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Lance Berkman
- Selected as the Astros Most Valuable Player three times in a four-year stretch from 2001-2004
- Has been a member of the N.L. All-Star Team three times
- Has a .340 average with 26 rbi in 26 playoff games in 2004-2005 season
- Established major league records for a switch-hitter with 55 doubles and 94 extra hits in 2001
- Despite missing the first 28 games of 2005 while recovering from knee surgery, he had the National League's fifth hightest on-base percentage at .411
- Made major league debut with the Astros in July 1999
- Selected by Houston in the first round of the 1997 MLB 1st Year Player Draft
- Led the N.L. with 128 rbi in 2002
- Less than a month after the 2004 season ended, Berkman injured his right knee playing flag football at a church event He had to undergo surgery to repair cartilage and the ACL in early November
- Started 84 games at first base, 34 in left field, and 10 in right field in 2005
- Leads all switch-hitters since 2001 in home runs, RBI, walks, extra-base hits, on-base percentage, and slugging
- His dad, Larry Berkman played baseball as a walk-on at the University of Texas and coached most of his son's early youth league teams
- An old tire was hung in the backyard for Berkman to swing at and strengthen his muscles
- He and his wife, Cara, make their offseason home in Houston with their two daughters: Hannah Leigh and Carly Anne
Berkman probably has the most raw power on the team and can swat home runs with a flick of his wrist. He also has exceptional hand-eye coordination, though it is much better lefthanded. He has a solid approach to hitting and usually doesn't overthink it. He drives the ball to all fields well, hitting it the opposite way if you pitch him outside and cutting down on his swing if you pitch him inside. His weakness is hitting righthanded, and some wonder if he should stick strictly to lefthanded hitting. Sports.espn.go.com
Related Links
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"The mark of a good hitter is someone who hits the ball hard often, and if you run into a few home runs, that's fine. But you need to hit singles on the line…" -Baseball Digest
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Height: 6'1"
Born: 2/10/76
Resides: Houston, TX
Sport: Baseball
Position: Outfield/First Base
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