Mark Portugal
Encyclopedia
Mark Steven Portugal is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
who played in the major leagues from 1985 to 1999.
in Norwalk, California
. He was signed by the Minnesota Twins
in 1980. In 1984, he went 14-7 for the Orlando Twins
of the Southern League
and made his major league debut the following season.
Portugal spent the rest of the decade in either AAA or the majors. In 1988, he was traded to the Houston Astros
. In 1989, he went 7-1 with a 2.75 earned run average
for them and won a spot in the starting rotation. He had his best season in 1993, when he won 18 games, led the National League
in winning percentage, and finished sixth in the Cy Young Award
voting.
Portugal then signed with the San Francisco Giants
as a free agent. Typically a .200 hitter, he batted .354 in 1994 and won the Silver Slugger Award. The following season, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds
. Portugal played for several teams over the next few years and retired in 2000.
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...
who played in the major leagues from 1985 to 1999.
Career
Portugal attended Norwalk High SchoolNorwalk High School (California)
Norwalk High School is a high school in Norwalk, California. It is a member school of the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District. It was established in 1956. The school used to have a swimming pool until 1994.-External links:*...
in Norwalk, California
Norwalk, California
Norwalk is a suburban city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 105,549 at the 2010 census, up from 103,298 at the 2000 census, making it the 58th most populous city in California and the 255th nationally....
. He was signed by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
in 1980. In 1984, he went 14-7 for the Orlando Twins
Montgomery Biscuits
The Montgomery Biscuits are a minor league baseball team based in Montgomery, Alabama. The team is the Class AA affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays and plays in the Southern League. The 2004 season was the team's first in Montgomery...
of the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
and made his major league debut the following season.
Portugal spent the rest of the decade in either AAA or the majors. In 1988, he was traded 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...
. In 1989, he went 7-1 with a 2.75 earned run average
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...
for them and won a spot in the starting rotation. He had his best season in 1993, when he won 18 games, led the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in winning percentage, and finished sixth in the Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
voting.
Portugal then signed with the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
as a free agent. Typically a .200 hitter, he batted .354 in 1994 and won the Silver Slugger Award. The following season, he was traded to 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....
. Portugal played for several teams over the next few years and retired in 2000.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Silver Slugger Award winners at pitcher