Mark Melancon
Encyclopedia
Mark David Melancon is a Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
for the Houston Astros
.
, where he lettered all four years in baseball and basketball
and three times in football
. He helped the team capture the Colorado 4A State Championship in baseball. Melancon was named to the All-State Team twice in his career (as well as twice in football and once in basketball), and graduated as a member of the National Honors Society.
Melancon was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers
in the 30th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft
. Melancon didn’t sign, instead following through on his commitment to the University of Arizona
.
team, Melancon set a single-season freshman record by making 29 appearances, and followed that by going 2-0 with two saves in five postseason appearances. While pitching for the USA National Team
over the summer, Melancon made 10 appearances and led the club with five saves.
Melancon was given Arizona’s closer’s job as a sophomore, appeared in 34 of the team’s 60 games, and set a new single-season record with 11 saves.
In 2006 he set the school’s career saves record in the second game of the year. Melancon came down with elbow pain which was ultimately diagnosed as a strained elbow ligament
. He didn’t require surgery; however, he was shut down in early April and didn’t pitch the rest of the season. Melancon finished his college career with 18 saves.
.
in 2006. He missed the entire 2007 season after having Tommy John surgery
in October 2006.
In 2008 he pitched for three of the Yankees minor league affiliates: the Single-A Tampa Yankees
, Double-A Trenton Thunder
and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, going 8-1 with a 2.27 ERA in 41 relief appearances, holding batters to a .202 batting average. Following the season, Baseball America
rated him the organization's ninth best prospect.
on April 26, pitching two scoreless innings. He was optioned back to Triple-A on May 8, and recalled on July 9.
to the Houston Astros
for Lance Berkman
on July 31, 2010.
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...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the Houston Astros
Houston 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...
.
Early years
Melancon attended Golden High SchoolGolden High School
Golden High School is a secondary school in Golden, Colorado. It is located in Golden, the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. It is part of the Jefferson County Public Schools district.- History :...
, where he lettered all four years in baseball and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and three times in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
. He helped the team capture the Colorado 4A State Championship in baseball. Melancon was named to the All-State Team twice in his career (as well as twice in football and once in basketball), and graduated as a member of the National Honors Society.
Melancon was drafted by 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...
in the 30th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft
2003 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2003 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 3 and 4. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.Source: -First round selections:...
. Melancon didn’t sign, instead following through on his commitment to the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
.
College career
As a member of the Arizona Wildcats baseballArizona Wildcats baseball
The Arizona Wildcats baseball team is the intercollegiate men's baseball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of NCAA Division I. The baseball team had its first season in 1904...
team, Melancon set a single-season freshman record by making 29 appearances, and followed that by going 2-0 with two saves in five postseason appearances. While pitching for the USA National Team
United States national baseball team
The United States National Baseball team represents the United States in international baseball competition. The United States has won the previous two Baseball World Cups, having lost this title to the Netherlands in 2011, and is currently second in the IBAF World Rankings, behind Cuba.The team...
over the summer, Melancon made 10 appearances and led the club with five saves.
Melancon was given Arizona’s closer’s job as a sophomore, appeared in 34 of the team’s 60 games, and set a new single-season record with 11 saves.
In 2006 he set the school’s career saves record in the second game of the year. Melancon came down with elbow pain which was ultimately diagnosed as a strained elbow ligament
Ligament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
. He didn’t require surgery; however, he was shut down in early April and didn’t pitch the rest of the season. Melancon finished his college career with 18 saves.
Professional career
Melancon was drafted by the New York Yankees in the ninth round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft2006 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 6 and 7. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.-First Round Selections:...
.
Minor leagues
Melancon pitched for the Yankees Single-A Staten Island YankeesStaten Island Yankees
The Staten Island Yankees are a minor league baseball team, located in the New York City borough of Staten Island. Nicknamed the "Baby Bombers," the Yankees are a Short-Season A classification affiliate of the New York Yankees and play in the New York - Penn League at Richmond County Bank Ballpark...
in 2006. He missed the entire 2007 season after having Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
in October 2006.
In 2008 he pitched for three of the Yankees minor league affiliates: the Single-A Tampa Yankees
Tampa Yankees
The Tampa Yankees are a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball team. Home games are played at George M. Steinbrenner Field, a miniature replica of...
, Double-A Trenton Thunder
Trenton Thunder
The Trenton Thunder are an American Minor League Baseball team and are the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Thunder play in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League, and are the two-time defending league champions...
and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, going 8-1 with a 2.27 ERA in 41 relief appearances, holding batters to a .202 batting average. Following the season, Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
rated him the organization's ninth best prospect.
New York Yankees
Melancon was called up to the majors for the first time on April 25, . He made his major league debut as a relief pitcher against the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
on April 26, pitching two scoreless innings. He was optioned back to Triple-A on May 8, and recalled on July 9.
Houston Astros
Melancon was traded along with Jimmy ParedesJimmy Paredes
Jimmy Santiago Paredes Terrero is an infielder with the Houston Astros.-Minor league career:...
to the Houston Astros
Houston 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...
for Lance Berkman
Lance Berkman
William Lance Berkman is an American professional baseball outfielder and right fielder with the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball....
on July 31, 2010.