Charlton Jimerson

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Charlton Maxwell Jimerson (born September 22, 1979) is a former American Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners. He batted and threw right-handed.

Early life and college
Jimerson grew up in Hayward, California, in a difficult home environment. His mother fought drug addiction and his father left the family, leaving the siblings to cope on their own. His sister Lanette helped support the family, and Charlton and his brother Terrance were cared for by their relatives. He attended Mt. Eden High School and was drafted by the Astros in 1997 in the 24th round, but he chose to go to the University of Miami on a partial academic scholarship.

At Miami, Jimerson walked on to the baseball team and eventually became a starter in 2001 after an injury opened a spot. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2001 College World Series as Miami won the national title. He also tied a College World Series record with four stolen bases in a game against Tennessee.

Professional career
The Astros drafted him again in 2001, this time in the fifth round (146th overall), with a $90,000 signing bonus. In the minors he was known for excellent athletic tools and a strong throwing arm, though his batting average could be volatile. He spent time in the Astros’ system and made his major league debut on September 14, 2005, as a defensive replacement.

On September 4, 2006, Jimerson hit a home run in his first major league at-bat, breaking up a perfect game by Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies. After being released by Houston in 2007, he signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners and worked his way back to the majors, appearing with Seattle in September 2007 and on the Opening Day roster in 2008 as a backup outfielder. In total, he had two career home runs and 2 RBIs in MLB, finishing with a .444 batting average.

Later years
Jimerson continued to play in the minors and independent leagues, including time with the Sioux City Explorers, Newark Bears, and Bridgeport Bluefish. In 2010, he joined the Los Angeles Angels organization and was assigned to the Arkansas Travelers before the season ended. He ultimately concluded his playing career that year and later earned a degree in computer science and mathematics from Rice University. He has worked as a technology consultant in the Houston area.

Personal life and author
Jimerson and his wife Candace live in Missouri City, Texas, with their two children. He was previously married to Reza, whom he divorced in 2010. In 2015, he published a memoir, Against All Odds: A Success Story, describing his tough childhood, his love of baseball, and his path to the major leagues.