Originally drafted first overall in the 2000 MLB Draft, Adrian Gonzalez‘s path to the San Diego Padres was a whirlwind. The Marlins made him the first infielder taken first overall since Alex Rodriguez in 1993, but he was immediately traded to the Texas Rangers. He made his Major League debut in 2004 but batted just .229 in 59 games before being traded to the Padres after the 2005 season.
With regular playing time, he became one of the premier power hitters in the league batting .304 in 156 games with 24 home runs and 82 in his first season in San Diego.