Number of Days Until Spring Training: Teixeira (#25)

There are now 25 days until Pitchers and Catchers report to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. 25 is Mark Teixeira's number.

Teixeira, who will replace the old #25 Jason Giambi at first base, and presumably will bat 3rd, comes to the Bronx after stops in Texas, Atlanta and Los Angeles (or is it Anaheim?).

For his career, Teix has a .290 BA/.371 OBP/.533 SLG for an OPS of .904. The 28-year-old, switch-hitting Portuguese slugger has 203 career HR and 676 RBI.

Teixeira has twice won the Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger Award.

In 2005, Teixeira became the third switch-hitter in MLB history, after Eddie Murray and Chipper Jones, to hit at least 20 home runs in each of his first three seasons. He is also one of just five players in Major League history to hit at least 100 home runs over his first three seasons, joining Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio, Ralph Kiner, and Eddie Matthews as well as current first base star, Albert Pujols. Other players - Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Todd Helton, Ryan Howard - have hit 100+ home runs in their first three full seasons. His 2005 total of 144 RBIs is a Major League record for a switch hitter. Teixeira signed a contract worth $180M over 8 years with the New York Yankees. His contract is the 3rd biggest in the history of the organization.

Tune in Tomorrow For #24.