Josh Willingham, Retired


Date of Birth: 2/17/1979
Birthplace: Florence, Alabama
College: University of North Alabama

Josh Willingham was first drafted by the Miami Marlins in 2000. He played in the minor leagues for six years before playing his first full season in the major leagues in 2006. He joined the Marlins for just 12 games in 2004 and 16 games in 2005.

In 2006, his first full season in the major leagues, Willingham had a career high batting average of .277 with a career high in hits with 139, 28 doubles, 26 home runs, and 74 RBIs. The next season, he batted .265 with 138 hits, a career high 32 doubles, 21 home runs, and 89 RBIs in 144 games.

Willingham suffered from injuries in 2008 and he played in just 102 games. After the season ended, the Marlins traded him to the Washington Nationals. In his first season with the Nationals, he batted .260 with 111 hits, 29 doubles, 24 home runs, and 61 RBIs in 133 games. On July 27, 2009, Willingham had two grand slams in a single game.

In 2010, Willingham batted .268 in 114 games. The following December, the Nationals traded him to the Oakland Athletics. In his one season with the Athletics, he batted .246 with 120 hits, 26 doubles, 29 home runs, and 98 RBIs in 136 games.

Willingham signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Twins in December, 2011. He had a strong season in 2012, winning a Silver Slugger award. He batted .260 with career highs in home runs with 35 and RBIs with 110. He also had 135 hits and 30 doubles in 145 games. In 2013, he had a batting average of just .208 with 81 hits in 111 games.

On August 11, 2014, Willingham was traded to the Royals. He finished the 2014 season with 64 hits, 14 home runs, and a .215 batting average in 68 games with the Twins and 24 games with the Royals. He had 1 hit in 4 games in the postseason.

On November, 24, 2014, Willingham announced his retirement from major league baseball.

Career batting statistics for Willingham through 2014 include:

  • 1,147 games played
  • 988 hits
  • 216 doubles
  • 195 home runs
  • 1,036 strikeouts to 553 walks
  • .253 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Willingham as a left fielder through 2014 include:

  • 906 games played
  • 1,542 putouts
  • 23 errors
  • .986 fielding percentage

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Josh Willingham
ESPN - Josh Willingham