Chad Hermansen
Encyclopedia
Chad Bruce Hermansen is a former Major League Baseball
outfielder
.
Hermansen played amateur ball as a shortstop
at Green Valley High School
of Henderson, Nevada
, and the Pittsburgh Pirates
selected him in the first round of the June draft, with the tenth overall pick. After signing with the Pirates, Hermansen immediately emerged as a top prospect. He was a South Atlantic League
All-Star
in , and after moving to the outfield the next year, a Pacific Coast League
All Star and the Pirates' Minor League Player of the Year in . He earned a promotion to the major leagues at the end of that season, and made his debut against the San Diego Padres
on September 7, 1999.
Hermansen was viewed as the Pirates' center fielder of the future, but he struggled to establish himself and lost his starting job early in . He spent parts of the next three seasons bouncing back and forth between the Pirates and Triple-A, and then was traded to the Chicago Cubs
for Darren Lewis
on July 31, 2002. Lewis chose to retire rather than report to the Pirates, so the teams made a follow-up trade involving minor league players Aron Weston, Ricardo Palma, and Tim Lavery two weeks later. Hermansen spent the remainder of the season with the Cubs, and then was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
on December 4. The Cubs received Eric Karros and Mark Grudzielanek
, while the Dodgers also received Todd Hundley
. Hermansen played in eleven games for the Dodgers in , and appeared in four more with the Toronto Blue Jays
the following year.
Signed by the Campeche Pirates of the Mexican League
in , Hermansen was released after batting
only .182 in eleven games. He next signed with the Elmira Pioneers
, but played in no games before being signed by the San Diego Padres
organization. The Padres immediately released Hermansen, however, citing arm problems as their concern. In , Hermansen played for the Sioux Falls Canaries of the newly formed American Association.
Hermansen began the season playing for the Albuquerque Isotopes
, the Triple-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins
, though he was not on the Marlins' 40-man roster. He was acquired by the New York Mets
on August 7 for a player to be named later. Hermansen signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
during the 07-08 offseason, but was released during spring training
.
Hermansen is now an instructor at the Frozen Ropes Training Center in Henderson, NV. He is a member of the Latter-day Saint church and is married with 3 children, and one on the way. He also works for the NCSA (the National Collegiate Scouting Association).
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...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
.
Hermansen played amateur ball as a shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
at Green Valley High School
Green Valley High School
Green Valley High School is a public secondary school in Henderson, Nevada within the Clark County School District. Its mascot is the Gator and the school's colors are green, blue, and silver.-History:...
of Henderson, Nevada
Henderson, Nevada
-Demographics:According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,200.8 people per square mile . There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of 892.8 per square mile...
, and the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
selected him in the first round of the June draft, with the tenth overall pick. After signing with the Pirates, Hermansen immediately emerged as a top prospect. He was a South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
in , and after moving to the outfield the next year, a Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
All Star and the Pirates' Minor League Player of the Year in . He earned a promotion to the major leagues at the end of that season, and made his debut 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...
on September 7, 1999.
Hermansen was viewed as the Pirates' center fielder of the future, but he struggled to establish himself and lost his starting job early in . He spent parts of the next three seasons bouncing back and forth between the Pirates and Triple-A, and then was traded to 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...
for Darren Lewis
Darren Lewis
Darren Joel Lewis is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Oakland Athletics , San Francisco Giants , Cincinnati Reds , Chicago White Sox , Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox ; he played his final season in 2002 with the Chicago Cubs...
on July 31, 2002. Lewis chose to retire rather than report to the Pirates, so the teams made a follow-up trade involving minor league players Aron Weston, Ricardo Palma, and Tim Lavery two weeks later. Hermansen spent the remainder of the season with the Cubs, and then was traded to 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 December 4. The Cubs received Eric Karros and Mark Grudzielanek
Mark Grudzielanek
Mark James Grudzielanek is a retired Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop. Grudzielanek played six different teams during his 15-season career. He batted and threw right-handed.-Early years:...
, while the Dodgers also received Todd Hundley
Todd Hundley
Todd Randolph Hundley is a former Major League Baseball catcher and outfielder. He is the son of former Chicago Cubs catcher Randy Hundley...
. Hermansen played in eleven games for the Dodgers in , and appeared in four more with the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
the following year.
Signed by the Campeche Pirates of the Mexican League
Liga Mexicana de Beisbol
The Mexican League is a summer minor league baseball league with teams based across Mexico. Along with the International League and the Pacific Coast League, it is one of three leagues playing at the triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It is the only Minor League...
in , Hermansen was released after batting
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
only .182 in eleven games. He next signed with the Elmira Pioneers
Elmira Pioneers
The Elmira Pioneers are an amateur baseball team based in Elmira, New York. They currently compete in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, a wood bat collegiate summer baseball league. Prior to the 2006 baseball season, the team was a professional ballclub with a rich history of league...
, but played in no games before being signed by 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...
organization. The Padres immediately released Hermansen, however, citing arm problems as their concern. In , Hermansen played for the Sioux Falls Canaries of the newly formed American Association.
Hermansen began the season playing for the Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
, the Triple-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
, though he was not on the Marlins' 40-man roster. He was acquired 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...
on August 7 for a player to be named later. Hermansen signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels of 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...
during the 07-08 offseason, but was released during 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...
.
Hermansen is now an instructor at the Frozen Ropes Training Center in Henderson, NV. He is a member of the Latter-day Saint church and is married with 3 children, and one on the way. He also works for the NCSA (the National Collegiate Scouting Association).