Chris Stynes, a professional baseball player, spent nearly a decade in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily known for his time as an infielder and outfielder. Born on January 19, 1973, in Queens, New York, Stynes attended Boca Raton Community High School in Florida before moving on to play college baseball at Florida Atlantic University. His journey to the major leagues began when he was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round of the 1991 MLB Draft.
Stynes made his MLB debut with the Kansas City Royals on May 19, 1995, after being traded from the Blue Jays. During his time with the Royals, he demonstrated his ability to play multiple positions, including second base, third base, and the outfield. His versatility on the field was complemented by a solid batting average, which helped him secure a spot in the lineup.
In 1997, Stynes was traded to the Cincinnati Reds, where he spent the next few seasons. His tenure with the Reds was marked by consistent performance at the plate and in the field. In 1998, he achieved a career-high batting average of .348, albeit in a limited number of games. Stynes' ability to get on base and his speed made him a valuable asset to the Reds' roster.
The year 2000 saw Stynes being traded to the Boston Red Sox. During his time in Boston, he continued to contribute as a utility player, filling in at various positions as needed. His adaptability and steady performance helped the team through several challenging stretches. In 2001, he played in 100 games for the Red Sox, maintaining a respectable batting average and providing depth to the team's lineup.
Following his stint with the Red Sox, Stynes signed with the Chicago Cubs for the 2002 season. Although his time with the Cubs was brief, he continued to demonstrate his ability to adapt to different roles on the team. After leaving Chicago, he joined the Colorado Rockies in 2003, where he played in 108 games and maintained a batting average of .255.
Stynes' final season in the major leagues was with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2004. During his time with the Pirates, he played in 63 games, primarily as a third baseman. Despite a decline in his offensive numbers, Stynes' experience and knowledge of the game were valuable to the younger players on the team.
Throughout his MLB career, Chris Stynes played in over 800 games, accumulating more than 700 hits and maintaining a career batting average of .275.
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