Carlos Gonzalez, left fielder for the Colorado Rockies, was first signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2002 but he never played with them. He spent seven years in the minor leagues for the Diamondbacks before they traded him in December, 2007, to the Oakland Athletics. Gonzalez was finally called up to the major leagues on May 30, 2008, playing in 85 games with the Athletics that season.
Matt Holliday, left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, was drafted straight out of high school by the Colorado Rockies in 1998. In 2004, he was called up as a replacement player and he ended up as the Rockies starting left fielder, playing in 121 games that season. He had a strong season, batting .290, with 116 hits, 31 doubles, and 14 home runs.
Raul Ibanez, left fielder and designated hitter for the Seattle Mariners, is playing for the Mariners for the third time in his 17-year career. The Mariners first drafted him in 1992 but they never played him in more than 104 games in any season. He spent his first eight years with the Mariners primarily in the minor leagues, playing for them in just 4 games in 1996, 11 games in 1997, and 37 games in 1998.
Vernon Wells, left fielder for the New York Yankees, has spent most of his career at center field but this year he has been asked to play left field and, on one or two occasions, first base and third base. He started on his way to a professional career in high school, playing both football and baseball. In his senior year, he batted an impressive .565.