Payton is an opposite-field hitter by using occasionally power. As the runner, he has in good order inherent aptitude however he is non a base stealer. Defensively, he occurs as firm center fielder with an average arm, although his quickness inducing eliminate the ball aids him hang on to baserunners on the base paths. He likewise might play left field and right.

Selected per Mets in the number one spherical (Twenty-ninth pick) of the 1994 amateur draft, Payton hadn't fulfilled the low expectations he projected around Georgia Tech when he rated ahead of his teammates Nomar Garciaparra and Jason Varitek. He debuted withinside 1998, & fallowing articulatio talocruralis, foot & back injuries in terzetto of his foremost 4 seasons, he at length got to vary his hitting style. Using limited duty within 2001, the Mets eventually gave abreast him & was traded to the Rockies in the 2002 midseason.

Witharound 2003, Payton enjoyed his virtually all productive year by owning career highs in home runs (28), RBI (89), runs (93), hits (181), doubles (32), on base percentage (.354), slugging average (.512), at-bats (600), games played (157), and added the respectable .302 batting average. He was signed by San Diego as a free professional at a prevent of the year. What a Padres liked better was that he hit Fifteen of his Twenty-eight residence diarrhea out of Coors Field's thin air. However Payton got the subpar 2004 year batting .260 sustaining eight homers & 55 Run batted around in 143 games. Inside December, he was sent to Boston for Dave Roberts and took over Roberts' role when a Red Sox quaternary outfielder.

Paytin was intended for assignment per Red Sox on July 7th, 2005. In July 13, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics for pitcher Chad Bradford.

Inside the septet-season career, Payton occurs as .285 hitter sustaining 77 page diarrhea & 300 Run batted around in 715 games.