Power-hitting third baseman who played for the Colorado Rockies and Baltimore Orioles, known for his impressive slugging percentage and clutch hitting.
Garrett Atkins is a former American Major League Baseball third baseman who played for the Colorado Rockies and Baltimore Orioles between 2003 and 2010. He is best known for his impressive performance on the field, earning him a spot as a top contender for the Rookie of the Year award in 2005.
Atkins was born on December 12, 1979, in Orange County, California. He attended University High School in Irvine, California, where he excelled in baseball, earning him the title of Irvine World News All-City MVP as a senior. During his high school career, Atkins posted an impressive .557 batting average and set a school record with 13 home runs in a single season.
After high school, Atkins was recruited by several top colleges, including Pepperdine, USC, Oklahoma State, Cal State Fullerton, and UCLA. He chose to attend UCLA, where he majored in sociology and became the first three-time All-American in the university's history.
Atkins' college career was marked by his conversion from first base to third base, where he made 51 starts in 1998. However, in 1999, he returned to playing first base and led the team in hits. During his time at UCLA, Atkins was a teammate and roommate of future Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley.
In the summer of 1998 and 1999, Atkins played collegiate summer baseball for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL). He had an impressive stint with the Kettleers, hitting .383 in 1998 and earning the title of playoff MVP in 1999 after leading the team to the league championship.
In 2000, Atkins was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the fifth round (137th overall). He made his Major League debut in 2003, but it wasn't until 2004 that he started to gain traction, hitting .357 with 1 home run and 8 RBIs.
In 2005, Atkins won the Rockies' third base job, but his season was cut short due to a strained hamstring. He returned in April and went on to finish fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting after a season in which he topped NL rookies with 221 total bases and 31 doubles.
Today, Atkins is remembered as a talented third baseman who made a significant impact on the Colorado Rockies during his time with the team. His impressive performance on the field and his achievements in college and the minor leagues cement his place as one of the most promising players of his generation.
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