Josh Kroeger
A power-hitting outfielder from Iowa whose baseball journey took him through the minors, MLB, and overseas after a brief major league call-up.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American baseball player·Birthday: August 31·Millennials
Biography
Josh Kroeger's baseball story is a classic tale of the grind. A left-handed hitter with notable power, he was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks and methodically worked his way through their farm system. His big-league moment arrived in 2004, a 20-game audition with the Diamondbacks where he collected his first MLB hits. While he didn't secure a permanent roster spot, Kroeger refused to let that define his career. He became a quintessential baseball journeyman, playing for numerous Triple-A teams and taking his skills overseas to leagues in Japan and South Korea. His longevity in professional baseball, lasting over a decade, is a testament to his love for the game and his ability to adapt and contribute wherever he played.
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.
Josh was born in 1982, 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 Josh Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Josh's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
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
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played in 20 Major League games for the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 2004 season, recording 10 hits.
- Hit 20 or more home runs in a single minor league season multiple times, showcasing his consistent power.
- Extended his professional career by playing in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in Japan for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.
Did You Know?
He was a standout high school football player in Davenport, Iowa, as a quarterback.
Kroeger was originally drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2000 but did not sign, choosing to attend the University of Mississippi.
In 2008, while in the Chicago Cubs organization, he hit a memorable walk-off grand slam for the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.
His brother, Kyle Kroeger, was also a professional baseball player in the minor leagues.
“You play for the name on the front, not the back.”
