Guide Note:Major League Baseball third baseman Ty Wigginton currently plays for the Houston Astros. Ty is called "Wiggy" by his teammates.

Prior to his MLB career Wigginton played for the University of North Carolina at Asheville, and set records for the most home runs in a game and most runs and doubles in a season. Following his junior year and UNC, Wigginton was drafted by the New York Mets on June 2, 1998. He was assigned to the Mets' minor league affiliates for nearly three years before being called up to the majors.

Wigginton made his MLB debut on May 16, 2002 with the Mets, playing in 46 games that season. He earned a full roster spot with the Mets during the 2003 season, hitting 73 runs and 11 homeruns in 156 games. He was eighth in voting for the Rookie of the Year award in 2003.

On July 30, 2004, midway through the season, the Mets traded Wigginton to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where his play began to slip, thus cutting his playing time. After a poor start to the 2005 season, Wigginton was again placed back in the minor leagues.

Wigginton signed as a free agent on January 10, 2006 with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, where he played in 122 games during the 2006 season, hitting 24 homeruns. In December of 2006, his wife went into labor suddenly, and Wigginton delivered his first son in his own home. In 2007 he returned to the Devil Rays, once again back as a full roster member, playing in 98 games before he was traded to the Houston Astros on July 28, 2007.

Wigginton is expected to be the Astros starting third baseman for the 2008 season. Fast Facts:

1. Full name: Ty Allen Wigginton
2. Born: October 11, 1977
3. Birthplace: San Diego, California
4. Uniform Number: 21
5. Position: Third Base
6. Bats/Throws: Right/Right

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