Was a member of the 1994 AAU National Championship squad...Graduated from Cincinnati's Sycamore High School in 1997...Attended the University of Cincinnati where he was a 2-time All American (2000 and 2001) and earned All-
Conference USA honors from 1999-2001...At the end of college career, was the Bearcats all-time leader with
53 homers, 279 runs, 206 walks and a .499 OBP and had the 2nd-highest AVG at .366...Hit .405 with 18 homers,
61 RBI and 81 runs scored as a senior in 2001...Named to the Conference USA All-Decade team in 2004...Played for Bourne of the Cape Cod League in 2000...Selected to the CCBL All-Star Team as a third baseman.
2012
Combined to hit .235 (103-for-438) with 19 HRs and 60 RBIs over 122 games for Boston and Chicago-AL...hit .275 (33-for-120) with 8 HRs vs. left-handed pitchers...Was acquired by the White Sox from the Red Sox on 6/24 with cash considerations in exchange for infielder Brent Lillibridge and pitcher Zach Stewart...his .235 average was a career low, and his 60 RBIs and 51 BBs were his fewest in a full season...Began the season with Boston, hitting .233 (34-for-146) with 4 HRs and 14 RBIs in 42 games...Made his seventh Opening Day start for Boston in 4/5 loss at Detroit...hit his second career grand slam in 4/26 win at Chicago-AL...Missed three straight games from 4/30-5/2 due to a stiff lower back...was placed on the 15-day disabled list on 5/2 (retroactive to 4/29) with a lower back strain...appeared in four rehabilitation games with Triple-A Pawtucket...returned from rehab and was reinstated from the DL on 5/22 (missed 22 team games)...Homered in his first game after returning from the DL in 5/22 loss at Baltimore, going 1-for-3...Was ejected by home plate umpire Doug Eddings in 6/8 loss vs. Washington (his fourth career ejection)...Appeared in his first game with the White Sox in 6/25 loss at Minnesota, going 1-for-4 and starting at 3B...batted .236 (69-for-292) with 15 HRs and 46 RBIs overall with Chicago-AL...started 80 games with Chicago-AL (78 at 3B, two at 1B)...Collected five game-winning RBIs in his first 14 games with the White Sox, the first Sox player to accomplish the feat since at least 1974 (credit: STATS LLC)...Hit safely in 14 of his first 19 games with the White Sox (.315, 23-for-73)...included was an eight-game hitting and RBI streak from 7/1-13 during which he batted .419 (13-for-31) with 3 HRs and 12 RBIs...Recorded a go-ahead RBI in four straight games from 7/1-5, becoming just the second White Sox player (also Paul Konerko, June 2011) to accomplish the feat...Went 3-for-6 with a solo HR, 3 R and 4 RBIs in his White Sox home debut in 7/3 win vs. Texas...joined Fred Eichrodt (4/22/31 vs. Cleveland) as the only players in franchise history with at least 3 H and 4 RBIs in their first home game (source: Elias)...Drove in the go-ahead run in each of his first three home games with Chicago-AL, becoming the only White Sox player since 1920 to accomplish the feat, according to Elias...Hit .250 (22-for-88) with 20 R, 3 doubles, 6 HRs and 19 RBIs in 24 July games, ranking among the AL leaders for the month in runs (tied for fourth), home runs (tied for eighth) and RBIs (tied for eighth)...Went 3-for-4 with 2 doubles in 7/16 loss in his first game back at Fenway Park...hit a three-run homer in 7/17 win at Boston, his sixth game-winning RBI in his first 18 games with Chicago-AL...Collected his 1,000th career hit in the eighth inning of 8/16 win at Toronto (Major League Baseball overturned an error ruling from earlier in the game, and he reached the milestone retroactively)...Hit a game-winning grand slam (third of his career) in the fifth inning of 8/21 win vs. the Yankees...according to Elias, became the first player since 1952 (Boston's Don Lenhardt) to hit a grand slam against and for one team in the same year...Played in his 1,000th career game in 8/22 win at Yankee Stadium...registered his 11th career multi-homer game in 9/12 loss vs. Detroit.
2011
Played a career-high 112 games (111 starts) at 3rd base...Earned 3rd-career All-Star
selection...Missed time down the stretch with 2 trips to the disabled list...Finished 3rd among AL leaders with 14 hit by pitch and 8th with 4.18 pitches per PA...Reached double digits in
HBP for the 5th straight season, passing Mo Vaughn (4, 1994-97) for the most 10+ HBP seasons in Sox history...Hit at a .311 clip (41-for-132) off left-handed pitching and .320 (71-for-222) at home...Posted a .301 AVG
(68-for-226) with runners on base and .339 (20-for-59) with RISP and 2 outs...Posted an AL-best .967 fielding pct. at 3rd base (9 errors/273 total chances) (min. 108 games)...3rd among AL
3rd basemen with a .799 zone rating and 4th with 87 putouts...Also had 5 starts at 1st base (6 games) and 4 at designated hitter, his 1st career starts at DH...Batted .357
(5-for-14) with a homer and 2 RBI as the DH...Limited to 120 games on the season due to August and September DL stints with a low back strain and a
sports hernia/left hip bursitis respectively...Marked his 2nd-lowest game total in a full season behind 2010
(102) when he had season-ending surgery in August (right thumb adductor muscle tear)...Played in only 3 of
the club's final 16 games of the season and none of the last 13...On 4/1 at TEX, made his 1st career Opening Day start at 3rd base, having started at 1st base in each of the
Red Sox previous 5 season openers...21 walks in April tied for 3rd-most in the AL and were 2 shy of club mark for that month (23 by Jason Bay in
2009, Manny Ramirez in 2002 and Dwight Evans in 1985)...Notched a season-long, 10-game hit streak from 5/11-22 over which he hit .405 (15-for-37) with 13 RBI.....Marked the 3rd-longest stretch of his career behind a 23-gamer, 5/5-6/1/07, and 12-game run, 7/23-8/5/08...Over 17 Interleague games, hit .383 (23-for-60) with 17 RBI, tied for the 4th-best mark in the AL and tied for
the 3rd-most RBI in that group...Reached 500th career RBI after a 3-RBI effort 5/20 vs. CHC, his 832nd Major League game...Since 1919 only
7 other Red Sox have reached 500 RBI that quickly: Ted Williams (569th game), Nomar Garciaparra (684th), Jim
Rice (707th), Jim Tabor (770th), Fred Lynn (784th), Mo Vaughn (791st) and Bobby Doerr (827th)...Set a club record with his 72nd career HBP on 5/21 vs. CHC, passing Mo Vaughn's previous mark (71)...Reached base in a season-high 26 straight games from 6/15-7/18, the 4th-longest such stretch of his career,
going 33-for-96 (.344) with 13 walks and 5 HBP...Reached in 50 of his last 59 games from the start of that
streak on 6/15 through the end of the season (55-for-215, .256, 29 BB, 7 HBP)...Drove in the only runs of the game with a 3-run homer in the 7th at TB on 6/15 as Josh Beckett tossed a
complete-game, 1-hit shutout...Tied career high for 4th time with 4 hits on 6/21 vs. SD (last 8/1/09 at BAL), going 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI...Named to the All-Star team by AL manager Ron Washington on 7/8, replacing NYY's Alex Rodriguez...Entered
the game as a defensive replacement at 3rd and singled in his only at-bat...Launched a game-tying solo shot in the 6th inning of the Red Sox eventual 3-2, walk-off win on 8/2 vs. CLE.....Was later ejected from that game by 1st base umpire Gerry Davis in the 8th inning...Placed on the 15-day disabled list on 8/18 with a low back strain...Appeared in 2 rehab games with Triple-A
Pawtucket on 8/30-31 before being activated on 9/2...Put on the 60-day DL before the last game of the season (9/28) due to a sports hernia/left hip bursitis, making
room on the 40-man roster for Clay Buchholz to be activated...After the season, underwent surgery to repair the sports hernia on 10/4.
2010
Limited to 102 games, his fewest since 2005 (44), after suffering a right thumb adductor
muscle tear in early August and undergoing season-endind surgery.
Scored 77 runs in his 102 games, tied for the 2nd most in the AL through his 8/2 season finale.
Finished tied for 10th in HBP with 10...Reached double digits in that category for the 4th straight season, tied
for the most in 10+ HBP seasons in Sox history with Mo Vaughn (1994-97).
Hit .404 (36-for-89) against left-handed pitching, 2nd in the Majors among hitters with at least 25 at-bats
against southpaws, and paced that group with a .798 slugging percentage vs. left-handers...The last American
Leaguer to slug at least .798 in a season against lefties (min. 25 AB) was Manny Ramirez in 2002 (.822).
Reached base safely in 86 of 100 games with a plate appearance, including a club season-high 27 straight
contests from 4/28-5/28...Was the 3rd-longest, on-base streak of his career and the longest by a Red Sox since
his career-high, 44-game run, 7/12-9/10/08.
Batted .319 (87-for-273) with 19 doubles, 16 homers and 50 RBI in 79 games from 5/1 through his last game
of the season (8/2) and ranked 2nd in the Majors with a .428 on-base percentage in that time.
Finished among AL July leaders in times on base (T-7th, 44), total bases (10th, 54), hits (T-11th, 32) and batting
average (13th, .340).
Hit a 2-out RBI double to tie the game in the 9th inning and a walk-off sacrifice fly in the 11th to beat Texas,
3-2, on 7/17...Became the 1st Red Sox player to notch both a game-tying RBI in the 9th and a game-winning
RBI in extra innings since David Ortiz on 8/16/05 at DET (solo homer in 9th, 3-run shot in 10th).
Intentionally walked to load the bases in the 9th inning on 7/31 vs. DET and came around to score the winning
run on David Ortiz's walk-off double...Marked his 500th career run and also recorded his 200th career
double in that game, his 789th career contest...Since at least 1920, Nomar Garciaparra (665 games), Fred Lynn
(786) and Ted Williams (786) are the only players to reach those marks for the Red Sox in fewer games.
Left after the 2nd inning on 8/2 vs. CLE after jamming his thumb and was placed on the 15-day disabled list
on 8/3...Underwent season-ending surgery on 8/6 to address a right thumb adductor muscle tear...The procedure
was performed by Dr. Thomas Graham at the Cleveland Clinic...Transferred to the 60-day DL on 9/13 when
Rich Hill was selected from Triple-A Pawtucket.
2009
Named Red Sox MVP by the Boston chapter of the BBWAA and selected as an All-Star
for the 2nd-straight year...Placed 6th in American League MVP voting...Finished among AL leaders in on-base percentage (2nd, .413), OPS
(2nd, .961), batting with RISP (4th, .362), hit by pitch (4th, 16), slugging
(5th, .548) and day batting (9th, .329)...16 hit by pitch also marked a career high...Was the highest total by a
Red Sox batter since Kevin Millar's 17 in 2004...Reached double digits
in that category for the 3rd straight season, 2nd-most in Sox history
behind Mo Vaughn (4 times, 1994-97)...Also set career highs with 7 stolen bases and 125 strikeouts...Hit .381 (24-for-63) with runners in scoring position and 2 outs, the
4th-best mark in the league and highest by a Red Sox hitter since Scott
Hatteberg (.409) and Nomar Garciaparra (.396) in 2000...Had 4 multi-homer games for 2nd straight year...Tied for 3rd in AL
behind only the Rangers Ian Kinsler (5) and Angels Kendry Morales (5)...Reached base in 118 of 136 tilts, with hits in 95 of those contests...Played 78 games at first base (77 GS), 63 at third base (56 GS) and
made 2 starts in left field...Appeared at both first and third base in the same game on 9 occasions...Combined to post a .992 fielding percentage (6 E/778 TC) while playing the 3 positions...Tallied multiple hits in 7 of BOS's 1st 8 games (.500, 16-for-32) and batted at a .393 clip (35-for-89) through
his 1st 25 games before landing on the DL...Belted 2nd career, walk-off homer on 4/24 vs. the Yankees, a solo shot off Damaso Marte in the 11th...Was
the 1st Red Sox batter to hit an extra-inning, walk-off homer vs. NYY since Jim Gosger, 6/4/66 (16th inning)...Landed on the 15-day disabled list on 5/12 (retro to 5/5) with a left oblique strain...Played in 2 rehab games
for Triple-A Pawtucket before being activated on 5/20...Named to the AL All-Star team for the 2nd-consecutive year...Finished 2nd in fan voting at first base with
3,069,906 votes, behind NYY's Mark Teixeira (3,309,050)...Singled off Heath Bell in only at-bat, pinch-hitting
for Jonathan Papelbon in the 8th inning of the 7/14 contest at Busch Stadium in STL...Reached base safely in 13 consecutive plate appearances from 7/31-8/2...Was the longest such streak in the
Majors since SD's Brian Giles reached in 13 straight in June 2005...Ejected in the 2nd inning on 8/11 vs. DET by home plate umpire Brian O'Nora for charging Tigers pitcher Rick
Porcello after being hit by a pitch...Received a 5-game suspension for the incident, served 8/12-16...Prior to the season, agreed to a 4-year contract with BOS with a club option for 2013...In March, played in 6 games for the United States in the World Baseball Classic...Went 4-for-22 (.182) with
3 homers, 6 RBI and 9 runs...On 12/29, was presented with the Dick Berardino Lowell Spinners Alumni Award, given annually to a Lowell
Spinners alumnus who has displayed tremendous coachability, dedication, a passionate work ethic, determination
and the heart to make it to the Major League level...
2008
Led all A.L. qualifiers with an RBI every 4.68 at-bats...Finished 3rd in slugging at .569,
4th in extra-base hits at 76 and in RBI at 115, and 6th in batting at .312 (168-for-538)...Also ranked
among the league leaders in sacrifice flies (T3rd, 9), on-base percentage (6th, .390), doubles (T7th,
43), multi-hit games (T8th, 52), and total bases (8th, 306).
Led the club in homers, RBI, slugging and on-base percentage and was 2nd in average, games
(144), hits (168), doubles, and total bases...Established career highs for average, hits, total bases,
homers, RBI, and slugging...Started 109 games at first base and 32 at 3rd base.
Became just the 3rd modern major leaguer (since 1901) ever to bat over .300 with more than
100 RBI during a season in which he spent at least 30 games at both first and 3rd base...St. Louis'
Albert Pujols (2001) and Cleveland's Al Rosen (1954) are the only other players to accomplish the
feat.
MVP VOTE: Finished 3rd in 2008 A.L. MVP voting as conducted by the Baseball Writers Association
of America...Received 201 points (2 firsts, 4 2nds, 4 3rds), trailing Dustin Pedroia (317 points)
and Minnesota's Justin Morneau (257 points)...Joined Morneau as the only players named on all
ballots...With Pedroia became the first pair of teammates to finish among the top 3 in A.L. MVP
voting since Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki (first) and Bret Boone (3rd) in 2001 and the first Red Sox duo
to do so since Roger Clemens (first) and Jim Rice (3rd) in 1986.
BATTING: Set a career high with a .312 batting average...Started hitting .378 (28-for-74) in his first 19 games through April 20...Went 3-for-34 over his next 10
contests, falling to .287 through May 2...Then went on a .394
(26-for-66) tear in next 16 games before a .197 (12-for-61) slide
in the following 16 contests left him at .294 on June 10...Hit
.327 (99-for-303) over his final 82 games, going over the .300
mark for good on June 12...Finished with a .333 (15-for-45) average
over final 14 games and was 7-for-17 with 3 homers and
8 RBI in 6 games on final homestand.
Hit safely in 101 of 143 games with a plate appearance, reaching
safely in 124 contests...Was on base via a hit, walk, or hit
by pitch in 44 consecutive games from July 12-September 10,
the longest such streak in the majors in 2008 and the longest
by a Red Sox since Wade Boggs, 57 games from May 27-July 31,
1985...Season-high hitting streak was 12 games, July 23-August
5...Posted a season-high 4 hits, June 27 at Houston.
BY THE NUMBERS: Ranked 6th among A.L. qualifiers with a .374
(55-for-147) average with runners in scoring position and was
7th with a .344 (53-for-154) mark in day games...Had league's
6th-best average versus righthanders at .318 (138-434)...Batted
.400 (22-for-55) in interleague play.
HOME RUNS/RBI: His 29 homers were the most for a Red Sox
righthanded batter other than Manny Ramirez (6 times with
29+) and Nomar Garciaparra (3 times) since Nick Esasky (30) in
1989...Hit 23 homers while playing first base, most for a Red
Sox since Mo Vaughn (36) in 1998...Homered every 18.55 atbats,
10th best ratio in the league.
Hit 2 homers in a game 4 times, tying Detroit's Miguel Cabrera
and Chicago's Carlos Quentin for the 2nd-most multi-HR games
in the A.L. behind Cleveland's Grady Sizemore (5): April 22 vs.
Los Angeles; June 22 vs. St. Louis; August 2 vs. Oakland; and
August 12 vs. Texas...Had 3 game-winning homers in the 8th
inning or later: June 14 at Cincinnati (10th inning); June 22 vs.
St. Louis (walk-off in 13th inning); and August 12 vs. Texas (8th
inning)...Connected his first career grand slam, July 12 vs. Baltimore...
Had 6 homers in 7 games, May 4-10.
Had 32 multi-RBI games, 3rd most in the A.L. behind Texas' Josh
Hamilton (40) and Minnesota's Justin Morneau (33)...Had 65 RBI in final 61 games beginning July
9 with 14 in first 6 games of that span...Drove in a career-high 6 runs, July 12 vs. Baltimore.
IN THE FIELD: Ranked 5th among A.L. qualifiers with a .996 (4 E/1014 TC) fielding percentage in
125 games at first base...Error on June 7 was first at that position since July 4, 2006 at Tampa Bay,
a major league record span of 238 errorless games and 2,002 total chances without an error...
Fielded .969 (3 E/96 TC) in 35 games at 3rd base...Played 1st and 3rd base in the same game 19
times...Also appeared defensively twice in right field.
Odds and ends: Missed time during the season with sore right hand and back spasms...Batted
in the 2nd through 6th spots in the order.
2007
SUMMARY: Finished 2nd on the club in on-base percentage (.390) and 3rd in walks (77), ranking
12th and 15th, respectively among A.L. players...Tied for 3rd on the Red Sox in runs (85) and
placed 4th in batting average (.288), games (145-tied), at bats (528), hits (152), and RBI (83)...Established
career bests for average, homers and RBI...Started 124 games at 1st base and 12 at 3rd
base...Selected as the 2007 recipient of the Jackie Jensen Award for spirit and determination by
the Boston BBWAA chapter.
SEASON BREAKDOWN/LONG STREAK: Hit .242 in season's 1st 17 games through April 23 before
going on a .407 (55-135) tear in his next 32 contests, improving to .353 on June 1...Hit safely in 23
straight games from May 5-June 1, tied for the 3rd longest streak in the majors in 2007...Batted
.426 (43-for-101) with 13 doubles, 6 home runs, 21 RBI and 21 runs during the streak...Played in
21 games at first base during that span for the 2nd longest streak ever by a Red Sox first baseman
(George Burns, 23 in 1922)...Collected at least 2 hits in 17 of the 23 games...Had multi-hits in 9
straight games from May 20-29, tied with Jim Rice (1978) for the longest such streak ever by a Red
Sox...Reached a season best .358 on May 29.
Was still as high as .335 through June 26, then went 7-for-45 in next 15 games to drop to .309 on
July 20...Had a .292 (21-72) average in net 18 games and was still at .306 on August 8...Batted
.235 (32-136) in final 41 contests...Had season best 3 hits on 5 occasions.
MR. MAY: Was a unanimous selection as the Red Sox Player of the Month for May, as voted on by
the writers and broadcasters that travel with the club on a regular basis...Ranked among major
league leaders (minimum 60 at-bats) for the month in batting average (2nd, .402), on-base percentage
(7th, .447) and doubles (T1st, 13)...Hit safely in 25 of his 26 May games, including each of
his final 22, with 6 homers, 22 RBI and 23 runs scored.
DEFENSE: Among A.L. 1st baseman, ranked 4th in assists (90) and 6th in total chances
(1080)...Fielded .921 (3 E/38 TC) in 13 total games at 3rd base...Career fielding percentage at 3rd
is .960 (11 E/276 TC) in 118 games.
2007 NOTES: Was out of the lineup for 5 straight games from July 4-8 with tightness in his left
quad...Sat out 7 games with a bruised right wrist after being hit with a Chien-Ming Wang pitch
on September 15 vs. New York...Batted in every spot in the order except leadoff and 9th, seeing
most of action in the No. 2 hole (.305 in 64 games)...Batted .329 (49-149) with runners in scoring
position, .350 (7-20) with the bases loaded...Had .340 average (83-244) with runners on base...Hit
.364 (12-33) with 4 homers when putting the 1st pitch of an at-bat in play...Ranked 3rd among A.L. 1st basemen with an .845 OPS...Was hit by 15 pitches, 6th most in the A.L....Struck out at
least once in 14 straight games from August 8-22 (20 K's total)...Struck out 75 times in his final 85
games beginning June 14 after fanning just 30 times in his first 60 contests...Legged out his 1st
career inside-the-park home run on May 28 vs. Cleveland, the 1st by a Red Sox since Trot Nixon
on July 15, 2005 vs. the Yankees...Homered in back-to-back game on 2 occasions, May 19-20 and
May 28-29.
DEFENSIVE EXCELLENCE: In 2007, became the 1st qualifying
1st baseman in American League history to compile a 1.000
fielding percentage, handling 1,080 total chances without an
error in 135 games/124 starts... San Diego's Steve Garvey, who
handled 1,319 errorless chances over 159 games in 1984, is
the only other qualifier ever with a 1.000 fielding percentage
at 1st base...Youkilis' 135 consecutive errorless games in 2007
were an American League record surpassing Tampa Bay's Travis
Lee (121), May 9-September 28, 2003...Since committing
his last error on July 4, 2006 at Tampa Bay, has handled 1,587
chances and played in 190 games...The latter is an American
League record (previous being Mike Hegan, 178 from 1970-
73) and 3 shy of the major league mark, set by Garvey from
June 26, 1983-April 14, 1985...The major league record for
consecutive errorless chances is 1,700 by Stuffy McInnis, who
accomplished that feat with Boston and Cleveland from May
31, 1921-June 2, 1922.
Has a career fielding percentage of .998 (5 E/2238 TC) in 271 games at 1st base, the highest figure
in major league history among all players with at least 250 games at 1B.
SOLID GOLD: Was selected as the 1st baseman on the 2007 American League Rawlings Gold Glove
Team...Was just the 2nd Red Sox 1st baseman to ever earn a Gold Glove, joining 3-time recipient
George Scott (1967; 1968; 1971)...The voting is conducted by American League managers and
coaches...Was only the 2nd Boston player to earn a Gold Glove in the last 16 seasons (beginning
1992) with catcher Jason Varitek being honored in 2005.
REACHING BASE: Has compiled a .385 on-base percentage over the last 2 seasons, 12th highest
among all A.L. players in that span...Ranked 11th in the league with a .390 figure in 2007 and
tied for 14th at .381 in 2006.
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE: Is averaging 4.34 pitches per plate appearance in 2006-07, 2nd in the
majors in that period behind Bobby Abreu (4.42) among players with at least 1,000 PA...Overall
has seen 5670 pitches the last 2 seasons, 4th in the majors behind Abreu (6116), Grady Sizemore
(6114), and Jimmy Rollins (5806)... Ranked 5th in the A.L. with an average of 4.27 pitches seen per
plate appearance and was 11th with 2,666 total pitches seen in 2007...Led the A.L. with an average
of 4.42 pitches faced per plate appearance in 2006 and ranked 2nd with 3,004 total pitches
seen, 9 less than Sizemore.
POSTSEASON PLAY: Had a .388 (19-49) batting
average with 4 homers and 10 RBI while seeing action
in all 14 of Boston's 2007 playoff games...Was
the 5th highest average ever for a Red Sox player
in a single post-season (35 or more PA)...Scored 16
runs, matching the most ever for a Red Sox and
matched the 4th most hits...Hit safely in 10 of the
1st 11 playoff games and was hitting .442 (19-43)
through the 5th inning of World Series Game 1...
Was hitless in final 6 trips...Started 1st 12 games
of the post-season at 1st base and was a defensive
replacement for David Ortiz in Games 3 and 4 of
the World Series in Colorado.
Went 3-for-12 with 2 RBI and Game 1 homer off John Lackey in the ALDS versus Los Angeles...Hit safely in all 7 ALCS games against Cleveland at
.500 (14-28) with 3 homers and 7 RBI...Tied Hideki Matsui and Albert Pujols (both 2004) for the
most hits ever in an LCS and set an ALCS record with 10 runs...Established ALCS 7-game series
marks for highest batting average, on-base percentage (.576), and slugging (.929)...Homered in
Games 4, 5, and 7...Drove in 3 runs in Game 5 and had 3 hits in each of final 2 LCS contests...Committed
error at 1st base in Game 4...Was 2-for-9 with one RBI in the World Series.
2006
SUMMARY: Spent his first full season in the majors,
batting .279 with 42 doubles, 13 home runs, 72 RBI,
100 runs and 91 walks in 147 games...batted at least
once in every spot in the batting order except 9th...started 117 games at first, 17 in left and 10 at third.
CHECKING THE LEADERBOARD: Youkilis in 2006
ranked among American League leaders in walks (7th
with 91), doubles (8th with 42), runs scored (T14th
with 100) and on-base percentage (T14th at .381).
A WORTHY SACRIFICE: Tied for the major league
lead with 11 sacrifice flies, one shy of the club record
shared by Jackie Jensen (1955 and 1959) and Jimmy
Piersall (1956).
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE: Led the A.L. with an average
of 4.42 pitches faced per plate appearance and
ranked 2nd with 3,004 total pitches seen (Grady
Sizemore, 3,013)...only Bobby Abreu (4.45) saw more
pitches per plate appearance in the majors.
LEADING THE WAY: Posted a .385 on-base percentage
(112 hits, 63 walks, 5 HBP in 467 plate appearances)
in 95 games as Boston's leadoff hitter, the majors'
2nd-best figure from that spot in the order (Toronto's
Reed Johnson, .391).
Youkilis had 4 homers to lead off the game in 2006,
also the first 4 of his career...he is just the 6th Red Sox
in club history to hit at least 4 leadoff homers in a season,
joining Nomar Garciaparra (7 in 1997), Dwight
Evans (5 in 1985), Mike Andrews (4 in 1970), Tommy
Harper (4 in both 1972 and 1973), Bernie Carbo (4 in 1975) and Ellis Burks (4 in 1987).
On July 2 at Dolphin Stadium, both Youkilis and Florida's Hanley Ramirez led off the game with
a homer...the Red Sox were last involved in a game in which both teams hit a leadoff homer on
July 15, 1999, when Jose Offerman led off the game for the Red Sox and Doug Glanville led off
for the Phillies at Fenway Park.
CLUTCH PERFORMER: Led the club and tied for 8th in the A.L. with a .375 (24-for-64) batting
average with runners in scoring position and 2 outs...boasted a .524 on-base percentage with
runners in scoring position and 2 outs, the 4th-best figure in the A.L...also led the team with a
.325 (40-for-123) mark overall with men in scoring position...hit .305 (25-for-82) in close-and-late
situations...went 4-for-13 (.308) with the bases loaded.
TALE OF 2 HALVES: Batted .297 (94-for-317) with 10 homers and 43 RBI in 83 games before the
All-Star break and .258 (65-for-252) with 3 homers and 29 RBI in 64 games after the break...was
hitting .318 (88-for-277) with 9 home runs and 38 RBI in his first 72 games through June 28, but
hit just .243 (71-for-292) over his final 75 contests...batted .299 (26-for-87) in April, .333 (33-for-99) in May, .309 (30-for-97) in June, .236 (25-for-106) in July, .274 (29-for-106) in August and .216 (16-for-74) in September.
ON THE DEFENSIVE: Appeared in 127 games at first base, 18 in left field and 16 at third base...committed 5 errors at first, 3 at third and none in left...ranked 4th among A.L. first basemen with
a .995 fielding percentage...his action in left field came mainly when Manny Ramirez was out of
the lineup with soreness in his right knee...marked the first outfield experience of Youkilis' major
league career...made his debut in left on May 27 and started 15 games at that position from August
27 through the end of the season.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Batted .310 (91-for-294) in 74 games at Fenway but only .247 (68-for-275)
in 73 games on the road...renowned for his patience at the plate, still hit .364 (12-for-33) when
putting the first pitch of an at-bat in play...batted .386 (22-for-57) on an 0-1 count...hit .296 (119-for-402) at night but just .240 (40-for-167) in day games.
MORE 2006 HIGHLIGHTS: Dates of his 4 leadoff home runs: April 19 vs. Tampa Bay off Doug
Waechter; May 5 vs. Baltimore off Rodrigo Lopez; June 17 at Atlanta off Lance Cormier; and July 2
at Florida off Josh Johnson...had a season-high 3 hits in a game 9 times, last on August 3 vs. Cleveland...scored 3 runs in a game on 3 occasions, last on September 10 vs. Kansas City...had a seasonhigh
3 RBI 4 times...had 3 games with 3 or more walks, including a career-high 4 free passes on
July 9 at Chicago...that July 9 contest also saw the last of his 5 stolen bases on the season...legged
out 2 triples: May 20 at Philadelphia and September 24 at Toronto.
2005
SUMMARY: Split the year between Boston and
Pawtucket, appearing in 44 games during 5
stints with the Red Sox and in 43 games during
4 stints with the PawSox...with Boston, batted
.278 (22-for-79) with 7 doubles, a home run
and 9 RBI...with Pawtucket, finished at .322
(49-for-152) with 15 doubles, a triple, 8 homers and 27 RBI...September 18 vs. Baltimore,
fractured the tip of the ring finger on his right
hand fielding a ground ball...did not play again
until October 2, the final day of the regular season, when he went in the field but did not bat.
UPS AND DOWNS: On the Opening Day roster
for the first time in his career, Youkilis was
optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket April 13, when
Curt Schilling was activated from the 15-day
D.L...was recalled April 30 before again being
optioned July 10...returned to the big leagues
July 18, but was optioned back to Triple-A 2
days later without having appeared in a
game...was recalled August 8 only to again be optioned to Pawtucket August 16...was
recalled for the final time August 31.
PLAYING THE FIELD: Made 23 appearances (14 starts) at third base, while also playing
9 games (5 starts) at first base and 2 games (one start) at second...had not previously
played first or second in the majors...made his first appearance and start at first base
May 16 at Oakland...appeared as a defensive replacement at second September 2 vs.
Baltimore before making his first career start at the position the next night...did not
commit an error in 88 chances (48 at third base, 38 at first base and 2 at second base).
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE: Saw an average of 4.68 pitches per plate appearance, most by
any Red Sox player with at least 50 at-bats...in parts of 2 seasons in the majors, have
averaged 4.60 pitches seen per plate appearance.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Batted .300 (9-for-30) with a homer and 3 RBI off lefties and .265
(13-for-49) with 6 RBI off righthanders...hit just .182 (6-for-33) at Fenway Park, while
batting .348 (16-for-46) on the road...was a .326 (14-for-43) batter at night and a .222
(8-for-36) hitter by day...batted .311 (14-for-45) with men on base...batted .360 (9-for-25) with 5 RBI in 14 games against A.L. West foes...batted at least once from all 9 spots
in the batting order, with a high of 18 at-bats out of the 9 hole.
MORE 2005 HIGHLIGHTS: Started at third base and went 1-for-2 with a walk April 10 at
Toronto in his lone action before being optioned to Pawtucket for the first time...recalled
from Pawtucket earlier in the day, went 3-for-5 with a double and 2 RBI in a 9-2 win April
30 at Texas...May 4 at Detroit, ripped a one-out RBI single off Kyle Farnsworth in the top
of the 8th, snapping a 3-3 tie in a 4-3 win...in 5 games through May 4, was batting .467
(7-for-15) with 4 RBI...batted .234 (15-for-64) with 5 RBI in 38 games the rest of the
way...came up a triple short of the cycle June 12 at Chicago (NL)...homered in the first off
Glendon Rusch to ignite and 8-1 win, his lone major league long ball of 2005.
PAWSOX HIGHLIGHTS: Went 3-for-5 with 2 doubles and an RBI July 14 at Ottawa...2 days later went 3-for-3 with his first PawSox homer of 2005...was 2-for-4 with a double and 3 RBI July 22 vs. Ottawa...collected 5 doubles in a July 26 doubleheader at Buffalo, finishing the day 5-for-10 with 3 RBI...went 6-for-8 with 3 homers, 5 RBI and 5 runs scored in consecutive games August 5 at Syracuse and August 6 at Buffalo...belted a pair of homers in the August 6 game, going 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and 4 runs scored...batted .418 (33-for-79) with 11 doubles, 6 homers and 18 RBI in 22 games with the PawSox
during his July 13-August 7 stay...was 2-for-3 with a homer, 3 walks and 2 RBI August
27 at Rochester.
2004
SUMMARY: In just his 3rd full professional season, made his major league debut and appeared in 72 games for the Red Sox...batted .260 with 7 long
balls and 35 RBI, starting 55 games at third base...was named the club's Rookie of the Year by the Boston chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
YOUTH SHALL BE SERVED: Youkilis
ranked among A.L. rookie leaders in
on-base percentage (2nd at .367),
walks (2nd with 33), batting average
(4th at .260), RBI (4th with 35), slugging (4th at .413), runs (4th with 38),
home runs (tied for 5th with 7), total
bases (6th with 86), hits (7th with 54),
doubles (8th with 11), multi-hit games
(8th with 13) and extra-base hits (tied
for 8th with 18).
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: After opening
the year at Triple-A Pawtucket was
recalled May 15 and made his major league debut that afternoon, starting at third base in
Toronto...went 2-for-4 with a 4th-inning homer off Pat Hentgen for his first M.L. hit...became
just the 7th player in club history to hit a homer in his first major league game, the first
since Sam Horn on July 25, 1987 at Seattle...the other 5 to turn the trick are Danny
Sheaffer (April 9, 1987), Merl Combs (September 12, 1947), Eddie Pellagrini (April 22,
1946), Ben Steiner (April 17, 1945) and Lefty LeFebvre (June 10, 1938)...Youkilis was
the first Red Sox to homer for his first big league hit since Creighton Gubanich slugged a
grand slam May 3, 1999 at Oakland off Jimmy Haynes.
NICE START: Reached base in each of his first 10 major league games, batting .286 (8-for-28) with 11 runs, a homer, 3 RBI and a .447 on-base percentage...went 2-for-4 with
a pair of doubles and 3 RBI May 28 vs. Seattle, the first multi-RBI game of his career...was
named A.L. Rookie of the Month for May, batting .318 (14-for-44) with a homer, 7 RBI, 15
runs scored, a .446 OBP and a .477 slugging percentage in 13 games.
CLUTCH HITTING: Hit .339 (19-for-56) with runners in scoring position, including a .361
mark (13-for-36) with men in scoring position and less than 2 outs...among A.L. qualifiers,
Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners led the league with a .372 average with runners in scoring
position...Johnny Damon led the Red Sox with a .355 mark.
FILLING IN NICELY: Made 30 starts at third base while regular third baseman Bill Mueller
was on the disabled list (right knee inflammation) from May 20 through July 1...hit .284
(31-for-109) with 9 doubles, 2 homers, 18 RBI, 23 runs scored, 19 walks and a .397 on-base percentage in 32 games in Mueller's absence...appeared in just 39 games after
Mueller's July 2 return, batting .209 (19-for-91) with 4 homers, 16 RBI and 14 runs
scored...started only 22 of the 39 contests in that span.
BRUISED BONES: Was placed on the 15-day D.L. August 17 (retroactive to August 16)
with a bone bruise in his right ankle suffered in a home-plate collision with White Sox
catcher Sandy Alomar Jr. August 15...was activated from the D.L. September 1...hit just
.133 (4-for-30) in 16 games following his return.
MORE 2004 HIGHLIGHTS: Matched his season high with 3 hits June 16 at Colorado, going
3-for-4 with a homer off Jason Jennings, 2 RBI, 2 runs scored and a walk...collected
Boston's lone hit off San Francisco's Jason Schmidt June 20, a double to lead off the
6th...notched a career-high 4 RBI June 25 vs. the Phillies...posted a career-best 7-game
hitting streak from June 20-July 1, batting .417 (10-for-24)...recorded his first-career
2-homer game August 8 at Detroit, matching his career highs with 4 RBI, 3 runs and 3
hits.
IN THE POSTSEASON: Was on the roster for the ALDS vs. Anaheim and the World Series
vs. St. Louis...went 0-for-2 in Game 2 of the ALDS in his only post-season action.
2003
SUMMARY: Began the season at Double-A Portland, where he hit .327 with 23 doubles,
6 homers, 37 RBI and 74 runs in 94 games prior to a July 29 promotion to Triple-A
Pawtucket...led the Eastern League with a .487 on-base percentage and ranked 3rd in
batting...drew 86 walks and fanned only 40 times, good for a ratio of 2.15 walks for every
K...reached base safely in 92 of 94 games with the Sea Dogs, for whom he made 93 starts
at third base and one as DH...appeared in the All-Star Futures Game July 13 at Chicago's
U.S. Cellular Field, walking in his only plate appearance and stealing a base...3 days
later, got the start at second base in the July 16 Eastern League All-Star Game, going 1-
for-4 with a walk...reached base safely in his first 9 games with Pawtucket following his
promotion...overall with the PawSox, hit .165 with 2 homers and 15 RBI in 32 games.
ELITE STREAK: Reached base safely via hit, walk or hit by pitch in 71 straight games May
19-August 4 between Portland and Pawtucket, the longest streak in professional baseball
since Kevin Millar reached in 71 straight over parts of 3 seasons with Double-A
Portland, Triple-A Charlotte and Triple-A Calgary in the Marlins chain from 1997-99...Youkilis began the run by reaching in his last 62 games with the Sea Dogs and then
reached in his first 9 games after being promoted to Pawtucket...in major league history,
only 2 streaks have outlasted Youkilis' 2003 run: Ted Williams reached safely in 84
straight games in 1949, and Joe DiMaggio reached in 74 straight games in 1941...Youkilis
previously reached in 49 straight games for short-season Single-A Lowell in 2001.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: With the Sea Dogs, hit .338 (52-for-237) with 4 homers and 30
RBI vs. righties and .293 (22-for-75) with 2 homers and 7 RBI vs. lefties...24 of his 30
extra-base hits came vs. righthanders...had 7 stolen bases and was not caught stealing...hit
.319 (52-for-163) with one homer and 20 RBI in 51 games at Hadlock Field and .336
(50-for-149) with 5 homers and 17 RBI in 43 road games...had 23 multi-hit games, 18
multi-walk games and 63 games where he reached base safely at least twice...hit .351
(47-for-134) with runners on base...struck out 6 times in his first 3 games (13 at-bats)
and just 34 times over his final 91 games (299 at-bats)...5 of his 6 homers were solo
shots...hit .293 (34-for-119) with one homer and 11 RBI out of the No. 2 spot in the order
and .352 (68-for-193) out of the No. 3 spot...closed out his stay at Portland by hitting
.400 (34-for-85) in July to raise his batting average to .327 from .300.
MORE 2003 HIGHLIGHTS: Scored 3 runs and knocked in 3, his single-game high as a Sea
Dog, in a 13-3 win April 13 vs. Trenton...drew a walk in a season-best 8 straight games
3 different times...matched his season-high with 3 hits June 11 vs. Norwich, going 3-for-4 with a double, homer, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored...scored a run in 8 straight games June
28-July 4, crossing the plate 12 times in that stretch...had 7 hits in a 3-game span July
7-9...closed out his stint with the Sea Dogs with a season-best 11-game hitting streak
July 19-28...picked up his first Triple-A hit, a single, in Game 2 of a July 29 doubleheader
vs. Ottawa...clubbed a 7th-inning game-winning grand slam August 15 at Ottawa, snapping
a 4-4 tie en route to an 8-5 win.
2002
SUMMARY: Climbed through 3 levels of the Sox organization, starting at Single-A Augusta,
advancing to Single-A Sarasota and ending his season at Double-A Trenton where
he hit .344 with 10 doubles, 5 homers, 31 walks, 34 runs scored and a .462 on-base
percentage in 44 games to earn Trenton's Player of the Year honors...recorded a .436 onbase
percentage at the 3 levels, the 5th-highest mark in the minors...his combined .310
average, 84 runs, 149 hits and 80 RBI all ranked 2nd in the Red Sox organization...reached
base safely via a hit or walk in 119 of his 135 games...began the season at Augusta,
hitting .283 with a .433 on-base percentage in 15 games...made his Sarasota debut
April 22 and hit .295 with 79 hits in 76 games with the SaraSox, posting a .422 on-base
percentage...made his Double-A debut July 18 and reached safely via a hit or walk in 39
of 44 games at Trenton...played for Scottsdale in the Arizona Fall League.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Totaled a .311 batting average (108-for-347) vs. righties and a
.306 mark (41-for-134) vs. lefties...combined to hit .338 (75-for-222) with runners on
base...had more strikeouts than walks at all 3 stops, finishing with a combined 93 walks
and 63 strikeouts...hit .344 (32-for-93) with 3 homers and 18 RBI for Sarasota in June
and hit .342 (38-for-111) with 4 homers and 20 RBI for Trenton in August.
MORE 2002 HIGHLIGHTS: Recorded a hit in 11 of 15 games with Augusta (15 hits
total)...drew 5 walks April 17 vs. Ashland...hit .414 (24-for-58) during a 16-game hitting
streak May 29-June 15 with Sarasota...with Trenton, knocked in a season-high 4 runs
July 20 at New Britain and August 6 vs. Norwich...had a season-high 8 total bases in the
July 20 contest, slugging 2 doubles and a homer...posted a pair of 4-hit games with the
Thunder, August 4 at Binghamton and August 11 vs. Binghamton...went 4-for-4 with a
walk and 3 runs scored August 4...scored 9 runs in 5 games August 3-7...recorded an
11-game hitting streak August 17-27, batting .370 (17-for-46).
2001
SUMMARY: Signed June 11, just 6 days after the draft, and reported to short-season
Single-A Lowell, where he earned Player of the Year honors...led the New York-Penn
League with a .512 on-base percentage, 52 runs and 70 walks in 59 games, while his
.317 average ranked 6th...his 70 walks were at least 20 more than any other player in
the league...played all 59 games at third base...was promoted to Single-A Augusta
August 28, and appeared in 5 games before participating in the Fall Instructional League.
MORE 2001 HIGHLIGHTS: Reached safely in 58 of his 59 games at Lowell, including each
of his final 49...the streak ended when he went 0-for-3 in his August 29 Augusta
debut...reached safely at least twice in 41 games...walked at least once in 14 straight
games July 1-17 (25 walks total)...reached base 10 times in 2 games July 16-17 vs.
Pittsfield (2 singles, 2 doubles and 6 walks)...scored 5 runs July 26 at Pittsfield, capping
a streak of 6 straight games with at least one run scored (13 total)...boasted a seasonbest
11-game hitting streak from August 4-15...hit .444 (16-for-36) during the tear.
