Hector Mercado
Encyclopedia
Héctor Luis Mercado is a former professional baseball
pitcher
, born in Cataño, Puerto Rico
. Mercado played all or part of four seasons in Major League Baseball
, as well as one season in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Mercado was listed at 6' 3" in height, and 235 lb. in weight. Mercado batted and threw left-handed
during his baseball career.
Mercado played for the Cincinnati Reds
and the Philadelphia Phillies
during his major league career. He also played one season in Japan for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
in 2004. He is currently the pitching coach for the Kissimmee Astros.
in the 13th round of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft
. Mercado signed with the Astros on June 4. On December 9, 1996, Mercado was again drafted, but this time by the Florida Marlins
from the Houston Astros in the 1996 minor league
draft. On December 15, 1997, Mercado was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies
from the Florida Marlins in the 1997 rule 5 draft
, and on exactly the same day, Mercado was traded by the Phillies to the New York Mets
for Mike Welch
.
Mercado missed the entire 1998 season due to injury. On August 4, 1999, the New York Mets released Mercado, making him a free agent
. Mercado signed with the Cincinnati Reds
on December 31.
were playing against the Cincinnati Reds at Cinergy Field
, with 16,761 people attending the game. Mercado was called on to relieve Scott Sullivan in the 9th inning
. Mercado allowed one hit
, one run
, and ended the inning and game with an ERA
of 9.00. The Reds lost the game 5–1.
. He was granted free agency on September 29, 2003, having played in his final major league game on July 11 of that year.
. The next season, Mercado was signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals
, on February 2, 2005, only to be released before the season began. He caught on with the Bridgeport Bluefish
of the Atlantic League
, and on June 23, 2005, Mercado was purchased from them by the Texas Rangers
. On October 15, 2005, Mercado was yet again granted free agency, signing with the Detroit Tigers
on January 4, 2006. On July 7, 2006, the Detroit Tigers released Mercado.
In 2007, Mercado returned to the Bluefish, appearing in 33 games. In 2008, he started the season in the Mexican League with the Saraperos de Saltillo
. Later that year, he played with the Cariparma Parma of the Italian Baseball League to finish his playing career.
. In 2011, he was promoted to Kissimmee.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, born in Cataño, Puerto Rico
Cataño, Puerto Rico
Cataño is a municipality located on northern coast of Puerto Rico bordering the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent to the north and east by San Juan; north of Bayamón and Guaynabo; east of Toa Baja and west of Guaynabo and is part of the San Juan Metropolitan Area. Cataño is spread over 7 wards and...
. Mercado played all or part of four seasons 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...
, as well as one season in Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Mercado was listed at 6' 3" in height, and 235 lb. in weight. Mercado batted and threw left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
during his baseball career.
Mercado played for 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....
and the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
during his major league career. He also played one season in Japan for the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
in 2004. He is currently the pitching coach for the Kissimmee Astros.
Bouncing around the minors
On June 1, 1992, Hector Mercado was drafted by the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
in the 13th round of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft
1992 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1992 Major League Baseball draft.-Other notable players:*Raúl Ibáñez, 36th round, Seattle Mariners...
. Mercado signed with the Astros on June 4. On December 9, 1996, Mercado was again drafted, but this time by 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...
from the Houston Astros in the 1996 minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
draft. On December 15, 1997, Mercado was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
from the Florida Marlins in the 1997 rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
, and on exactly the same day, Mercado was traded by the Phillies to 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...
for Mike Welch
Mike Welch (baseball)
Michael Paul Welch is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, born in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Welch attended the University of Southern Maine where he participated in playing college baseball.-Career:...
.
Mercado missed the entire 1998 season due to injury. On August 4, 1999, the New York Mets released Mercado, making him 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....
. Mercado signed with 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....
on December 31.
Debut
Héctor Mercado made his major league debut on April 4, 2000 with the Cincinnati Reds at the age of 25. On that day, the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
were playing against the Cincinnati Reds at Cinergy Field
Cinergy Field
Riverfront Stadium , later known as Cinergy Field , was the home of the Cincinnati Reds National League baseball team and the Cincinnati Bengals National Football League team. Located on the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, the stadium was best known as the home of "The Big Red Machine," as the...
, with 16,761 people attending the game. Mercado was called on to relieve Scott Sullivan in the 9th inning
Inning
Inning is a municipality in the district of Erding in Bavaria in Germany....
. Mercado allowed one hit
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
, one run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, and ended the inning and game with an ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 9.00. The Reds lost the game 5–1.
Bouncing around again
On March 30, 2002, the Cincinnati Reds sent Mercado to the Philadelphia Phillies to complete an earlier deal made on March 28. The Cincinnati Reds sent Hector Mercado to the Philadelphia Phillies for Reggie TaylorReggie Taylor
Reginald Tremain "Reggie" Taylor is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who is currently playing for the Olmecas de Tabasco in the Mexican League. He has played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, during his five year Major League Baseball career...
. He was granted free agency on September 29, 2003, having played in his final major league game on July 11 of that year.
International baseball
In 2004, Mercado played one game in Japan for the Fukuoka Daiei HawksFukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
. The next season, Mercado was signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
, on February 2, 2005, only to be released before the season began. He caught on with the Bridgeport Bluefish
Bridgeport Bluefish
The Bridgeport Bluefish is an American professional baseball team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
, and on June 23, 2005, Mercado was purchased from them by the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. On October 15, 2005, Mercado was yet again granted free agency, signing with the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
on January 4, 2006. On July 7, 2006, the Detroit Tigers released Mercado.
In 2007, Mercado returned to the Bluefish, appearing in 33 games. In 2008, he started the season in the Mexican League with the Saraperos de Saltillo
Saraperos de Saltillo
The Saraperos de Saltillo are a AAA-level baseball team playing in the Mexican League. They have won 3 championships in 1980, 2009, and 2010. Their homefield is the Estadio De Béisbol Francisco I. Madero in Saltillo, Coahuila. Juan Jose Pacho is the team manager....
. Later that year, he played with the Cariparma Parma of the Italian Baseball League to finish his playing career.
Coaching career
In 2010, Mercado served as the pitching coach of the Gulf Coast League AstrosGulf Coast League Astros
The Gulf Coast League Astros are a minor league baseball team of the Gulf Coast League , and a Rookie-level affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Kissimmee, Florida, and play their home games at Osceola County Stadium. The GCL Astros began play in 1977. The team suspended operations...
. In 2011, he was promoted to Kissimmee.