41-545: Mark David Melancon ( / m ə ˈ l æ n s ə n / mə- LAN -sən ; born March 28, 1985) is an American former professional baseball pitcher . He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees , Houston Astros , Boston Red Sox , Pittsburgh Pirates , Washington Nationals , San Francisco Giants , Atlanta Braves , San Diego Padres , and Arizona Diamondbacks . Melancon
82-755: A 2.78 ERA over 23 games. On February 18, 2021, Melancon signed a one-year contract worth $ 2 million with the San Diego Padres . He was named the Reliever of the Month in the National League for April 2021. He finished the 2021 season with an MLB-leading 39 saves in 45 opportunities. On December 1, 2021, Melancon signed a two-year $ 14 million contract with a 2024 mutual option with the Arizona Diamondbacks . He made 62 appearances for
123-642: A 3.86 ERA during his time in the Majors in 2009. Although he was not on the 25-man active roster for the postseason, he got his first World Series ring as the Yankees won the World Series over the Phillies. Melancon started the 2010 season in the minors and made 2 appearances in the Majors accumulating an ERA of 9.00 in 2 relief appearances with the Yankees. Melancon was traded along with Jimmy Paredes to
164-573: A 7.2 K/9, his lowest since first appearing in the majors for the Yankees in 2009. In 2019 for the Giants, Melancon went 4–2 with one save and a 3.50 ERA over 43 appearances. On July 31, 2019, the Giants traded Melancon to the Atlanta Braves for Tristan Beck and Dan Winkler . In 2019 for the Braves, he was 1–0 with 11 saves and a 3.86 ERA over 23 games. In 2020, he was 2–1 with 11 saves and
205-509: A National on August 7 against the San Francisco Giants . On December 5, 2016, the San Francisco Giants and Melancon agreed to a four-year, $ 62 million contract. Melancon began his tenure with the Giants by blowing a save opportunity on Opening Day 2017 after Madison Bumgarner had pitched well and hit two home runs in the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks . Melancon pitched the ninth inning and allowed two runs with
246-611: A black player's head. Now, however, baseball is fully integrated, and there is little to no racial tension between teammates. Between 1943 and 1954, the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League fielded teams in several Midwestern towns. Jimmy Paredes Jimmy Santiago Paredes Terrero (born November 25, 1988), is a Dominican professional baseball utility player for the Staten Island FerryHawks of
287-481: A free agent. On October 8, 2024, Melancon was announced as the new pitching development coordinator for San Diego State . Melancon and his wife, Mary Catherine, had three children as of 2016. Melancon owns a turf installation company based in Sarasota, Florida . Professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for
328-667: A one-year, $ 800,000 contract with the Doosan Bears on December 1, 2017. He was released on June 1, 2018. On July 23, 2018, Paredes signed with the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball . On March 19, 2019, Paredes was traded to the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball . He re-signed with the club for the 2020 season, which
369-703: A specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada consists of the National League (founded in 1876) and the American League (founded in 1901). Historically, teams in one league never played teams in the other until the World Series , in which the champions of the two leagues played against each other. This changed in 1997 with
410-503: The 2013 National League Division Series , Melancon got his first career postseason win, but the Pirates lost the series to the St. Louis Cardinals in five games. Melancon avoided arbitration with the Pirates by signing a one-year contract worth $ 2.95 million for the 2014 season. He started the 2014 season as the Pirates setup reliever. He served as a closer for two weeks while Grilli was on
451-682: The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball . He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros , Kansas City Royals , Baltimore Orioles , Toronto Blue Jays , and Philadelphia Phillies , in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Chiba Lotte Marines , and in the KBO League for the Doosan Bears . On July 2, 2006, Paredes was signed as an amateur free agent by
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#1732780867011492-724: The Charleston RiverDogs of the Single–A South Atlantic League (SAL). On July 31, 2010, at the trade deadline , the Yankees traded Paredes with Mark Melancon to the Houston Astros in exchange for Lance Berkman . The Astros subsequently assigned Paredes to the Single–A Lexington Legends of the SAL. On November 19, 2010, the Astros added Paredes to their 40-man roster to protect him from
533-637: The Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League 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
574-700: The Commissioner of Baseball . Operating outside the Minor League Baseball organization are many independent minor leagues such as the Atlantic League , American Association , Frontier League , and the feeder league to these the Empire Professional Baseball League . Japan has had professional baseball since the 1930s. Nippon Professional Baseball consists of two leagues, the Central League and
615-416: The Houston Astros for Lance Berkman on July 31, 2010. For the rest of 2010 with the Astros, Melancon went 2–0 with a 3.12 ERA in 20 relief appearances. Overall in 2010 combined with two teams, Melancon made 22 total appearances going 2–0 with a 4.22 ERA. In 2011, Melancon experienced more playing time in the Majors as he appeared in 71 games with an 8–4 record, 20 saves, and a 2.78 ERA. On April 14 against
656-747: The New York Yankees . He made his professional debut in 2007 with the Dominican Summer Yankees 1 . He came to America for the 2008 season and played with the Gulf Coast League Yankees , hitting .280/.328/.379 with one home run, 15 RBI, and six stolen bases across 47 games. He played 2009 with the Staten Island Yankees of the Low–A New York–Penn League , where he was an All-Star, batting .302 with 23 steals in 54 games. He started 2010 with
697-672: The Pacific League , each with six teams. South Korea has had professional baseball since 1982. There are 10 teams in KBO League . Taiwan has had professional baseball since the 1990s. The Chinese Professional Baseball League absorbed Taiwan Major League in 2003. There are currently 6 teams in the CPBL. Other Asian leagues include three now defunct leagues, the China National Baseball League , Israel Baseball League , and Baseball Philippines . During
738-469: The Pittsburgh Pirates for Brock Holt and Joel Hanrahan . Melancon began the 2013 season as a setup reliever, with Jason Grilli as the closer. He was selected as an All Star as a setup man in 2013, the first selection of his career. After Grilli went on the disabled list, Melancon was named the acting closer for the Pirates. Melancon had a 1.39 ERA, a 3–2 record, and 16 saves. In Game 3 of
779-612: The Rule 5 draft . He signed a one-year, $ 414,000 deal before the season started. He started the 2011 season with the Corpus Christi Hooks of the Double–A Texas League , where he was an All-Star, splitting time at second and third base , batting .271 with 29 steals and 41 runs batted in (RBIs). On August 1, 2011, the Astros promoted Paredes to the major leagues for the first time to play third base, replacing
820-509: The San Diego Padres , he walked in his only plate appearance of the season (and of his career to date). Thus through the 2020 season he has a perfect 1.000 on-base percentage for his career. On December 14, 2011, Melancon was traded to the Boston Red Sox for infielder Jed Lowrie and starter Kyle Weiland . After only his first four appearances in 2012, where his ERA was 49.50, Melancon was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket on April 18,
861-428: The United States national baseball team that summer. In his sophomore year he worked as a closing pitcher, achieving 11 saves (a single-season record) in 34 appearances. He played a shortened season in 2006 due to a strained elbow ligament , and had a college career total of 18 saves. The New York Yankees selected Melancon in the ninth round of the 2006 MLB draft . Melancon pitched for the Staten Island Yankees of
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#1732780867011902-627: The West Virginia Power of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball . He became a free agent following the season. On February 7, 2022, Paredes signed with the Wild Health Genomes of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball . Paredes appeared in 106 games for the Genomes, hitting .283/.345/.493 with 18 home runs and 68 RBI. He became a free agent following the season. On February 27, 2023, Paredes signed with
943-754: The 2013 season, the Astros removed Paredes from their 40-man roster, placing him on waivers . He was claimed by the Miami Marlins on November 4, 2013. He was designated for assignment on February 7, 2014. On February 15, Paredes was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles . On February 17, he was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Royals . On May 28, while playing for the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers , Paredes had an 8-RBI game in which he hit for
984-500: The Diamondbacks in 2022, logging a 3–10 record and 4.66 ERA with 35 strikeouts and 18 saves in 56.0 innings pitched. Melancon received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right shoulder after suffering a strain in spring training, and was later placed on the 60-day injured list on April 9, 2023, as the injury cost him the entire 2023 season. The Diamondbacks declined their side of the mutual option on November 5, making Melancon
1025-469: The United States and Canada. The minor leagues are divided into classes AAA, AA, High-A, A, and Rookie. These minor-league divisions are affiliated with major league teams, and serve to develop young players and rehabilitate injured major-leaguers. "Affiliated baseball" (archaically, " organized baseball ") is often applied as an umbrella term for all leagues — major and minor — under the authority of
1066-556: The advent of interleague play . The Philadelphia Phillies , founded in 1883, are the oldest continuous same-name, same-city franchise in both Major League Baseball and all of American professional sports. In addition to the major leagues, many North American cities and towns feature minor league teams. An organization officially styled Minor League Baseball , formerly the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, oversees nearly all minor league baseball in
1107-423: The cycle. In 65 games for Omaha, he hit .305/.332/.457 with five home runs, 36 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. The Royals designated Paredes for assignment on July 16, after trading for Jason Frasor . Paredes was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles on July 24, 2014. On September 12, Paredes hit his first career walk off hit, a double off of New York Yankees pitcher Adam Warren in a 2–1 victory. Paredes
1148-540: The day after he gave up six runs, including three home runs, without recording an out against the Texas Rangers . Melancon was recalled June 10 after an injury to Rich Hill . During his time in the Majors with the Red Sox in 2012, Melancon finished the season 0–2 and a 6.20 ERA and 1 save in 41 appearances. On December 26, 2012, the Red Sox traded Melancon, Stolmy Pimentel , Jerry Sands and Iván DeJesús Jr. to
1189-522: The disabled list. However, Melancon was named the Pirates new permanent closer after Grilli was traded to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in June 2014. Melancon finished his 2014 campaign posting a 3–5 record with a 1.90 ERA and converting 33 saves in 37 opportunities. The Pirates agreed to pay Melancon $ 5.4 million for the 2015 season. Starting the 2015 season as the Pirates' closer, Melancon
1230-412: The final months of the season, and he hit .275/.310/.416, with ten home runs, 42 RBI, 17 doubles, 2 triples, 46 runs scored, and he collected exactly 100 hits. Paredes primarily played DH during the 2015 campaign, playing 81 games at the position, 11 as a pinch-hitter, eight as a third baseman, six at second base, two in right field, and one game as a pinch-runner and left fielder. On May 16, 2016, Paredes
1271-594: The late 19th and early 20th centuries, players of black African descent were barred from playing the major leagues , though several did manage to play by claiming to be Cubans or Native Americans . As a result, a number of parallel Negro leagues were formed. However, after Jackie Robinson began playing with the major-league Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, the Negro leagues gradually faded. The process of integration did not go entirely smoothly; there were some ugly incidents, including pitchers who would try to throw directly at
Mark Melancon - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-452: The season, Baseball America rated him the organization's ninth best prospect. Melancon was called up to MLB for the first time on April 25, 2009. He made his MLB debut as a relief pitcher against the Boston Red Sox on April 26, pitching two scoreless innings. He was then optioned back to Triple-A team Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees on May 8, and recalled back to the Majors on July 9. Melancon played in 13 games with an 0–1 record and
1353-501: The season. Melancon and the Pirates agreed to a $ 9.65 million salary for the 2016 season, his final year of arbitration eligibility. Melancon was named to the National League's 2016 All-Star roster, his second straight All-Star appearance and his third overall. On July 30, 2016, the Pirates traded Melancon to the Washington Nationals for Felipe Vázquez (formerly Rivero) and Taylor Hearn . He secured his first save as
1394-529: The second run he allowed being a walk off single from Chris Owings . The Giants lost 5–6. After being placed on the DL, Melancon lost the closer position to newly acquired Sam Dyson . On September 4, 2017, it was announced Melancon would undergo surgery to alleviate chronic exertional compartment syndrome in his right forearm . Melancon returned in the 2018 season and went 1–4 with a 3.23 ERA over 41 appearances. He performed well after his surgery but produced just
1435-455: The struggling Chris Johnson . In his first major league at bat, Paredes hit a two-run triple, becoming the first player in franchise history to triple in his first major league plate appearance. In 2012, he played in 24 games for the Astros, and batted .189/.244/.230 with three RBI and two stolen bases. The following season, Paredes made 48 appearances for Houston, hitting .192/.231/.248 with one home run, 10 RBI, and four stolen bases. After
1476-790: Was also named to several All-State teams in these three sports and helped win a Baseball State Championship in 2003. He was also a member of the National Honor Society . Melancon was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 30th round of the 2003 MLB draft . He declined the offer so that he could attend the University of Arizona . As a member of the Arizona Wildcats baseball team, Melancon appeared in 29 games (a single-season freshman record) and played in 5 post-season games. He pitched in 10 games for
1517-659: Was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays . He was designated for assignment on May 30. He played in 7 games for the Blue Jays, and hit .267 with one home run and two RBI. On June 1, 2016, Paredes was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for cash considerations or a player to be named later. On January 5, 2017, Paredes signed a one-year, $ 1.2 million contract with the Chiba Lotte Marines of Nippon Professional Baseball . Paredes signed
1558-641: Was drafted by the New York Yankees in the ninth round of the 2006 MLB draft . He made his MLB debut in 2009. He led the National League in saves in 2015, and won the Trevor Hoffman Award that year. Melancon was an MLB All-Star in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2021. Melancon was born in Wheat Ridge, Colorado , and attended Golden High School , where he lettered all four years in baseball, basketball and three times in football . He
1599-752: Was later canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic . On March 5, 2021, Paredes signed with the West Virginia Power of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball . In 32 games for the Power, Paredes slashed .317/.433/.529 with 5 home runs and 20 RBI before being released on July 9. On July 18, 2021, Paredes signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League . In 12 games, he slashed .340/.389/.520 with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs before being released on August 11, 2021. On August 19, 2021, Paredes re-signed with
1640-476: Was named an All Star for the second time in his career, and his first as a closer. He recorded his 100th career save against the Kansas City Royals and surpassed Mike Williams to become the all-time Pirates single-season saves leader, recording his 47th of the season on September 19. He finished the season with a major league-leading 51 saves and won the 2015 National League Reliever of the Year Award after
1681-557: Was not seen as a top contender for the Orioles' 25-man roster going into the 2015 season. However, Paredes had an extremely impressive spring training, batting .364/.368/.636 with seven doubles, a triple, two homers and 12 RBI. After a short stint on the disabled list to start the season, Paredes was activated to the Orioles' roster on April 18, 2015. Through July 20, 2015, Paredes hit .294/.326/.463, with ten home runs and 39 RBI. Despite his hot start, Paredes cooled off dramatically during