Mark Kiger
Encyclopedia
Mark Winston Kiger is a retired baseball
third baseman
.
in the 27th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
, but did not sign. After attending the University of Florida
, he signed with the Oakland Athletics
as a 5th round selection in 2002
. Kiger spent the season between the Double-A Midland RockHounds
and Triple-A
Sacramento Rivercats. While Kiger played alright in Double-A, he struggled to hit above .230 in Triple-A.
On October 13, , Kiger became the first player since Bug Holliday
in to make his major league debut in a postseason game when he appeared as a defensive replacement for D'Angelo Jiménez
at second base for the Oakland Athletics in Game 3 of the 2006 American League Championship Series
. He was added to the A's roster in the ALCS after starting second baseman Mark Ellis
was injured in the American League Division SeriesS
. The A's also had former major leaguer Keith Ginter
, but he had declared free agency shortly after the regular season ended, and the A's would have had to sign him to a contract to use him after Ellis was injured. The A's declined and added Kiger to the playoff roster. He was released by Oakland after the playoffs.
In , he played in the New York Mets
organization and was invited to major league spring training
by the Seattle Mariners
in . In January , he signed again with the New York Mets.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
.
Career
Kiger was drafted by the Boston Red SoxBoston 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"...
in the 27th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft
1999 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1999...
, but did not sign. After attending the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, he signed with the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
as a 5th round selection in 2002
2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
. Kiger spent the season between the Double-A Midland RockHounds
Midland RockHounds
The Midland RockHounds are a minor league baseball team based in Midland, Texas, USA. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics major league club. The RockHounds play in Citibank Ballpark, located in Midland. Opened in 2002, the stadium seats...
and Triple-A
AAA (baseball)
Triple-A refers to the highest level of play in minor league baseball in the United States and Mexico.-Purpose:Triple-A teams' main purpose is to prepare players for the Major Leagues:...
Sacramento Rivercats. While Kiger played alright in Double-A, he struggled to hit above .230 in Triple-A.
On October 13, , Kiger became the first player since Bug Holliday
Bug Holliday
James Wear "Bug" Holliday was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball for ten seasons, from through , plus the 1885 World Series. He holds the distinction of being the first player to make his major league debut in post-season play, with the Chicago White Stockings in 1885...
in to make his major league debut in a postseason game when he appeared as a defensive replacement for D'Angelo Jiménez
D'Angelo Jiménez
D'Angelo Jiménez is a Major League Baseball player who is currently in the Minnesota Twins organization. He is an infielder that plays primarily second base. He made his major league debut with the New York Yankees in .In , Jiménez appeared in a game as a pitcher for the San Diego Padres...
at second base for the Oakland Athletics in Game 3 of the 2006 American League Championship Series
2006 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, CaliforniaOakland was 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position, while Detroit turned four double plays...
. He was added to the A's roster in the ALCS after starting second baseman Mark Ellis
Mark Ellis (baseball)
Mark William Ellis is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. He has played for the Oakland Athletics and Colorado Rockies.-Early career:...
was injured in the American League Division SeriesS
2006 American League Division Series
-Game 1, October 3:Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkA five-run third inning by the Yankees put the game out of reach for the Tigers. Bobby Abreu doubled to score Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter . Gary Sheffield then singled in Abreu, and Jason Giambi launched a two-run home run for a commanding 5–0...
. The A's also had former major leaguer Keith Ginter
Keith Ginter
Milwaukee Brewers 2011Keith Michael Ginter is a former American Major League Baseball infielder now playing for the Orange County Flyers in the independent Golden Baseball League. Ginter is a graduate of Fullerton High School in Fullerton, California...
, but he had declared free agency shortly after the regular season ended, and the A's would have had to sign him to a contract to use him after Ellis was injured. The A's declined and added Kiger to the playoff roster. He was released by Oakland after the playoffs.
In , he played in 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...
organization and was invited to major league 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...
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 . In January , he signed again with the New York Mets.