Brian Giles made the majors with the Indians over four seasons and he did well enough. After a trade to the Pirates in 1999, his playing time expanded and his batting average increased with it, The Associated Press wrote.
"I always thought I could produce if I played every day, but there are always doubters until you do it," Giles told The AP after signing a lucrative deal with the Pirates in 2000. "I always thought I had the talent to do it."
Giles' move to the Pirates started five seasons where he hit at least .298 and saw two all-star teams. Overall, Giles saw 15 seasons in the majors, with the Indians, Pirates and Padres.
Giles' career began in 1989, taken by the Indians in the 17th round of the draft out of Granite Hills High School in California.
Giles started with the Indians at rookie Burlington. He made short-season Watertown in 1990, then High A Kinston in 1991 and AA Canton-Akron briefly in 1992 and full-time in 1993.
In late-April 1993, Giles hit a double and a triple in a game, improving his early season average, The Akron Beacon Journal wrote.
"My hitting has been kind of weird lately," Giles told The Beacon Journal after that game. "It seems to be happening in spurts. Sometimes I feel good up there, and sometimes I don't."
Giles made AAA Charlotte in 1994. Then, in 1995, he got his first six-game look at Cleveland. He went 5 for 9.
Giles saw 51 games with the Indians in 1996, then 130 there in 1997. He hit .268, with 17 home runs in 1997. That October, he got what would be his only look at the World Series.
"This is a lot of fun," Giles told The Beacon Journal during the Indians' playoff run. "It's unbelievable the way things have worked out."
Giles saw 112 games with the Indians in 1998, then moved to the Pirates. He played four and a half seasons with Pittsburgh and saw the all-star game in 2000 and 2001.
He moved to the Padres in late 2003 and played the next six seasons there. He last saw the majors with the Padres in 2009.
- Akron Beacon Journal, April 29, 1993: AA Tribe falls again to Senators
- Akron Beacon Journal, Oct. 14, 1997: Giles hit with the answer
- ESPN, Associated Press, May 20, 2000: Giles becomes first $10 million Pirate
Made the Majors:1,383-32.8%-X
Never Made Majors:2,831-67.2%
5+ Seasons in the Majors:562-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors:345
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