Greg Norton is a former professional baseball player who played for several teams during his career. He was born on July 6, 1972, in San Leandro, California, and attended Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland. Norton was a standout athlete in high school, playing both baseball and football.
After graduating from high school, Norton attended Santa Clara University, where he continued to play baseball. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the second round of the 1993 Major League Baseball draft and made his debut with the team in 1996.
Norton played for the White Sox for three seasons before being traded to the Colorado Rockies in 1999. He spent one season with the Rockies before being traded to the Detroit Tigers in 2000. Norton played for the Tigers for two seasons before being traded to the San Francisco Giants in 2002.
After one season with the Giants, Norton signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003. He played for the Devil Rays for four seasons before being traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2007. Norton played for the Mariners for one season before signing with the Atlanta Braves in 2008. He played for the Braves for one season before retiring from baseball in 2009.
Throughout his career, Norton was primarily a utility player, playing multiple positions including first base, third base, and outfield. He was known for his versatility and ability to play multiple positions well. Norton was also a solid hitter, finishing his career with a .249 batting average, 89 home runs, and 338 RBIs.
Norton's best season came in 2006 when he hit .296 with 17 home runs and 45 RBIs for the Devil Rays. He also had a career-high 22 doubles that season. Norton was a valuable player for the Devil Rays during his time with the team, helping them to their first winning season in 2008.
After retiring from baseball, Norton became a hitting coach for the Seattle Mariners organization. He also worked as a hitting coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs. Norton is currently the hitting coach for the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, the Nashville Sounds.
In conclusion, Greg Norton had a successful career as a utility player in Major League Baseball. He played for several teams during his career and was known for his versatility and ability to play multiple positions well. Norton was also a solid hitter, finishing his career with a .249 batting average, 89 home runs, and 338 RBIs. After retiring from baseball, Norton became a hitting coach and is currently the hitting coach for the Nashville Sounds.
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