| Adam Eaton | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Eaton with the Washington Nationals in 2017 | |
| Los Angeles Angels | |
| Outfielder /Coach | |
| Born: (1988-12-06)December 6, 1988 (age 36) Springfield, Ohio, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 4, 2012, for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| August 14, 2021, for the Los Angeles Angels | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .276 |
| Home runs | 66 |
| Runs batted in | 319 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Adam Cory Eaton (born December 6, 1988) is an American former professionalbaseballoutfielder and currentfirst base coach for theLos Angeles Angels ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for theArizona Diamondbacks,Chicago White Sox,Washington Nationals, and Angels.
Eaton playedcollege baseball forMiami University before the Diamondbacks selected him in the 19th round of the2010 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2012 with the Diamondbacks, and played with them through the 2013 season, when they traded him to the White Sox. He played for the White Sox from 2014 to 2016 and the Nationals from 2017 to 2020. He was also a member of the Nationals'2019 World Series champion team.
In 2022, he was hired as the Director of Player Development for theMichigan State Spartans baseball team.[1]
Eaton graduated fromKenton Ridge High School inSpringfield, Ohio. He is the fourth player to reach the major leagues from Kenton Ridge, preceded byDave Burba,Rick White andDustin Hermanson. A pitcher and outfielder in high school, Eaton'sfastball could reach as high as 92 mph, while hebatted .482 in his junior season in 2006.[2] He helped lead his team to the regional finals in 2004 and 2005.[3] Eaton earned All-Ohio honorable mention honors that year,[4] as well as being named to the All-Miami Valley first team and theSpringfield News-Sun's All-Area first team as a sophomore and junior.[2][5] However, abulging disc suffered while playing basketball limited Eaton in his senior season in 2007.[3][4]
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Eaton committed to attendMiami University on abaseball scholarship. Miami recruited Eaton as a two-way player.[2] He played for theMiami RedHawks baseball team in theMid-American Conference (MAC) inNCAA Division I.[2] He was a two-time All-MAC selection and set the school record fortriples with 18.[6]
The Diamondbacks drafted Eaton in the 19th round of the2010 Major League Baseball draft, with the 571st overall selection.[7] In 2010 and 2011, Eaton had a .340batting average with the Diamondbacks' minor league affiliates.[8] Eaton was named aPioneer League All-Star outfielder in 2010,[9] and aCalifornia League All-Star in 2011.[10] In 2011, he batted .318 with 145hits and 72walks, good for a .434on-base percentage (OBP), which was the fourth best OBP in minor league baseball.[11] Eaton alsostole 34 bases.[11] He was invited tospring training in 2012, where he impressed Diamondbacks'managerKirk Gibson,[12] and received as manyat bats as Diamondbacks regulars.[11]
Eaton played for theReno Aces of theTriple-APacific Coast League (PCL) in 2012. He was named thePCL Rookie of the Year[13] andMost Valuable Player.[14] The Diamondbacks called Eaton up to the major leagues on September 4.[15] Eaton was expected to play for the Diamondbacks for the 2013 season, but suffered an injury to his right elbow during spring training. He returned to the Diamondbacks in July,[16] and played in 66 games.
On December 10, 2013, the Diamondbacks traded Eaton to theChicago White Sox in a three-team deal, involving the Diamondbacks, theLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and the White Sox. The Diamondbacks receivedMark Trumbo from the Angels and twoplayers to be named later (Brandon Jacobs andA. J. Schugel) and the Angels receivedTyler Skaggs from the Diamondbacks andHector Santiago from the White Sox.[17][18]
Eaton batted .300 with 15 stolen bases during the 2014 season. During spring training in 2015, Eaton and the White Sox agreed to a five-year contract extension worth $23.5 million, with options for two additional years.[19] During a game against theKansas City Royals on April 22, 2015, Eaton grounded out toYordano Ventura, who shouted profanity at Eaton, which ignited a bench-clearing brawl. Eaton was unaffected while five players, including Ventura were ejected.[20]
On December 7, 2016, the White Sox traded Eaton to theWashington Nationals forLucas Giolito,Reynaldo López, andDane Dunning.[21]
On Opening Day, Eaton went 1-for-2, was walked twice, stole a base, scored a run, and hit a double against theMiami Marlins.[22] On April 28, 2017, Eaton stumbled when reaching first base and left the game. The next day, on April 29, Eaton was diagnosed with a left knee strain, placing him on the 10-day disabled list.[23] The same night, further tests from MRIs revealed that Eaton had a torn ACL, as well as a torn meniscus and a sprained ankle. He would miss the rest of the 2017 season.[24]
Eaton got a late start onspring training in 2018, with the Nationals wanting to handle him with care. He got off to a hot start at the plate to begin the season, winning his first National League Player of the Week award of the year (and in his career) after going 8-for-13 with two home runs against theCincinnati Reds in a three-game series.[25] However, Eaton continued to move awkwardly on his surgically repaired left leg, and after exiting a game against theNew York Mets early on April 5 following an aggressive sliding play at the plate to score a run,[26] he was ultimately placed on the disabled list with what was described as a bone bruise in his left ankle on April 11.[27] On May 10, Eaton underwent arthroscopic surgery on his injured ankle inGreen Bay, Wisconsin, with Dr. Robert Anderson discovering and removing a small tear in the cartilage of the ankle that was causing discomfort.[28] Following the chondral flap operation and a brief rehab assignment with the Class-AAHarrisburg Senators and High-APotomac Nationals, Eaton was activated from the disabled list for a start in right field against theSan Francisco Giants atNationals Park on June 9.[29] Eaton compiled a .301 average and .805 OPS over 319 plate appearances on the season.
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In 2019 he batted .279/.365/.428 with 15 home runs and 49 runs batted in.[30] The Nationals finished the year 93–69, clinching a wild card spot and winning theWorld Series over the Astros.[31]
In 2020, Eaton batted .226/.285/.384 with four home runs and 17 runs batted in during 41 games in thepandemic-shortened season.
On December 8, 2020, he signed a 1-year, $7 million deal to return to the White Sox with an $8.5 million club option for 2022.[32] After hitting .201/.298/.344 in 58 games for Chicago, the team designated Eaton for assignment on July 7, 2021.[33][34][35] Eaton was released by Chicago on July 12.[36]
On July 14, 2021, Eaton signed a major league contract with theLos Angeles Angels.[37] In 25 games for the Angels, Eaton hit .200 with one home run and two runs batted in. On August 15, Eaton was designated for assignment by the Angels.[38] On August 20, Eaton was released by the Angels.[39]
In a May 2022 interview, Eaton confirmed his MLB career was over.[40]
In 2022, Eaton was hired as the Director of Player Development for theMichigan State Spartans baseball team.[41]
On November 11, 2025, theLos Angeles Angels hired Eaton to serve as the team'sfirst base coach under new managerKurt Suzuki.[42]
Adam has been confused with formerMajor League Baseball (MLB)pitcherAdam Eaton. In one instance, he received six licensing checks from MLB worth $20,000 each, and has receivedfan mail meant for the other MLB veteran.[8][43] Eaton is married to formerMiami RedHawks softball player Katie Osburn Eaton. They have two sons,[44] and reside inBrighton, Michigan during the offseason.
