| Scott Podsednik | |
|---|---|
 Podsednik with the Boston Red Sox in 2012 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1976-03-18)March 18, 1976 (age 49) West, Texas, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 6, 2001, for the Seattle Mariners | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 3, 2012, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .281 |
| Home runs | 42 |
| Runs batted in | 312 |
| Stolen bases | 309 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Scott Eric Podsednik (/pədˈsɛdnɪk/; born March 18, 1976) is an American former professionalbaseballoutfielder inMajor League Baseball (MLB). Best known for his baserunning, Podsednik led the major leagues instolen bases in2004 with 70, intimes caught stealing in2005 with 23, and theAmerican League in times caught stealing in2006 with 19. He won theWorld Series with the2005 Chicago White Sox, hitting a walk-off home run in Game 2.
Podsednik was born to Duane and Amy Podsednik inWest, Texas. Duane worked at a glass plant inWaco and Amy worked atWest High School.[1] Podsednik rantrack and played baseball at West High School and received scholarship offers to run thehurdles and200 meters at such schools asTexas,Texas A&M andTCU.[2] Podsednik was his high school'sprom king in 1994.[3]
Podsednik was drafted out of West High School in the 3rd round, 85th overall, in the1994 Major League Baseball draft by theTexas Rangers. He began his professional career with the Gulf Coast Rangers in 1994. The Rangers traded him (along withWilson Heredia) to theFlorida Marlins for pitcherBobby Witt on October 8, 1995. He spent the next two seasons playing for the Marlins class-A affiliates.
On December 15, 1997, he returned to the Rangers in the minor league portion of theRule 5 draft. He was promoted to the Double-ATulsa Drillers in 1998. He remained with Tulsa through the 2000 season when he was granted free agency.
He signed with theSeattle Mariners as a minor league free agent and was placed at the Triple-A level with theTacoma Rainiers. Podsednik spent nine years in the minors with significant time lost to injury.[1]
He made his Major League debut on July 6, 2001, against theLos Angeles Dodgers,pinch-running forIchiro Suzuki. In his first career major leagueat-bat, against theArizona Diamondbacks on July 15, hehit a bases loadedtriple.[4]
In2002, Podsednik played mostly at Triple-ATacoma, but was activated for 14 Major League games, hitting his first major-league home run during that time.
After the 2002 season, Podsednik was acquired by theMilwaukee Brewers organization from Seattle for $20,000. He rebounded with a fine rookie season in Milwaukee, compiling a .314 batting average, 43 stolen bases, 100 runs scored, 175 hits, 29 doubles, eight triples, nine home runs, 58 runs batted in, 56 walks and a .379 on-base percentage for the Brewers, and finished second to theFlorida Marlins'Dontrelle Willis in the officialRookie of the Year balloting.[5]
The 2004 season saw Podsednik lead the league with 70 stolen bases.
In December 2004, Podsednik was dealt to theChicago White Sox (along with Travis Hinton andLuis Vizcaíno) forCarlos Lee. After leading all of the Major Leagues in steals the first half of 2005, he was selected to his firstAll-Star game via the MLB'sAll-Star Final Vote. He saw only defensive time in the All-Star game inDetroit that year and did not get a chance to bat.
Podsednik ended 2005 with 59 steals (second in theAmerican League) and 23 times caught stealing (leading the major leagues) despite missing several games due to injury. In the postseason he started all 12 games and hit .286 while stealing six bases on nine attempts. In Game 2 of the2005 World Series, while facingBrad Lidge in the bottom of the 9th inning, with the White Sox andAstros tied at 6, Podsednik hit a 2–1 fastball into the right field stands for awalk-off home run, only the 14th in World Series history. The feat was all the more improbable because Podsednik did not hit any home runs during the regular season in 2005, and had only hit one in theALDS against theRed Sox. Two days later in Game 3, he set a World Series record of eight at-bats in a single World Series Game.
In 2006, Podsednik once again led the league with 19 times caught stealing.
On November 20, 2007, Podsednik was designated for assignment and released on November 28, 2007.[6]
On February 5,2008, he signed a minor league contract with an invitation tospring training with theColorado Rockies.[7] He appeared in 93 games for the Rockies and hit .253. A free agent at the end of the season, he re-signed with the Rockies on January 14, 2009,[8] but was released before the 2009 season started.
On April 14, 2009, Podsednik agreed to return to the White Sox on a minor-league deal, and was assigned to the AAACharlotte Knights. On April 30, Podsednik was promoted to the major league team. He was given plenty of playing time upon his recall, with injuries to Sox center fieldersDeWayne Wise andBrian Anderson, as well as to left fielderCarlos Quentin. Podsednik hit .304 in his return to the South Side.
On January 8, 2010, Podsednik signed a contract with theKansas City Royals. He hit .309 in 94 games with the Royals, and stole 30 bases.
On July 28, 2010, the Royals traded Podsednik to the Los Angeles Dodgers in return for two minor league players, catcherLucas May and pitcher Elisaul Pimentel. He appeared in 39 games for the Dodgers, with a .262 batting average and five stolen bases. He was shut down for the season in early September because of a foot injury.[9] After the season, he declined his half of a mutual option and became a free agent.
On February 16, 2011, Podsednik signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. He played for theLas Vegas 51s in thePacific Coast League as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays organization. He was released on May 11.[10]
Podsednik signed a minor league contract with thePhiladelphia Phillies on May 22, 2011.[11] He was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, theLehigh Valley IronPigs, but was limited to playing in just 14 games due to injuries.
The Phillies signed Podsednik to another minor league deal on November 30, 2011.[12] Even after an impressive Spring training, Podsednik was again sent to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
On May 11, 2012, Podsednik was traded to theBoston Red Sox for cash considerations. Podsednik was promoted to Boston May 22 to help with an outfield that saw seven players on the disabled list. On May 22, 2012, he made his debut, his first major league action since 2010, pinch hitting forMarlon Byrd in the seventh inning of a game against theBaltimore Orioles. On the following day, also against the Baltimore Orioles, Podsednik was the starting right fielder, and hit a home run.
On July 31, 2012, Podsednik was traded to theArizona Diamondbacks, along with RHPMatt Albers, for LHPCraig Breslow. He was released the next day after refusing a Triple-A assignment. On August 9, 2012, Podsednik re-signed with the Red Sox on a major league contract. He retired after the 2012 season.
Podsednik married long-time girlfriend, Lindsey, in the spring of 2025. He was previously married to sportscasterLisa Dergan from 2008-2017.[13] His sister Shana is married to former Texas Rangers baseball player,Kevin Mench.
| Preceded by | Sporting News NL Rookie of the Year 2003 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Players Choice NL Most Outstanding Rookie 2003 | Succeeded by |
