Mike Kinkade | |||
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Utility player | |||
Born: Livonia, Michigan |
May 6, 1973 |||
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MLB debut | |||
September 8, 1998, for the New York Mets | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
September 28, 2003, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |||
MLB statistics | |||
Batting average | .256 | ||
Home runs | 13 | ||
Runs batted in | 48 | ||
Teams | |||
Medal record | ||
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Men’s baseball | ||
Representing the United States | ||
Olympic Games | ||
2000 Sydney | Team competition |
Michael Arthur Kinkade (born May 6, 1973 in Livonia, Michigan) is a former Major League Baseball player who was primarily a left fielder, but also spent time as a first baseman, right fielder, third baseman, designated hitter, and catcher.
Kinkade is 6'1" tall and weighs 210 pounds, and bats and throws right-handed.
After graduating from Tigard High School in Tigard, Oregon, Kinkade was a collegiate star at Washington State University, where he played college baseball for the Cougars from 1992–1995. He was a third-team All-American in 1994, and became the school's leader in career hits with 304, a mark he still holds. Kinkade had been drafted in by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 19th round of the 1994 June draft, with the 515th overall pick, but elected to return to school for his senior year instead of turning pro. The Brewers drafted him again the next year, in the ninth round with the 236th overall pick, and this time he signed the contract.
Kinkade was an immediate success in the minor leagues, splitting time between catching and playing in the outfield. He was a Pioneer League All-Star in his first professional season in 1995, compiling a .353 batting average with 26 stolen bases and more walks than strikeouts. The next season, Kinkade was again an All-Star, this time in the Midwest League. He was even more productive in 1997, when he was named the Most Valuable Player of the class AA Texas League. He batted .385 with a .455 on-base percentage, a .588 slugging percentage, and 17 stolen bases, though he also committed 60 errors in the field.