San Diego State introduced that longtime reliever Mark Melancon has joined the college’s baseball program because the pitching improvement coordinator. Melancon hasn’t pitched for the reason that 2022 season, so this new job implies that the 39-year-old has ended his enjoying profession after 14 Main League seasons.
“It’s thrilling to be a part of a employees that has nice expertise and a transparent imaginative and prescient on what must occur to achieve success on the highest stage. I’m keen to assist these gamers compete for a nationwide championship and hopefully transfer on to the following stage,” Melancon mentioned.
Assuming that Melancon is certainly hanging up his glove, he’ll end his profession with 262 saves and a very good 2.94 ERA, over 726 2/3 innings within the majors. Versus most bullpen aces, Melancon didn’t carry heavy velocity or massive strikeout numbers, as an alternative counting on excellent management and a knack for protecting the ball on the bottom. Melancon had a 55.3% groundball charge over his profession, the seventh-highest grounder charge of any pitcher in baseball (minimal 700 innings) throughout the 2009-22 timeframe.
Chosen by the Yankees within the ninth spherical of the 2006 draft, Melancon ended up pitching for 9 completely different golf equipment on the MLB stage after he made his debut within the Present in 2009. The travels began early, as Melancon modified uniforms by way of three trades in as a few years — from the Yankees to the Astros on the 2010 commerce deadline, from Houston to Boston in December 2011, after which from Boston to Pittsburgh in December 2012. Although Melancon had seemingly damaged out with a pleasant 2011 season, the rebuilding Astros nonetheless dealt him, and he then struggled by way of a tough season with the Pink Sox.
The transfer to Pittsburgh introduced each some stability for Melancon, and set the stage for the most effective stretch of his profession. Melancon turned a dominant set-up man after which nearer over his three-plus seasons with the Pirates, delivering a sterling 1.80 ERA and 130 saves over 260 1/3 innings in a Bucs uniform. The appropriate-hander was named to a few All-Star groups throughout this stretch, and completed eighth in NL Cy Younger Award voting in 2015 after posting a league-best 51 saves.
Free company loomed for Melancon after the 2016 season, nonetheless, and the Pirates weren’t going to pay prime greenback for a star nearer. The consequence was yet one more commerce, as Melancon was dealt to the Nationals on the 2016 commerce deadline, and he continued to pitch properly for Washington all through the remainder of the common season and into the playoffs.
The massive free agent payday then got here that winter when Melancon inked a four-year, $62MM cope with the Giants, which briefly stood as the largest contract ever given to a reduction pitcher. Whereas Melancon had a decent 3.67 ERA over 115 1/3 innings with San Francisco, it wasn’t the form of elite efficiency that was anticipated from the hefty contract, and accidents additionally hampered Melancon’s effectiveness.
Because the Giants entered a partial rebuild and appeared to chop payroll, Melancon was moved to the Braves on the 2019 commerce deadline, and had an uptick in outcomes (2.78 ERA in 22 2/3 IP) throughout the shortened 2020 season. A one-year, $3MM cope with the Padres adopted that offseason, and Melancon loved one remaining All-Star marketing campaign by posting a 2.23 ERA and 39 saves for San Diego. This led to a two-year, $14MM contract with the Diamondbacks in December 2021, however Melancon struggled in 2022 after which missed all of 2023 attributable to a shoulder pressure.
We at MLB Commerce Rumors congratulate Melancon on a terrific enjoying profession, and we want him the most effective as he strikes into the collegiate teaching ranks.
