Cody Ross is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. He was born on December 23, 1980, in Portales, New Mexico, and grew up in New Mexico and New Mexico State University. Ross was a standout athlete in high school and college, where he played baseball and football.

Ross began his professional baseball career in 1999 when he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the fourth round of the MLB draft. He spent several years in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut with the Tigers in 2003. Ross played for the Tigers for two seasons before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2005.

Ross played for the Dodgers for two seasons before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 2006. He played for the Reds for one season before being traded to the Florida Marlins in 2007. Ross had his breakout season with the Marlins in 2008, where he hit 22 home runs and had 73 RBIs. He was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the National League Championship Series (NLCS) that year.

Ross played for the Marlins for four seasons before being traded to the San Francisco Giants in 2010. He played a key role in the Giants' World Series championship that year, hitting five home runs and driving in 10 RBIs in the postseason. Ross was named the MVP of the NLCS for the second time in his career.

Ross played for the Giants for two seasons before signing with the Boston Red Sox in 2012. He played for the Red Sox for one season before being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013. Ross played for the Diamondbacks for two seasons before being released in 2015.

Throughout his career, Ross was known for his versatility and ability to play multiple positions, including all three outfield positions and first base. He was also known for his clutch hitting and ability to perform in the postseason. Ross finished his career with a .262 batting average, 132 home runs, and 508 RBIs.

After retiring from baseball, Ross became a television analyst for the Miami Marlins and a special assistant to the president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs. He also started a charity called the Cody Ross Foundation, which supports children's charities and organizations.