Jonathan Hurst
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Hurst is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher who played for the Montreal Expos
(1992) and New York Mets
(1994).
in Spartanburg, South Carolina
and then Spartanburg Methodist College
. He was drafted three times by major league teams: in 1986, he was selected by the Seattle Mariners
in the ninth round of the January draft, however he opted not to sign. That same year, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds
in the second round of the June Secondary draft, however he once again did not sign. In 1987, he was taken in the fourth round of the 1987 regular draft by the Texas Rangers
and did sign.
On July 21, 1991, he was traded by the Rangers with a player to be named later (minor league pitcher Travis Buckley, who was sent on September 1, 1991) and Joey Eischen
to the Expos for Oil Can Boyd
.
He pitched in the Expos organization until 1993, when he was selected off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers
on June 2. He was released by the Dodgers following the season and was signed by the Mets on December 16.
He pitched in seven games for the Mets in 1994, going 0-1 with a 12.60 ERA. He allowed 15 hits in 10 innings, while striking out six batters and walking five. He played his final major league game on April 21, 1994.
Overall, he went 1-2 with an 8.20 ERA in 10 games (three starts).
He showed some flashes of excellence throughout his minor league career. For example, he went 4-3 with a 1.88 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings in his very first professional season, spent with the GCL Rangers. The following year, he went 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA in 13 games (four starts), as he struck out 35 batters in 33 innings for three teams. In 1991, he went 15-3 with a 2.27 ERA in 26 games (23 starts).
Prior to the 1992 season, he was ranked by Baseball America
as the 91st best prospect in all of baseball.
He also pitched for the Brother Elephants
of the Chinese Professional Baseball League
and in the Mexican League.
in 2007 and 2008, and since 2009 he has been with the Kingsport Mets
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher who played for the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
(1992) and New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
(1994).
Early life and draft
Prior to playing professionally, Hurst attended Spartanburg High SchoolSpartanburg High School
Spartanburg High School is part of Spartanburg County School District No. 7. The current principal is Jeff Stevens, a former assistant principal at the school.-Layout:...
in Spartanburg, South Carolina
Spartanburg, South Carolina
thgSpartanburg is the largest city in and the county seat of Spartanburg County, South Carolina, United States. It is the second-largest city of the three primary cities in the Upstate region of South Carolina, and is located northwest of Columbia, west of Charlotte, and about northeast of...
and then Spartanburg Methodist College
Spartanburg Methodist College
Spartanburg Methodist College is a private, two-year institution of higher learning, or junior college, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It is the only independent, regionally-accredited, residential two-year college in South Carolina....
. He was drafted three times by major league teams: in 1986, he was selected by the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
in the ninth round of the January draft, however he opted not to sign. That same year, he was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
in the second round of the June Secondary draft, however he once again did not sign. In 1987, he was taken in the fourth round of the 1987 regular draft by the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
and did sign.
On July 21, 1991, he was traded by the Rangers with a player to be named later (minor league pitcher Travis Buckley, who was sent on September 1, 1991) and Joey Eischen
Joey Eischen
Joseph Raymond Eischen is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball.-High school:Joey Eischen attended West Covina High School in West Covina, California and was a letterman in football, basketball, baseball, and tennis...
to the Expos for Oil Can Boyd
Oil Can Boyd
Dennis Ray "Oil Can" Boyd is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Boyd played for the Boston Red Sox , Montreal Expos , and Texas Rangers .He batted and threw right-handed....
.
Major league career
Hurst made his major league debut on June 9, 1992 for the Montreal Expos at the age of 25. He made three starts for the Expos in his first big league season, going 1-1 with a 5.51 ERA. In 16 1/3 innings, he allowed 18 hits, walked seven batters and struck out four.He pitched in the Expos organization until 1993, when he was selected off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
on June 2. He was released by the Dodgers following the season and was signed by the Mets on December 16.
He pitched in seven games for the Mets in 1994, going 0-1 with a 12.60 ERA. He allowed 15 hits in 10 innings, while striking out six batters and walking five. He played his final major league game on April 21, 1994.
Overall, he went 1-2 with an 8.20 ERA in 10 games (three starts).
Minor league career
Hurst pitched in the minor leagues from 1987 to 1994 and again in 1998, going 51-38 with a 3.63 ERA in 206 games (110 starts). He pitched in the Rangers' (1987–1991, 1998), Expos' (1991–1993), Dodgers' (1993) and Mets' (1994) organizations.He showed some flashes of excellence throughout his minor league career. For example, he went 4-3 with a 1.88 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 57 1/3 innings in his very first professional season, spent with the GCL Rangers. The following year, he went 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA in 13 games (four starts), as he struck out 35 batters in 33 innings for three teams. In 1991, he went 15-3 with a 2.27 ERA in 26 games (23 starts).
Prior to the 1992 season, he was ranked by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
as the 91st best prospect in all of baseball.
International career
Hurst pitched for the Yakult Swallows in 2001, going 1-1 with a 5.97 ERA in 22 games (two starts). In 34 2/3 innings, he allowed 43 hits, while walking 11 batters and striking out 13.He also pitched for the Brother Elephants
Brother Elephants
The Brother Elephants are a professional baseball team in Taiwan. It was originally established as an amateur team in 1984 by the Brother Hotel located in Taipei City, and later joined the Chinese Professional Baseball League in 1989...
of the Chinese Professional Baseball League
Chinese Professional Baseball League
The Chinese Professional Baseball League , or CPBL, is the top-tier professional baseball league in Taiwan. The league was established in 1989. CPBL eventually absorbed the competing Taiwan Major League in 2003...
and in the Mexican League.
Post-playing career
Hurst has been a pitching coach in the minor leagues since 2006. In 2006, he worked for the GCL Mets. He was with the Savannah Sand GnatsSavannah Sand Gnats
The Savannah Sand Gnats are a minor league baseball team in Savannah, Georgia and are a member of the A-level South Atlantic League. Since the 2007 season, the Sand Gnats have been an affiliate of the New York Mets.-History:...
in 2007 and 2008, and since 2009 he has been with the Kingsport Mets
Kingsport Mets
The Kingsport Mets are a minor league baseball team based in Kingsport, Tennessee, United States. The team, which plays in the Appalachian League, is a Rookie League affiliate of Major League Baseball's New York Mets....
.