Morgan Ensberg
Free Agent — No. --
Infielder
Born: August 26, 1975 (1975-08-26) (age 34) Hermosa Beach, California
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 20, 2000 for the Houston Astros
Career statistics (through 2008 season)
Batting average	.263
Home runs	110
Runs batted in	347
On-base plus slugging	.830
Teams
Houston Astros (2000-2007) San Diego Padres (2007) New York Yankees (2008)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star selection (2005) Silver Slugger Award winner (2005)

Morgan Paul Ensberg (born August 26, 1975 in Hermosa Beach, California) is an infielder in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. Ensberg bats and throws right-handed. He was previously a member of the San Diego Padres, Houston Astros, and New York Yankees.

[edit] School years

Ensberg attended Riviera Hall Lutheran School during elementary and middle school. Ensberg attended Redondo Union High School (Redondo Beach, California) and starred in baseball and basketball.

During his junior year, he was selected into the all-league second team, and first team during his senior year for basketball.

[edit] College career

Ensberg attended the University of Southern California and played third base for the 1998 National Champions. Former Astros Jason Lane and Eric Munson also played on that team. Ensberg is the only Trojan who has compiled 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a single season. While attending USC, Ensberg joined the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

[edit] Professional career

Ensberg was drafted in the 9th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft. In spring training of 2000, Ensberg and five of his teammates were in their hotel room when two gunmen burst in. Aaron Miles was in the next room and wrestled one of the gunmen to the ground before the other one fled, only to be caught later on. The other players involved were, Derrek Nicholson, Keith Ginter, Mike Rose, and Eric Cole.^[1]

Morgan Ensberg

Ensberg enjoyed a stellar 2005 season, and was among the league leaders in home runs.

Ensberg was named to the National League All-Star team at the last minute in 2005, replacing the injured Scott Rolen. Ensberg had a career year in 2005, batting .283 while hitting 36 home runs and compiling a career high 101 RBI.

During the 2006 season, Ensberg's numbers fell and Ensberg began platooning third base with newly acquired Aubrey Huff and occasionally Mike Lamb.

Other than Barry Bonds, Ensberg was the only major league player to record at least 100 walks and have fewer hits than walks in 2006.

After disappointing seasons for the Astros in 2006 and 2007, the team designated Ensberg for assignment on July 29, 2007, ending Ensberg's six year tenure with the club.^[2]

On July 31, 2007, the Astros traded Ensberg to the San Diego Padres. This was only days after the Astros traded pitcher Dan Wheeler to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for third baseman Ty Wigginton. The Astros paid the remainder of Ensberg's $4.35 million dollar salary. He is a Southern California native and recently bought a house near San Diego. [1] Ensberg hit two home runs and a single in his Padres debut [2]

Ensberg was not offered a new contract by the Padres and became a free agent on December 12, 2007. On January 31, 2008, he signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees with an invitation to spring training, anticipating to compete for the first base position.^[3] On March 22, Ensberg was added to the Yankees 40-man roster.^[4]

In 2008, Ensberg hit .235 with a home run and 4 runs batted in for the Yankees. The Yankees designated him for assignment on June 1, and released him on June 8. On June 17, Ensberg signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians. He became a free agent at the end of the season.

On February 9, 2009, Ensberg signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays and was invited to the major league camp.^[5] However, he was released at the end of spring training.^[6]

[edit] See also

• Major League Baseball hitters with three home runs in one game

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
• Morgan Ensberg: Behind the Dugout