Editing Jim Edmonds (section)

===California / Anaheim Angels===
====1988–1993: Minor leagues====
Edmonds was selected in the seventh round of the [[1988 Major League Baseball draft]] by the [[Los Angeles Angels|California Angels]]. He had injured his shoulder in his senior year of high school, causing him to fall in the draft.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Strauss|first1=Joe|title=Strauss: Edmonds welcomed into Hall of Fame as hometown hero|url=http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/strauss-edmonds-welcomed-into-hall-of-fame-as-hometown-hero/article_cc589fda-051f-512d-bfd8-f040e32a7552.html|access-date=January 7, 2018|work=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|date=August 18, 2014|language=en}}</ref>

Following the draft, he was assigned to the [[Bend Bucks]], the Angels' [[Class A-Short Season|A-Short Season]] affiliate in the [[Northwest League]]. In 1988, he played in 35 games for the Bucks and hit .221 with no home runs and 13 [[Run batted in|runs batted in]]. The following year, he was promoted to the [[Quad Cities Angels]], the team's [[Single-A (baseball)|Class-A]] affiliate in the [[Midwest League]]. He played in 31 games and hit .261 with 1 home run and 4 RBIs.

In 1990, Edmonds advanced to the [[Palm Springs Angels]], the Angels' [[High-A]] affiliate in the [[California League]]. He played 91 games and hit .293 with 3 home runs and 56 RBIs. He remained with Palm Springs for the 1991 season, playing 60 games while batting .294 with two home runs and 27 RBIs. In 1992, he was promoted to [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] with the [[Midland RockHounds|Midland Angels]] in the [[Texas League]]. He hit .313 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs in 70 games for Midland. He was promoted again in 1992, moving up to the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] [[Edmonton Trappers]] for 50 games, batting .299 with six home runs and 36 RBIs. In 1993, Edmonds played for the new Angels Triple-A affiliate, the [[Vancouver Canadians]]. He played 95 games for the team, batting .315 and hitting nine home runs with 74 RBIs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jim Edmonds Minor League Stats |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=edmond001jam |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=14 April 2022}}</ref>

====1993–1996: Emergence as a power hitter====
On September 7, 1993, the Angels promoted Edmonds to the majors for the first time.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Haakenson |first1=Joe |title=Angels release Gruber |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/628923682 |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=[[Pasadena Star-News]] |date=8 September 1993}}</ref> He made his MLB debut on September 9, starting in left field against the [[1993 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]] at [[Tiger Stadium (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]], going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. Edmonds collected his first major league hit on September 10 against the [[1993 Toronto Blue Jays season|Toronto Blue Jays]] in the [[Rogers Centre|SkyDome]], a [[Pinch hitter|pinch-hit]] [[double (baseball)|double]] in the ninth inning off of [[Duane Ward]].<ref>{{cite web |title=California Angels at Toronto Blue Jays Box Score |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR199309100.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=14 April 2022 |date=10 September 1993}}</ref> Edmonds collected his first major league RBI on September 14 against [[1993 Seattle Mariners season|Seattle Mariners]] pitcher [[Roger Salkeld]], driving in [[Chad Curtis]] with a [[Single (baseball)|single]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Seattle Mariners at California Angels Box Score |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CAL/CAL199309140.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=14 April 2022 |date=14 September 1993}}</ref> In his [[Major League Baseball rosters#September call-ups|September call-up]] 1993 season, Edmonds batted .246 in 61 [[at bat|at-bat]]s across 18 games.<ref name="stats">{{cite web |title=Jim Edmonds Stats |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=edmonji01 |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=14 April 2022}}</ref>

Despite the signings of outfielders [[Bo Jackson]] and [[Dwight Smith (baseball)|Dwight Smith]] in the offseason, Edmonds made the Angels' 1994 [[Opening Day]] roster.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Haakenson |first1=Joe |title=Edmonds looks to make major transition |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/629230574/ |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=Pasadena Star-Times |date=29 March 1994}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Nightengale |first1=Bob |title=Lovullo Shocked by His Release as He Moves On |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/158555945/ |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=30 March 1994 |page=C7}}</ref> Edmonds received sporadic playing time for the first half of the season, often pinch hitting and rarely starting games. He did not hit his first major league home run until May 11, 1994, in a game against the [[1994 Texas Rangers season|Texas Rangers]] where he hit a two-run shot off [[Rick Helling]].<ref>{{cite web |title=California Angels at Texas Rangers Box Score |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TEX/TEX199405110.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=14 April 2022 |date=11 May 1994}}</ref> Through his first 50 games in 1994, Edmonds was batting .328 with a .405 [[on-base percentage]]. By June, Edmonds began to receive more regular playing time, serving as the primary left fielder after Bo Jackson had been benched and Dwight Smith had been traded to Baltimore. Midway through the season, Edmonds was considered by the media to be a prime candidate for the [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|AL Rookie of the Year Award]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Teaford |first1=Elliott |title=Angels Rookie Excels in Anonymous Zone |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/159929423/ |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=24 June 1994 |page=C8}}</ref> Although Edmonds's high averages regressed as he played more games, he finished the [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|strike-shortened]] season batting .273 with five home runs and 37 RBIs.<ref name="stats" /> He placed eighth in AL Rookie of the Year voting.<ref>{{cite web |title=1994 Awards Voting |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1994.shtml |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=14 April 2022}}</ref>

With the departure of Chad Curtis in the offseason, Edmonds became the Angels' everyday [[center fielder]] for the 1995 season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Weyler |first1=John |title=Center Stage |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/155311824/ |page=C1 |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=28 April 1995}}</ref> In his new role as the team's primary center fielder, Edmonds also emerged as a formidable [[power hitter]]; he only had 29 home runs in his six-year minor league career and five in his true rookie season, leading to him being initially recognized as a [[contact hitter]] when coupled with his high batting averages. Edmonds did not hit any home runs through the first 17 games of the 1995 season, but hit six with an .857 [[slugging percentage]] in an eight-game stretch from May 15 to May 23. Edmonds received his first [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] selection in 1995 and was batting .291 with 13 home runs and 52 RBIs at the All-Star break. Edmonds finished the 1995 season batting .290 with 33 home runs and 107 RBIs.<ref name="stats" />

Edmonds returned to the Angels in 1996 as one of the team's best all-around hitters. On March 7, he agreed to a four-year, $9.5 million contract extension with the Angels that included a team option in the fifth year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Edmonds, Percival Agree to Four-Year Contracts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/157457669/ |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=8 March 1996 |page=C12}}</ref> He suffered groin and stomach injuries on May 25, sidelining him for a month.<ref>{{cite news |title=Angels Report |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/158777463/ |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=27 May 1996 |page=C8}}</ref> Edmonds returned to the field on June 10 but sprained his thumb the following day, causing him to be out for another month. He returned to action on July 18, going 2-for-5 with a home run against the [[1996 Seattle Mariners season|Seattle Mariners]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Foster |first1=Chris |title=Edmonds Expects to Return Tonight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/158791216/ |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=18 July 1996 |page=C4}}</ref> Edmonds finished the 1996 season batting .304 with 27 home runs and 66 RBIs.<ref name="stats" />

====1997–1999: Gold Glove selections====
Edmonds, along with [[Tim Salmon]], [[Garret Anderson]], and [[Darin Erstad]], comprised a group of four outfielders that emerged as viable options for the Angels in the mid-1990s. This created a dilemma for the team's front office, who sought to have all four players serve as everyday starters. As a result, the Angels traded designated hitter [[Chili Davis]] and first baseman [[J. T. Snow]] for pitching in the 1996–97 offseason in order to create playing time for all four outfielders. Amid the positional shakeup, Edmonds was able to stay in center field while Erstad moved to first base.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newhan |first1=Ross |title=A Snow Job? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/158128176 |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=5 March 1997 |pages=C1 and C14}}</ref> Edmonds received recognition for his defensive prowess in 1997, often making highlight reels. During a June 10, 1997, game against the [[1997 Kansas City Royals season|Kansas City Royals]], Edmonds ran straight back towards the center field wall of [[Kauffman Stadium]] and dove outstretched for a fly ball over his head, making the catch on the warning track. The catch is widely viewed as one of the greatest defensive plays in baseball history, with [[Joe Posnanski]] of ''[[The Athletic]]'' ranking it as the 29th-greatest moment in all of baseball history.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Posnanski |first1=Joe |title=60 Moments: No. 29, Jim Edmonds makes a catch for the ages |url=https://theathletic.com/1862779/2020/06/10/60-moments-no-29-jim-edmonds-makes-a-catch-for-the-ages/ |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=[[The Athletic]] |publisher=[[Times Mirror Company]] |date=10 June 2020}}</ref> In the 1997 season, Edmonds batted .291 and hit 26 home runs with 80 RBIs.<ref name="stats" /> Following the season, he received his first career [[Gold Glove Award]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Mondesi, Edmonds Can Play the Field |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/158330089/ |access-date=14 April 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=23 October 1997 |page=C7}}</ref>

In September 1998, the division-leading Angels fell behind the [[1998 Texas Rangers season|Texas Rangers]] in the standings, ultimately losing the division and missing out on the playoffs. Edmonds, despite batting .340 that month with five home runs and 20 RBIs, was criticized by some teammates for his purported nonchalance towards the Angels' late-season elimination. In an interview, Edmonds said that he wasn't "going to come in the next day and want to kill himself" if the Angels were [[Mathematical elimination|mathematically eliminated]].<ref name="si">{{cite magazine |last1=Pearlman |first1=Jeff |title=He's No Angel |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/2000/04/03/hes-no-angel-dogged-for-years-by-a-hellish-reputation-jim-edmonds-is-finally-out-of-anaheim-and-hoping-the-outfield-grass-is-greener-in-st-louis |access-date=15 April 2022 |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=3 April 2000}}</ref> In 1998, Edmonds played a career-high 154 games, hitting .307 with 25 home runs and 91 RBIs. He received his second career Gold Glove Award.<ref name="stats" />

During [[spring training]] in 1999, Edmonds tore the [[Glenoid labrum|labrum]] in his right shoulder while lifting weights, aggravating an injury he had been playing through for several years prior.<ref name="si" /> He underwent surgery to correct the injury, sidelining him for the first half of the season. In addition to the deactivating surgery, tensions were also rising in the clubhouse as some teammates were taking exception to Edmonds's alleged nonchalant, dismissive attitude. These factors created doubt that the Angels would bring back Edmonds after the 1999 season. Team newcomer [[Mo Vaughn]], who had yet to share the field with Edmonds, accused him of not accepting responsibility for team struggles.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newhan |first1=Ross |title=Edmonds' Surgery Might Have Lasting Effect |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-apr-25-sp-31078-story.html |access-date=15 April 2022 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=25 April 1999}}</ref> Edmonds returned to the field as a designated hitter on August 2, 1999, going 2-for-4 against the [[1999 Texas Rangers season|Texas Rangers]] with a double. He returned to center field on August 7. He finished his abbreviated 1999 season batting .250 with 5 home runs and 23 RBIs in 55 games.<ref name="stats" />