Quinton McCracken facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Quinton McCracken |
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McCracken with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2005
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: August 16, 1970 Southport, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 17, 1995, for the Colorado Rockies | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| July 5, 2006, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .274 | ||
| Home runs | 21 | ||
| Runs batted in | 244 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Quinton Antoine McCracken, born on August 16, 1970, is a former professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 12 seasons. He was also the very first center fielder and batter for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays team on March 31, 1998.
Early Life and Sports
Quinton McCracken grew up in Southport, North Carolina. He went to South Brunswick High School. He was a talented athlete in many sports.
High School Sports Star
In high school, Quinton was a star in several sports. He played running back and free safety in football. He was also the main point guard for the basketball team. On top of that, he was a great baseball player and a top athlete in track.
Baseball Championship
In 1988, during his senior year, Quinton led his high school baseball team to an amazing season. They had a perfect record of 29 wins and 0 losses. His team also won the state championship that year. USA Today magazine even ranked his team as the fifth-best in the entire nation.
Professional Baseball Career
After finishing college at Duke University, Quinton McCracken began his professional baseball journey. He was chosen by the Colorado Rockies in their first-ever draft in 1992.
Starting in the Major Leagues
Quinton made his big league debut on September 17, 1995. He played for the Colorado Rockies. In 1996, he mostly played center field and had a good batting average of .290. The next year, in 1997, he stole a career-high 28 bases. His batting average also went up to .292.
Time with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
On November 18, 1997, Quinton was picked by the new expansion team, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was their second pick in the draft. He became their starting center fielder for the 1998 season.
That year, Quinton played in 155 games, which was the most in his career. He had his best season ever, hitting .292 with 7 home runs and 59 RBI. He was even named the Devil Rays' first-ever Most Valuable Player.
Injuries and Other Teams
In 1999, Quinton played only 40 games because he tore a ligament in his knee. He spent most of 2000 playing in the minor leagues for the Triple-A Durham team. After being released by the Devil Rays, he signed with the Minnesota Twins in 2001. He spent most of that year playing for their Triple-A team, the Edmonton, where he batted .338.
Playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks
In 2002, Quinton signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played the whole season with the main team and hit .309. The Diamondbacks won their division that year. In the playoffs, Quinton batted well, but his team was defeated. In 2003, his batting average dropped to .227.
He was traded to the Seattle Mariners in 2003. However, he did not play much there and was released. Just two days later, he re-signed with the Diamondbacks and played well in 55 games. He played for Arizona again in 2005, but struggled with his batting average.
Final Seasons and Retirement
In 2006, Quinton signed with the Cincinnati Reds, but he was released in July. He then played for the Triple-A team of the Minnesota Twins. After that, he played one season in an independent league for the Bridgeport Bluefish. Quinton McCracken played his last professional games in the Dominican Winter Baseball League in late 2007 before retiring from playing.
After Playing Baseball
After his playing career, Quinton McCracken continued to work in baseball. He joined the front office of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010. Later, he moved to the Houston Astros in 2012.
Coaching Roles
In 2018, Quinton joined the Miami Marlins staff. He worked as a coordinator for outfielders and baserunning. In January 2019, he returned to the city where he went to college. He became a third-base coach for the Durham Bulls.
Managing a Team
On March 19, 2024, Quinton McCracken was named the manager of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. This team plays in the MLB Draft League. He returned to coach the Scrappers for the 2025 season.
