Scott Podsednik is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played for several teams during his career. He was born on March 18, 1976, in West, Texas, and attended high school in nearby Waco. After graduation, he attended Angelina College in Lufkin, Texas, where he played baseball for two years before transferring to the University of Texas at Austin.
Podsednik was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the third round of the 1994 MLB draft but did not sign with the team. He was then drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the third round of the 1996 draft and signed with them. He spent several years in the Mariners' minor league system before being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2002.
Podsednik made his MLB debut with the Brewers in 2003 and quickly established himself as a speedy outfielder with a good batting average. He stole 43 bases that season and was named the National League Rookie of the Year. He continued to play well for the Brewers in 2004 and 2005, stealing a total of 120 bases over those two seasons.
In 2005, Podsednik was traded to the Chicago White Sox, where he played a key role in the team's run to the World Series championship. He hit a game-winning home run in Game 2 of the World Series and stole a base in Game 4 that led to the winning run. He also made a spectacular catch in Game 3 that helped preserve a White Sox victory.
Podsednik played for several more teams over the next few years, including the Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He continued to be a productive player, stealing a total of 307 bases over his career and finishing with a lifetime batting average of .281.
Podsednik retired from baseball in 2012 and has since worked as a baseball analyst for various media outlets. He has also been involved in charitable work, including founding the Podsednik Family Foundation, which supports children's charities in the Waco area.
Overall, Scott Podsednik had a successful career as a Major League Baseball player, known for his speed on the basepaths and his ability to make clutch plays in important games. He was a key contributor to the Chicago White Sox's World Series championship in 2005 and was a respected player throughout his career.
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