He, his wife Carrie and sons Brett Walker (2/16/09) and Luke Thomas (8/26/11) reside in Wexford, PA during the offseason...Attended Point Park College in Pennsylvania...hit .367 (44x120) with 35 runs scored, 10 doubles, two triples, 15 RBI and 12 stolen bases in 38 games as a freshman in 1999...Earned NAIA All-American Honorable Mention and First-Team All-American Mideast Conference honors as a sophomore in 2000...hit .411 (65x158) with 58 runs scored, 15 doubles, three triples, 32 RBI and 23 stolen bases in 46 games...Played for Petersburg in the Coastal Plain League during the summer of 2000...garnered All-Star honors after batting .313 (57x182) with 30 runs scored, four doubles, three triples, 18 RBI and 28 stolen bases...Named a NAIA First-Team All-American, the American Mideast Conference Player of the Year and First-Team All-American Mideast Conference following his junior season in 2001...batted .450 (68x151) with 45 runs scored, nine doubles, two triples, two home runs, 45 RBI and 39 stolen bases in 45 games...Departed Point Park College as the school's all-time leading hitter with a .413 batting average and fourth all-time with 74 stolen bases...Inducted into the Point Park College Pioneer Athletic Hall of Fame on October 10, 2010...Participates with Tigers Dreams Come True, visited and interacted with patients at Children's Hospital of Michigan, named the recipient the 2013 Heart and Hustle Award for the Detroit Tigers as selected by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, attended "Keeping Kids in the Game" and participated in the Tigers Winter Caravan...Recommended/signed by Lou Laslo for the Tigers.
2014
Appeared in 95 games (36 starts) for Detroit last season; started at third base (13), right ?eld (8), center ?eld (6), left ?eld (5), and ?rst base (4)...Went 2x10 with a walk, run scored and RBI as a pinch hitter...Committed just two errors on season, one at ?rst base and one at third base.
2013
On the Tigers Opening Day roster for the fourth straight season in 2013, appearing in 111 games at six different positions with the club...Established a career-high with three walks on May 29 at Pittsburgh...Equaled a career-high with three RBI on June 9 versus Cleveland -- matched the high on August 9 at Cleveland...Batted .346 (9x26) with three runs scored, a home run and six RBI in June...Knocked a season-high three hits on July 4 at Toronto -- matched the high on August 6 at Cleveland and August 10 at New York's Yankee Stadium...Batted .229 (11x48) against lefthanded pitchers....hit .220 (37x168) with righties on the hill...Posted a .250 batting average (22x88) in 52 games at home...hit .203 (26x128) in 60 games on the road.
2012
Made the Tigers Opening Day Roster out of Spring Training for the third straight season in 2012.
... Equaled a career high with three RBI on April 19 versus Texas.
... Designated for assignment by the Tigers on August 3 -- his contract was outrighted to Triple A Toledo on August 9.
... Batted .280 (14x50) with two doubles, a home run and 10 RBI over a 13-game stretch August 12-24.
... Had his contract purchased from Toledo by the Tigers on September 1 -- saw action in 11 games during September
and October.
... Drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning with a sacrifice fly in Game Two of the American League
Division Series on October 7 -- entered the game in the eighth inning as a pinch-runner, and according to the Elias
Sports Bureau, he became the third player in major league history to deliver a walk-off RBI in a post-season game after
entering the game as a pinch-runner...joined New York's Aaron Boone (Game Seven of the 2003 American League
Championship Series versus Boston) and Houston's Chris Burke (Game Four of the 2005 National League Division
Series versus Atlanta) in accomplishing the feat.
2011
Completed his second full season at the major league level with the Tigers in 2011 after making the club's Opening Day
roster out of Spring Training for the second straight season...Saw action at seven different positions for the Tigers -- pitcher (one game), catcher (one game), first base (15 games),
third base (45 games), left field (17 games), center field (four games) and right field (39 games)...Batted .306 (11x36) in 17 games during May...Hit .308 (16x52) during a 17-game stretch June 6-26...Became the first Tigers position player to pitch in a game since Shane Halter did so on October 1, 2000 versus
Minnesota, doing so on June 29 versus the New York Mets -- retired the only batter he faced...Made his first career appearance behind the plate on July 2 versus San Francisco, catching the final six innings...Batted .343 (12x35) over a 12-game stretch September 2-21...Collected a season-high three hits on September 21 at Kansas City...Equaled a career high with three RBI on September 25 versus Baltimore...Hit .321 (17x53) with three doubles, a triple, three home runs and 12 RBI in 19 games during September.
2010
In his first full season at the major league level, he established career highs in nearly every offensive category as he
saw action at first base, third base, in left field, center field and right field for the Tigers during the 2010 season.
...Belted his first major league home run on April 21 at the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, a solo shot in the fifth inning
off Jered Weaver.
...Hit .333 (8x24) in 19 games during May.
...Established a career high with four hits on August 20 versus Cleveland.
...Batted .341 (14x41) with a double, four home runs and eight RBI in 21 games during August.
...Collected a career-high three RBI on September 6 versus the Chicago White Sox.
...Hit .276 (35x127) in 63 games at home...batted .207 (23x111) in 56 games on the road.
...Batted .220 (22x100) with one home run in 66 games prior to the all-star break...hit .261 (36x138) with eight home runs
in 53 games following the all-star break.
...Hit .286 (14x49) with runners in scoring position.
2009
Finished second in the International League with a .331 batting average for Triple A Toledo in 2009, while he was third
with a .404 on-base percentage...tabbed Toledo's Player of the Year...Selected to the International League's post-season all-star squad...Drove in a season-high five runs for Toledo on May 2 at Lehigh Valley...Compiled a 13-game hitting streak May 19-June 1, batting .490 (25x51) with five doubles, a home run and six RBI...Tabbed the International League Player of the Week for May 25-31 after hitting .556 (15x27) with four doubles and five
RBI in seven games...Earned Tigers Minor League Player of the Month honors for May after batting .365 (38x104) with seven doubles, three
triples, two home runs and 15 RBI in 29 games -- third in the International League with a .365 batting average during
the month...Had his contract purchased by the Tigers from Toledo on June 12...Hit safely in six of his seven games June 14-21, batting .476 (10x21) with two doubles and three RBI...Collected a career-high three hits on June 20 versus Milwaukee...Designated for assignment by the Tigers on July 8 -- had his contract outrighted to Toledo on July 9...Finished with a season-high four hits for Toledo on July 23 versus Syracuse -- equaled the high for the Mud Hens with
four hits on August 22 at Columbus...Finished ninth in the International League with a .337 batting average (35x104) in 29 games during August -- collected
six doubles, two triples, three home runs and 14 RBI during the month...Had his contract purchased by the Tigers from Toledo on September 5 -- saw action in 12 games with Detroit over the
remainder of the season.
2008
Spent the entire 2008 season with Triple A Tucson after signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks as a minor league free agent during the off-season...Second-hardest batter to strike out in the Pacific Coast League, fanning once every 10.89 plate appearances...Belted a season-high two home runs and collected a season-best four RBI on May 4 at Albuquerque -- matched the
high with four RBI on June 14 versus Colorado Springs...Collected a season-best five hits on August 14 at Colorado Springs...Hit .319 (36x113) with six doubles, a triple and 14 RBI in 28 games during August.
2006
Hit a combined .250 (111-for-444) with 25 doubles, four triples, 43 RBI and 53 runs scored in 124 games between Toledo (Tigers' AAA) and Erie (Tigers' AA)...Began season with Toledo...Made 50 appearances at shortstop, seven at second base, seven at first base and one as the designated hitter while playing with the Mud Hens...Went 1-for-12 in first four games before going 12-for-30 (.400) over his next eight contests...Had lone three-hit game with Toledo on 4/13 vs. Scranton/Wilkes Barre...Hit .217 (13-for-60) in first month of season before rebounding to hit .287 (27-for-94) in 26 games during the month of May...Knocked in a season-high four runs on 5/17 at Norfolk...Had a stolen base in six consecutive games (total of seven steals) from 5/2-9...Went 8-for-23 (.348) with three doubles, one triple and four RBI in five games from 5/15-19...Hit safely in eight straight games from 5/21-29, going 10-for-30 (.333) during the streak...Was optioned to Double-A on 7/4...Made 33 appearances at second base, 12 at shortstop, seven at third base, three at first base and two as the designated hitter with Erie...Went 3-for-5 with a double and three runs scored in second game with the SeaWolves...Hit safely in nine consecutive games from 8/8-16.
2005
Led all Detroit minor leaguers with a .311 avreage (152-for-489) while splitting season between Erie and Toledo...Was named to the Eastern League's post-season All-Star team...Was also tabbed by
Baseball America as the best hitting prospect in the Eastern League...Went deep twice in 4/7 contest vs. Trenton...Batted .349 (29-for-83) with six doubles, two triples, five home runs, 16 RBI and 18 runs scored in 22 games during the month of April...Hit safely in 13 consecutive games from 5/24 thru 6/5, going 25-for-54 (.463) with six doubles, one home run, six RBI and nine runs scored during the stretch...Was named the Tigers Minor League Player-of-the-Month for May after hitting .364 (39-for-107) with nine doubles, one home run, 15 RBI and 14 runs scored for the month...Hit .378 (17-for-45) over a 10-game hitting streak from 6/11-21...Knocked in 17 runs in a seven-game stretch from 6/15-22, which included a season-high five RBI on 6/15 vs. Akron...Was promoted to Triple-A Toledo on 6/30...Batted .236 (21-for-89) in 24 games for the Mud Hens before being placed on the disabled list with a left groin strain...Was reinstated from the disabled list and transferred back to Erie on 8/10...Was promoted back to Toledo for the remainder of the season on 8/15...Hit .300 (6-for-20) with two doubles, a triple and seven RBI in six games during the International League playoffs.
2004
Was limited to a combined 31 games between Erie and the Gulf Coast League Tigers...Opened the season as Erie's shortstop...Hit .233 (14-for-60) in 17 games during the month of April...Collected a season-high tying three hits on 5/14 at New Britain. ...Produced second three-hit game on 5/23 at Bowie...Was placed on the disabled list on 5/25 with a right shoulder nerve injury and was sidelined for the remainder of the season with the exception of a three game rehab stint with the GCL Tigers from 8/2-5.
2003
Led all Tigers farmhands in batting, hitting a combined .306 (118-for-386) between Lakeland (Tigers' A) and Erie...Tied for the third-best batting average among all shortstops in the minor leagues...Fanned once every 13.41 plate appearances between Lakeland and Erie, which ranked 13th in all of minor league baseball...Was named to the Florida State League mid-season and post-season All-Star teams...Fell nine plate appearances shy of leading the Florida State League in batting average and on-base percentage (.401)...Was rated by
Baseball America as having the best strike zone judgment in the Florida State League...Batted .346 (45-for-130) with runners on base with Lakeland...Had first of five four-hit games on 4/29 vs. Sarasota...Hit .326 (15-for-46) during the month of April...Reached base safely via a hit or walk in 36 straight games from 5/5 thru 6/17, the longest such streak in the Florida State League...Posted a 13-game hitting streak from 5/6-21, batting .438 (21-for-48) with two doubles, two triples and 10 RBI...Hit .472 with nine runs scored, two doubles, a triple, home run and seven RBI over the course of a 10-game hitting streak from 5/23-6/2...Homered and knocked in a season-high four runs on 5/31 vs. Sarasota...Was named the Tigers Minor League Player-of-the-Month for May after batting .362 (34-for-94) with three doubles, two triples, one home run, 16 RBI and 17 runs scored in 27 games...Led all Florida State League batters in batting average in May...Earned organization's player-of-the-month honors for a second straight month after hitting .319 (23-for-72) with six doubles, two triples, 10 RBI, 13 runs scored and seven stolen bases in June...Posted the 10th-best batting average in the Florida State League in June...Hit safely in nine straight games from 7/9-19, going 13-for-38 (.342) with three doubles and three RBI...Was promoted to Erie in early August...Collected three hits over his first 18 at bats in five games from 8/5-9...Hit .292 (19-for-65) from 8/10 thru 9/1 in final 17 games with Erie...Was named the 19th-best prospect in the Tigers organization following the season by
Baseball America.
2002
Spent entire season with West Michigan (Tigers' A)...Was the toughest batter to fan in the Midwest League and the 11th hardest in all of minor league baseball, striking out once every 13.10 plate appearances...Opened the season with a 10-game hitting streak, going 12-for-37 (.324) with four doubles, a triple and seven RBI from 4/4-13...Hit safely in 17 of his 18 games from 5/11 thru 6/1 after going 22-for-68 (.324) during the stretch...Had season-high five RBI on 5/15 at Dayton...Collected an RBI in six straight games (10 RBI total) from 5/27 thru 6/1...Collected a season-high four hits on 7/6 at Kane County...Hit .359 (28-for-78) with three doubles, 13 RBI and nine runs scored in 23 games during July...Put together his second 10-game hitting streak from 8/14-23 (12-for-33, .364)...Posted a .360 batting average (40-for-111) with runners in scoring position...Hit .438 (7-for-16) with six RBI, three runs scored and three stolen bases in the Midwest League playoffs.
2001
Made professional debut with Oneonta (Tigers' A) after being selected by Detroit in the eighth round of the First-Year Player Draft in June...Was the second-hardest batter to fan in the New York-Penn League and among all short season minor leaguers, fanning once every 18.25 plate appearances...Hit safely in nine of his 10 games from 6/26 thru 7/9, batting .341 (14-for-41) with four runs scored and three RBI...Tallied a season-high five hits on 7/22 vs. Vermont...Posted a season-high eight game hitting streak from 8/5-13, going 11-for-30 (.367) with two doubles, a triple, six RBI and eight runs scored.
