Jonathan Hurst facts for kids

Jonathan Hurst, born on October 20, 1966, in New York City, is a former professional baseball player. He was a pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Montreal Expos and New York Mets. After his playing days, he became a pitching coach for the New York Mets' younger teams.

Jonathan Hurst's Baseball Journey

Starting Out in Baseball

Jonathan Hurst went to high school and college in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He was chosen by major league teams three times in the baseball draft. In 1986, the Seattle Mariners picked him, but he decided not to sign. Later that year, the Cincinnati Reds also drafted him, and again, he didn't sign.

Finally, in 1987, the Texas Rangers drafted him. This time, he signed his first professional contract. In 1991, he was traded from the Rangers to the Montreal Expos. This trade also included another player and was for a player named Oil Can Boyd.

Playing in Major League Baseball

Jonathan Hurst made his first big league appearance on June 9, 1992. He was 25 years old and played for the Montreal Expos. In his first season, he started three games. He won one game and lost one, with an ERA of 5.51. ERA measures how many earned runs a pitcher gives up per nine innings.

He stayed with the Expos' organization until 1993. Then, the Los Angeles Dodgers claimed him. After that season, he signed with the New York Mets.

In 1994, he played in seven games for the Mets. He didn't win any games and lost one. His ERA was 12.60. He played his last major league game on April 21, 1994. Overall, in MLB, he had one win and two losses. His total ERA was 8.20 in 10 games.

Time in the Minor Leagues

Before and between his major league appearances, Hurst played in the minor leagues. He played from 1987 to 1994, and again in 1998. In the minor leagues, he had a record of 51 wins and 38 losses. His ERA was 3.63 over 206 games.

He played for teams in the Rangers, Expos, Dodgers, and Mets organizations. He showed great skill at times in the minor leagues. For example, in his first professional season, he had a 1.88 ERA. He also struck out 59 batters in just 57 innings. In 1991, he had an impressive record of 15 wins and only 3 losses. His ERA was 2.27 that year.

Before the 1992 season, Baseball America magazine listed him as one of the top 100 young players.

Playing Baseball Overseas

Jonathan Hurst also played baseball in other countries. In 2001, he played for the Yakult Swallows in Japan. He won one game and lost one, with an ERA of 5.97. He pitched in 22 games for them.

He also played for the Brother Elephants in Taiwan. This team is part of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. He also spent some time playing in the Mexican League.

After Playing: Coaching Career

Since 2006, Jonathan Hurst has been a pitching coach. A pitching coach helps baseball pitchers improve their skills. He has worked for several minor league teams connected to the New York Mets.

In 2006, he coached for the GCL Mets. He then coached for the Savannah Sand Gnats in 2007 and 2008. From 2009 to 2015, he coached the Kingsport Mets. In 2016, he started coaching for the Columbia Fireflies. This team is a Single-A affiliate of the Mets in South Carolina.