Kevin Belcher (baseball) facts for kids

Kevin Donnell Belcher is a former American professional baseball player. He was born on August 8, 1967. Kevin played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers. He was an outfielder, which means he played in the outfield. He played 16 games in 1990. Kevin was 6 feet tall and weighed 170 pounds. He threw and batted with his right hand.

Kevin Belcher's Baseball Journey

Starting in College Baseball

Kevin Belcher played college baseball at Navarro College in 1986. This is where many young players begin their path to professional sports. His skills caught the eye of professional teams.

Drafted by the Texas Rangers

In 1987, the Texas Rangers picked Kevin in the sixth round of the MLB draft. The draft is how professional teams choose new players. He then started his professional career.

Climbing Through the Minor Leagues

Kevin began playing in the Gulf Coast League. This is a league for new players, often called "rookie-level." He worked his way up through the Rangers' farm system. A farm system is like a training ground for young players.

In 1989, he became a mid-season all-star in the South Atlantic League. This was at the Class A level. By 1990, he reached Double-A, which is a higher level. Baseball America magazine even called him the Rangers' sixth-best young player that year.

Making it to Major League Baseball

In 1990, Kevin Belcher got a special chance. He was called up to the Texas Rangers team in September. This is often called a "September call-up." He made his MLB debut on September 3.

Kevin and his teammate, Bill Haselman, both played for the first time that day. They were pinch hitters in the eighth inning. A pinch hitter is a player who bats in place of another player. The Rangers won that game against the Cleveland Indians.

Kevin played in 16 games for the Rangers that season. He got two hits in 15 chances to bat. One of his hits was a double, which means he reached second base. These were his only games in Major League Baseball. However, he was the first player from Navarro College to reach MLB.

Continuing in Minor League Baseball

After his time in MLB, Kevin played professionally for three more seasons. He played at the Double-A and Triple-A levels. Triple-A is the highest level in the minor leagues.

His last season was in 1993. He played for the Birmingham Barons. This team was connected to the Chicago White Sox. In his seven seasons in Minor League Baseball, Kevin played 677 games. He had a .251 batting average. He also hit 71 home runs and had 298 runs batted in.

Playing During a Strike

In 1995, there was a big strike in Major League Baseball. During this time, Kevin Belcher played as a "replacement player." He played for the Houston Astros during spring training. Spring training is when teams practice before the season starts.