Kevin Hart (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Kevin Richard Hart is a professional baseball
pitcher
who is currently playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates
.
and played collegiately at the University of Maryland
before being selected by the Baltimore Orioles
in the 11th round (319th pick) in the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
. On December 7, , Hart was acquired by the Chicago Cubs as the player to be named later in a trade that had sent Freddie Bynum
to the Orioles a day earlier.
When rosters expanded, he made his major league debut on September 4, , after being called up from the Double-A Tennessee Smokies
that same day. Hart's debut came under difficult circumstances, as he was summoned to relieve Will Ohman
in the 8th inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers
with the bases loaded and nobody out. After walking
the first batter (former Cub Ramón Martínez) on 4 pitches to force in a run
, Hart struck out
Mark Sweeney
, and Rafael Furcal
hit into an inning-ending double play
. Hart gave up one hit
in his second inning of work while also striking out Jeff Kent
and Andre Ethier
, for a total of three strikeouts, one hit, and no runs in his two-inning Major League debut.
Despite his inexperience, manager Lou Pinella showed a willingness to use Hart as the Cubs progressed through the stretch run of a pennant race, and he appeared in several close games in September. He was impressive enough during his limited time to be chosen as one of the 11 pitchers on the team's playoff roster. Hart made 8 appearances in September's stretch playoff run. He held a 0.82 ERA with 11 innings pitched, 13 strikeouts, and held batters to a .189 batting average
.
After spring training
in 2009, he was sent to the Triple A Iowa Cubs
.
Kevin Hart made his first start of 2009, on July 8, against the Atlanta Braves
at Wrigley Field
. In that game, Hart pitched five innings and allowed only four hits and one run, but was the losing pitcher, as the Cubs lost 4-1. Hart was optioned to the Single-A Peoria Chiefs
after the game in order to continue to pitch on his regular schedule while the Cubs were on the All-Star break. He was recalled on July 19.
On July 19, 2009, Hart recorded his first career Major League hit and his first career RBI. During a 7-run 4th inning against the Washington Nationals
at Nationals Park, Hart, squaring around as if to sacrifice bunt, pulled his bat back and lined a pitch from Garrett Mock
into center field, driving in Mike Fontenot
from second base, and thwarting the Nationals' defensive attempt to execute a wheel play
. Hart would later score himself during the inning on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Theriot
. Hart pitched five innings and recorded his first win of the 2009 season in that game, as the Cubs went on to win 11-3, completing a four-game sweep of the Nationals.
On July 30, 2009, Hart was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates along with right-handed pitcher José Ascanio
and third baseman Josh Harrison
for left-handed pitchers John Grabow
and Tom Gorzelanny
. Just hours before the trade Hart started for the Cubs against the Houston Astros, he went six innings and gave up three earned runs while recording his third win of the season.
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...
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...
who is currently playing for 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...
.
Career
Kevin attended Jesuit College Preparatory School of DallasJesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas
Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas is a private, college-preparatory school for young men under the direction of the Society of Jesus and home to the Jesuit Dallas Museum in Dallas, Texas...
and played collegiately at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
before being selected by the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in the 11th round (319th pick) in 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...
. On December 7, , Hart was acquired by the Chicago Cubs as the player to be named later in a trade that had sent Freddie Bynum
Freddie Bynum
Freddie Lee Bynum Jr. is a shortstop playing in the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He is known for his blazing speed and excellent defensive abilities which include the ability to field several different positions in the infield and outfield...
to the Orioles a day earlier.
When rosters expanded, he made his major league debut on September 4, , after being called up from the Double-A Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies are a Minor League Baseball team based in the Knoxville, Tennessee metropolitan area. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball as of the 2011 season...
that same day. Hart's debut came under difficult circumstances, as he was summoned to relieve Will Ohman
Will Ohman
William McDaniel Ohman is a left-handed pitcher, who is currently a member of the Chicago White Sox. He lives in Agoura Hills, California.-Chicago Cubs:...
in the 8th inning of a game against 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...
with the bases loaded and nobody out. After walking
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
the first batter (former Cub Ramón Martínez) on 4 pitches to force in a 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...
, Hart struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
Mark Sweeney
Mark Sweeney
Mark Patrick Sweeney is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball. He is best known for his skill as a pinch hitter, where he ranks second in career pinch hits with 175 and first in career pinch hit runs batted in with 102....
, and Rafael Furcal
Rafael Furcal
Rafael Antonio Furcal , is a Major League Baseball shortstop who is currently a free agent.-Early career:...
hit into an inning-ending double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
. Hart gave up 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....
in his second inning of work while also striking out Jeff Kent
Jeff Kent
Jeffrey Franklin Kent is a retired Major League Baseball second baseman. Kent won the National League Most Valuable Player award in 2000 with the San Francisco Giants, and is the all-time leader in home runs among second basemen...
and Andre Ethier
Andre Ethier
Andre Everett Ethier , is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers.In 2009, Ethier hit six walk off hits , which was the most by any player in the Major Leagues since 1974. His four walk-off home runs tied the Major League record for most in a season...
, for a total of three strikeouts, one hit, and no runs in his two-inning Major League debut.
Despite his inexperience, manager Lou Pinella showed a willingness to use Hart as the Cubs progressed through the stretch run of a pennant race, and he appeared in several close games in September. He was impressive enough during his limited time to be chosen as one of the 11 pitchers on the team's playoff roster. Hart made 8 appearances in September's stretch playoff run. He held a 0.82 ERA with 11 innings pitched, 13 strikeouts, and held batters to a .189 batting average
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 :...
.
After 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...
in 2009, he was sent to the Triple A Iowa Cubs
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
.
Kevin Hart made his first start of 2009, on July 8, against the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
. In that game, Hart pitched five innings and allowed only four hits and one run, but was the losing pitcher, as the Cubs lost 4-1. Hart was optioned to the Single-A Peoria Chiefs
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, from Peoria, Illinois. They play in the Midwest League....
after the game in order to continue to pitch on his regular schedule while the Cubs were on the All-Star break. He was recalled on July 19.
On July 19, 2009, Hart recorded his first career Major League hit and his first career RBI. During a 7-run 4th inning against the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
at Nationals Park, Hart, squaring around as if to sacrifice bunt, pulled his bat back and lined a pitch from Garrett Mock
Garrett Mock
Garrett Lee Mock is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. A graduate of Houston's North Shore Senior High School, Mock attended the University of Houston where he played as part of the Houston Cougars baseball team...
into center field, driving in Mike Fontenot
Mike Fontenot
Michael Eugene "Mike" Fontenot is a Major League Baseball infielder for the San Francisco Giants.-High school career:Mike Fontenot was a standout for Salmen High School in Slidell, Louisiana...
from second base, and thwarting the Nationals' defensive attempt to execute a wheel play
Wheel play
The wheel play is a baseball strategy designed to defend against a sacrifice bunt in a close game in situations in which the offense has a runner on second and there are no outs...
. Hart would later score himself during the inning on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Theriot
Ryan Theriot
Ryan Stewart Theriot is a Major League Baseball infielder for the St. Louis Cardinals.Theriot is the son of Randy and Mary Theriot, and has an older brother Wes and younger brother Austin. Both his father and older brother played baseball at Broadmoor High School.Theriot graduated from Broadmoor...
. Hart pitched five innings and recorded his first win of the 2009 season in that game, as the Cubs went on to win 11-3, completing a four-game sweep of the Nationals.
On July 30, 2009, Hart was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates along with right-handed pitcher José Ascanio
Jose Ascanio
José Eleazar Ascanio is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball.-Baseball career:...
and third baseman Josh Harrison
Josh Harrison
Joshua I. Harrison aka "J-Hay" or "J-Hay da Man" is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball...
for left-handed pitchers John Grabow
John Grabow
John William Grabow, nicknamed "Grabes" , is a Major League Baseball left-handed reliever....
and Tom Gorzelanny
Tom Gorzelanny
Thomas Stephen Gorzelanny is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals.-Personal life:Tom grew up in Chicago, IL, graduating from Marist High School in 2000...
. Just hours before the trade Hart started for the Cubs against the Houston Astros, he went six innings and gave up three earned runs while recording his third win of the season.