Left-handed hitting 1st baseman and outfielder brings versatility, power and high on-base pct.to Giants...2001 All-Star has hit .280 or better 7 times, while registering 8 different 20-homer campaigns, 6 years with at least 80 RBI and pair of 20-steal seasons...15-year veteran has long been one of National League's top left-handed hitters, compiling lifetime .280 avg.with 316 2Bs, 272 HRs and 943 RBI in 1,620 career games with Atlanta (1992-99) and San Diego (2000- 06)...has combined power with an ability to get on base, owning .372 career on-base percentage and .507 slugging mark...has reached 20 HR/20 SB plateau twice in his career (2000-01)...ranks among Padres franchise all-time leaders in 2Bs (4th - 176), RBI (4th - 493), home runs (5th - 133), runs (4th - 449) and walks (2nd - 470)...career-high 113 RBI in 2001 were most ever by Padres' 1st baseman...finished 3rd in 1994 NL Rookie of Year voting behind Los Angeles' Raul Mondesi and Houston's John Hudek.
Graduated from Westminster (CA) High School in 1989...played for U.S.Junior Olympic team in Australia...enjoys hunting, fishing and water sports...single.
Postseason:
Has wealth of post season experience, making 7 appearances on October stage with Atlanta (1995-99) and San Diego (2005-06)...owns World Series ring from Braves' 1995 championship, while having won 2 NL pennants with Atlanta in 1996 and '99...in 62 career post season games, owns .236 avg.(39-for-165) with 3 2Bs, 10 HRs and 22 RBI...has had most success in LDS play, hitting at .313 clip (21-for-67) with 3 2Bs, 3 HRs and 8 RBI in 23 contests...battered Indians pitching in 1995 World Series for .313 average (5-for-16), including 3 homers and 4 RBI...homered in all 3 games at Jacobs Field, becoming 1st player to go deep in 3 consecutive road Fall Classic games...posted .875 slugging pct.in series, tying Hank Aaron and Lonnie Smith for Braves record for most HRs in single World Series.
A Giant in the Community:
Was actively involved with Padres community efforts and, in 2001, received Chairman's Award, presented annually by Padres Community Relations Department, to player who best exemplifies community spirit of owner John Moores and his family...during his 7 season with Padres, generously donated time and money to support numerous philanthropic endeavors...served as club's spokesperson for Make-A-Wish Foundation, hosting Make-A-Wish children for batting practice, pre-game ceremony and ballgame each homestand...through Klesko's Korner Program for last 5 years, regularly provided Padres' tickets to children and families facing cancer...has also been leading supporter of Padres Scholars Program and started the Blue Rhyno Foundation in 2006.
2006
Was limited to 4 at-bats after missing 1st 150 games of final season in San Diego due to left shoulder surgery...went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and 2 walks (.833 on-base pct.), while appearing as pinch-hitter over final 2 weeks of season...was originally placed on 15-day Disabled List April 1, retroactive to March 26...appeared in 8-game rehabilitation assignment with single-A Lake Elsinore...was transferred to 60-day DL Sept.8...reinstated from 60-day Disabled List Sept.20...made 1st ML plate appearance Sept.20 vs.Arizona and walked as pinch-hitter...went 2-for-3 with 2B as pinch hitter in NLDS action vs.St.Louis.
2005
Led Padres in home runs (18) for 3rd time, while hitting .248 and driving in 58 runs...registered 23rd career multi-HR game, 1st at PETCO Park, May 4 vs.Colorado...homered in 3 straight games May 8, 9 and 11, marking 3rd time in career and 1st time since June 20, 21 and 23, 2000.
2004
Batted .291 with 32 2Bs, 9 HRs and 66 RBI in 127 games between left field (104 games) and 1st base (18)...was on 15-day Disabled List May 28-June 16 with right oblique strain...hit .310 (65-for-210) with 19 2Bs, 7 HRs and 36 RBI in 66 games after All-Star Break...clubbed 250th career home run with 2-run shot off Cincinnati's Paul Wilson Aug.13 at Great American Ballpark.
2003
Was limited to 121 games by variety of injuries, however still led club in HRs (21) for 2nd consecutive season...topped 20-home run mark for 5th consecutive year and 8th season overall...had 3 multi-homer games (April 19 at Colorado, April 27 at Cincinnati and June 17 at Colorado)...batted .262 with 19 HRs and 52 RBI before All-Star Break, but fell to .230 with 2 home runs and 15 RBI in 40 games after break...was placed on 15-day Disabled List Sept.5 (retroactive to Sept.1) after having surgery on AC joint of right shoulder and missed remainder of season...became 6th Friar to hit 100 homers with Padres with solo shot off Colorado's Shawn Chacon June 23.
2002
Earned San Diego Padres Most Valuable Player Award, as selected annually by San Diego Chapter of Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA)...was 1st Friar 1st baseman to claim distinction since Fred McGriff in 1991...among players to play in at least 80 games, led Padres in runs scored (90), 2Bs (39), HRs (29), RBI (95), walks (76), intentional walks (11), total bases (290), on-base pct.(.388) and slugging (.537)...ranked 2nd in at-bats (540) and hits (162), trailing only Mark Kotsay in both categories...tied for 10th in National League with 39 2Bs, 24 of which came after All-Star Break...24 post All-Star Break 2Bs tied for 2nd in NL behind only Cincinnati's Aaron Boone (26)...batted .300 for 1st time since hitting .310 in 107 games for Atlanta in 1995...began season as Bruce Bochy's right fielder, playing in 31 games (30 starts)...returned to 1st base May 13 at Montreal when injury to Sean Burroughs forced Bochy to re-shuffle his lineup...played 112 games (111 starts) at 1st base...posted .537 slugging percentage, highest mark of his career as everyday player...reached base safely in 56 straight games, April 9- June 14, longest in baseball that season...during 56-game run, hit .338 (67-for-198) with 14 doubles, 13 home runs, 39 RBI and 40 walks...posted .450 on-base mark and .606 slugging pct.during streak...registered career-high 16-game hitting streak April 9-28...hit 200th home run May 4 with 2-run shot off Pittsburgh's Jimmy Anderson...tallied 1,000th career hit with 2-run clout April 28 at Pittsburgh (Game 1), off Kip Wells...served 4-game suspension April 1-5, stemming from March 9 incident in Tempe against Anaheim...was hit by Aaron Sele pitch and charged mound...was originally suspended 5 games, but had term of suspension reduced to 4 games March 31...hit 8th career grand slam Aug.27 at Houston off Nelson Cruz.
2001
Earned 1st trip to All-Star Game in 2nd campaign with San Diego, batting .286 with 30 home runs...career-high 113 RBI were most ever by Padres' 1st baseman...with 30 homers and 23 steals, posted 2nd career 20- HR, 20-SB season, 2nd in a row...only 5 other Padres have recorded 20-20 seasons...only Klesko and Dave Winfield have accomplished feat more than once...team-leading 105 runs scored (also personal high) were 8th-most in club history...teamed with Phil Nevin to form one of most powerful 3-4 tandems in all of baseball and most prolific in Padres' history...Nevin (41) and Klesko gave Padres pair of 30-HR men for only 2nd time in club's history...Ken Caminiti (40) and Steve Finley (30) turned trick in 1996...most homers in season by pair of Padres is 79 by Greg Vaughn (50) and Ken Caminiti (29) in 1998...Nevin (126) and Klesko combined for 239 RBI, most-ever by 2 Padres teammates...old SD mark was 225 by Caminiti (130) and Finley (95) in 1996...Nevin and Klesko became 2nd pair of Padres to drive in 100 runs in same season...Fred McGriff (104) and Gary Sheffield (100) were 1st in 1992...led club with 34 2Bs and 88 walks...ranked 11th in club singleseason annals with .539 slugging pct....blended power with speed, matching personal best with 23 stolen bases, total surpassed only by Rickey Henderson (25) among Padres...hit 6th-inning sacrifice fly off Yankees' Mike Stanton in 1st All-Star plate appearance to plate lone NL run in 4-1 loss July 11 at Safeco Field in Seattle...batted .297 (93-for-313) with 22 2Bs, 4 3Bs, 17 HRs and 75 RBI in 84 games before All-Star Break, setting club record for RBI in 1st half...his 40 RBI in May were most ever by Padre in single month...stole career-best 3 bases May 24 vs.Arizona...enjoyed career night in 16-14 loss Aug.29 at St.Louis, going 5-for-6 with 4 runs, 2 2Bs, 2 HRs and 5 RBI.
2000
Enjoyed one of his finest all-around seasons in 1st Padres' campaign, batting .283 with 26 HRs, 92 RBI and 23 stolen bases...established career highs in walks (91) and stolen bases...led club with 88 runs scored and 91 walks, while .393 on-base pct.was 20th in NL...among Padres, trailed only Phil Nevin in 2Bs, HRs, extra-base hits and RBI...was named Favorite New Padre by Madres...became 13th Padre to steal home when he turned trick as part of double steal with Carlos Hernandez in 1st inning July 5 vs.Los Angeles...hit 1st 2 home runs as Padre and drove in 7 runs over 2 games April 7-8 at Montreal...took Jeremy Powell April 7...following day, launched 2-run shot off Dustin Hermanson...celebrated 29th birthday June 11 vs.St.Louis by hitting 150th HR...only other birthday longball came vs.Montreal in 1998.
1999
In final season with Braves, batted .297 with 21 HRs and 80 RBI in 133 games for National League champs...played 75 games (66 starts) at 1st base and 53 games (50 starts) in left field....beginning May 24, batted .310 (93-for-300) with 16 HRs and 62 RBI over his final 100 games...opened year with .260 avg.(27-for-104), 5 HRs and 17 RBI in his 1st 33 contests...batted .219 (7-for-32) with HR and 2 RBI in 12 playoff and World Series games...hit .333 (4-for-12) with an RBI in 4 games against Astros in NLDS.
1998
Drilled 29 2Bs and virtually halved his strikeouts (66 from 130 in 1997), while hitting 18 HRs with 70 RBI for Braves...went deep May 13 at St.Louis, as Braves set NL mark and tied ML record by homering at least once in 25 consecutive games...hit 6th career grand slam June 16 vs.Florida...at All-Star Break, was on pace for 26 homers and 94 RBI, but was slowed in 2nd half after having appendix removed June 29...missed 9 games June 30-July 11, then managed only 5 HRs and 23 RBI during 2nd Half...hit .302 (73-for-242) over his last 75 games...recorded personal-best 9 outfield assists...went 4-for-23 (.174) with HR and 5 RBI in 8 playoff games against Cubs and Padres.
1997
Slugged 24 HRs and knocked in 84 runs in 143 games...homered in 3 straight games against San Francisco May 30-June 1...clubbed 5th grand slam Sept.17 vs.Mets...grand slam, his 100th career HR, was Braves' 12th bases-loaded clout to set Major League record...hit .240 (6-for-25) with 3 HRs and 5 RBI in 8 playoff games against Astros and Marlins...drilled 2nd-inning clout in Game 1 vs.Houston, difference in Atlanta's 2-1 win...hit 2 homers and drove in 4 runs in NLCS vs.Florida.
1996
Established personal best with 34 home runs and then-career highs with 93 RBI and 90 runs scored in 153 games for NL Champion Braves...led club in long balls and ranked 3rd in RBI...homered once every 15.5 at-bats, 10th-best in NL...set club record with 10 HRs in April...drove in at least 1 run in 7 consecutive games June 2-9, coming up 1 game shy of club record...slugged pair of grand slams: May 27 at Chicago off Amaury Telemaco and July 27 at San Francisco off Mark Gardner...hit .176 (6-for-34) with 2 HRs and 5 RBI in 14 post-season games...hit solo homer in Game 2 of Division Series vs.Los Angeles...went deep again in Game 4 of NLCS vs.St.Louis...was 1-for-10 with RBI in 5 games in Braves' World Series loss to Yankees.
1995
Despite being sidelined early by sprained left thumb, batted career-best .310 in 107 games for Braves...would have ranked 2nd in NL with .608 slugging pct.if had enough at-bats to qualify...also would have ranked among league's top 10 in HRs per at-bat and RBI per at-bat...averaged long ball every 14.3 trips to plate (23 homers in 329 at-bats) and RBI every 4.7 at-bats (70 RBI total)...was on Disabled List May 3-18 with thumb ailment...drilled 1st career grand slam June 6 vs.Chicago-NL and drove in career-high 6 runs...went deep July 24 at Pittsburgh off Dan Plesac for 1st career homer off left-hander in 46th at-bat...hit .316 (12-for-38) with 2Be, 3 HRs and 5 RBI in 14 post-season games...batted .467 (7-for-15) with 2B and RBI in 4 games of NLDS vs.Colorado...after going 0-for-7 in 4 NLCS games against Reds, battered Indians pitching for .313 average (5-for-16), including 3 homers and 4 RBI in World Series as Braves captured their 1st World Championship since moving to Atlanta...homered in all 3 games at Jacobs Field, becoming 1st player to go deep in 3 consecutive road World Series games...posted .875 slugging pct.in series, tying Hank Aaron and Lonnie Smith for Braves record for most HRs in single World Series.
1994
In 1st full Major League season, finished 3rd in NL Rookie of Year voting behind Los Angeles' Raul Mondesi and Houston's John Hudek...was named to Topps' Major League Rookie All-Star team...slugged 17 HRs in 245 at-bats, 1 every 14.4 at-bats...33 of his 68 hits (49 percent) went for extra bases...slugged 2 homers in game for 1st time June 26 at Philadelphia.
1993
Spent bulk of the season at triple-A Richmond, slugging team-high 22 HRs...was ranked No.4 prospect in the International League, and earned IL MVP honors at Triple- A All-Star Game...was recalled by Atlanta April 19...singled off Florida's Bryan Harvey for 1st ML hit April 22...slugged 1st big league home run off Pirates' Tim Wakefield April 27...hit .273 in 14 games before being optioned back to Richmond on May 18...was recalled by Braves Sept.10.
1992
Made triple-A and Major League debuts...spent full minor league season at Richmond, batting .251 with 17 HRs and 59 RBI in 123 games...called up to Atlanta for 1st time Sept.11 and went 0-for-14 with RBI in 13 games...drove in 1st ML run Oct.1 vs.San Francisco.
1991
Ranked 4th in Southern League with .291 avg.and tied for 4th with 75 walks at double-A Greenville...named best power prospect in minor leagues by Baseball America and Upper Deck.
1990
Was named South Atlantic League All-Star and honored as league's top prospect in 1st full pro campaign...split season between Braves' single-A stops in Sumter and Durham.
1989
Batted .333 in 42 games between rookie-level Bradenton and Sumter in his professional debut.
