Randy Elliott – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Randy Elliott’s baseball career paints a picture of unfulfilled potential and the harsh realities that come with professional sports. Born June 5, 1951, Elliott played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball over four different seasons between 1972 and 1980. He appeared in 114 games, suiting up for the San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, and Oakland Athletics.

A chronic shoulder injury shaped Elliott’s career. Even though the San Diego Padres picked him as their very first first-round draft choice in 1969, that injury kept him from ever really reaching his ceiling.

His time in professional baseball stretched over a decade. He experienced promising starts, frustrating setbacks, and determined comeback attempts, but things just never quite clicked the way people expected.

From his amateur days to his last season with the Oakland Athletics in 1980, Elliott’s journey shows the physical and mental grind that so many pro athletes face. A .215 career batting average, 8 home runs, 35 RBIs—those numbers only scratch the surface of a guy who once looked like a future star, but who fought through injuries and the brutal side of pro baseball.

Early Life and Amateur Baseball

Randy Lee Elliott was born in Oxnard, California, on June 5, 1951, and that’s where he started building his baseball skills. He became the first first-round draft choice in San Diego Padres history.

His path started at Adolfo Camarillo High School, and he capped it off by getting picked 24th overall in the 1969 June Amateur Draft.

Childhood in Oxnard, California

Elliott grew up in Oxnard, a coastal city in Ventura County with deep agricultural roots and a growing scene for youth sports. Born in 1951, he came of age during the 1960s, when baseball was exploding in popularity across America.

Southern California’s weather meant kids could play ball year-round. Elliott spent his early years sharpening his fundamentals in that kind of environment.

His athleticism stood out right away. As a right-handed hitter and thrower, Elliott had physical tools that most kids just didn’t have.

Adolfo Camarillo High School Baseball Career

He went to Adolfo Camarillo High School in Camarillo, California. There, Elliott quickly became one of the region’s top baseball prospects.

The school’s baseball program gave him the competition he needed to grow. At 6’2″ and 190 pounds, he had the size and strength that scouts drool over.

He mostly played outfield during high school. Scouts from all over Southern California started showing up to watch him play.

By his senior year in 1969, Elliott had turned heads as a legit early-round draft candidate.

June Amateur Draft and First-Round Selection

The 1969 June Amateur Draft changed everything for Elliott. Scouts had him pegged as one of the top high school players available.

The San Diego Padres, in just their second season, grabbed Elliott with the 24th overall pick in the first round. That made him the first first-round selection in Padres history—a big deal for both him and the franchise.

People had high hopes for Elliott. The Padres put a lot into signing him right out of high school.

He skipped college ball and jumped straight into the pros. That move set the course for the next decade of his career as he climbed through the minor leagues.

Minor League Career Highlights

Randy Elliott spent over a decade in the minors, and he flashed his power at times. His best year came when he won the MVP award in the Double-A Texas League with the Alexandria Aces in 1972.

Development in Padres’ Farm System

Elliott kicked off his pro career in 1969 after the Padres made him their first-ever first-round pick. The team put their faith in the young outfielder from Oxnard.

He worked his way up through several levels of the Padres’ farm system. Elliott played for teams like the Salt Lake City Bees, Lodi Padres, and Hawaii Islanders.

He made steady progress as he adjusted to pro pitching. His right-handed stance and big frame made him a prospect the organization watched closely.

The Padres moved him up the ladder slowly. They wanted him to get experience at each level before moving on.

Alexandria Aces and Double-A Texas League Success

Elliott’s breakout came in 1972 with the Alexandria Aces in the Double-A Texas League. That year really defined his minor league career.

Playing for Alexandria, Elliott just mashed the ball with consistent offensive production. With his mix of power and average, pitchers had a tough time against him.

The Double-A Texas League is a big step toward the majors. Elliott’s success there showed he was ready for tougher competition.

His strong season earned him a call-up to the majors later that year. The Padres brought him up at the end of 1972.

Most Valuable Player Honors

Elliott took home Most Valuable Player honors in the Texas League for his 1972 season. That award meant he was the league’s top guy.

He put up a .335 batting average with 19 home runs and 85 RBI that year. Those numbers were hard to ignore.

The MVP award was a nod to Elliott’s future potential in the big leagues. It was the high point of his pro career.

People around him—teammates, coaches—appreciated his work ethic and drive all season.

Notable Minor League Statistics

Across his minor league career, Elliott hit .297 from 1969 to 1980. He knocked 78 home runs and drove in 411 runs over 703 games.

His best year was definitely that 1972 MVP run with Alexandria. He also did well in 1974 with the Hawaii Islanders, hitting .321 in 112 games at Triple-A.

Those stats show Elliott could hit consistently in the minors. On paper, he had the tools to make it in the majors.

He bounced around a bit after leaving the Padres system. In 1980, he played for the Ogden A’s, where he hit .429 in a short stint.

Major League Baseball Journey

Randy Lee Elliott’s pro career lasted nine years, but he only played in four MLB seasons with three teams. He started with the San Diego Padres, moved to the San Francisco Giants, and wrapped up with the Oakland Athletics in 1980.

Debut with San Diego Padres

Elliott debuted in the majors on September 10, 1972, at age 21, playing for the San Diego Padres. He faced the Atlanta Braves that day, going hitless in three at-bats.

He played 14 games in his rookie season and got 51 plate appearances. Elliott struggled, hitting .204 with a .235 on-base percentage. He managed 10 hits, including three doubles and a triple.

He returned to the Padres in 1974 for 13 more games. Elliott did a bit better, hitting .212 with a .350 on-base percentage. He picked up seven hits in 33 at-bats, including a home run and two RBIs.

Elliott’s time with San Diego added up to just 27 games over two seasons. He had 17 hits in 82 at-bats, good for a .207 average as a Padre.

San Francisco Giants Tenure

Elliott got his longest look in the big leagues with the San Francisco Giants in 1977. After missing the 1975 and 1976 seasons, he came back to play 73 games.

With the Giants, Elliott had his best numbers. He hit .240 with seven home runs and 26 RBIs in 167 at-bats. His .407 slugging percentage was the best of his career.

He mostly played left field, showing up in 47 games there. Elliott started 35 games and finished 28, logging 332 innings in the outfield. His defense was solid, holding a .975 fielding percentage.

That 1977 season was the only time Elliott played regularly in the majors.

Final Season with Oakland Athletics

Elliott finished his MLB career with the Oakland Athletics in 1980. He played just 14 games, from Opening Day through June 28, 1980, when he faced the Chicago White Sox for the last time.

Oakland was a tough stop for Elliott. He picked up only five hits in 39 at-bats, ending with a .128 batting average. His on-base percentage dipped to .150, a career low.

In his final game, Elliott went hitless in one at-bat. He struck out 13 times in 40 plate appearances with the A’s, which really shows how much he struggled.

Oakland released him, and that was it for his pro playing days. Elliott retired with 114 MLB games over four seasons, batting .215 with eight homers and 35 RBIs.

On-Field Performance and Statistics

Elliott played 114 games across four seasons in the big leagues. He finished with a .215 average, 8 home runs, and 35 RBIs.

His defense in the outfield was dependable, especially during his time with San Francisco in 1977.

Batting Average and Offensive Output

Elliott’s numbers show the grind of being a part-time player trying to get steady at-bats. He batted .215 in 288 total at-bats across his four MLB seasons.

His best year at the plate came in 1977 with the Giants. He hit .240 in 73 games, picking up 40 hits in 167 at-bats.

Things got rough offensively in 1980 with Oakland. Elliott managed just a .128 average in 14 games, with only 5 hits in 39 at-bats.

Over his career, he posted a .262 on-base percentage and a .354 slugging percentage. His OPS was .616, which was below league average.

Home Runs and Run Production

Elliott’s power numbers stayed pretty modest. He hit 8 home runs in the majors, with 7 coming in his 1977 season with the Giants.

He drove in 35 runs over 114 games, with 26 RBIs coming during that 1977 stretch.

Elliott scored 31 runs during his MLB career. He crossed the plate 17 times in his best season, 1977. Limited playing time in other years kept his run totals down.

He tallied 12 doubles and 2 triples among his 62 career hits. Those extra-base hits made up most of his offensive impact outside of home runs.

Outfield and Defensive Contributions

Elliott showed solid fundamentals as an outfielder across multiple positions. He mostly played right and left field, and honestly, he handled both spots with a lot of versatility in the outfield.

In 1972 and 1974, Elliott posted a fielding percentage of 1.000. That means he played error-free ball during those limited chances.

In 1977, he committed just 2 errors while playing 47 games in left field for San Francisco. That’s not too shabby, considering the workload.

During his 1972 rookie season, Elliott handled 29 putouts without a single error. His range factor numbers changed depending on where he played, but he generally covered both corner outfield spots pretty well.

Elliott brought steady reliability on defense whenever the team needed him. He could play all over the outfield, which added a lot of value for roster flexibility, even though his offense didn’t always keep him in the lineup.

Challenges and Comebacks

Randy Elliott’s career really had its share of setbacks, testing his resilience as a pro athlete. His journey included a rough shoulder injury, a memorable spring training with the Giants, and several attempts to get back to the majors after long absences.

Shoulder Injury and Its Impact

Elliott hit a major roadblock when a shoulder injury messed with his ability to play. This happened early on with the San Diego Padres organization.

The injury limited his performance and kept him off the field. Elliott ended up playing only 114 games across four MLB seasons, spread out over nine years from 1972 to 1980.

He had to take long breaks from professional baseball because of the shoulder problems. That made it tough for him to keep up consistent performance and lock down a regular spot on major league rosters.

Even with all the physical setbacks, Elliott kept working to rehab his shoulder. He stayed determined to get back to pro baseball at the top level.

Spring Training 1977 Resurgence

In 1977, Elliott tried to make a comeback with the San Francisco Giants during spring training. After barely playing for the Padres in 1972 and 1974, he finally got another shot.

He really impressed the Giants organization with his performance that spring. Because of that, he made the team’s roster for the 1977 season.

That comeback showed Elliott could push through setbacks. He made it back to the big leagues after being away for three years.

The Giants gave him a decent amount of playing time during the 1977 season. Still, they released him after the season, which ended his short-lived return with San Francisco.

Time Away and Returns to Pro Baseball

After the Giants let him go, Elliott stepped away from organized baseball for two years. He didn’t play professionally in 1978 or 1979.

Then in 1980, Elliott gave it one last try with the Oakland Athletics. That comeback happened after his long break from the game.

The Athletics let Elliott play in a handful of games during the 1980 season. That marked his final shot at major league baseball.

He played his last game on June 28, 1980, against the Chicago White Sox. Elliott was 29 years old when he officially retired from pro baseball after that brief run with Oakland.

Life After Retirement

Randy Elliott left professional baseball in 1980 after finishing up with the Oakland Athletics. After that, he took a pretty philosophical approach to his baseball years and quietly moved on from the sport that had shaped his early adulthood.

Transition Out of Professional Baseball

Elliott’s exit from baseball followed a unique pattern, with those long breaks before his final go with Oakland in 1980. As a former professional baseball outfielder, he already knew what it was like to step away, having missed the 1978 and 1979 seasons before coming back one last time.

He ended his career quietly, playing just a few games for the Athletics. Elliott had only 114 games in four seasons over nine years, so maybe the transition wasn’t as jarring as it is for guys with more non-stop careers.

Search results suggest Elliott faced post-baseball life with a pretty mature outlook. People described him as “philosophical about his time in baseball” and his experiences during Giants spring training.

Unlike some ex-players who stick around the game through coaching or broadcasting, Elliott seems to have made a clean break from pro baseball. The gaps and scattered nature of his career probably made it easier for him to move on.

Legacy and Recognition

Elliott’s baseball legacy really comes down to his unique distinction as the first first-round draft choice in San Diego Padres history.

The Padres picked him 24th overall in the 1969 amateur draft, right when the franchise got started. That fact alone cements him in Padres organizational history.

His biggest moment actually happened in the minors. He grabbed MVP honors in the AA Texas League while playing for the Alexandria Aces in 1972.

That standout season pushed him straight to his major league debut with San Diego later that year.

If you look at Elliott’s career stats, you can see he faced real challenges breaking through at the major league level. Even though he had a ton of promise and went high in the draft, he just couldn’t lock down regular playing time with three different teams.

Elliott grew up in Oxnard, California, and his story feels familiar to a lot of pro athletes. You get the sense from his philosophical outlook that he made peace with how things turned out, and he moved on without any bitterness about what might have been.