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Aaron Rowand

Philadelphia Phillies — No. 33
Center field
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
Major League Baseball debut
June 16, 2001 for the Chicago White Sox
Selected MLB statistics (through 2006)
Batting average	.279
Home runs	66
Runs scored	314
Runs Batted In	258
Former teams
Chicago White Sox (2001–2005)

Aaron Ryan Rowand (born August 29, 1977 in Portland, Oregon) is a center fielder in Major League Baseball who plays for the Philadelphia Phillies after spending several years with the Chicago White Sox.

The Phillies and Rowand avoided an arbitration hearing and came to terms on a contract for 2007. Rowand will receive a $4.35 million base salary and could earn bonuses based on performance.

Glendora, California High School graduate, 1995. Drafted by the New York Mets, elected to go to college.

He attended Cal State Fullerton from 1996 to 1998. In 1998 Aaron earned All American honors, before being selected by the Chicago White Sox in the first round (35th pick) of the 1998 amateur draft.

In 2004, Aaron led the American League in home runs for a center fielder with 24.

In 2005 with the White Sox, he had a .270 batting average with 77 runs and 30 doubles. He also hit 13 home runs and stole 16 bases. He has a low amount of patience, as last year he walked just 32 times compared to 116 strikeouts. He had only a .329 on base percentage (OBP) and a .407 slugging percentage (SLG). He also collected 235 total bases. In 2005 at center field, he collected 388 putouts and had only three errors. He had a .978 fielding percentage [1].

The 2005 Chicago White Sox went on to win the World Series. Aaron was noted by manager Ozzie Guillen as a clubhouse leader and an example of the hustle play expected from the team. Aaron captured the hearts of White Sox fans with his all-out play and total commitment to the win column. In the postseason, he had a .267 batting average with 8 runs and 6 doubles. He also walked 4 times and had 1 stolen base.

On November 23, 2005, Rowand was traded by the White Sox along with minor league pitchers Gio Gonzalez and Daniel Haigwood to the Philadelphia Phillies for first baseman Jim Thome and approximately $22 million. White Sox fans still discuss whether or not this was a good trade, as Rowand, a hard-nosed team-first player, was immensely popular in Chicago. This is evident as he cleary received the loudest, longest ovation at the World Series ring ceremony, despite the fact that he was no longer with the team.

On May 11, 2006, in the first inning of a game versus the New York Mets, Rowand made a spectacular play by smashing into the center field fence of Citizens Bank Park face first at full speed in order to reach a ball off the bat of Xavier Nady with the bases loaded, that would otherwise have scored three runs. Rowand suffered a broken nose and severe lacerations to his face. The Phillies won the game, 2-0, in a rain shortened 5-inning game. Rowand, now considered to be a "hero" to the local Phillies fans on the same caliber as Lenny Dykstra (who would constantly "crash" into the outfield walls to catch potential run-scoring plays ironicly playing for both the Mets and the Phillies) underwent seven hours of surgery to repair the nose, and was placed on the 15-day disabled list. He returned to the starting lineup on May 26, 2006.

The catch is arguably one of the best in Phillies history as well as a nominee for a 2006 ESPY award and can be seen on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS8KvYVufRE

On August 21, 2006, in a game at the Chicago Cubs, Rowand collided with second baseman Chase Utley and broke his ankle. He was on the disabled list the remainder of the regular season.

In 2002 he was injured in a motorcycle accident. He shatterd his left collarbone, broke two ribs and suffered a punctured lung.

He is married to Marianne and has two children, Tatum and McKay, residing in New Jersey. Rowand is the first cousin of Tampa Bay Devil Rays Pitcher, Jamie Shields.

• Baseball-Reference.com - career statistics and analysis