Vernon Wells
Born: 12/8/1978 in Shreveport, LA, USA
MLB Debut: 1999-08-30 | Final Game: 2013-09-29
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 6'1" | Weight: 230 lbs
Full name: Vernon M. Wells
Biography
Vernon Wells, born in 1978, was a prominent position player in Major League Baseball who played from 1999 until his retirement in 2013. Over the course of his career, he appeared in 1,731 games, amassing 1,794 hits and demonstrating a powerful presence at the plate with 270 home runs and 958 RBIs. His solid batting average of .27 reflected his ability to consistently contribute to his teams offensively. Additionally, Wells showcased his speed on the bases, finishing his career with 109 stolen bases, a testament to his well-rounded skill set.
Wells earned three All-Star selections during his career, highlighting his status as one of the standout players of his era. He played primarily during a time of offensive explosion in baseball, characterized by increased power numbers and a focus on home runs. Known for his strong arm in the outfield and his reliable hitting, Wells left a lasting impact on the teams he played for, most notably the Toronto Blue Jays, where he became a fan favorite. His combination of power and speed made him a significant player during the early 2000s, and he remains a respected figure in baseball history.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1731 | 6642 | 930 | 1794 | 379 | 34 | 270 | 958 | 109 | 472 | 956 | 0.270 | 0.319 | 0.459 | 0.778 | 4074.5 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | TOR | AL | 24 | 88 | 8 | 23 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 0.261 | -271.6 |
| 2000 | TOR | AL | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.0 |
| 2001 | TOR | AL | 30 | 96 | 14 | 30 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 15 | 0.312 | 32.9 |
| 2002 | TOR | AL | 159 | 608 | 87 | 167 | 34 | 4 | 23 | 100 | 9 | 27 | 85 | 0.275 | -35.3 |
| 2003 | TOR | AL | 161 | 678 | 118 | 215 | 49 | 5 | 33 | 117 | 4 | 42 | 80 | 0.317 | 2730.5 |
| 2004 | TOR | AL | 134 | 536 | 82 | 146 | 34 | 2 | 23 | 67 | 9 | 51 | 83 | 0.272 | 640.3 |
| 2005 | TOR | AL | 156 | 620 | 78 | 167 | 30 | 3 | 28 | 97 | 8 | 47 | 86 | 0.269 | 421.1 |
| 2006 | TOR | AL | 154 | 611 | 91 | 185 | 40 | 5 | 32 | 106 | 17 | 54 | 90 | 0.303 | 2064.5 |
| 2007 | TOR | AL | 149 | 584 | 85 | 143 | 36 | 4 | 16 | 80 | 10 | 49 | 89 | 0.245 | -991.0 |
| 2008 | TOR | AL | 108 | 427 | 63 | 128 | 22 | 1 | 20 | 78 | 4 | 29 | 46 | 0.300 | 898.4 |
| 2009 | TOR | AL | 158 | 630 | 84 | 164 | 37 | 3 | 15 | 66 | 17 | 48 | 86 | 0.260 | -813.9 |
| 2010 | TOR | AL | 157 | 590 | 79 | 161 | 44 | 3 | 31 | 88 | 6 | 50 | 84 | 0.273 | 1778.6 |
| 2011 | LAA | AL | 131 | 505 | 60 | 110 | 15 | 4 | 25 | 66 | 9 | 20 | 86 | 0.218 | -1060.2 |
| 2012 | LAA | AL | 77 | 243 | 36 | 56 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 29 | 3 | 16 | 35 | 0.230 | -306.7 |
| 2013 | NYY | AL | 130 | 424 | 45 | 99 | 16 | 0 | 11 | 50 | 7 | 30 | 73 | 0.233 | -1013.2 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| OF | 1659 | 1608 | 3726 | 73 | 25 | 14 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | TOR | OF | 24 | 23 | 50 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 2000 | TOR | OF | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | TOR | OF | 30 | 23 | 61 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 2002 | TOR | OF | 159 | 152 | 381 | 10 | 3 | 1 |
| 2003 | TOR | OF | 161 | 161 | 383 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 2004 | TOR | OF | 131 | 130 | 327 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 | TOR | OF | 155 | 153 | 351 | 12 | 0 | 4 |
| 2006 | TOR | OF | 150 | 147 | 332 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 2007 | TOR | OF | 148 | 143 | 321 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| 2008 | TOR | OF | 100 | 99 | 217 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 2009 | TOR | OF | 155 | 153 | 352 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| 2010 | TOR | OF | 151 | 151 | 354 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| 2011 | LAA | OF | 122 | 121 | 281 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 2012 | LAA | OF | 74 | 65 | 137 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | NYA | 1B | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | NYA | 2B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | NYA | 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | NYA | OF | 96 | 87 | 177 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 1 |
| Second Base | 1 |
| Third Base | 1 |
| Left Field | 253 |
| Center Field | 1369 |
| Right Field | 51 |
| Designated Hitter | 53 |
Awards & Honors
| Year | Award | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Branch Rickey Award | |
| 2006 | Gold Glove | OF |
| 2006 | Player of the Week | Week of 2006-07-22 |
| 2006 | TSN All-Star | OF |
| 2005 | Gold Glove | OF |
| 2004 | Gold Glove | OF |
| 2003 | Player of the Week | Week of 2003-06-21 |
| 2003 | Silver Slugger | OF |
| 2003 | TSN All-Star | OF |
Salary History
| Year | Team | League | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | NYA | AL | $24,642,857 |
| 2012 | LAA | AL | $24,187,500 |
| 2011 | LAA | AL | $26,187,500 |
| 2010 | TOR | AL | $15,687,500 |
| 2009 | TOR | AL | $4,687,500 |
| 2008 | TOR | AL | $3,687,500 |
| 2007 | TOR | AL | $8,787,500 |
| 2006 | TOR | AL | $4,470,000 |
| 2005 | TOR | AL | $3,070,000 |
| 2004 | TOR | AL | $870,000 |
| 2003 | TOR | AL | $520,000 |
| 2002 | TOR | AL | $221,000 |
| 1999 | TOR | AL | $200,000 |
| Total Career Earnings | $117,218,857 | ||
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 22th | 3.0 | 392 | 0 |
| 2003 | Most Valuable Player | AL | 8th | 84.0 | 392 | 1 |