Aaron Rowand, American baseball player and sportscaster
Aaron Ryan Rowand (born August 29, 1977) is an American former professional baseball center fielder in Major League Baseball. He played for the Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and the San Francisco Giants and won two World Series championships. During his playing days, Rowand stood 6 feet (1.8 m) tall and weighed 210 pounds (95 kg). He batted and threw right-handed.Born in Portland, Oregon, Rowand was raised in Glendora, California. He attended California State University, Fullerton, where he was named an All-American in 1998. Drafted by the White Sox in the first round that year, he debuted with the team in 2001. By 2004, he was the team's everyday center fielder. He hit 24 home runs in 2004, batting .310. In 2005, he was part of the White Sox team that defeated the Houston Astros in the World Series for their first championship since 1917. After the season, he was traded to the Phillies as part of a trade that sent Jim Thome to Chicago. During his time with Chicago, Rowand was extremely popular with White Sox fans, owing to his all-out style of play.
On May 11, 2006, Rowand made a spectacular catch, smashing face-first into the wall to rob Xavier Nady of a hit. He had his best season in 2007, playing in his only All-Star Game, hitting a career-high 27 home runs, winning a Gold Glove Award, and finishing 22nd in Most Valuable Player Award voting. A free agent after that season, he signed a five-year, $60 million contract with the Giants. Though he led NL outfielders in range factor in 2008, his statistics were not as good as they had been earlier in his career. By 2010, he was no longer the team's regular center fielder, having lost the job to Andrés Torres. However, Rowand became a World Series champion for the second time when the Giants defeated the Texas Rangers in 2010. In August 2011, he was designated for assignment and released. Following his playing career, he served as a backup broadcaster and minor league coach in the White Sox organization.