Garrett Atkins

Garrett Atkins
Garrett Atkins
Colorado Rockies – No. 27
	Third baseman
	Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
	August 3, 2003, for the Colorado Rockies
Career statistics ; (through 2008)
Batting average	.298
Home runs	89
Runs batted in	431
	Stats at Baseball Reference
Teams
	Colorado Rockies (2003-present);

Garrett Bernard Atkins (born December 12, 1979 in Template:City-state) has been the third baseman for the Major League Baseball team the Colorado Rockies since 2003. He bats and throws right-handed. In 2005, his 89 runs batted in led not only the Rockies, but all major league rookies as well. In 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.^[1] 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 1997 out of high school, Atkins elected to attend college instead.^[1] He was recruited by Pepperdine, USC, Oklahoma State, Cal State Fullerton and UCLA, choosing the latter. At UCLA, Atkins majored in sociology^[2] and became the first three-time All-American.^[1] 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 1998. However, in 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,^[3] and along with him, was one of only two Bruins to start every game. Atkins was drafted in 2000 out of UCLA by the Colorado Rockies in the fifth round (137th overall).^[3] 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.^[4] 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 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." ^[5]

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

^ ^a ^b ^c Troy E. Renck (2007-03-18). "With this sweet swing, hits just keep comin' - The Denver Post". Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-07-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
^ 2008-07-24 (2006-07-24). "Q & A with Garrett Atkins". Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-07-24. {{cite web}}: |author= has numeric name (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Text "ColoradoRockies.com: News" ignored (help)
^ ^a ^b Gerry Fraley (2007-10-05). "The friendship baseball made : rockymountainnews.com". Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-07-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
^ ESPN - Coors Field a truly unique environment - MLB
^ Thomas Harding (2008-08-18). "Helton's injury leaves void in clubhouse : mlb.com". Retrieved 2008-08-18. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

External links

Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs

Awards
Preceded by Ryan Church	National League Rookie of the Month June 2005	Succeeded by Zach Duke
Preceded by Chad Tracy	Topps Rookie All-Star Third Baseman 2005	Succeeded by Ryan Zimmerman

[urlWith_this_sweet_swing,_hits_just_keep_comin_-_The_Denver_Post-1] Troy E. Renck (2007-03-18). "With this sweet swing, hits just keep comin' - The Denver Post". Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-07-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[urlQ_&_A_with_Garrett_Atkins_|_ColoradoRockies.com:_News-2] 2008-07-24 (2006-07-24). "Q & A with Garrett Atkins". Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-07-24. {{cite web}}: |author= has numeric name (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Text "ColoradoRockies.com: News" ignored (help)

[urlThe_friendship_baseball_made_:_rockymountainnews.com-3] Gerry Fraley (2007-10-05). "The friendship baseball made : rockymountainnews.com". Archived from the original on 2008-07-24. Retrieved 2008-07-24. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

[4] ESPN - Coors Field a truly unique environment - MLB

[urlHelton's_injury_leaves_void_in_clubhouse_:_mlb.com-5] Thomas Harding (2008-08-18). "Helton's injury leaves void in clubhouse : mlb.com". Retrieved 2008-08-18. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

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