Mark
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Mark Redman's Biography
Mark Allen Redman, who was born on January 5, 1974, is a celebrated American former professional baseball starting pitcher known for his left-handed prowess on the baseball field. Mark is an alumnus of Escondido High School in California from where he graduated in 1992 and excelled in baseball and football. After a year at The Master’s College in Santa Clarita, California, he moved to the University of Oklahoma where he really came into his own as a baseball player.
During his sophomore year at Oklahoma, Mark demonstrated his exceptional talent and potential, racking up 136 strikeouts and 135.1 innings in the regular season – setting new school records in the process. After taking advantage of these achievements to propel himself towards a 5-0 record in post-season play and helping Oklahoma clinch the Elite College World Series title in 1994, Mark earned his place on the 1st Team All-Big Eight, the NCAA All-Regional team, and the College World Series All-Tournament team. He was also bestowed with the titles of Big Eight Newcomer of the Year and 1st Team All-American for his two seasons at Oklahoma.
The Detroit Tigers took notice and subsequently selected Mark in the 41st Round of the 1992 Major League Baseball draft. However, Mark did not sign with the team that year. Opportunity knocked again in 1995 when he was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1st Round and made his Major League debut with the same team on July 24, 1999. The game, a victory over the Seattle Mariners, saw his significant contribution over 4+2/3 innings, three strikeouts, and three walks.
Despite being relegated to the minors after his debut, Mark managed to return to the majors by mid-September, and although his performance was not up to mark, his talent could not be overlooked. His fortune turned in 2000 when he made it to the opening-day roster and saw action primarily from the bullpen before moving into the starting rotation by May. With 24 starts for the Twins, he ended the season with a 12-9 record, all while boasting a 4.76 ERA over 151+1/3 innings. This outstanding performance positioned him in a four-way tie for sixth place in AL Rookie of the Year voting.
In the ensuing season, Mark made nine starts for Minnesota before being traded to the Detroit Tigers. Unfortunately, his debut with Detroit was marred by a triceps injury, limiting his appearances. However, the full season he spent with the Tigers in 2002 saw him make 30 starts – an impressive turning point in his career.
Following this stint with the Tigers, Mark was traded to the Florida Marlins, where he had his break-out year in 2003. He registered career highs in wins (14), ERA (3.59), and strikeouts (151), contributing to the Marlins’ victory over the New York Yankees in the 2003 World Series.
After the World Series win, the Marlins traded Redman to the Oakland Athletics. Redman then became a free agent, but re-signed with the Athletics on a three-year deal worth $12 million. His tenure with Oakland was fruitful; despite not being his best season, he finished with a commendable record and a decent ERA.
His subsequent trade to the Pittsburgh Pirates did not produce as many results; he had a disappointing season with 5-15 for the Pirates. Yet the Kansas City Royals saw something in Redman, trading for him in the winter of 2005. During his time with the Royals, he was chosen to represent the American League in the 2006 Major League Baseball All-Star Game – a surprise to many, including Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, as Redman’s season track record had been rather modest. Specifically, he was 6-4 with a 5.27 ERA at the All-Star break.
Redman’s career took a winding turn after 2005. He signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves in 2007 and had a challenging season, with a short-lived term due to injury. After a series of signings and releases with Texas and Toronto, he finally signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies. His performance with the Rockies was impressive, but he was still left off their postseason roster. However, Redman’s resilience was noted, and he re-signed with the Rockies on a one-year, $1 million contract.
Unfortunately, his final season was marred by injury and various inconsistencies, and by 2008 he was designated for assignment. His final major league season record was 2-5 with a 7.54 ERA in 45+1/3 innings. Despite the ups and downs, Mark Allen Redman remains a respected figure in Major League Baseball thanks to his undeniable talent and unique contributions to the sport.