Gene Harris (baseball) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gene Harris |
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Harris in 1988
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| Relief pitcher | |||
| Born: December 5, 1964 Sebring, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 5, 1989, for the Montreal Expos | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| June 24, 1995, for the Baltimore Orioles | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 12–18 | ||
| Earned run average | 4.71 | ||
| Strikeouts | 170 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Tyrone Eugene Harris (born December 5, 1964) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for parts of seven seasons. His career spanned from 1989 to 1995.
Contents
Gene Harris: A Baseball Journey
Growing Up and College Sports
Gene Harris graduated from Okeechobee High School in 1982. He went to Tulane University, where he was a talented athlete. At Tulane, he played both football and baseball. He received a scholarship to play football for the Tulane Green Wave. He also hoped to play for the baseball team. However, due to changes in the coaching staff, he was only able to play one season of college baseball.
Starting His Pro Career
In 1986, the Montreal Expos picked Gene Harris in the fifth round of the baseball draft. This meant they had the chance to sign him to play professionally. He made it to the major leagues with the Expos in 1989. But in May of that year, he was sent to a minor league team.
Later that same month, he was part of a big trade. The Expos traded Harris, along with future star pitcher Randy Johnson and Brian Holman, to the Seattle Mariners. In return, the Expos got Mark Langston. Langston left the Expos after just one season.
Time with the Seattle Mariners
During his time with the Seattle Mariners, Gene Harris often moved between the main team and their Triple-A minor league team. In May 1992, he left the Mariners for a short time. His agent told the team that Harris wanted to try playing in the National Football League. But Harris returned to baseball after only two weeks. Soon after, he was traded to the San Diego Padres.
Best Season with the Padres
Gene Harris had his best year in 1993 while playing for the San Diego Padres. That season, he recorded 23 saves. A "save" is when a relief pitcher finishes a close game and helps their team win.
Moving Teams and Injuries
In 1994, Harris faced some challenges. He was injured and not pitching as well. He lost his role as the team's "closer" to Trevor Hoffman in April. A closer is usually the best relief pitcher who finishes games. In May, Harris was traded to the Detroit Tigers. He pitched only a short time for them.
Before the 1995 season, Harris signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. But in June, he was traded again, this time to the Baltimore Orioles. He only played in three games for Baltimore. Then, he hurt his elbow and needed surgery in August. This injury marked the end of his time in Major League Baseball.
Final Years in Baseball
After his major league career, Gene Harris played in the minor leagues for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in 1996. He took a break from baseball in 1997. He made a brief return in 1998, playing for the Norfolk Tides. This team was a Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets. That was his last time playing professional baseball.
