Jeromy Neal Burnitz [Ber-NITS] (born April 15, 1969 in Westminster, California) is a right fielder in Major League Baseball who plays for the Chicago Cubs (since 2005). Previously, he played with the New York Mets (1993-94, 2002-03), Cleveland Indians (1995-96), Milwaukee Brewers (1996-2001), Los Angeles Dodgers (2003) and Colorado Rockies (2004). On February 2, 2005, the Cubs signed Burnitz to a one-year contract, the same day Sammy Sosa's trade to Baltimore was finalized. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed.
In a 12-year career, Burnitz is a .254 hitter with 275 home runs and 845 RBI in 1423 games. He's hit at least 31 homeruns from 1998-2004 with a career high 38 in 1998 and 125 RBI, also a career high. He was selected an All-Star in 2001.
Though Burnitz had a big year in 2004, he did play half of his games at hitter-friendly Coors Field. In 150 games, he led the Rockies with 37 home runs, hit a career high .283, and was second on the team with 110 RBI. Burnitz is also known as a good clubhouse man, a friendly, laid-back sort who will fit in well with the Cubs better than Sosa did in his final days. He's hit well at Wrigley Field, too, with a .256 average, 14 homers and 38 RBI in 47 games.
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