Eric Karros

Eric Peter Karros (born November 4, 1967) is a former American first baseman who played in Major League Baseball from 1991 to 2004.

Early life

Karros was born in Hackensack, New Jersey and graduated from Patrick Henry High School in San Diego, California. He attended UCLA, where he received a degree in economics.

Playing career

Los Angeles Dodgers

Karros was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the sixth round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his Major League debut as a pinch runner on September 1, 1991 against the Chicago Cubs. He made his first start, at first base, on September 4, 1991 against the St. Louis Cardinals, when he was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. Karros recorded his first Major League hit as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the 12th inning against Cincinnati Reds pitcher Milt Hill on September 16, 1991. It was a two-run RBI double to left field, his only hit in 14 batting appearances during the 1991 season.

In his first at-bat of the 1992 season, on April 9 against the San Diego Padres, Karros hit a two-run shot to deep left field off of Craig Lefferts for his first career home run. He became a full-time starter for the Dodgers that season, appearing in 149 games and hitting 20 home runs while driving in 88 runs. He was named the 1992 National League Rookie of the Year. Karros put up consistent numbers throughout his career with the Dodgers, with a batting average just under .270 and an average of almost 25 home runs a year. No Dodger in the organization's history compiled more 30 home run 100 RBI seasons than Karros (five, matched only by Duke Snider and Gil Hodges). Karros also remains the only player in Dodger history to hit two homers in the same inning. 1999 was his best statistical year with the Dodgers, when he hit .304 with 34 home runs and 112 RBI. His career 270 home runs as a Dodger remains the third most in the team's history.