Austin Meadows
A sweet-swinging outfielder whose All-Star peak with Tampa Bay showcased a potent blend of power and plate discipline.
Born 1995 (age 31)·American baseball player·Birthday: May 3·Millennials
Biography
Austin Meadows arrived in the majors carrying the weight of expectation as a first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates, a can't-miss prospect with a smooth left-handed swing. His early years were a struggle with injuries and inconsistency, but a 2018 trade to the Tampa Bay Rays unlocked his potential. In Tampa's data-driven environment, Meadows blossomed into a middle-of-the-order force. His 2019 season was a revelation: he crushed 33 home runs, made the American League All-Star team, and finished with an OPS over .900, becoming the offensive centerpiece for a innovative Rays team that reached the playoffs. He followed it with another strong, shortened season in 2020. While subsequent trades and health challenges, including anxiety issues, curtailed the trajectory of his career, his peak in Tampa Bay served as a testament to his pure hitting talent when everything clicked.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Austin was born in 1995, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Austin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1995
#1 Movie
Toy Story
Best Picture
Braveheart
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Austin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1995Born
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2000Started school
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2008Became a teenager
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Could drive
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2013Could vote
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2016Turned 21
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2025Turned 30
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 31 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was selected as an American League All-Star in 2019 after hitting 33 home runs for the Tampa Bay Rays.
- Finished 14th in the American League MVP voting in 2019.
- Hit a career-high .291 with a .922 OPS during his All-Star season in 2019.
Did You Know?
He and his younger brother, Parker Meadows, both played Major League Baseball, with Parker debuting for the Detroit Tigers in 2023.
He was drafted ninth overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013, one pick ahead of fellow All-Star Aaron Judge.
He publicly discussed taking time away from baseball in 2023 to address his mental health, bringing attention to the issue within the sport.
“You have to trust the process and your work, even when the results aren't there.”
