Resides in Dublin, OH, a suburb of Columbus...is a 1986 graduate of Dublin High School, where he was
Central Ohio Player of the Year 3 times.
2006
On 8/17 had season-ending "Tommy John" surgery on his left elbow to reconstruct the ulnar collateral ligament and to reattach the flexor tendon (Dr. Timothy Kremchek)...3
times was on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in that elbow (5/14-5/25, 7/22-8/6, 8/12-10/1)...in his last 18 apps of the season posted a 1.26era, dropping overall ERA from
7.07 to season-ending 4.13...didn't allow an earned run after June (12g, 9.1ip)...made his last appearance of the season on 8/11 at Phi, pitched a scoreless 10th frame in the 14-
inning, 6-5 loss...went on the disabled list the next day...was transfered to the 60-day DL
on 8/17, when the Reds acquired LHP Scott Schoeneweis from the Blue Jays.
2005
Led the staff with a career-high 78 apps...ranked T4th in the National League in apps...made at least
70 apps for the second consecutive season...made at least 60 apps for the third time in his career, all in the last 3
seasons...made at least 50 apps for the sixth time, including each of the last 4 seasons...had 4 saves, his highest total
since 1992, in 7 save opps...in 102 at bats against lefthanded batters allowed only 2 home runs (NY's Cliff Floyd on
Opening Day, Wsh's Brad Wilkerson on 8/25)...in August briefly was bothered by a sore back...in his first 58 apps of
the season through 8/12 posted a 2.66era...in 7 apps from 8/14-8/27 posted a 12.71era (5.2ip, 8er), raising ERA to
3.74, then beginning 9/2 posted a 3.12era in his last 13 apps of the season...in 21 apps from 4/25-6/7 posted a
1.04era, dropping ERA from 4.50 to a season-low 2.13 through 30 apps...in the 7-6 win on 6/22 vs StL struck out his
only batter (Jim Edmonds) to earn his first Major League save since 8/27/03...recorded his victories on 4/18 vs Chi, 6/
24 at Cle and 9/6 vs Mil...on 6/26 at Cle made the 600th appearance of his career.
2004
Produced one of his best Major League seasons...for the Cubs went 3-1, 2.55 in a career-high 71
apps...opponents hit just .205, including .237 by lefthanders and .170 by righthanders...stranded 34-45 inherited
baserunners (76%)...didn't allow a run in 54 of his 71 apps...from 5/22-6/3 was on the disabled list with a strained
lower back...from 9/13-9/14 served a 2-game suspension for inappropriate actions during and immediately following
the Cubs' 15-7 loss vs Hou on 8/27...the suspension had been reduced from 3g to 2g...earned his 3 victories on 4/9 at
Atl (2-1, 15 inn.), 8/1 vs Phi (6-3) and 8/18 at Mil (7-5)...on 4/24 vs NYM appeared in the 500th game of his
career...posted a 2.36era through August and then a 3.68era in September/October.
2003
Kent had one of the most successful seasons of his
career, recording a 1.95 ERA in 67 games for
Cincinnati and Atlanta ... held opponents to a .227
batting average...worked at least 1.0 inning in 36 of his outings -
and had three 2.0-inning stints...posted a 2.35 ERA in 49 relief outings for
Cincinnati after signing with the club as a free agent in the off-season.
worked 9.2 scoreless innings from July 24-August 15 (7 games).
was on the disabled list June 25-July 10 with a sprained lower back...was traded to Atlanta - the team by which he was originally drafted - on August 12 ... in 18 games spanning
17.0 innings, he recorded a 1.06 ERA...picked up a save August 27 vs. New York, working a scoreless 9th inning in the Braves' 4-1 victory ... it was
his first big league save since the 1992 campaign.
2001
HOW OBTAINED:SIGNED to a minor-league free agent contract, Jan. 28, 2002.
Signed by Boston to a minor-league contract on Jan. 5, Mercker pitched in spring training for the Red Sox (1-0, 5.11 ERA in 11 games) before being released near the end of camp, March 28...was not picked up by another team and sat out the rest of the year.
2000
Kent made Anaheim's Opening Day roster after signing a minor league free agent contract, Jan. 25...went 1-3 with a 6.52 ERA (48.1 ip, 35 er)...made his 350th career appearance on April 17 at Toronto...after 10 relief appearances, made his first start on May 6 at Seattle (5.0 ip, 3 h, 0 er)...in his second start on May 11, he suffered a cerebral hemorrage on the mound after just 1.1 innings...placed on the 15-day DL on May 12...spent 12 days at UCI Medical Center, including four days in intensive care for tests and observation...after a rehab assignment, he was activated on Aug. 12 and pitched that night against the Yankees (3.2 ip , 3 er)...recorded his lone win on Aug. 22 at Boston...following the season, he was the co-winner (with Tampa's Tony Saunders) of the Tony Conigliaro Award for overcoming adversity.
1999
Began the year with St. Louis before being acquired by Boston on Aug. 24...was a combined 8-5 with a 4.80 ERA...left his Sept. 6 start at Seattle with soreness in his right chest after from a collision with Wilton Veras in foul territory in the bottom of the third...placed on disabled list on Sept. 7 for a right rib cage strain...was activated on Sept. 23. Postseason: Tossed 1.1 innings (3 BB, 2 r) vs. the Indians.
1998
Led the Cardinals staff and established career highs in wins (11), starts (29) and innings pitched (161.2)...on the disabled list from June 14-July 1 with a bruised nerve below the left knee after being hit by a comebacker...won his 50th career game on July 31 at Atlanta (8.0 ip, 2 er)...hit his first career home run on Sept. 2 at Florida, a grand slam off Jesus Sanchez in the fourth inning...Mercker was the winning pitcher when Mark McGwire broke Roger Maris' home run record on Sept. 8 vs. the Cubs.
1997
In his only season with Cincinnati, he was 8-11 with a 3.92 ERA in 144.2 innings...became the first Reds pitcher in 19 years to reach base in a pinch-hitting role, drawing a PH walk on April 25 vs. Philadelphia...won a career-high five consecutive games (seven starts), from May 28-June 30, posting a 1.71 ERA in that span...named NL Pitcher of the Month for June (4-0, 1.96 ERA)...posted 16.0 scoreless IP over three starts, June 9-20...on June 5 at Houston, he recorded his 500th career strikeout...hit his first career triple on Aug. 6 vs. San Diego...on the DL (Aug. 17-Sept. 1) with inflammation in his lower back.
1996
Saw his first American League action of his career with Baltimore and Cleveland, going a combined 4-6 with a 6.98 ERA...battled enfluenza in spring training and the loss of arm strength caused him to lose six of eight decisions in the early portion of the year...traded to Cleveland for Eddie Murray on July 25 and was optioned to AAA Buffalo...recalled on Aug. 6 and made 10 relief appearances for the Indians.
1995
Pitched in 29 games with 26 starting assignments for the World Champion Braves...left-handed batters hit just .213 (16-75) against Mercker...equaled a career-high 10 strikeouts on June 1 vs. LA...had a 2.17 ERA in July...pitched in career inning No. 500 on Aug. 29 vs. Houston. Postseason: Made one appearance in the NLDS vs. Colorado (0.1 ip)...saw no action in the LCS but threw in one game during the World Series in Game 3 (2.0 ip, 1 h, 1 r).
1994
In his first start of the year, April 8 at Los Angeles, he tossed a no-hitter in just his 12th major league start, the earliest no-hitter in the career of an NL hurler since Burt Hooten in 1972...it was Kent's first career complete-game and shutout...named NL Player of the Week for that effort (April 4-10)...finished the season with a .692 winning pct., good enough for eighth best in the NL.
1993
As a reliever, saw action in his first 31 outings...went on to make six spot starts for Atlanta (1-1, 3.00 ERA)...he allowed lefties to bat an even .200 (14-for-70) off him during the year. Postseason: Saw action in five of the six games in the NLCS, en route to earning a 1.80 ERA.
1992
Worked 25.0 scoreless innings from May 23-July 27...for the season, opponents hit him at a .207 clip...he converted six of 10 save opportunities on the year. Postseason: Pitched 3.0 scoreless innings in the NLCS...was injured in Game 7 of the NLCS and didn't see any action in the World Series.
1991
Appeared in 46 games in relief and made four starts on the year...combined with Mark Wohlers and Alejandro Pena for the first combined no-hitter in NL history, Sept. 11 vs. San Diego...he pitched the first six innings of the historic contest...got his first career hit and RBI on July 30 vs. Pittsburgh. Postseason: Allowed one earned run in 1.2 innings of work.
1990
Recalled June 28 from AAA Richmond, earned seven saves on the year, tied for the most by a Braves' lefty in club history...earned his first ML win July 7 vs. New York...made four saves in five appearances from August 22-Sept. 4.
1989
Made his major league debut Sept. 22 with Atlanta vs. Cincinnati...in the contest, he pitched 2.0 innings and allowed 3 earned runs...with AAA Richmond, he led the International League in strikeouts with (144)...he was voted the second-best prospect in the league, and the top pitcher...named to the AAA All-Star squad for his efforts...pitched four CG in 27 starts.
1988
With Durham, he had an ERA of 2.68 and finished with a 11-4 recordb&earned an all-star berth at season's end and shared the California League Pitcher-of-the-Year honors for his efforts.
1987
Underwent elbow surgery in May, forcing him to miss all but three games.
1986
Finished the season tied for second on the team with four wins for Bradenton (Rookie).
