Aaron Rowand is a former American professional baseball player who played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 11 seasons. He was born on August 29, 1977, in Portland, Oregon, and grew up in Glendora, California. Rowand attended California State University, Fullerton, where he played college baseball for the Titans.
Rowand began his professional baseball career in 1998 when he was drafted by the New York Mets in the first round of the MLB draft. He spent several years in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut with the Chicago White Sox in 2001. Rowand played for the White Sox for five seasons, from 2001 to 2005, and was known for his strong defensive skills and aggressive playing style.
In 2005, Rowand was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies, where he played for three seasons, from 2006 to 2008. He had a career year in 2007, hitting .309 with 27 home runs and 89 runs batted in (RBIs) and earning his first and only All-Star selection. Rowand was also a key player in the Phillies' run to the World Series in 2008, where they defeated the Tampa Bay Rays to win their first championship in 28 years.
After his time with the Phillies, Rowand played for the San Francisco Giants for two seasons, from 2008 to 2010. He was a member of the Giants' World Series championship team in 2010, where he made a memorable catch in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) that helped secure the team's victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Rowand finished his MLB career with the Miami Marlins in 2011, where he played in just 29 games before being released in August of that year. Over the course of his career, Rowand played in 1,358 games, hitting .273 with 136 home runs and 536 RBIs. He was known for his strong defensive skills, winning a Gold Glove award in 2007, and his aggressive playing style, which often led to injuries.
Since retiring from baseball, Rowand has remained involved in the sport as a coach and instructor. He has worked with several MLB teams, including the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Francisco Giants, and has also coached at the college level. Rowand currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada, with his wife and children.
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