He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, and Washington Nationals.

Uggla finished third in the 2006 National League Rookie of the Year voting, behind then-teammate and winner Hanley Ramírez, and future teammate Ryan Zimmerman of the Washington Nationals, but won the Players Choice and Sporting News NL ROY Awards.

[2] Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 11th round (338th overall) of the 2001 Major League Baseball draft, Uggla spent five seasons in the Diamondbacks organization, including a year with the short season-advanced team, the Yakima Bears in Yakima, Washington.

Although he was 25 years old, which would make him the same age as many AAA players, and moderately successful in 2005, he never advanced past the AA level.

Uggla began the 2006 season with the Marlins and had his first Major League hit just three days later when he singled off Houston Astros pitcher Andy Pettitte.

Because he received less publicity as a prospect than some of his fellow rookies in Major League Baseball, such as Prince Fielder, Ryan Zimmerman, and Nick Markakis, Uggla's display of power in the majors and his selection to the National League All-Star team caused him to suddenly draw more attention.

Uggla finished the year with a .245 batting average, caused mainly by slumps in April and September.

[11] On May 10, 2008, Uggla hit his first career grand slam in the fourth inning off of Nationals pitcher Joel Hanrahan.

[13] Uggla was named to the 2008 MLB All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium, as well as opting to take part in the 2008 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby.

[18][19] On June 5, 2009, Uggla reached 100 career home runs in his 502nd game, faster than any other second baseman.

[24] Soon thereafter, Uggla was traded to the Atlanta Braves for infielder Omar Infante, and reliever Michael Dunn.

[citation needed] This actually put his on-base percentage for the 2012 regular season at .348, tied for third best among second basemen with Marco Scutaro of the Giants, behind only Robinson Canó of the Yankees and Aaron Hill of the Diamondbacks.

[38] He lost the starting job on May 8 to Ramiro Peña and Tyler Pastornicky, and eventually to Tommy La Stella by the end of May.

[41] On July 21, 2014, Uggla signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants[42][43] and was called up four days later.

[48] On December 26, 2014, Uggla signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals, that included an invitation to spring training.

[51] While Uggla was not a regular fixture in the Nationals' starting lineup,[52] he played a key role in a come-from-behind victory over the Atlanta Braves, his former team, on April 28, 2015.

[40] The Nationals did not renew Uggla's contract at the end of the year, and he subsequently became a free agent.