Marlon Byrd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marlon Byrd |
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Byrd with the Mets in 2013
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: August 30, 1977 Boynton Beach, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 8, 2002, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| May 31, 2016, for the Cleveland Indians | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .275 | ||
| Home runs | 159 | ||
| Runs batted in | 710 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Marlon Jerrard Byrd, born on August 30, 1977, is a former American professional baseball player. He was an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Byrd played for many teams, including the Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Nationals, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, Cincinnati Reds, and Cleveland Indians. He was chosen as an All-Star in 2010 while playing for the Cubs.
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Early Life and School Baseball
Marlon Byrd graduated from Sprayberry High School in Marietta, Georgia, in 1995. He was a talented athlete, earning All-State honors in both baseball and football. He helped his high school baseball team reach the state championship game in 1993. Two years later, in 1995, he was part of the team that won the state championship.
College Baseball Journey
Byrd started his college baseball career at Georgia Tech. In 1996, during his second year, he faced a serious health challenge. Doctors found an infection in a large muscle in his lower leg. After thinking about a major surgery, they decided to remove the muscle.
Between late 1996 and early 1997, Byrd had three operations. He spent almost two years recovering from this injury. During this time, his weight increased. He then worked hard to lose the weight by following a special diet. In 1999, he played his final season of college baseball at Georgia Perimeter College.
Marlon Byrd's MLB Career
Starting with the Phillies
Marlon Byrd made it to the major leagues in 2003 with the Philadelphia Phillies. He had a great first year, finishing fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting. He hit for a batting average of .303. He also scored 86 runs, hit 28 doubles, four triples, seven home runs, and stole 11 stolen bases. This was all in 135 games.
During his rookie season, a fan was hit by a ball Byrd threw into the stands after an inning. The fan sued Byrd and the team. A court decided in favor of Byrd and the team. They said that even though throwing balls to fans isn't part of the game, it's common enough that a rule protecting teams from injuries by foul balls also applied here.
Playing for the Nationals
In 2005, Byrd was traded to the Washington Nationals in exchange for another player, Endy Chávez. After playing for the Nationals for a while, Byrd was sent to their Triple-A team, the New Orleans Zephyrs, in July 2006.
Time with the Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers signed Byrd as a free agent in December 2006. He hoped to become their starting center fielder. He started the 2007 season in Triple-A. However, after some outfielders got hurt, Byrd was called up to the Rangers in May 2007. He played very well, hitting over .400 in June. This strong performance helped him earn a regular spot in the lineup.
On August 4, 2008, Byrd hit a special grand slam home run that won the game for the Rangers against the Yankees. This type of home run, called a walk-off, ends the game immediately. In 2009, Byrd had one of his best seasons, hitting 20 home runs and bringing in 89 runs. After this season, he became a free agent again.
Joining the Chicago Cubs
On December 31, 2009, Marlon Byrd signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Cubs. His first season with the Cubs was his best. He was chosen for his first All-Star Game. During the game, he entered as a substitute and scored a run. He also made an amazing play in the ninth inning while playing right field.
On May 21, 2011, Byrd was hit near his left eye by a pitch during a game against the Boston Red Sox. He fell to the ground in pain and had to leave the game. He was taken to a hospital in Boston for examination. This was the fifth time in ten days that Byrd had been hit by a pitch. He was placed on the disabled list to recover. When he returned, he wore a special protective mask on his helmet to shield his face.
After the 2011 season, Byrd started practicing Muay Thai, a type of martial art. He also began a new diet and lost 40 pounds.
Later Career Teams
On April 21, 2012, Byrd was traded to the Boston Red Sox. He played for them for a short time before being released in June. Later that month, Byrd was suspended for 50 games due to a rule violation. He returned to play in August.
In 2013, Byrd signed a contract with the New York Mets. He hit a game-winning single on April 7 for the Mets. On June 5, he joked with a teammate that he would hit two home runs in a game, and he actually did! Byrd played 117 games for the Mets, hitting .285 with 21 home runs and 71 RBIs.
Later in August 2013, Byrd was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In his first game with the Pirates, he hit a 3-run home run. He also hit a home run in the 2013 National League Wild Card Game, helping the Pirates win.
In November 2013, Byrd returned to the Philadelphia Phillies with a new contract. In 2014, he played 154 games, hitting 25 home runs and 85 RBIs. However, he also struck out more often. On December 31, 2014, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds.
By May 2015, Byrd was playing very well for the Reds. He hit 19 home runs before being traded again. On August 20, 2015, Byrd was traded to the San Francisco Giants. He hit a home run in his very first game with the Giants. He also hit a grand slam on August 28, which was a record for the Giants that season.
After the 2015 season, Byrd signed with the Cleveland Indians in March 2016. He played 34 games for them, hitting .270 with 5 home runs and 19 RBIs. On June 1, 2016, Byrd was suspended for 162 games due to another rule violation. He told his teammates that day that his baseball career was over.
Images for kids
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Byrd with the Mets in 2013
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Byrd batting for the Texas Rangers in 2009
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Byrd during his time with the Boston Red Sox in 2012
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Byrd takes a practice swing in a 2014 game
