Gary Thurman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gary Thurman |
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: November 12, 1964 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 30, 1987, for the Kansas City Royals | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 26, 1997, for the New York Mets | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .243 | ||
| Home runs | 2 | ||
| Runs batted in | 64 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Gary Montez Thurman was born on November 12, 1964. He is a former professional baseball player from the United States. Gary played as an outfielder, which means he covered the large grassy area of the baseball field. He spent nine seasons playing in Major League Baseball (MLB), the highest level of professional baseball. He played for several well-known teams, including the Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers, Seattle Mariners, and New York Mets.
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Gary Thurman's Baseball Journey
Starting His Baseball Dream
Gary Thurman was a very promising player when he was young. In 1983, the Kansas City Royals picked him in the first round of the amateur draft. This was a big deal, as he was the 21st player chosen overall!
He started his professional career that same year. His first team was the rookie-league Gulf Coast Royals. This is where many young players begin their journey in professional baseball.
Playing in the Major Leagues
Gary Thurman made his big debut in Major League Baseball in 1987. He played for the Kansas City Royals from 1987 to 1992. After that, he joined the Detroit Tigers in 1993.
Later, he played for the Seattle Mariners in 1995. His last season in MLB was in 1997 with the New York Mets. Even after his time in MLB, he continued to play. His final professional season was in 1998 with the Vancouver Canadians. This team was a Triple-A affiliate for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Life After Playing
After his playing days were over, Gary Thurman stayed involved in baseball. He became a coach and helped other players. He had several important roles:
- In 2007, he was the first base coach for the Seattle Mariners for half of the season.
- From 2008 to 2011, he worked for the Cleveland Indians. He was in charge of teaching players how to run bases well.
- For the 2012 season, he was the first base coach for the Miami Marlins.
- In 2017, he worked for the Washington Nationals. He helped players with their outfield skills and baserunning.
Gary Thurman has dedicated many years to baseball, both as a player and as a coach.
