Aaron Rowand
Encyclopedia
Aaron Ryan Rowand is an outfielder
in Major League Baseball
who has played for the San Francisco Giants
, Chicago White Sox
and the Philadelphia Phillies
. He was released by the Giants in September 2011.
in California and graduated in 1995. Drafted by the New York Mets
, he elected to go to college instead.
He attended Cal State Fullerton
from 1996 to 1998. In 1998, Rowand earned All-America honors before being selected by the Chicago White Sox in the first round (35th pick) of the 1998 amateur draft. During his senior season, Rowand had 27 doubles.
On June 15, 2001, Rowand was called up to the Chicago White Sox
for the first time. He made his major league debut for them the next day, on June 16, as a pinch hitter
against the St. Louis Cardinals
. He finished his rookie season fourth among American League rookies in batting average at .293. He collected his first major league hit on June 19, 2001, against Kansas City Royals
' pitcher Tony Cogan
.
Rowand suffered a broken left shoulder blade and rib in a dirt bike accident in the 2002 off season and spent part of spring training recovering. In 2003, Rowand was sent down to the minor leagues after hitting .133 in his first 60 games, but after spending 32 games in the minors, he returned to hit in the Major Leagues, hitting .387 after his return.
2004 was his first season with close to 500 at bats and Rowand established himself as a regular starter for the first time in his career. Rowand showed patience at the plate and posted his second highest career on base percentage at .361.
In 2005 with the White Sox, he had a .270 batting average with 77 runs and 30 doubles. He also hit 13 home runs and stole 16 bases. He was walked 32 times, compared to 116 strikeouts. He had a .329 on base percentage
(OBP) and a .407 slugging percentage (SLG). He also collected 235 total bases. In 2005, at center field, he collected 388 putouts and had only three errors. He had a .978 fielding percentage
.
The 2005 Chicago White Sox went on to win the World Series. In the postseason, he had a .267 batting average with 8 runs and 6 doubles. He also walked 4 times and had 1 stolen base.
On November 23, 2005, Rowand was traded by the White Sox along with minor league pitchers Gio Gonzalez
and Daniel Haigwood to the Philadelphia Phillies for first baseman Jim Thome
.
On May 11, 2006, in the first inning of a game versus the New York Mets
, Rowand made a spectacular play by smashing into the center field fence of Citizens Bank Park
face first at full speed in order to run down a deep fly ball off the bat of Xavier Nady
with the bases loaded, that would otherwise have scored three runs. Rowand suffered a broken nose and severe lacerations to his face. The Phillies won the game, 2-0, in a rain-shortened 5-inning game. He underwent seven hours of surgery to repair the nose, and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. He returned to the starting lineup on May 27, 2006.
On August 21, 2006, in a game against the Chicago Cubs
, Rowand collided with second baseman Chase Utley
and broke his ankle. He was on the disabled list for the remainder of the regular season.
2007, a contract year, proved to be Rowand's breakthrough, both statistically and in recognition around baseball. He finished with a batting average of .309, 27 home runs, 89 runs batted in, and 6 stolen bases. On July 10, 2007, Rowand was selected to the 2007 MLB All-Star Game in San Francisco, for his first All-Star appearance. In the bottom of the 9th, with the bases loaded, two outs, and the AL leading 5-4, Rowand flew out to Alex Ríos
in right field to end the game helping give the American League home field advantage in the 2007 World Series
. He earned his first Gold Glove Award for his outfield play that year, including 11 outfield assists and only 2 errors all season.
on December 12, 2007.
In the face of dismal expectations for the rebuilding season, Rowand declared the next month that the Giants could win the division. Rowand's prediction did not come true, however, as the 2008 Giants struggled to a 72-90 finish. Rowand himself did not come close to his 2007 numbers with Philadelphia, as his OPS
dropped by over one hundred points to .749, below the .772 league average.
On May 25, 2008, Rowand hit his 100th career home run at Dolphin Stadium.
On July 10, 2009, with one out in the ninth inning, Rowand made a leaping catch at the center field wall to rob Edgar Gonzalez
of a hit and preserve Jonathan Sánchez's
no hitter.
On July 31, 2009, Rowand collected his 1,000th career hit at home against his former team, the Philadelphia Phillies
.
On October 28, 2010, Rowand hit a 2 RBI triple in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 2 of the 2010 World Series. He then scored off an Andres Torres
RBI double to extend the Giants lead 9-0 over the Texas Rangers. The Giants won the series, and Rowand earned his second World Series championship.
Rowand was designated for assignment on August 31, 2011 after batting .233 with four home runs and 21 RBIs in 108 games during the 2011 season. He was released on September 8, 2011.
When he was with the Phillies, Rowand and his family lived in Garnet Valley, which is in Delaware County
, outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. Since he signed with the Giants, he now resides in Las Vegas
, Nevada. Rowand is the first cousin of Tampa Bay Rays
pitcher James Shields.
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who has played for the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
and the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. He was released by the Giants in September 2011.
Early life and college career
Rowand attended Glendora High SchoolGlendora High School
Glendora High School is located in Glendora, Los Angeles County, California, United States.-History:The high school was built in 1958 on the land owned by Clarks Gordan, an orange grower. The land contained oak trees which still grow on the school ground. The first graduating class of GHS was in...
in California and graduated in 1995. Drafted by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, he elected to go to college instead.
He attended Cal State Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs...
from 1996 to 1998. In 1998, Rowand earned All-America honors before being selected by the Chicago White Sox in the first round (35th pick) of the 1998 amateur draft. During his senior season, Rowand had 27 doubles.
Chicago White Sox (2001–2005)
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
for the first time. He made his major league debut for them the next day, on June 16, as a pinch hitter
Pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the ball is dead ; the manager may use any player that has not yet entered the game as a substitute...
against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. He finished his rookie season fourth among American League rookies in batting average at .293. He collected his first major league hit on June 19, 2001, against Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
' pitcher Tony Cogan
Tony Cogan
Anthony Michael Cogan is a retired American professional baseball pitcher. He played part of one season in Major League Baseball in 2001 for the Kansas City Royals. Cogan, who has been listed as 6' 2", bats and throws left-handed....
.
Rowand suffered a broken left shoulder blade and rib in a dirt bike accident in the 2002 off season and spent part of spring training recovering. In 2003, Rowand was sent down to the minor leagues after hitting .133 in his first 60 games, but after spending 32 games in the minors, he returned to hit in the Major Leagues, hitting .387 after his return.
2004 was his first season with close to 500 at bats and Rowand established himself as a regular starter for the first time in his career. Rowand showed patience at the plate and posted his second highest career on base percentage at .361.
On base percentage
In baseball statistics, on-base percentage is a measure of how often a batter reaches base for any reason other than a fielding error, fielder's choice, dropped/uncaught third strike, fielder's obstruction, or catcher's interference In baseball statistics, on-base percentage (OBP) (sometimes...
(OBP) and a .407 slugging percentage (SLG). He also collected 235 total bases. In 2005, at center field, he collected 388 putouts and had only three errors. He had a .978 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
.
The 2005 Chicago White Sox went on to win the World Series. In the postseason, he had a .267 batting average with 8 runs and 6 doubles. He also walked 4 times and had 1 stolen base.
Philadelphia Phillies (2006–2007)
Gio Gonzalez
Giovany A. Gonzalez is a left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics.-Early life:...
and Daniel Haigwood to the Philadelphia Phillies for first baseman Jim Thome
Jim Thome
James Howard "Jim" Thome is a Major League Baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is the eighth player to hit 600 home runs in the major leagues. He is widely considered a future Hall of Famer.-Cleveland Indians :...
.
On May 11, 2006, in the first inning of a game versus the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, Rowand made a spectacular play by smashing into the center field fence of Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park
Citizens Bank Park is a 43,647-seat baseball park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, and home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Citizens Bank Park opened on April 3, 2004, and hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 12 of the same year, with the...
face first at full speed in order to run down a deep fly ball off the bat of Xavier Nady
Xavier Nady
Xavier Clifford Nady VI is a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman, who is a free agent.-Amateur career:The St. Louis Cardinals originally drafted Nady in the 4th round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft after he was named Northern California Player of the Year in his senior...
with the bases loaded, that would otherwise have scored three runs. Rowand suffered a broken nose and severe lacerations to his face. The Phillies won the game, 2-0, in a rain-shortened 5-inning game. He underwent seven hours of surgery to repair the nose, and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. He returned to the starting lineup on May 27, 2006.
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, Rowand collided with second baseman Chase Utley
Chase Utley
Chase Cameron Utley is a second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. A native of the Greater Los Angeles area, he was raised in the city of Long Beach. He was a star baseball player at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, before moving on to UCLA...
and broke his ankle. He was on the disabled list for the remainder of the regular season.
2007, a contract year, proved to be Rowand's breakthrough, both statistically and in recognition around baseball. He finished with a batting average of .309, 27 home runs, 89 runs batted in, and 6 stolen bases. On July 10, 2007, Rowand was selected to the 2007 MLB All-Star Game in San Francisco, for his first All-Star appearance. In the bottom of the 9th, with the bases loaded, two outs, and the AL leading 5-4, Rowand flew out to Alex Ríos
Alex Ríos
Alexis Israel "Alex" Ríos is a Puerto Rican-American Major League Baseball outfielder who plays for the Chicago White Sox. He bats and throws right-handed.-Professional career:...
in right field to end the game helping give the American League home field advantage in the 2007 World Series
2007 World Series
-Game 1:Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at Fenway Park in Boston, MassachusettsThe Red Sox cruised to a blowout win in Game 1 behind ALCS MVP Josh Beckett, who struck out nine batters, including the first four he faced, en route to his fourth win of the 2007 postseason...
. He earned his first Gold Glove Award for his outfield play that year, including 11 outfield assists and only 2 errors all season.
San Francisco Giants (2008–2011)
Rowand signed a five year-$60 million contract with the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
on December 12, 2007.
In the face of dismal expectations for the rebuilding season, Rowand declared the next month that the Giants could win the division. Rowand's prediction did not come true, however, as the 2008 Giants struggled to a 72-90 finish. Rowand himself did not come close to his 2007 numbers with Philadelphia, as his OPS
On-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The ability of a player to both get on base and to hit for power, two important hitting skills, are represented. An OPS of .900 or higher in Major League...
dropped by over one hundred points to .749, below the .772 league average.
On May 25, 2008, Rowand hit his 100th career home run at Dolphin Stadium.
On July 10, 2009, with one out in the ninth inning, Rowand made a leaping catch at the center field wall to rob Edgar Gonzalez
Edgar Gonzalez (infielder)
Edgar Victor Gonzalez is a Major League Baseball infielder who is currently in the San Francisco Giants organization.-Tampa Bay Devil Rays:...
of a hit and preserve Jonathan Sánchez's
Jonathan Sanchez
Jonathan O. Sánchez is a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals....
no hitter.
On July 31, 2009, Rowand collected his 1,000th career hit at home against his former team, the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
On October 28, 2010, Rowand hit a 2 RBI triple in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game 2 of the 2010 World Series. He then scored off an Andres Torres
Andres Torres
Andrés "Yungo" Torres Jr. is a Major League Baseball outfielder with the San Francisco Giants. He has also played for the Detroit Tigers and the Texas Rangers.-Early life:...
RBI double to extend the Giants lead 9-0 over the Texas Rangers. The Giants won the series, and Rowand earned his second World Series championship.
Rowand was designated for assignment on August 31, 2011 after batting .233 with four home runs and 21 RBIs in 108 games during the 2011 season. He was released on September 8, 2011.
Personal life
He married Marianne Griffen on November 27, 1999, and has three children, Tatum (Aug. 10, 2001) and McKay (Dec. 5, 2004)Marisa Rowand ( July 26, 1995) \\ .When he was with the Phillies, Rowand and his family lived in Garnet Valley, which is in Delaware County
Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of 2010, the population was 558,979, making it Pennsylvania's fifth most populous county, behind Philadelphia, Allegheny, Montgomery, and Bucks counties....
, outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Since he signed with the Giants, he now resides in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada. Rowand is the first cousin of Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
pitcher James Shields.