Pep Harris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pep Harris |
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| Pitcher | |||
| Born: September 23, 1972 Lancaster, South Carolina, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| August 14, 1996, for the California Angels | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 27, 1998, for the Anaheim Angels | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Win–loss record | 10–5 | ||
| Earned run average | 3.92 | ||
| Strikeouts | 110 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Hernando Petrocelli "Pep" Harris was born on September 23, 1972. He is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played for the California/Anaheim Angels in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1996 to 1998.
Contents
Pep Harris's Baseball Journey
Starting His Career
In 1991, Pep Harris finished Lancaster High School in Lancaster, South Carolina. The Cleveland Indians baseball team chose him in the seventh round of the baseball draft.
In 1995, Harris played in a spring training game during a baseball strike. This meant he was a "replacement player." On February 15, 1996, the Indians traded Harris to the California Angels. Another pitcher, Jason Grimsley, also went to the Angels in this trade.
Playing for the Angels
On August 14, 1996, Pep Harris joined the Angels' main team. He made his first big league game appearance that night. He pitched against the Cleveland Indians. Harris pitched for 2 and 1/3 innings without giving up any runs. He also struck out three batters. The Angels won the game 8-7.
Harris played for the Angels for three seasons, from 1996 to 1998. He mostly pitched as a relief pitcher. This means he came into the game after the starting pitcher. During his time with the Angels, he won 10 games and lost 5. He played in 121 games. His ERA was 3.92 over 172 innings pitched.
Because he played during the 1994–95 baseball strike, Harris was not allowed to join the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). This is the union for baseball players. His teammate, Troy Percival, tried to convince the union to let Harris join, but it did not work.
Dealing with Injuries
After the 1998 season, the Angels asked Harris to play in Venezuela. While playing there, he hurt a tendon in his right elbow. This injury needed surgery. Because of the surgery, he could not play baseball at all in 1999.
In 2000, Harris tried to make a comeback with the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, he had another problem with his elbow, called a bone spur. This also needed surgery.
Attempting a Comeback
In 2002, Pep Harris tried to play baseball again. He joined the Amarillo Dillas team. This team was part of an independent league. He was both a pitcher and a pitching coach for the team. That season, Harris was chosen for the league's All-Star team. Three of his teammates were also selected.
Pep Harris's Life Outside Baseball
His Nickname
Pep Harris's full middle name is Petrocelli. His family wanted a shorter name for him. They thought "Pet" didn't sound right, so they changed it to "Pep."
Family Life
As of 2002, Pep Harris was married and had two children. His cousin, Danny Clyburn, was also a professional baseball player. Danny played for the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
