Kent Mercker
Encyclopedia
Kent Franklin Mercker is a retired Major League Baseball
left-handed
pitcher
. He played for nine teams over his seventeen-year career.
Mercker was taken in the first round (5th pick overall) of the 1986 Major League Baseball Draft
by the Atlanta Braves
. He made his major league debut with the Braves on September 22, , and appeared in two games that season.
During his years with the Braves, Mercker split time between the bullpen
and the starting rotation. After serving as a reliever for the vast part of his first five seasons, he joined the Braves' rotation full time for the and seasons.
After the 1995 season, the Braves traded Mercker to the Baltimore Orioles
. Mercker then became a journeyman, spending time with Baltimore , Cleveland
(1996), Cincinnati , St. Louis
(-), Boston
(1999), Anaheim
, Colorado
, Atlanta (2003), and the Chicago Cubs
. During the 2004 season, Mercker reportedly called the broadcast booth to complain about commentary by Steve Stone and, along with Moisés Alou
, confronted Stone on a team flight. He signed with Cincinnati for the third time in his career on December 20, 2004.
Mercker received the Tony Conigliaro Award
in 2000 following his recovery from a cerebral hemorrhage.
Mercker has taken part in two no-hit games
during his career, both with the Braves. The first, on September 11, against the San Diego Padres
at Fulton County Stadium, was a combined effort between Mercker, the starter, who pitched six innings; Mark Wohlers
, who pitched the seventh and eighth innings; and Alejandro Pena
, who pitched the ninth. The Braves defeated the Padres 1-0. The second no-hitter was a solo effort by Mercker, as he no-hit the Los Angeles Dodgers
on April 8, 1994 at Dodger Stadium
in a 6-0 victory. This game also featured the debut of former MLB pitcher Chan Ho Park. To date, this no-hitter is the last to be pitched by a Brave.
On February 8, , Mercker signed a minor league contract with Cincinnati with an invitation to spring training
. He pitched in 15 games for the Reds that season.
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...
left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He played for nine teams over his seventeen-year career.
Mercker was taken in the first round (5th pick overall) of the 1986 Major League Baseball Draft
1986 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1986 Major League Baseball Draft was the 22nd MLB draft that took place in 1986. During this draft, five all-stars were drafted in five different teams.-First round selections:...
by the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. He made his major league debut with the Braves on September 22, , and appeared in two games that season.
During his years with the Braves, Mercker split time between the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
and the starting rotation. After serving as a reliever for the vast part of his first five seasons, he joined the Braves' rotation full time for the and seasons.
After the 1995 season, the Braves traded Mercker to the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. Mercker then became a journeyman, spending time with Baltimore , Cleveland
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
(1996), Cincinnati , St. Louis
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
(-), Boston
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(1999), Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, Colorado
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, Atlanta (2003), and the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. During the 2004 season, Mercker reportedly called the broadcast booth to complain about commentary by Steve Stone and, along with Moisés Alou
Moisés Alou
Moisés Rojas Alou |Spanish:]] ; born July 3, 1966 in Atlanta, Georgia) is a former American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 17 seasons in the National League. In 1,942 career games, Alou had a batting average of .303 with 2,134 hits, 421 doubles, 332 home runs, and 1,287 runs...
, confronted Stone on a team flight. He signed with Cincinnati for the third time in his career on December 20, 2004.
Mercker received the Tony Conigliaro Award
Tony Conigliaro Award
The Tony Conigliaro Award is a national award instituted in 1990 by the Boston Red Sox to honor the memory of their former star Tony Conigliaro. It is given annually to a Major League Baseball player who best overcomes an obstacle and adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and...
in 2000 following his recovery from a cerebral hemorrhage.
Mercker has taken part in two no-hit games
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
during his career, both with the Braves. The first, on September 11, against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
at Fulton County Stadium, was a combined effort between Mercker, the starter, who pitched six innings; Mark Wohlers
Mark Wohlers
Mark Edward Wohlers is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball best known for his years with the Atlanta Braves from to...
, who pitched the seventh and eighth innings; and Alejandro Pena
Alejandro Peña
Alejandro Peña Vásquez [PEH-nya] in Cambiaso, Dominican Republic, is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. Peña batted and threw right-handed...
, who pitched the ninth. The Braves defeated the Padres 1-0. The second no-hitter was a solo effort by Mercker, as he no-hit 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 April 8, 1994 at Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium
Dodger Stadium, also sometimes called Chavez Ravine, is a stadium in Los Angeles. Located adjacent to Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962...
in a 6-0 victory. This game also featured the debut of former MLB pitcher Chan Ho Park. To date, this no-hitter is the last to be pitched by a Brave.
On February 8, , Mercker signed a minor league contract with Cincinnati with an invitation to spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. He pitched in 15 games for the Reds that season.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
- List of players named in the Mitchell Report