Athlete Bios

Every athlete listed here has an official blog or website that we post on Drop the Skinny.  Some athletes may be unfamiliar to some of you, but you like what they write so here is where you can find a bit of information about that athlete.

The list is organized alphabetically by first name.

Updated: May 10, 2009

Barry Bonds - if you don’t know who Barry Bonds is, please kindly crawl out from under the rock.

Chad Billingsley - current Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher (SP).  Before his debut in 2006 with the Dodgers, Billingsley was rated the #1 prospect in the very strong Dodgers minor league organization.  In addition he was rated the #2 pitching prospect overall in 2006 behind Francisco Liriano and #7 among all minor leaguers.

Born:  7/29/1984 in Defiance, Ohio

Curt Schilling - retired in 2009 - MLB pitcher (SP).  Schilling spent the bulk of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies, but became a household name after joining the Boston Red Sox in 2004.  Despite all of Schilling’s pitching accomplishments, he is probably most well known for the “bloody sock” incident.  Schilling won Game 6 of the ALCS against the New York Yankees in which he pitched with an injured ankle.  By the end of the pitching performance, Schilling’s sock was covered in blood.  He founded his own gaming company called 38 Studios.

Born:  11/14/1966 in Anchorage, Alaska
3 time World Series Champion, 6 time All Star, 2001 World Series MVP, currently holds the MLB’s best career postseason record (11-2)

Curtis Granderson - current Detroit Tigers outfielder (CF).  Granderson’s banner year came in 2007 when he joined the ultra exclusive 20-20-20-20 club (20 HR, 20 2B, 20 3B, 20 SB), in which only 4 members have accomplished the feat in major league history.

Born: 3/16/1981 in Blue Island, Illinois
one of four Major Leaguers in the 20-20-20-20 club

Dontrelle Willis - Detroit Tigers pitcher (SP).  Willis compiled lots of awards upon his deput in 2003, but has notably declined in recent years.  In 2007, Willis was involved in a blockbuster trade along with Miguel Cabrera to the Tigers where Willis then signed a 3/$29 contract extension.

Born:  1/12/1982 in Oakland, California
Nickname:  D-Train
2003 NL ROY, 2003 World Series Champion, 2 time All Star (2003, 2005)

Jay Bruce - current Cincinnati Reds outfielder (RF).  Since being drafted 12th overall in the 2005 MLB Amateur draft, Jay Bruce was considered a top prospect not only in the Reds farm system, but overall amongst all minor leaguers.  From 2005-2006, Bruce was consistently rated the #2 prospect in the Reds minor league system behind SP Homer Bailey.  However beginning in 2007 leading up to the start of the 2008 season, Bruce was consistently rated the #1 overall minor league prospect ahead of such names as Evan Longoria (#2), Joba Chamberlain (#3) according to Baseball America.  Consequently, Bruce was called up in May 2008 and got off to an amazingly hot start right from hitting the Big Show through July, but started to tail off beginning in August.  For you sports card collectors, you all remember how much his 2005 rookie autographed cards skyrocketed.

Born: 4/3/1987 in Beaumont, Texas
Nickname:  Bruce Almighty, The Deal

John Lackey - current Los Angeles Angels pitcher (SP).  John Lackey will forever be etched in Angels greatness for his performance during the 2002 season.  On September 26, Lackey was the winning pitcher that clinched the AL Wild Card against the Texas Rangers.  However, it was Game 7 of the World Series against the San Francisco Giants that Lackey will forever be etched in the minds of Angels fans.  Lackey became the 2nd rookie in World Series history to start and win Game 7, the last being accomplished in 1909.

Born: 10/23/1978 in Abilene, Texas
2002 World Series Champion

Matt Kemp - current Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder typically playing LF or CF.  Since being drafted in 2003, Kemp was always considered a top prospect in the Dodgers minor league organization and would soon be considered the future of the Dodgers outfield.  Kemp was consistently rated in the top 10 in the very strong Dodgers farm system.

Born: 9/23/1984 in Midwest City, Oklahoma
Nickname: The Bison

Pat Neshek - current Minnesota Twins pitcher (RP).  Neshek was drafted in 2002 and had a very successful minor league career. In his 4 minor league years, Neshek pitched in 206 games, with 294.2 innings pitched, 367 strikeouts, and a miniscule 2.17 ERA.  Neshek had Tommy John surgery in 2008 and will miss the entire 2009 season.

Born:  9/4/1980 in Madison, Wisconsin

Phil Hughes - current New York Yankees pitcher (SP).  Philip Hughes was not very hyped up when drafted in the 1st round by the Yankees as the Yankees aren’t known for producing top notch pitchers.  However, after dominating nearly every level of the Yankees farm system, Hughes started becoming a household name.  Hughes was clearly the #1 prospect in the Yankees farm system and soon became rated #4 out of all minor leaguers in 2007.  Then came the disappointment, confusion, whatever you want to call it in 2008 when it was reported that the Minnesota Twins had serious interest in Phil Hughes in exchange for Johan Santana.  The problem was that the Yankees were unwilling to move Hughes.

Born: 6/24/1986 in Mission Viejo, California