorto start in the All-Star Game. After signing a contract extension with the Brewers in 2000, he was briefly the franchise's all-time highest paid player. On September 25, 2001, Burnitz and teammateRichie Sexsoneach hit three home runs in a 9–4 win against theArizona Diamondbacks.It was the first and, as of the 2021 season, only time that two players hit three home runs in the same game, let alone two teammates. In 2002, he returned to the Mets, but did not perform as well with his original team as both he and Mets fans hoped: his.215 batting average was the lowest among qualified batters. He was traded to Los Angeles in the Mets' 2003 purge of high-salaried players, and signed the following year with the Colorado Rockies.

In2004,Burnitz signed with the Colorado Rockies, and became part of some rare home run displays. On April 27, he, rookieMatt Holliday,andCharles Johnsoncombined to slug back-to-back-to-back home runs against theFlorida Marlins,the sixth such occasion in franchise history. In a May 18 game against theCincinnatiin which he hit two home runs, both were part of back-to-back home run sets with Holliday, making them the first teammates in franchise history to hit back-to-back home runs twice in the same game, and the first teammate duo to do so sinceMike CameronandBret BooneofSeattle Marinersin2002.In 150 games, he led the Rockies with 37 home runs, hit a career high.283, and was second on the team with 110 RBI. On February 2, 2005, the Cubs signed Burnitz to a one-year contract, the same daySammy Sosa's trade to theBaltimore Orioleswas finalized. He continued to hit well atWrigley Fieldwith a.258average,24 homers and 87 RBI in 160 games with the Cubs.

Burnitz was known as a good clubhouse man and a friendly, laid-back guy. During a slump in May 2006, he held an interview in order to apologize for failing to run out a grounder, then joked about the challenges that his team would face during the rest of the season, saying, "I'm your Highest-Paid Free Agent. That, in and of itself, should tell you the big picture that the team's in."

Personal life

Burnitz is married to Krissy Burnitz. They have three children together.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball career home run leaders

Sources

• The ESPN Baseball Encyclopedia– Gary Gillette, Peter Gammons, Pete Palmer. Publisher: Sterling Publishing, 2005. Format: Paperback, 1824pp. Language: English.ISBN1-4027-4771-3

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orESPN,orBaseball Reference,orFangraphs,orBaseball Reference (Minors),orRetrosheet