Adam LaRoche, Retired


Date of Birth: 11/6/1979
Birthplace: Orange, California
College: Seminole State College
Nickname: The Rock

Adam LaRoche comes from a baseball family. His brother Andy plays in the White Sox's minor league system and his father was a major league pitcher.

LaRoche started his major league career with the Atlanta Braves, the team that drafted him in 2000. He played with the Braves from 2004 through 2006 and he returned to them in 2009 after two and a half years with the Pittsburgh Pirates. LaRoche started the 2009 season with the Pirates but he was traded to the Boston Red Sox at the end of July, 2009. After playing in only six games, Boston traded LaRoche to Atlanta for Casey Kotchman. In 2010, LaRoche signed a one-year contract with the Diamondbacks. After that contract ended, he signed a two year contract with the Washington Nationals. On January 8, 2013, LaRoche signed a two year, $24 million contract with a 2015 option with the Nationals.

In 2011, LaRoche had surgery and he played in just 43 games for the Nationals. In 2012, however, he was fully recovered and he had his best year, winning both the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. LaRoche's statistics for 2012 include 155 hits, 34 doubles, 33 home runs, 100 RBIs, and a batting average of .271. His fielding was also excellent and he made just 7 errors in 153 games in 2012. The 2013 season, however, was not nearly as good a year for LaRoche. In 2013, LaRoche had 121 hits, 19 doubles, 20 home runs, and a .237 batting average in 152 games.

LaRoche finished the 2014 season with 128 hits, 19 doubles, 26 home runs, 92 RBIs, and a .259 batting average. In the postseason, he had just one hit in 18 at-bats in 4 games.

On November 21, 2014, LaRoche signed a two-year, $25 million contract with the Chicago White Sox. He finished the 2015 season with 89 hits, 21 doubles, 44 RBIs, and a .207 batting average.

LaRoche announced his retirement from major league baseball on March 15, 2016, after the vice president for the White Sox informed LaRoche that he needed to cut back on the time his son could be with him in the clubhouse and on the field.

LaRoche's statistics in his twelve seasons (2004-2015) in the majors include:

  • 3 seasons with over 150 hits, with a high of 155 in 2012
  • 9 seasons with 20 or more home runs, with a high of 33 in 2012
  • 6 seasons with over 30 doubles, with a high of 42 in 2007
  • 2 seasons (2010, 2012) with over 100 RBIs

Career batting statistics for LaRoche through 2015 include:

  • 1,605 games played
  • 1,452 hits
  • 340 doubles
  • 255 home runs
  • 882 RBIs
  • 1,407 strikeouts to 649 walks
  • .260 batting average

Career fielding statistics for LaRoche at first base through 2015 include:

  • 1,468 games played
  • 936 assists
  • 1,249 double plays
  • 12,072 putouts
  • 70 errors
  • .995 fielding percentage

Personal Life

LaRoche and his wife Jennifer have one son and one daughter.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Adam LaRoche
ESPN Sports - Adam LaRoche