Christian Koss

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Christian Koss

| team = San Francisco Giants

| number = 50

| position = Infielder

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|1|27}}

| birth_place = Riverside, California, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = April 1

| debutyear = 2025

| debutteam = San Francisco Giants

| statleague = MLB

| statyear = May 1, 2025

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .222

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 0

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 1

| teams =

San Francisco Giants ({{mlby|2025}}–present)

}}

Christian Koss (born January 27, 1998) is an American professional baseball infielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2025.

Early life

Koss was born and grew up in Riverside, California, and attended John W. North High School.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/tn-dpt-sp-1127-uci-baseball-20151125-story.html|title=College Baseball: 'Eaters sign five|work=Los Angeles Times|date=November 25, 2015|access-date=March 30, 2022}} Koss attended the University of California, Irvine, and played college baseball for the UC Irvine Anteasters for three seasons.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/off-the-wall-with-uc-irvine-s-christian-koss/|title=Off The Wall With UC Irvine's Christian Koss|website=Baseball America|date=March 1, 2018|access-date=March 31, 2022}} Following his freshman and sophomore seasons, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League and was named a league All-Star in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=1070550&seasonid=30631 |title=#27 Christian Koss |publisher=pointstreak.com |access-date=April 9, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/player.html?playerid=1226529&seasonid=31242 |title=#4 Christian Koss |publisher=pointstreak.com |access-date=April 9, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.capecodbaseball.org/news/?article_id=2490|title=2018 Cape League All-Stars Announced|website=CapeCodBaseball.org|date=July 14, 2018|access-date=April 6, 2022}} Koss batted .307 with five home runs and 30 RBI in 54 games as a junior.

Professional career

=Colorado Rockies=

Koss was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 12th round, with the 369th overall selection, of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft. He was subsequently assigned to the rookie-level Grand Junction Rockies, where he batted .332 with 11 home runs, 11 doubles, four triples, and 51 RBI.{{cite web|url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2021/09/boston-red-sox-prospect-christian-koss-15-homers-told-parents-i-need-popcorn-kernels-after-slow-start.html|title=Boston Red Sox prospect Christian Koss (15 homers) told parents 'I need popcorn kernels' after slow start|first=Christopher|last=Smith|website=MassLive.com|date=September 29, 2021|access-date=March 19, 2022}} Koss did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled|access-date=March 28, 2025|website=mlb.com|language=en}}

=Boston Red Sox=

On December 4, 2020, Koss was traded to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Yoan Aybar.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/red-sox-acquire-christian-koss-trade-rockies-exchange-yoan-aybar|title=Sox acquire INF Christian Koss from Rockies in exchange for LHP Yoan Aybar|first=Nick|last=Goss|website=NBC Sports Boston|date=December 4, 2020|access-date=March 19, 2022}} Koss spent the 2021 season with the High-A Greenville Drive and batted .271/.325/.451 with 15 home runs, 55 RBI, and 10 stolen bases across 104 games.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/red-sox/watch-red-sox-prospect-christian-koss-hits-walk-spring-training-homer|title=WATCH: Sox prospect crushes walk-off spring training homer|first=Justin|last=Leger|website=NBC Sports Boston|date=March 18, 2022|access-date=March 19, 2022}}

Koss was named to the Red Sox' 2022 spring training roster as a non-roster invitee.{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/03/18/sports/fridays-spring-training-report-minor-leaguer-shows-some-major-pop/|title=Friday's Red Sox spring training report: Minor leaguer shows some major pop|work=The Boston Globe|date=March 18, 2022|access-date=April 4, 2022}} He began the season in Double-A with the Portland Sea Dogs.{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/where-red-sox-prospects-are-starting-2022-season |title=Here's where Red Sox Top 30 prospects are starting '22 |first=Jim |last=Callis |website=MLB.com |date=April 6, 2022 |access-date=April 10, 2022}} For the year, he played 125 total games for Portland, batting .260 with 17 home runs and 84 RBI. In 2023, Koss split time between Portland, the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox, and the rookie-level Florida Complex League Red Sox, batting a combined .235 with four home runs and 23 RBI in 79 games.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=koss--000chr |title=Christian Koss Amateur, College, Minor, Fall & Winter Leagues Statistics |website=Baseball-Reference.com |accessdate=March 28, 2024}}

=San Francisco Giants=

On March 27, 2024, Koss was traded to the San Francisco Giants organization.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/redsox/roster/transactions/2024/03 |title=Red Sox Roster & Staff: Transactions |website=MLB.com |publisher=Boston Red Sox |date=March 2024 |accessdate=March 27, 2024}} He split the year between the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Giants, Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels, and Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. In 88 appearances for the three affiliates, Koss batted a combined .299/.376/.496 with nine home runs, 47 RBI, and 13 stolen bases.

On March 26, 2025, the Giants selected Koss' contract after he made the team's Opening Day roster.{{Cite web|title=Giants Select Christian Koss|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/giants-select-christian-koss.html|access-date=March 28, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} On April 27, Koss recorded his first MLB run batted in with a single off of Texas Rangers reliever Jacob Latz, which scored Heliot Ramos.{{Cite web|title=Giants' Christian Koss: Records first career RBI|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/giants-christian-koss-records-first-career-rbi/|access-date=April 29, 2025|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}