Player Profile: Mark Teixeria

Mark Teixeria is in his 8th major league season, 2nd with the New York Yankees. The Yankees are his 4th team since entering the league in 2003. He also played for the Texas Rangers,Atlanta Braves, and Anahiem Angels.

Teixeira grew up in Severna Park, Maryland. He played varisty baseball for his high school. When Mark finished high school he was attended Georgia Tech. He was orginally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1998 but turned them down to attend college.

In 2001, won the Dick Howser Trophy as the national collegiate baseball player of the year. After that, Teixeira re-entered the draft and was selected by the Texas Rangers with the fifth overall pick.

In 2005, Teixeira became the third switch-hitter in MLB history to hit at least 20 home runs in each of his first three seasons. Eddie Murray and Chipper Jones are the others to accomplish the feat. His total of 144 RBI for that season is a Major League record for a switch-hitter.

In July of 2007 Teixeria was dealt to the Braves after rejecting a long term contract offer from the Rangers. His stay in Atlanta was short lived as he was only there for one calendar year as he was traded to the Angels at the trade deadline in 2008.

After the 2008 season Teixeria became a free agent and was being pursued by many teams as he was the elite hitter of the free agent class. The Angels and Red Sox were thought to be front runners in the Teixeria sweepstakes but the Yankees seemingly out of nowhere came in and swooped Mark and offered him the contract he was looking for. He ultimately signed with the Yanks and the rest is history.

In his 1st season in pinstripes Teixeria was worth every penny the Yanks gave him. He gave them an MVP worthy performance both at the plate and on the field. He finished 2nd in the AL MVP voting and won a Gold Glove. But the biggest accomplish was winning the World Series in his first year in the Bronx. Something his predecessor, Jason Giambi failed to do in his 7 years with the Yanks.

In 2010 Mark looks to repeat the success of 2009. Although as of writing he is still struggling to find his rthymn at the plate, he is still a force in the Yankee lineup on an everyday basis. He desire to win and gritty approach will get him to high places in the Bronx in the remaining years of his contract. I expect to see the same old Tex we're use to seeing, .300 average, 30 home runs, 100 RBI..that'll be there. Hopefully so will another World Series championship, when it's all said and done.
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