Brian Giles

Brian Stephen Giles (born January 21, 1971 in El Cajon, California) is a Major League Baseball left fielder who plays for the San Diego Padres (2003–present). Previously, Giles played with the Cleveland Indians (1995–1998) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1999–2003). He bats and throws left-handed. His brother Marcus Giles is a second baseman for the Atlanta Braves.

Related Topics:
January 21 - 1971 - El Cajon - California - Major League Baseball - Left fielder - San Diego Padres - 2003 - Cleveland Indians - 1995 - 1998 - Pittsburgh Pirates - 1999 - Marcus Giles - Second baseman - Atlanta Braves

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In his 10-year career, Giles has been a .299 hitter with 231 home runs and 775 RBI in 1202 games. He was selected for the All-Star Game in 2000 and 2001.

Related Topics:
Hitter - Home run - RBI - All-Star Game - 2000 - 2001

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Never used in a full-time role with the star-studded Indians, he was traded to the Pirates for left-handed reliever Ricardo Rincon. Giles was given a starting role on a below-average Pittsburgh club. He quickly established a reputation for being one of the best — and most underappreciated — players in baseball. Until suffering a knee injury near the beginning of the 2003 season, he had played in 140 games each season since 1999. Every year in that span, he hit 35 home runs, posted an on base percentage over .400, and had a slugging percentage over .590. A fixture at the #3 spot in the Pirates batting order, he played all three outfield positions adequately and even chipped in 40 steals over those four years. His consistency, good power to all fields, and outstanding plate discipline (he averaged 109 walks and 73 strikeouts per year) made him one of the most feared batters in the National League.

Related Topics:
Ricardo Rincon - 2003 - Home runs - On base percentage - Slugging percentage - Outfield - Steals - Walks - Strikeouts - National League

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Giles got off to a slow start by his standards in 2003, probably because of his knee injury, which sidelined him for nearly a month. On returning, his power production seemed to have dipped slightly, which was enough to convince the cash-strapped Pirates to trade him to San Diego for cheaper youngsters Jason Bay, Oliver Perez, and Cory Stewart in August. He has been a bit of a disappointment for the Padres — in 2004 he hit only 23 home runs, while his OPS dipped to .849 from the over 1.000 he averaged over his four full seasons in Pittsburgh — but some of the decline in his numbers has been attributed to San Diego's expansive home field Petco Park

Related Topics:
Jason Bay - Oliver Perez - Cory Stewart - 2004 - OPS - Petco Park

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Giles bounced back in 2005, leading the Padres in batting average (.301), RBI (83), runs (92), and OPS (.905). Giles also led the major leagues in walks with 119, becoming the first National League player other than Barry Bonds to do so since Jeff Bagwell in 1999. The team benefitted from his improved play, as the Padres won their first National League West title since 1998.

Related Topics:
National League - Barry Bonds - Jeff Bagwell - 1998.

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