I always like Scott Podsednik. He really had one great tool—speed—but still, it was a very exciting 11-season career.
• Podsednik was drafted by the Rangers in the 3rd round of the 1994 MLB draft. It would take him roughly eight seasons to make the majors, debuting with the Mariners in 2001.
• It would not be until 2003, while with the Brewers, that he would get a full seasons worth of at-bats. And he was good! Hitting .314/.379/.443, stealing 43 bases and finishing second in ROY voting. In retrospect, his offensive output that season, which resulted in a 114 OPS+, would be his career highs.
• In 2004 he would hit .244/.313/.364 (75 OPS+), but he would lead the league with 70 SB. He also hit a career-high 14 HR. So that is something. In December he was traded to the White Sox, part of the Carlos Lee deal. • 2005 was a big year. He would hit .290/.351/.349 (86 OPS+), and would steal 59 bases (though lead the league in times caught at 23). He would be selected to his only All-Star team, finished 12th in MVP voting, and would get a Ring with the White Sox.
• From 2006-2012 he would bounce between several organizations. He still had his speed and could slap hits with the best of them. He would have been a great 4th OF, except he was not all that great defensively and lacked any sort of power, which limited his opportunities.
Podsednik would retire with a line of .281/.339/.379, 42 HR, 309 SB (104 CS), and an 88 OPS+.