Mike Carp
Encyclopedia
Christopher Michael Carp (born June 30, 1986 in Long Beach, California
) is a Major League Baseball
first baseman
for the Seattle Mariners
.
in Lakewood, California, Carp was drafted by the Mets in the ninth round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
(254th overall). He would hit 19 Home run
s in only 313 at bat
s as a 19 year old playing for the Hagerstown Suns
, and win the Sterling Award as Mets organization player of the year following his season with the St. Lucie Mets
. In that season he hit .287 (141-491) with 69 runs scored, 27 double
s, one triple
, 17 home runs and 88 runs batted in
.
In March 2007 he attended Major League
training camp
for the first time, hitting .233 in 43 at bats with the Mets. His season with the Binghamton Mets
of the Double-A Eastern League would be somewhat derailed by a broken finger, which he felt affected his swing even after returning from the disabled list
. Mike hit .251/.337/.387/.725 (90 for 359, 55 runs, 16 2b, 11 HR, 48 RBI, 39/75 BB/K) with Binghamton. He played with the Scottsdale Scorpions
of the Arizona Fall League
during the fall.
Carp enjoyed a great bounceback season in 2008, setting career highs in average, on base percentage, OPS, doubles, homers, and walks. For the season, Carp hit .299/.403/.471/.874 (143 for 478, 67 runs, 29 2b, 3b, 17 HR, 72 RBI, 79/88 BB/K).
On December 10, , Carp was traded to the Seattle Mariners in a three-team trade which also included RHP J.J. Putz
, RHP Sean Green
and OF Jeremy Reed
from the Mariners for RHP Aaron Heilman
, OF Endy Chávez
, LHP Jason Vargas
, OF Ezequiel Carrera
and RHP Maikel Cleto
and sent RHP Joe Smith to the Indians.
He made his major league debut with the Mariners on June 17, 2009, pinch-hitting in a game against the San Diego Padres
and drawing a walk. He got a hit, a single to center in his first major league start the next day.
On September 1 Carp was called up a second time. He went 0 for 4 against the Los Angeles Angels
that same night.
On June 8, 2011, Carp was called up to replace outfielder Mike Wilson. He has also served as a replacement at the first base position for starter Justin Smoak
. Carp was named the American League Rookie of the Month in August, during which he hit .313 and drove in 25 runs.
On September 19, 2011, Carp hit his first grand slam against the Cleveland Indians
at Progressive Field.
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
) is a 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...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
for 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...
.
Professional career
After attending Lakewood High SchoolLakewood High School (California)
Lakewood High School is a public secondary school located in the Southern California city of Lakewood. Founded in 1957, it is part of the Long Beach Unified School District...
in Lakewood, California, Carp was drafted by the Mets in the ninth round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
(254th overall). He would hit 19 Home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s in only 313 at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
s as a 19 year old playing for the Hagerstown Suns
Hagerstown Suns
The Hagerstown Suns are a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. They play in Municipal Stadium, which was opened in 1930 and seats 4,600 fans....
, and win the Sterling Award as Mets organization player of the year following his season with the St. Lucie Mets
St. Lucie Mets
The St. Lucie Mets are a minor league baseball team based in Port St. Lucie, Florida.The team, which plays in the Florida State League, is the High-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club.The team plays at Digital Domain Park...
. In that season he hit .287 (141-491) with 69 runs scored, 27 double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
s, one triple
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, 17 home runs and 88 runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
.
In March 2007 he attended Major League
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...
training camp
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...
for the first time, hitting .233 in 43 at bats with the Mets. His season with the Binghamton Mets
Binghamton Mets
The Binghamton Mets are a U.S. minor league baseball team based in Binghamton, New York. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club...
of the Double-A Eastern League would be somewhat derailed by a broken finger, which he felt affected his swing even after returning from the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
. Mike hit .251/.337/.387/.725 (90 for 359, 55 runs, 16 2b, 11 HR, 48 RBI, 39/75 BB/K) with Binghamton. He played with the Scottsdale Scorpions
Scottsdale Scorpions
The Scottsdale Scorpions are a baseball team that plays in the East Division of the Arizona Fall League located in Scottsdale, Arizona. They play their home games at Scottsdale Stadium....
of the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
during the fall.
Carp enjoyed a great bounceback season in 2008, setting career highs in average, on base percentage, OPS, doubles, homers, and walks. For the season, Carp hit .299/.403/.471/.874 (143 for 478, 67 runs, 29 2b, 3b, 17 HR, 72 RBI, 79/88 BB/K).
On December 10, , Carp was traded to the Seattle Mariners in a three-team trade which also included RHP J.J. Putz
J.J. Putz
Joseph Jason "J. J." Putz is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks.-High school:Born in Trenton, Michigan, Putz led Trenton High School to the 1994 Division 2 state championship. He graduated in 1995 and won the Mr...
, RHP Sean Green
Sean Green (baseball)
Sean William Green is an American professional baseball pitcher. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky.-Biography:Green grew up in east Louisville, Kentucky, in the Fincastle community....
and OF Jeremy Reed
Jeremy Reed
Jeremy Thomas Reed is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent.Reed graduated from Bonita High School in 1999, and went on to play college baseball at Long Beach State University...
from the Mariners for RHP Aaron Heilman
Aaron Heilman
Aaron Michael Heilman is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. Heilman was drafted by the New York Mets out of Notre Dame in 2001. He came up through the Mets system as a starting pitcher but was converted to a relief pitcher in 2005...
, OF Endy Chávez
Endy Chávez
Endy de Jesus Chávez is a Major League Baseball outfielder.Chávez bats and throws left-handed and is considered to have good fielding skills, speed, and the ability to hit to all parts of the field...
, LHP Jason Vargas
Jason Vargas
Jason Matthew Vargas is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners. He has played parts of two seasons in the major leagues with the Florida Marlins, part of one season in the major leagues with the New York Mets and the last two seasons with the Seattle Mariners.-College...
, OF Ezequiel Carrera
Ezequiel Carrera
Ezequiel Manuel Carrera is a Major League Baseball center fielder for the Cleveland Indians. He was the starting outfielder for the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx. He was signed with the New York Mets as a non-drafted free agent on April 4,...
and RHP Maikel Cleto
Maikel Cleto
Maikel Cleto is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was signed as a non-drafted free agent by the New York Mets on August 10, 2006.-New York Mets:...
and sent RHP Joe Smith to the Indians.
He made his major league debut with the Mariners on June 17, 2009, pinch-hitting in a game 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...
and drawing a walk. He got a hit, a single to center in his first major league start the next day.
On September 1 Carp was called up a second time. He went 0 for 4 against the Los Angeles Angels
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...
that same night.
On June 8, 2011, Carp was called up to replace outfielder Mike Wilson. He has also served as a replacement at the first base position for starter Justin Smoak
Justin Smoak
Justin Kyle Smoak is an American Major League Baseball first baseman for the Seattle Mariners.-High school career:...
. Carp was named the American League Rookie of the Month in August, during which he hit .313 and drove in 25 runs.
On September 19, 2011, Carp hit his first grand slam against the Cleveland Indians
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...
at Progressive Field.