Jason William Grabowski...wife's name is Michaela...graduated from The Morgan School
(Clinton, CT) in 1994...he and Michaela took part in the Dodgers Christmas in July event at White Memorial
Medical Center on July 7, 2004, by delivering new toys and video games to the newly remodeled Dodgers
Pediatric Playroom....they also visited Gratts Elementary School on Aug. 18, where they donated books on
behalf of the Dodgers Dream Foundation...was an All-American, All-District, All-State and All-Shoreline
selection as a senior...hit .582 as a senior and finished his prep career with a .447 average...was drafted by the
New York Yankees in the 17th round of the June 1994 draft, but did not sign.
2005
Split the season between the big league club and Triple-A Las Vegas,
appearing in 65 games for the Dodgers and posting a .161 average, four
homers and 12 RBIs...batted .309 with six homers and 33 RBIs in 52 games
for the 51s...walked 30 times and struck out just 26 times for Las
Vegas...began the season on the Major League club and was placed on the
15-day disabled list on May 18 with a right shoulder impingement...was sent
to Las Vegas for a rehabilitation assignment on May 23, where he batted
.474 (18-for-38) with 11 runs, seven doubles, seven RBsI and nine walks
in 11 games...was activated from the DL on June 7 to replace Ricky
Ledee on the roster and outrighted to Las Vegas on July 17...had his
contract purchased by the Dodgers on Sept. 6 and closed out the season with the
big league team.
2004
Joined the Dodgers after being acquired from Oakland on March 20...in his
first full big league season, led all of baseball in pinch-hit at-bats with 69...the 69 atbats
set a Los Angeles Dodger record, surpassing Jorge Orta, who had 60 in
1982...made 24 starts, all in left field...in his starts, batted .269 (25-for-93) with 13
runs, 15 RBI, two doubles, six homers and six walks....batted .292 (7-for-24) with
runners in scoring position and two outs...during the month of May, when he made
14 starts, he batted .283 (17-for-60) with four homers and eight runs batted in...had
a pinch-hit single in his Dodger debut on April 5 vs. San Diego...made his first start
as a Dodger on April 30 vs. Montreal, his fourth career big league start...had his
first RBI as a Dodger in the game...registered a key pinch-hit single on May 1 vs.
Montreal and scored the game-winning run...batted leadoff for the first time in his
career on May 5 at Florida and went 1-for-4...slugged his first Major League home
run on May 11 vs. Chicago's Kerry Wood, a two-run shot and had a career-high
three hits in the game...was 2-for-4 with two homers and three RBI on May 18 at
Philadelphia, marking the first two-homer game of career...had game-tying single
with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning in the Dodgers' 3-2, 10-inning victory
on May 31 vs. Milwaukee...appeared at first base on June 11 and June 12 at
Boston, the first time in his career he has played that position..slugged a pinch-hit,
game-tying, two-run homer on June 17 vs. Baltimore, his first career pinch-hit
homer...tied his career high with three hits, including a solo homer and registered
a career-high four RBI on July 7 vs. Arizona...batted .282 (22-for-78) with 11 runs, 13
RBI, two doubles, five homers and six walks in his first-half 20 starts...went 2-for-4
with a homer, two runs scored and two RBI on Aug. 13 at Cincinnati, his first start
since July 25 and second start since July 7...snapped an 0-for-18 slump with a pinchhit
single on Sept. 17 at Colorado, his first hit since Aug. 8...pinch hit on Sept. 22 at San Diego, his 61st pinch
at-bat of the season to break Jorge Orta's club record of 60 set in 1982...registered a pinch-hit single on Sept.
23 at San Diego....batted .382 (13-for-34) in Spring Training with L.A. and Oakland...went 0-for-2 with a walk
in three plate appearances in the National League Division Series.
2003
Began the season at Triple-A Sacramento but was recalled to Oakland on April 26...appeared in four games with the A's, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, before he was optioned back to Sacramento on May 24...returned to Oakland on September 14 after the River Cats won the Pacific Coast League Championships and went 0-for-4 with a walk in four games....was 0-for-8 with a walk and five strikeouts in eight games overall...including 0-for-5 with four strikeouts as a pinch hitter...spent the remainder of the season with the River Cats and batted .292 with nine home runs and 40 RBI...appeared in just 67 games as he was on the disabled list from July 1 to August 24 with a right shin contusion...hit eight of his nine home runs off right handed pitching and he batted .303 (56-for-185) against right handers and .252 (17-for-65) against left handers...most of his starts came hitting in the third spot in the order (56-for-189, .296)...hit .308 (20-for-65) with runners in scoring position...saw most of his playing time in right field where he appeared in 47 games...also made seven appearances each at catcher and designated hitter, three at first base and one each at third base, left field and center field...got off to a fast start as he hit safely in each of his first nine games (12-for-33, .364) with four home runs and eight RBI...was batting .377 (29-for-77) with four home runs and 17 RBI in 21 games when the A's called on April 26...appeared in four games with Oakland, making two appearances in right field and his major league debut at third base on May 10 against New York...optioned back to Sacramento on May 24 and hit .254 (44-for-173) with five home runs and 23 RBI over his final 46 games...hit safely in each of his first four games following his return for an 11-game minor league hitting streak dating back to April 17...capped the streak with a 5-for-5 performance on May 27 at Oklahoma City...his average was at the .323 mark on June 20 but he went 7-for-32 (.219) over his next nine games before going on the disabled list...had a two-game rehab with the A's affiliate in the Arizona Rookie League on August 22 and 23 (2-for-6, three walks, one double, one RBI) before returning to Sacramento on August 24...went 5-for-29 (.172) over his finial nine games to finish the regular season at .292...hit .417 (10-for-24) with three doubles, a home run, nine RBI and eight runs scored in six playoff games for Sacramento, all at designated hitter.
2002
Spent the entire season at Triple-A Sacramento and was called up to Oakland on September 4 when the River Cats season concluded...went 3-for-8 (.375) in four games with the A's...made his major league debut on September 22 against Texas with a start in left field...struck out in his first at bat and walked in his second at bat...made two more starts in left field, including September 27 at Texas when he doubled off Chan Ho Park in the seventh inning for his first major league hit...had his first multiple hit game on September 28 against the Rangers when he also collected his first career RBI with a seventh inning triple...was selected in the Rule 5 draft prior to the season, became a free agent on March 26 and then signed a minor league contract with the A's on March 28...hit .294 with 12 HR and 52 RBI in 73 games at Sacramento...tied for second on the River Cats in home runs...added 39 walks for a .387 on-base percentage...hit eight of his 12 home runs at Raley Field but hit just .265 (36-for-136) at home compared to .326 (42-for-129) on the road...batted .392 (20-for-51) when leading off an inning but his average dropped to .222 (20-for-90) with runners in scoring position, including .171 (6-for-35) with RISP and two outs...was 3-for-16 (.188) with the bases loaded...played every position except pitcher, second base and shortstop...appeared in 21 games in right field, 18 at catcher, 16 in left field, six at third base, five at first base and one in center field...was also 13-for-47 (.277) in 13 games at designated hitter and 1-for-4 (.250) with two RBI as a pinch hitter...saw most of his playing time hitting out of the five spot in the order (23-for-102, .225) and hit .337 (55-for-163) in all other spots in the order...including .385 (25-for-65) in the six spot...had his lone two home run game of the season on April 12 against Nashville when he also drove in a season high four runs...was hitting .277 with four home runs and nine RBI over his first 12 games before going on the disabled list from April 18 to May 29 with a fractured left hamate bone...returned and hit .419 (26-for-62) with 16 RBI in 19 games in June, boosting his average to a season high .345...landed on the disabled list for the second time on June 29 with a strained right hamstring...returned on July 19 and batted .265 (9-for-34) in July...then started August with a 15-game hitting streak (19-for-63, .302) through August 16...followed that up by going 1-for-24 over his next eight games...homered in three straight games, August 28-30, and finished August with a .248 average, 11 doubles, five home runs, 20 RBI and 20 walks in 29 games...played for Hermosillo in the Mexican Pacific Winter League and hit .310 (53-for-171) with 10 home runs and 30 RBI in 49 games...added 36 walks for a .433 on-base percentage.
Career:1997-spent his first pro season with Pulaski...led the team in walks (40) and tied for second in doubles (14)...went 2-for-7 with a RBI in the Appalachian League Championship Series vs. Bluefield.
1998-appeared in 104 games, including 60 at catcher, for Savannah...finished third on the club in homers (14), tied for fourth in RBI (52) and was fifth in runs (63)...tied for the team lead in triples (6)...played 11 games at first base...was on the disabled list from April 13 to May 8 with a broken finger on his left hand...reached base safely via hit or walk in 27 straight games from July 13 to August 10.
1999-moved to third base at Charlotte after catching in his first two professional seasons...finished third in the Florida State League and fifth among all Single-A third basemen with a .313 batting average...named to the FSL post-season All-Star team and was named the seventh best prospect in the league by Baseball America...was second in the league in on-base percentage (.407) and sixth in RBI (87)...appeared in 117 games at third base, three at first base, two at designated hitter and one as a pinch hitter...hit for the cycle with five RBI in a 10-7 win vs. Sarasota on May 23...reached base safely in 26 straight games, July 15 to August 16...joined the Rangers for the Hall of Fame Game vs. Kansas City on July 26 in Cooperstown, NY...was 3-for-3 with a pair of home runs in Texas' 11-9 win to earn game MVP honors...promoted to Tulsa on September 2...appeared in all eight playoff games with Tulsa and led the team in batting (.375), hits (12), RBI (9) and slugging percentage (.412) while tying for first in home runs (2)...was 5-for-5 in Game 2 of the Texas League Eastern Division Finals vs. Shreveport on September 6...had four RBI in Game 4 on September 9...played for San Bernardino in the California Fall League, appearing in 19 games and posting a .237 (14-for-59) batting average.
2000-spent the entire season at Double-A Tulsa...was fifth in the Texas League in walks (88) and RBI (90) and third in games played (135)...batted .329 (27-for-82) in April...had 25 RBI in 27 games in June...had a 12-game hitting streak from August 4 to 17 (21-for-47, .447) with four home runs and 13 RBI...scored a run in 10 consecutive games, August 4 to 15 (12 runs)...hit a grand slam on August 21 vs. San Antonio...played 130 games at third base...batted .302 (109-for-361) with 19 home runs off right handed pitchers.
2001-played the entire season at Tacoma, his first at the Triple-A level...hit .297, the second best average of his career...finished fourth on the Rainiers in batting but was second with 61 walks for a .390 on-base percentage which also ranked second best on the club...hit just nine home runs, his lowest total since his first pro season, and drove in 58 runs...played at least one game at five different positions...appeared in 58 games at third base, 20 at first base, 16 in left field, eight in right field and one at shortstop...also hit .367 (18-for-49) in 14 games at designated hitter and was 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter...batted at six different spots in the order but was at his best in the six (23-for-69, .333) and seven (51-for-164, .311) spots...hit .303 (61-for-201) with runners on base and was 5-for-10 (.500) with the bases loaded with one grand slam...hit .333 (30-for-90) in May, his best average in any month in 2001...hit .286 with a home run and four RBI in five playoff games and Tacoma was named Pacific Coast League co-Champions with New Orleans.
2001
Played the entire season at Tacoma, his first at the Triple-A level...hit .297, the second best average of his career...finished fourth on the Rainiers in batting but was second with 61 walks for a .390 on-base percentage which also ranked second best on the club...hit just nine home runs, his lowest total since his first pro season, and drove in 58 runs...played at least one game at five different positions...appeared in 58 games at third base, 20 at first base, 16 in left field, eight in right field and one at shortstop...also hit .367 (18-for-49) in 14 games at designated hitter and was 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter...batted at six different spots in the order but was at his best in the six (23-for-69, .333) and seven (51-for-164, .311) spots...hit .303 (61-for-201) with runners on base and was 5 for 10 (.500) with the bases loaded with one grand slam...began the year with a seven-game hitting streak (10-for-30, .333) but ended up hitting just .241 in April...did not homer over a 52-game stretch from April 12 to June 16...batted .625 (15-for-24) with eight walks and 12 runs scored over a seven-game stretch from May 10 to 20...including a 4-for-6 performance at Calgary on May 17...hit .333 (30-for-90) in May, his best average in any month in 2001...went 17-for-46 (.370) with three home runs and 13 RBI over a 12-game stretch from July 20 to 31 to lift his average to the .300 mark for the final time...started August 16-for-73 (.219) but then hit safely in each of his last six games (12-for-24, .500) and homered in each of his last three games, September 1 to 3 at Calgary...hit .286 with a home run and four RBI in five playoff games and Tacoma was named Pacific Coast League co-Champions with New Orleans.
2000
Spent the entire season at Double-A Tulsa...was fifth in the Texas League in walks (88) and RBI (90) and third in games played (135)...batted .329 (27-for-82) in April...had 25 RBI in 27 games in June...had a 12-game hitting streak from August 4 to 17 (21-for-47, .447) with four home runs and 13 RBI...scored a run in 10 consecutive games, August 4 to 15 (12 runs)...hit a grand slam on August 21 vs. San Antonio...played 130 games at third base...batted .302 (109-for-361) with 19 home runs off right handed pitchers.
1999
Moved to third base at Charlotte after catching in his first two professional seasons...finished third in the Florida State League and fifth among all Single-A third basemen with a .313 batting average...named to the FSL post-season All-Star team and was named the seventh best prospect in the league by Baseball America...was second in the league in on-base percentage (.407) and sixth in RBI (87)...appeared in 117 games at third base, three at first base, two at designated hitter and one as a pinch hitter...hit for the cycle with five RBI in a 10-7 win vs. Sarasota on May 23...reached base safely in 26 straight games, July 15 to August 16...joined the Rangers for the Hall of Fame Game vs. Kansas City on July 26 in Cooperstown, NY...was 3-for-3 with a pair of home runs in Texas' 11-9 win to earn game MVP honors...promoted to Tulsa on September 2 and was 1-for-6 in two regular season games...appeared in all eight playoff games with Tulsa and led the team in batting (.375), hits (12), RBI (9) and slugging percentage (.412) while tying for first in home runs (2)...was 5-for-5 in Game 2 of the Texas League Eastern Division Finals vs. Shreveport on September 6...had four RBI in Game 4 on Septmeber 9...played for San Bernardino in the California Fall League, appearing in 19 games and posting a .237 (14-for-59) batting average.
1998
Appeared in 104 games, including 60 at catcher, for Savannah...finished third on the club in homers (14), tied for fourth in RBI (52) and was fifth in runs (63)...tied for the team lead in triples (6)...played 11 games at first base...was on the disabled list from April 13 to May 8 with a broken finger on his left hand...reached base safely via hit or walk in 27 straight games from July 13 to August 10.
1997
Spent his first pro season with Pulaski...led the team in walks (40) and tied for second in doubles (14)...went 2-for-7 with a RBI in the Appalachian League Championship Series vs. Bluefield.