The
California Angels drafted Gwynn in the fifth round of the
1982 Major League Baseball draft. However, Gwynn did not sign with the Angels, opting to attend
San Diego State University, where he played
college baseball for the
San Diego State Aztecs baseball team. Gwynn played for the
United States national baseball team in the
1984 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal. Gwynn was drafted by the
Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round (tenth overall) of the
1985 Major League Baseball draft. He made his MLB debut in 1987. While with the Dodgers, Gwynn made the final out in
Dennis Martínez's perfect game on July 28, 1991. After that season, the Dodgers traded Gwynn with minor leaguer Domingo Mota to the
Kansas City Royals for
Todd Benzinger. Gwynn played two seasons with the
Kansas City Royals (1992–1993). Gwynn signed with the Dodgers as a free agent after the 1993 season, and he played with them in 1994 and 1995. He joined his older brother Tony on the
San Diego Padres for his final season in 1996. On September 29, 1996, in the final game of the season, Gwynn hit what would prove to be the game-winning, two-run,
pinch-hit double in the top of the 11th inning against
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Chan Ho Park to complete a three-game sweep of the Dodgers and clinch the Padres' second
National League West division championship in team history. It was the final regular season
at bat of his career, however he also pinch-hit in each of the first two games of the subsequent
Division Series loss to the
St. Louis Cardinals, garnering hits in both of those at bats, ending his career on a 3-for-3 streak. Gwynn hit six
pinch-hit home runs during his career, including one
walk-off home run. In a 10-year career spanning 599 games, Gwynn posted a .261
batting average with 119
runs, 17
home runs and 118
RBI. An excellent outfielder playing at all three outfield positions and several games at first base, he committed only one error in 382
total chances for a .997
fielding percentage. ==Post-playing career==