O a M G - Oakland Athletics

155 in 2001…ranked third among National League third basemen in fielding percentage (.968), second
in assists (321) and double plays (34) and third in total chances (432)…led the Pirates in games played,
hits, doubles and RBI…made the Opening Day start at third base for the Pirates…went hitless in his
first 18 at bats to start the season…reached base safely in 22 straight games from April 16-May 9; hit
safely in 11 consecutive games from April 16-27…hit safely in 11 straight games again from May 15-
26…batted .330 in 28 games during the month of May, tying Freddy Sanchez for highest average on the
team…recorded his first big league triple June 1 vs. New York…suffered a right knee contusion June 4
vs. New York and missed one game…delivered a two-out, two-run single in the ninth inning at Atlanta
June 11, breaking a 1-1 tie and giving the Pirates a 3-1 win…his third home run came in the same game
as his brother Adam June 17 at Minnesota, marking the first time since Sept. 15, 1938 that two brothers
homered in the same game for the Pirates (Paul and Lloyd Waner)…tripled in back-to-back games
June 27-28…had five RBI and hit .188 in 24 games during the month of July…had a 28-game errorless
streak from June 25 thru July 28…hit .205 during the month of August…snapped a 0-for-13 streak with
a single as a pinch hitter off Francisco Cordero at Cincinnati Sept. 2…hit safely in 15 straight starts from
Sept. 7-29…had a career day, going 5-for-5 with two home runs, six RBI and four runs scored Sept. 28
vs. Los Angeles…hit .321 with five home runs in 22 games during the month of September and hit safely
in 18 of his last 20 starts (27-for-82, .329)…batted .290 in 55 games from the sixth spot of the lineup,
.289 in 21 games from the second spot, .214 in 19 games from the fifth spot and .167 in 10 games from
the fourth spot.
2008—Was rated as Los Angeles’ second-best prospect by Baseball America entering the season…
began the season on the 15-day disabled list recovering from right thumb surgery performed March 10
by Dr. Steve Shin in Los Angeles…suffered a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his thumb while
attempting to catch a pickoff throw from catcher Danny Ardoin in the March 7 spring training game
vs. St. Louis; the ball deflected off St. Louis baserunner D’Angelo Jimenez and struck LaRoche on his
throwing hand…began a rehab assignment with Double-A Jacksonville April 23…hit safely in each of
his six games before he was transferred to Triple-A Las Vegas April 29…was reinstated from the DL
and optioned to Las Vegas May 3…was recalled by Los Angeles June 10…hit a solo home run in a start
at first base in his first game with Dodgers June 11 at San Diego…made first career start at second base
June 26 vs. Chicago (AL)…hit .188 in 16 games in July before being optioned back to Las Vegas July
27…made 26 appearances at third base, eight at second base and three at first base while playing with
Las Vegas…was acquired by Pittsburgh July 31 and started 45 of the final 54 games at third base…made
his first start with Pirates Aug. 1 at Wrigley Field and singled in first at bat…his first home run with Bucs
was a two-run shot off Chad Gaudin at Wrigley Field Aug. 3…homered and had his first multi-hit game
with Bucs Aug. 16 vs. New York…went hitless in 27 straight at bats from Aug. 18-27…snapped the
streak with a single off Milwaukee’s Dave Bush at PNC Park Aug. 29…went hitless in 21 consecutive at
bats from Sept. 7 to 13 and went 5-for-46 (.109) in a 13-game stretch from Sept. 7 to 20…hit .166 with
five home runs and 18 RBI in 76 combined games between the Pirates and Dodgers.
2007—Entered season ranked by Baseball America as the number one prospect in the Dodgers organization…began
season with Las Vegas…hit .370 with eight home runs against lefthanders and .283
with 10 home runs against righthanders with the 51s…batted .300 with runners in scoring position and
.367 with RISP and two outs…hit .273 with five home runs before the break, .365 with 13 home runs
following the break…was recalled by Los Angeles May 6…doubled off Atlanta’s Kyle Davies for his
first Major League hit in his second at bat that day…reached base safely in 10 of his first 17 plate appearances
(.588 on-base percentage), which included five walks and no strikeouts…was hitting .211 after
his first 18 games and was optioned to Las Vegas June 1…was placed on the disabled list June 18 with
a left shoulder strain…was reinstated June 30…took home Topps Pacific Coast League Player-of-the-
Month honors for July after hitting .411 with 12 home runs and 28 RBI…was placed on the DL Aug. 9
with lower back inflammation before being reinstated Aug. 25…was recalled by Los Angeles Sept. 2…
took Colorado’s Matt Herges deep Sept. 20 at Coors Field for first big league home run…drew one walk
every 5.75 plate appearances…made 30 appearances (28 starts) at third base and one appearance in left
field May 26 while playing with the Dodgers…was rated as the 33rd-best prospect in all of baseball by
MILB.com following the season
2006—Hit a combined .315 with 27 doubles, 19 home runs and 81 RBI in 127 games between Jacksonville
and Las Vegas…was rated as Los Angeles’ second-best prospect entering the season by Baseball
America…went 4-for-4 with a home run and four RBI May 18 vs. Mississippi…went 4-for-4 with a
266 > 2011 Oakland athletics Media Guide