Mark Eichhorn
Encyclopedia
Mark Anthony Eichhorn is a retired Major League Baseball
pitcher
best known for his tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays the late 1980s - early 1990s where he often served as a middle reliever/set-up man for All-Star closer, Tom Henke
. He was the 1986 American League Rookie Pitcher of the year for the Blue Jays, a campaign in which he set team records for rookie relief in ERA, games, wins, and strikeouts, and would have easily won the AL ERA title had he pitched five more innings to qualify.
Mark Eichhorn made his major league debut for the Blue Jays in 1982, but suffered a severe shoulder injury and would not return to the majors until 1986. The shoulder injury had robbed Eichhorn of most of the velocity on his fastball and had forced him to turn to an unconventional sidearm motion
in which his arm angle was well below the belt when he released the ball. He was notable for an exceptionally low velocity for a major league pitcher, but his control and unusual delivery made him an effective player.
Eichhorn played for four different ballclubs during his career: the Toronto Blue Jays
(1982, 1986–1988, 1992–1993), Atlanta Braves
(1989), California Angels
(1990–1992, 1996), and Baltimore Orioles
(1994). He made his Major League Baseball
debut on August 30, 1982. He would return to the minor leagues after the '82 season and not resurface in the Major Leagues again until 1986. Eichhorn played his final game on September 14, 1996.
Currently is the Pitching Coach for Aptos High School
in Aptos, California
.
in a deal for pitcher Armando Galarraga
.
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...
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...
best known for his tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays the late 1980s - early 1990s where he often served as a middle reliever/set-up man for All-Star closer, Tom Henke
Tom Henke
Thomas Anthony Henke , nicknamed "The Terminator" because of his ability and success as a closer, is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He was one of the most dominant and feared closers during the late 1980s and early 1990s, pitching for the Texas Rangers , Toronto Blue Jays , and St...
. He was the 1986 American League Rookie Pitcher of the year for the Blue Jays, a campaign in which he set team records for rookie relief in ERA, games, wins, and strikeouts, and would have easily won the AL ERA title had he pitched five more innings to qualify.
Mark Eichhorn made his major league debut for the Blue Jays in 1982, but suffered a severe shoulder injury and would not return to the majors until 1986. The shoulder injury had robbed Eichhorn of most of the velocity on his fastball and had forced him to turn to an unconventional sidearm motion
Sidearm
In baseball, sidearm describes balls thrown along a low, approximately horizontal axis rather than a high, mostly vertical axis ....
in which his arm angle was well below the belt when he released the ball. He was notable for an exceptionally low velocity for a major league pitcher, but his control and unusual delivery made him an effective player.
Eichhorn played for four different ballclubs during his career: 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 ....
(1982, 1986–1988, 1992–1993), 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....
(1989), California 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...
(1990–1992, 1996), and 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...
(1994). He made his 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...
debut on August 30, 1982. He would return to the minor leagues after the '82 season and not resurface in the Major Leagues again until 1986. Eichhorn played his final game on September 14, 1996.
Currently is the Pitching Coach for Aptos High School
Aptos High School
Aptos High School is a comprehensive secondary school in Aptos, California, USA in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. Aptos High serves the communities of Rio Del Mar, Corralitos, Seacliff, Seascape, La Selva Beach, Buena Vista and Watsonville....
in Aptos, California
Aptos, California
Aptos is a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 6,220 at the 2010 census.Aptos is an unincorporated area of Santa Cruz county, consisting of several small communities...
.
Children
Mark's son Kevin was drafted in the third round, number 104 overall, by the Arizona Diamonbacks in the 2008 MLB Draft. He has decided to sign with the D-backs instead of attending Santa Clara University, where he has been collegiately committed since his junior year of high school. On January 24, 2011, Kevin was traded to the Detroit TigersDetroit 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...
in a deal for pitcher Armando Galarraga
Armando Galarraga
Armando Antonio Galarraga is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Galarraga made his Major League Baseball debut with the Texas Rangers on September 15, 2007...
.