Brian Hunter (outfielder)
Brian Hunter | |
---|---|
Center fielder | |
Born: Portland, Oregon, U.S. | March 25, 1971|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
June 27, 1994, for the Houston Astros | |
Last MLB appearance | |
July 24, 2003, for the Houston Astros | |
MLB statistics | |
Batting average | .264 |
Home runs | 25 |
Runs batted in | 241 |
Stolen bases | 260 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Brian Lee Hunter (born March 25, 1971) is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball. At 6'4" and around 180 lbs, he was known for stealing over 70 bases in 1997.[1]
Minor league career
Hunter was born on March 25, 1971, in Portland, Oregon. He graduated from Fort Vancouver High School in Vancouver, Washington.[2]
Hunter, who threw and batted right-handed, was drafted by the
Major league career
Hunter made his major league debut for the Astros on June 27, 1994, against the Cincinnati Reds. In five at bats he contributed with one hit, and stole his first base in this game. He played with Houston through the 1996 season. On December 10 of that year he was traded along with Orlando Miller, Todd Jones and Doug Brocail, as well as cash, to the Detroit Tigers for Daryle Ward, C. J. Nitkowski, Trever Miller, José Lima and Brad Ausmus.
He played for Detroit from 1997 to 1999. In 1997 he led the Major Leagues with 74 stolen bases,
On April 28, during the 1999 season, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners for Andy Van Hekken and minor league outfielder Jerry Amador. He again led the AL in stolen bases, this time with 44, in 1999, although his .232 batting average was the worst among qualified batters.[2] On March 27, 2000, he was released by the Mariners, and four days later he signed with the Colorado Rockies,[4] who traded him to the Reds on August 6.[2] On November 27 he was released by the Reds, and on January 10, 2001, Hunter signed with the Philadelphia Phillies who in turn granted him free agency on November 5, which allowed him to play 2002-2003 and finish his career where it began, with the Astros, where he retired.
Because of his ability to steal bases, ESPN's Chris Berman nicknamed the outfielder, "Deer" Hunter.
Coaching career
Hunter was hired as hitting coach for the Everett AquaSox for the 2015 season.[5] After two years in that role, he was hired as a coach for the Tacoma Rainiers.[6]
See also
- List of Major League Baseball career stolen bases leaders
- List of Major League Baseball annual stolen base leaders
References
- ^ Sporting News article
- ^ a b c d "Spotlight: Hunter traded to Cincinnati". The Columbian. Associated Press. August 7, 2000.
- ^ Vondersmith, Jason (September 30, 1997). "Clark County: Home of champions". The Columbian.
- ^ "Brian Hunter lands in Rockies' outfield". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. March 31, 2000.
- ^ "AquaSox Announce New Hitting Coach". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. April 22, 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
- ^ Miles, Todd (December 19, 2016). "Listach to return as Tacoma Rainiers manager, team will have two new coaches". The Olympian. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet, or Venezuelan Winter League