Kevin Millar
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Baltimore Orioles — No. 15 | |
First Baseman | |
Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
Major League Baseball debut | |
---|---|
April 11, 1998 for the Florida Marlins | |
Selected MLB statistics (through 2006) |
|
Avg | .287 |
Run batted inRBI | 535 |
HR | 126 |
Teams | |
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Kevin Charles Millar (born September 24, 1971 in Los Angeles, California) is a Major League Baseball outfielder/first baseman who played for the Baltimore Orioles and is currently a free agent. Millar played college baseball at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas
In 1993, Millar began his professional career with the Saint Paul Saints of the Northern League. His contract was purchased by the Florida Marlins at the end of the season and he made his major league debut for Florida in 1998.
Millar played for the Marlins between 1998 and 2002, and was later sold to the Japanese Central League Chunichi Dragons. In order for the transaction to be completed, he first had to clear the waivers requested by the Marlins, but the Red Sox broke an unwritten rule and blocked the deal with a waiver claim. In an unprecedented deal brokered by MLB, the Marlins later repaid the money that the Dragons had paid for Millar, and the Sox also paid a similar sum to the Marlins in return for Millar. He became a clubhouse favorite and a sort of cult hero for the Red Sox fans after his "Cowboy Up" rally cry.
A long fly-ball hitter, Millar's left field power played well in Fenway Park, even though the Green Monster turned a few potential home runs into doubles. Reasonably patient, he makes good contact for a power hitter against right-handers just as well as southpaws, and seems to respond to urgent situations. He doesn't run nearly well enough to be a dangerous factor on the bases. As a fielder, he has a reputation for having good hands, but many people believe that he lacks mobility and that his arm is weak.
Millar signed with Baltimore on January 12, 2006 as a free agent. During the season he broke Rey Ordonez's record for most games played by any non-drafted player who started his career in the Independent Leagues during the Draft era [1].
Millar was a replacement player during the 1994 baseball strike, when he played with the replacements in early 1995 and therefore, he is barred from membership in the Major League Baseball Players Association.