Marc Kroon
Encyclopedia
Marc Jason Kroon is an American
right-handed relief pitcher
in the San Francisco Giants
organization in Major League Baseball
. He served as the closer
for the Yomiuri Giants
of Japan's Central League
.
He was drafted 72nd overall by the New York Mets
in . After playing for various teams including the Cincinnati Reds
, he joined the Yokohama BayStars
in . That year, he set the record for the fastest pitch ever in Japanese baseball, at 161 km/h (100 mph). He threw fastballs at that speed several times while playing in Yokohama. After the season, Kroon and the BayStars failed to come to terms on a new contract, and ended up being a free agent
. Kroon was later signed by the Yomiuri Giants
along with two other major non-Japanese free agents: former Tokyo Yakult Swallows
standouts Seth Greisinger
, and Alex Ramirez
.
In , Kroon led the Central League
in saves with 41. Also broke his own record of pitching to 162 km/h (101 mph).
Kroon signed a minor league contract with an invitation for spring training with the San Francisco Giants
in 2011. Kroon was reassigned to triple-A Fresno Grizzlies
at the end of spring training.
Kroon was featured in the Showtime television production, The Franchise.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
right-handed relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
organization in Major League Baseball
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...
. He served as the closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
for the Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
of Japan's Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
.
He was drafted 72nd overall by the 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...
in . After playing for various teams including 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....
, he joined the Yokohama BayStars
Yokohama BayStars
The are a professional baseball team in the Japanese Central League. Home field is the Yokohama Stadium, located in central Yokohama. The clubhouse is located near the stadium....
in . That year, he set the record for the fastest pitch ever in Japanese baseball, at 161 km/h (100 mph). He threw fastballs at that speed several times while playing in Yokohama. After the season, Kroon and the BayStars failed to come to terms on a new contract, and ended up being a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. Kroon was later signed by the Yomiuri Giants
Yomiuri Giants
The are a professional baseball team based in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan. The team competes in the Central League in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top level of professional play in Japan. They play their home games in the Tokyo Dome, opened in 1988. The English-language press occasionally calls the...
along with two other major non-Japanese free agents: former Tokyo Yakult Swallows
Tokyo Yakult Swallows
is a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League.The Swallows are named after their corporate owners, the Yakult Corporation. From 1950 to 1965, the team was owned by the former Japanese National Railways and called the Kokutetsu Swallows; the team was then owned by the newspaper Sankei...
standouts Seth Greisinger
Seth Greisinger
Seth Adam Greisinger is a baseball pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball. He played in Major League Baseball from -.-Career:...
, and Alex Ramirez
Alex Ramírez
Alexander Ramón Ramírez is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who currently plays for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball. He played in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates...
.
In , Kroon led the Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
in saves with 41. Also broke his own record of pitching to 162 km/h (101 mph).
Kroon signed a minor league contract with an invitation for spring training with the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
in 2011. Kroon was reassigned to triple-A Fresno Grizzlies
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
at the end of spring training.
Kroon was featured in the Showtime television production, The Franchise.