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Former MLB player Jeremy Giambi dies at 47

Jeremy Giambi #7 of the Oakland Athletics gives a high five during a game against the Chicago White Sox at the Network Associates Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the White Sox 14-2. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn  /Allsport
Jeremy Giambi played two seasons alongside his brother Jason with the Oakland A's. (Jed Jacobsohn /Allsport)

Former MLB player Jeremy Giambi has died at 47 years old.

His agent Joel Wolfe announced the news to reporters on Wednesday. Giambi died at his parents' Southern California home, according to Wolfe. Other details surrounding his death were not immediately available.

Shortly after the announcement, the Oakland Athletics posted condolences to Giambi's family on social media.

Giambi played six MLB seasons from 1998-2003 as an outfielder and first baseman for the A's, Kansas City Royals, Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox. He played the 2000 and 2001 seasons alongside his brother Jason Giambi with the A's.

He spent his most productive years with the A's, slashing .272/.374/.445 with 30 home runs and 124 RBIs over the course of two-plus seasons that saw the A's advance twice to the postseason, including an AL West championship in 2000. He's perhaps best known for being thrown out at home plate by Derek Jeter's cutoff flip during the 2001 ALDS. He finished his career in 2003 slashing .263/.377/.430 with 52 home runs and 209 RBIs.

Giambi's role in the steroid era

Giambi admitted in a 2005 interview with the Kansas City Star to using steroids during his playing career.

“It’s something I did,” Giambi told the Star. “I apologize. I made a mistake. I moved on. I kind of want it in the past.”

He testified alongside his brother Jason and former San Francisco Giant Marvin Benard in the 2011 obstruction case against Barry Bonds amid allegations of performance-enhancing drug use. All three admitted to purchasing PEDs from Bonds' trainer Greg Anderson. Bonds was convicted of obstruction of justice, a decision that was later overturned.