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 August 30, 1977) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for many teams. These include the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs. He was chosen as an All-Star in 2010.
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High School Baseball Career
Marlon Byrd graduated from Sprayberry High School in Marietta, Georgia, in 1995. He was an amazing athlete. He earned All-State honors in both baseball and football. He helped his baseball team reach the state championship game in 1993. Then, in 1995, his team won the state championship!
College Baseball Journey
Byrd started his college baseball career at Georgia Tech. In 1996, he faced a big challenge. Doctors found a serious infection in his lower leg muscle. They had to perform surgery to remove the muscle.
Marlon worked hard to recover for almost two years. He gained some weight during this time. But he got back in shape with a special diet and exercise. He then played his final college baseball season in 1999 at Georgia Perimeter College.
Major League Baseball Career
Playing for the Philadelphia Phillies
Marlon Byrd reached the major leagues in 2003. He had a fantastic rookie season. He hit for a .303 average. He also scored 86 runs and hit seven home runs. He even stole 11 bases in 135 games. He finished fourth in the Rookie of the Year voting.
During his first year, a fan was hurt by a ball Byrd threw into the stands. This ball was meant as a souvenir. A special rule in baseball, called the "Baseball Rule," often protects teams. This rule says fans accept some risk when they attend games. A court decided that this rule applied to Byrd's throw. So, the team and Byrd were not held responsible for the injury.
Time with the Washington Nationals
In 2005, Byrd was traded to the Washington Nationals. He played for them for a couple of seasons. In 2006, he was sent to their Triple-A team. This meant he played for a minor league team instead of the main Nationals team.
Joining the Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers signed Byrd in 2006. He worked hard to earn a spot on their main team. He started playing well in 2007 after some other players got hurt. He hit over .400 in June, which is excellent!
On August 4, 2008, he hit a special home run. It was a grand slam, meaning he hit it with the bases loaded. This helped the Rangers win a game against the Yankees 9–5. In 2009, Byrd had one of his best years. He hit 20 home runs and had 89 RBIs. After this season, he became a free agent.
Playing for the Chicago Cubs
On December 31, 2009, 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! He played well in the game, scoring a run and making a great play in the outfield.
On May 21, 2011, Byrd was hit near his left eye by a pitch. He had to leave the game and go to the hospital. He was put on the disabled list to recover. When he returned, he wore a special protective mask on his helmet. This helped protect his face while he played. After the 2011 season, Byrd started practicing Muay Thai. He also changed his diet and lost 40 pounds.
Later Career Teams
In 2012, Byrd was traded to the Boston Red Sox. He played for them for a short time. Later that year, he was suspended from playing for 50 games. This was because he broke a league rule about certain substances.
In 2013, Byrd signed with the New York Mets. He hit a game-winning single for them on April 7. He even joked with a teammate that he would hit two home runs in a game, and he did! He played very well for the Mets, hitting 21 home runs. He was then 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 a big playoff game, helping the Pirates win.
On November 12, 2013, Byrd returned to the Philadelphia Phillies. He signed a two-year contract with them. In 2014, he hit 25 home runs and had 85 RBIs. On December 31, 2014, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds.
In May 2015, Byrd was hitting very well for the Reds. He hit 19 home runs before being traded again. On August 20, 2015, he joined the San Francisco Giants. He hit a home run in his very first game with the Giants! He also hit a record-breaking grand slam for the Giants on August 28.
After the 2015 season, Byrd became a free agent. He signed with the Cleveland Indians in March 2016. He played 34 games for them, hitting 5 home runs. However, on June 1, 2016, he was suspended from playing for 162 games. This was his second suspension for breaking league rules about certain substances. After this, he told his teammates that his baseball career was over.
See also
- List of Major League Baseball players suspended for performance-enhancing drugs
