Don Kainer

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Don Kainer
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 6, 1980, for the Texas Rangers
Last MLB appearance
October 5, 1980, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–0
Earned run average1.83
Strikeouts10
Teams

Donald Wayne Kainer (born September 3, 1955) is an American former

pitched for the Texas Rangers
in 1980.

Amateur career

Kainer was drafted out of Milby High School in Houston by the Houston Astros but chose instead to accept a full scholarship to play college baseball for the Texas Longhorns. He was the team's fourth starting pitcher as a freshman and helped them win the 1975 NCAA Division I baseball tournament. He was selected after his junior year[1] in the 1977 Major League Baseball draft and assigned to the Tulsa Drillers to start his professional career.[2]

Professional career

On July 1, 1977, in Kainer's first professional game, he threw a

complete game shutout for the Drillers against the Shreveport Captains.[3]

Kainer was promoted to the Major Leagues along with pitchers Brian Allard and Jerry Don Gleaton when rosters expanded in September 1980.[4] He made his Major League debut on September 6, 1980, pitching an inning in relief of Sparky Lyle at Milwaukee County Stadium.[5][6] His next three appearances would be as a starting pitcher, allowing only one run in each outing; they would also be the final games of his Major League career.[5]

Despite his strong performance in the 1980 season, Kainer felt that he was not given a fair chance to make the Ranger's opening roster the following season. Kainer felt that manager

batting practice pitcher."[8] His 29 home runs allowed in 1981 were more than all but one other pitcher in Minor League Baseball and ten more than any other pitcher in the American Association.[9] He admitted to reporters that his experience in Wichita damaged his confidence.[10]

Kainer logged just one pitching appearance in Triple-A during the 1982 season; he allowed five

Cincinnati Enquirer article later named Kainer as anecdotal evidence of how Lawrence–Dumont Stadium's dimensions could derail a promising young pitcher's career.[11]

Despite only playing in the Rangers'

farm system, Kainer played his home games in four different Triple-A cities between 1979–1982.[2]

Personal life

Kainer married Pamela Kay Yeager, then a student at

Florida Marlins' farm system.[13][14]

His brother, Ron, played college baseball at

Sam Houston State and his nephew, Carson, played for the 2005 champion Texas Longhorns and in the Cincinnati Reds' farm system.[1][13][15]

References

  1. ^ a b Jones, Mike (13 July 2005). "Uncle, nephew help earn NCAA titles at UT 30 years apart". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d "Don Kainer Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  3. The Shreveport Journal
    . p. 10A. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  4. ^ Reeves, Jim (29 August 1980). "Rangers to promote six". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 2E. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Don Kainer 1980 Pitching Game Logs". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Texas Rangers at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score, September 6, 1980". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  7. ^ Sullivan, Bill (23 March 1981). "Ex-Longhorn Kainer just wants a shot". Austin American-Statesman. p. D1. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  8. Wichita Eagle-Beacon
    . p. 4C. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  9. ^ "1981 Register Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  10. ^
    Wichita Eagle-Beacon
    . p. 13A. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  11. ^ Wheeler, Lonnie (9 May 1984). "Reds Already Uneasy With Wichita Affiliate". The Cincinnati Enquirer. p. C-7. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  12. ^ "Marriage of Yeager / Kainer". Austin American-Statesman. 31 December 1978. p. C6. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  13. ^ a b Sattell, Glenn (6 July 2009). "Baseball: Conroe grad earns deal with Marlins". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  14. ^ "Andy Kainer Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  15. ^ "Carson Kainer Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 7 September 2022.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Don_Kainer&oldid=1215236754"