Justin Morneau
Born: 5/15/1981 in New Westminster, BC, CAN
MLB Debut: 2003-06-10 | Final Game: 2016-10-02
Bats: L | Throws: R | Height: 6'4" | Weight: 220 lbs
Full name: Justin Ernest George Morneau
Biography
Justin Morneau, born in 1981, was a prominent first baseman in Major League Baseball, known for his power-hitting and consistent performance throughout his career from 2003 to 2016. Playing primarily for the Minnesota Twins, Morneau established himself as one of the premier hitters of his era, finishing his career with 1,603 hits, 247 home runs, and 985 RBIs, all contributing to a solid batting average of .281. His ability to drive in runs and contribute to his team's offensive output earned him four All-Star selections, showcasing his status among the league's elite during his playing years.
Morneau's career unfolded during a dynamic period in baseball, marked by the transition from the steroid era to a more scrutinized and balanced game. Despite facing challenges, including injuries later in his career, he remained a key player for the Twins and had notable stints with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies. His combination of power and contact hitting, along with his leadership on and off the field, solidified his legacy as one of the top first basemen of his generation, leaving an indelible mark on the franchise and the game itself.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1545 | 5699 | 772 | 1603 | 349 | 23 | 247 | 985 | 5 | 573 | 988 | 0.281 | 0.348 | 0.481 | 0.828 | 13313.4 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | MIN | AL | 40 | 106 | 14 | 24 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 0 | 9 | 30 | 0.226 | -228.9 |
| 2004 | MIN | AL | 74 | 280 | 39 | 76 | 17 | 0 | 19 | 58 | 0 | 28 | 54 | 0.271 | 732.6 |
| 2005 | MIN | AL | 141 | 490 | 62 | 117 | 23 | 4 | 22 | 79 | 0 | 44 | 94 | 0.239 | -237.1 |
| 2006 | MIN | AL | 157 | 592 | 97 | 190 | 37 | 1 | 34 | 130 | 3 | 53 | 93 | 0.321 | 2660.6 |
| 2007 | MIN | AL | 157 | 590 | 84 | 160 | 31 | 3 | 31 | 111 | 1 | 64 | 91 | 0.271 | 1170.8 |
| 2008 | MIN | AL | 163 | 623 | 97 | 187 | 47 | 4 | 23 | 129 | 0 | 76 | 85 | 0.300 | 2176.9 |
| 2009 | MIN | AL | 135 | 508 | 85 | 139 | 31 | 1 | 30 | 100 | 0 | 72 | 86 | 0.274 | 1792.8 |
| 2010 | MIN | AL | 81 | 296 | 53 | 102 | 25 | 1 | 18 | 56 | 0 | 50 | 62 | 0.345 | 2567.0 |
| 2011 | MIN | AL | 69 | 264 | 19 | 60 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 30 | 0 | 19 | 44 | 0.227 | -677.7 |
| 2012 | MIN | AL | 134 | 505 | 63 | 135 | 26 | 2 | 19 | 77 | 1 | 49 | 102 | 0.267 | 637.0 |
| 2013 | MIN | AL | 127 | 495 | 56 | 128 | 32 | 0 | 17 | 74 | 0 | 37 | 98 | 0.259 | 292.6 |
| 2013 | PIT | NL | 25 | 77 | 6 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 12 | 0.260 | 292.6 |
| 2014 | COL | NL | 135 | 502 | 62 | 160 | 32 | 3 | 17 | 82 | 0 | 34 | 60 | 0.319 | 2115.1 |
| 2015 | COL | NL | 49 | 168 | 19 | 52 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 0 | 13 | 25 | 0.310 | 403.6 |
| 2016 | CHW | AL | 58 | 203 | 16 | 53 | 14 | 1 | 6 | 25 | 0 | 12 | 52 | 0.261 | -91.1 |
Postseason Statistics
Playoff Career Batting
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 53 | 8 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 0.302 |
Playoff Batting by Year
| Year | Round | Team | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | AVG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | NLDS1 | PIT | 5 | 20 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.300 |
| 2013 | NLWC | PIT | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.250 |
| 2006 | ALDS2 | MIN | 3 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.417 |
| 2004 | ALDS2 | MIN | 4 | 17 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0.235 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1324 | 1296 | 11239 | 921 | 49 | 1180 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | MIN | 1B | 7 | 2 | 29 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 2004 | MIN | 1B | 61 | 61 | 523 | 41 | 3 | 54 |
| 2005 | MIN | 1B | 138 | 128 | 1191 | 91 | 8 | 123 |
| 2006 | MIN | 1B | 153 | 152 | 1297 | 111 | 8 | 113 |
| 2007 | MIN | 1B | 143 | 143 | 1189 | 102 | 5 | 122 |
| 2008 | MIN | 1B | 155 | 155 | 1316 | 89 | 4 | 149 |
| 2009 | MIN | 1B | 123 | 123 | 952 | 90 | 3 | 88 |
| 2010 | MIN | 1B | 77 | 77 | 674 | 59 | 1 | 64 |
| 2011 | MIN | 1B | 56 | 55 | 440 | 44 | 1 | 52 |
| 2012 | MIN | 1B | 99 | 99 | 879 | 72 | 6 | 105 |
| 2013 | MIN | 1B | 112 | 111 | 999 | 86 | 3 | 117 |
| 2013 | PIT | 1B | 25 | 22 | 223 | 14 | 1 | 16 |
| 2014 | COL | 1B | 131 | 126 | 1170 | 86 | 4 | 122 |
| 2015 | COL | 1B | 44 | 42 | 357 | 32 | 1 | 54 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1324 |
| Designated Hitter | 190 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Player of the Week | Week of 2014-04-20 |
| 2009 | Player of the Week | Week of 2009-07-04 |
| 2008 | Silver Slugger | 1B |
| 2007 | Player of the Month | May |
| 2007 | Player of the Week | Week of 2007-07-07 |
| 2006 | Most Valuable Player | |
| 2006 | Silver Slugger | 1B |
| 2006 | TSN All-Star | 1B |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | COL | NL | $6,750,000 |
| 2014 | COL | NL | $5,000,000 |
| 2013 | MIN | AL | $15,000,000 |
| 2012 | MIN | AL | $15,000,000 |
| 2011 | MIN | AL | $15,000,000 |
| 2010 | MIN | AL | $15,000,000 |
| 2009 | MIN | AL | $11,600,000 |
| 2008 | MIN | AL | $8,400,000 |
| 2007 | MIN | AL | $4,500,000 |
| 2006 | MIN | AL | $385,000 |
| 2005 | MIN | AL | $345,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $96,980,000 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 23th | 2.0 | 420 | 0 |
| 2008 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 2nd | 257.0 | 392 | 7 |
| 2007 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 20th | 3.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 2006 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 1st | 320.0 | 392 | 15 |