A native of Cincinnati and an eighth-round pick by the Red Sox out of the University of Cincinnati in the 2001 June Amateur Draft, Kevin Youkilis emerged as an All-Star and a team leader for a pair of World Series winners.
Youkilis made his debut in May 2004 and was a part-time infielder the next two seasons, appearing in just one game during Boston’s run to the World Series title in 2004.
In 2006, he won the regular job at first base and picked up a Gold Glove in 2007 before a breakout campaign in 2008.
The year Youkilis smashed 29 homers, drove in 115 and was third in the MVP voting as well as an All-Star for the first time.
He would make two more All-Star appearances in 2009 and 2011, the latter coming after a move to third base to make room for Adrian Gonzalez.
But his hitting tailed off dramatically in conjunction with the move and while struggling through the 2012 campaign, he was dealt to the Chicago White Sox in June in exchange for Brent Lillibridge and Zach Stewart.
In parts of nine seasons with the Red Sox, Youkilis hit .287/.388/.875, an OPS+ of 126, with 133 homers, 564 RBI and 594 runs scored.
In four postseasons, he hit .306/.376/.944 with six homers, 17 RBI and 22 runs in 29 games, going 14-for-28 with three bombs and seven RBI in Boston’s seven-game win over the Cleveland Indians in the 2007 ALCS.
Youkilis signed with the New York Yankees in December 2012 and spent one injury-shortened season in the Bronx before getting a shot in Japan with the Rakuten Golden Eagles, a shot that ended after just 21 games.