With MLB UK’s Battlegrounds event on July 4th fast approaching, it’s time we get to know the former MLB players who will be starring on the day. First up is an Expos, Marlins and Mets outfielder who spent 17 seasons in the big leagues, Cliff Floyd. Let’s familiarise ourselves with the career of Cornelius Clifford Floyd, Jr.
Career Statistics (per Baseball-Reference):
Games: 1621
Plate Appearances: 6063
Batting Average:.278
On-base Percentage:.358
Slugging Percentage:.481
Doubles: 340
Triples: 23
Home Runs: 233
Stolen Bases: 148
OPS+: 119
Wins Above Replacement: 25.9
Career in the Same Number of Words as Floyd’s Total Home Runs
An incredibly athletic three-sport star who hit .508 over his final two years of high school, Floyd was drafted 14th overall in the 1991 draft by the Expos. After a 1.017 OPS in 101 games with Double-A Harrisburg in 1993, Floyd was ranked as the number one prospect in baseball in 1994 by Baseball America and performed respectably in the majors that year, with a .731 OPS as a 21-year-old. A broken wrist cut short his 1995 campaign and after an unimpressive 1996, he was traded from Montreal to the Marlins, where he had his best years, hitting 110 home runs and putting up a 135 OPS+ over five-plus seasons.
Following another great season in 2002 in which he was traded twice, first back to the Expos and then on to Boston, Floyd signed a four-year deal with the Mets for $26 million. A series of frustrating injury-plagued seasons followed, in which he only topped 500 PA once, although he did get down-ballot MVP support in that 2005 season, with 34 homers and an .863 OPS. He rounded out his career with one-year deals for the Cubs, Rays, and Padres, but he was a part-time player given the injury concerns, and only played 10 games for San Diego before retiring in 2009. Floyd has since worked as a broadcaster for FOX Sports, NBC, MLB, SportsNet, and currently hosts shows on Sirius XM Radio.
Best Season
2001. In his age-28 season with the Marlins, Floyd hit 31 homers and 44 doubles with a .968 OPS, and also stole 18 bases in 21 attempts. He passed the 100 mark in both runs and RBI, the only time he did either in his career, and made his sole All-Star appearance.
Postseason Experience
Won a World Series ring with the Marlins in 1997, although he only had three plate appearances, as he did not establish himself in the lineup until the 1998 season. Floyd would subsequently make postseason appearances in three consecutive years for the Mets (2006), Cubs (2007) and Rays (2008), including a key role with 4 hits in the Mets’ sweep of the Dodgers in the 2006 NLDS.
Best Homer on Youtube
Best Baseball Card
This may be the best @CliffFloyd30 card ever printed. pic.twitter.com/SvkR1ir4RB
— Manny Randhawa (@MannyOnMLB) June 12, 2017
Of Note
Floyd is a supporter and partner of protective headgear called the Ball Cap Liner, designed to protect the forehead and temples from the impact of baseballs.
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