Randy Messenger
Encyclopedia
Randall Jerome Messenger (born August 13, 1981 in Reno
, Nevada
) is a right-handed relief pitcher
for the Hanshin Tigers
of Nippon Professional Baseball. He is 6 in 6 in (1.98 m) tall and weighs 265 pounds (120.2 kg), and made his Major League debut on June 22, , for the Florida Marlins
. Messenger graduated from Sparks High School in 1999.
Messenger is nicknamed Big Mess. He is well known for giving former teammate Scott Olsen
a black eye
while he was with the Marlins in . Despite the confrontation Messenger still considers Olsen a friend claiming that Olsen's anger derives from his upbringing.
in the 11th round, 326th overall, by the Florida Marlins. In Messenger went 0-3 with a 7.52 ERA in 13 outings, including two starts, for Gulf Coast League Marlins. He also spent the with the GCL Marlins going 2-2 with a 4.83 ERA in 12 starts.
Messenger went 2-1 with a 3.93 ERA in 14 relief outings for the Class-A Kane County Cougars
of the Midwest League
. He also was 7-4 with a 4.08 ERA in 18 starts for the Class-A Advanced Brevard County Manatees
of the Florida State League
.
In Messenger set a career high in wins with a record of 11-8 while posting a 4.37 ERA in 28 outings, including 27 starts, for the Class-A Advanced Jupiter Hammerheads
of the Florida State League
.
He was promoted to the Double-A Carolina Mudcats
in . Messenger went 5-7 with a 5.46 ERA in 29 outings, including 23 starts. In he stayed with the Mudcats going 6-3 with a 2.58 ERA and 21 saves in 58 relief outings.
Messenger went 4-2 with a 3.88 ERA in 39 relief outings for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
in . He posted a 5.29 ERA in 29 relief outings for Marlins in his first stint on the Major Leagues.
In Messenger went 2-7 with a 5.67 ERA in 59 relief outings for Marlins. He gave up three runs on one hit in four relief appearances for Triple-A Albuquerque. He tossed a scoreless inning for Class-A Advanced Jupiter.
Messenger went 1-1 with a 2.66 ERA in 23 relief appearances for Marlins in .
for Armando Benítez
. He did not allow an earned run in his first seven relief outings for Giants, spanning 8 frames and finished the season with the Giants 1-3 with one save in 37 outings.
On March 5, , he was optioned down to Triple-A Fresno
. He was released on March 12, but signed a new minor league deal with the Giants a few days later.
going 6-0 with one save and a 2.38 ERA in 12 outings with Tacoma. He was called up on August 25 where in 13 games he had a 3.55 ERA.
Messenger was released by the Mariners on January 28, . He re-signed with the team to a minor league deal two days later. On October 29, he was outrighted off the 40-man roster. On November 9, 2009 he was granted free agency.
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
) is a right-handed 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 Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
of Nippon Professional Baseball. He is 6 in 6 in (1.98 m) tall and weighs 265 pounds (120.2 kg), and made his Major League debut on June 22, , for 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...
. Messenger graduated from Sparks High School in 1999.
Messenger is nicknamed Big Mess. He is well known for giving former teammate Scott Olsen
Scott Olsen
Scott Matthew Olsen is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher who is a free agent.-Early life:Olsen was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan...
a black eye
Black eye
A black eye , or or 'shiner', is bruising around the eye commonly due to an injury to the face rather than eye injury. The name is given due to the color of bruising. The so-called black eye is caused by bleeding beneath the skin and around the eye...
while he was with the Marlins in . Despite the confrontation Messenger still considers Olsen a friend claiming that Olsen's anger derives from his upbringing.
Florida Marlins
He was drafted in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft1999 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1999 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1999...
in the 11th round, 326th overall, by the Florida Marlins. In Messenger went 0-3 with a 7.52 ERA in 13 outings, including two starts, for Gulf Coast League Marlins. He also spent the with the GCL Marlins going 2-2 with a 4.83 ERA in 12 starts.
Messenger went 2-1 with a 3.93 ERA in 14 relief outings for the Class-A Kane County Cougars
Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Kansas City Royals, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home games are played in Geneva, Illinois, about 35 miles west of Chicago....
of the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
. He also was 7-4 with a 4.08 ERA in 18 starts for the Class-A Advanced Brevard County Manatees
Brevard County Manatees
The Brevard County Manatees are a minor league baseball team of the Florida State League, and are the A-Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers...
of the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
.
In Messenger set a career high in wins with a record of 11-8 while posting a 4.37 ERA in 28 outings, including 27 starts, for the Class-A Advanced Jupiter Hammerheads
Jupiter Hammerheads
The Jupiter Hammerheads are a minor league baseball team based in Jupiter, Florida, named for the hammerhead shark.The team, which plays in the Florida State League, is the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Miami Marlins major-league club....
of the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
.
He was promoted to the Double-A Carolina Mudcats
Carolina Mudcats
The Carolina Mudcats are a minor league baseball team based in the eastern suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the Carolina League, are the Single-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians major-league club beginning in 2012.-History:...
in . Messenger went 5-7 with a 5.46 ERA in 29 outings, including 23 starts. In he stayed with the Mudcats going 6-3 with a 2.58 ERA and 21 saves in 58 relief outings.
Messenger went 4-2 with a 3.88 ERA in 39 relief outings for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
in . He posted a 5.29 ERA in 29 relief outings for Marlins in his first stint on the Major Leagues.
In Messenger went 2-7 with a 5.67 ERA in 59 relief outings for Marlins. He gave up three runs on one hit in four relief appearances for Triple-A Albuquerque. He tossed a scoreless inning for Class-A Advanced Jupiter.
Messenger went 1-1 with a 2.66 ERA in 23 relief appearances for Marlins in .
San Francisco Giants
On May 31, , Messenger was traded to the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
for Armando Benítez
Armando Benítez
Armando Germán Benítez is a relief pitcher who is currently a free agent.-Baltimore Orioles:...
. He did not allow an earned run in his first seven relief outings for Giants, spanning 8 frames and finished the season with the Giants 1-3 with one save in 37 outings.
On March 5, , he was optioned down to Triple-A Fresno
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
. He was released on March 12, but signed a new minor league deal with the Giants a few days later.
Seattle Mariners
After being released by the Giants, Messenger signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners on July 11, , and was assigned to the Triple-A Tacoma RainiersTacoma Rainiers
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball team that plays in the Pacific Coast League , and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners...
going 6-0 with one save and a 2.38 ERA in 12 outings with Tacoma. He was called up on August 25 where in 13 games he had a 3.55 ERA.
Messenger was released by the Mariners on January 28, . He re-signed with the team to a minor league deal two days later. On October 29, he was outrighted off the 40-man roster. On November 9, 2009 he was granted free agency.