Mark Teahen

{{Short description|American-Canadian baseball player (born 1981)}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Mark Teahen

|image=20110805-0921 Mark Teahen.jpg

|width=250

|caption=Teahen with the Toronto Blue Jays

|position=Third baseman / Right fielder

|bats=Left

|throws=Right

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1981|9|6}}

|birth_place=Redlands, California, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=April 4

|debutyear=2005

|debutteam=Kansas City Royals

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate=September 28

|finalyear=2011

|finalteam=Toronto Blue Jays

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.264

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=67

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=332

|teams=

Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2005}}–{{mlby|2009}})
Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|2010}}–{{mlby|2011}})
Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2011}})

}}

File:Mark Teahen on July 29, 2009.jpg in {{Mlby|2009}}]]

Mark Thomas Teahen (born September 6, 1981) is an American-Canadian former professional baseball infielder who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays.

He graduated from Yucaipa High School in 1999 and attended St. Mary's College in California. Teahen was drafted 39th overall in the 2002 draft by the Oakland Athletics with a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds. He was featured in the book Moneyball, which noted the Athletics considered that Teahen could have the potential to become the next Jason Giambi.

Prior to the 2009 World Baseball Classic, Teahen, whose father was born in St. Marys, Ontario, became a naturalized Canadian citizen and played for Team Canada in that event. In 2011, Teahen and Brett Lawrie both started in the infield for the Blue Jays, marking the first time the squad had two Canadians in its starting lineup.{{cite web|last=Fitzgerald |first=Sean |title=Jays' Lawrie ruled out for Pan Am Games |url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/Jays+Lawrie+ruled+Games/5258651/story.html#ixzz1VDIgTVeQ |work=Montreal Gazette |access-date=August 16, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112100201/http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Jays%2BLawrie%2Bruled%2BGames/5258651/story.html |archive-date=November 12, 2011 }}

Professional career

=Kansas City Royals=

Oakland traded him to Kansas City in {{mlby|2004}}, along with Mike Wood, as part of a three-way trade that sent Carlos Beltrán to the Houston Astros, Octavio Dotel from the Astros to the Athletics, and John Buck from the Astros to the Royals. Although he had been one of the most highly regarded prospects in the Oakland organization, he became available when the Athletics were able to sign Eric Chavez to a long-term contract.

Royals management did not expect Teahen to make the opening-day roster in {{mlby|2005}}; however, after hitting .344 in spring training and after injuries sidelined potential third basemen Chris Truby and Chris Clapinski, the Royals announced Teahen would be their regular third baseman for 2005, and he made his major-league debut on April 4, 2005.

His first hit was a triple and he hit four homers in his last 17 games of 2005. Teahen hit .240 in his rookie season with KC.

In {{mlby|2006}}, he hit .290 with 18 home runs and 69 RBIs. During July, he raised his performance level with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs during the 38 games ending August 2. He continued to hit well, but suffered an injury and had to have season-ending surgery on September 8.

Going into the {{mlby|2007}} season, Teahen moved from third base to right field because of the arrival of young prospect Alex Gordon.{{cite news|title=Mark Teahen: Fantasy Baseball| url=http://fantasybaseball.usatoday.com/content/player_news.asp?sport=MLB&id=1155&line=206407| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717175435/http://fantasybaseball.usatoday.com/content/player_news.asp?sport=MLB&id=1155&line=206407| url-status=dead| archive-date=July 17, 2011| access-date=June 29, 2007 | work=USA Today}} His home run total dropped alarmingly to only seven homers, after hitting 18 the year prior. During the {{mlby|2008}} season, he hit two inside-the-park home runs (leading the majors), bringing his total for 2008 to 14 homers.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-situational-batting.shtml|title=2008 Major League Baseball PH/HR/Situ Hitting - Baseball-Reference.com|website=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=April 27, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171104224257/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-situational-batting.shtml|archive-date=November 4, 2017}}

While in Kansas City, Teahen was a spokesman and fundraiser for a program that gave children with physical or mental challenges the chance to play baseball. Since Teahen obtained dual Canadian-American citizenship in 2005,{{cite web| author=Hornby, Lance| title=A closet Canuck| url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/Canada/2005/05/11/1034954.html| date=May 11, 2005| access-date=June 29, 2007| url-status=usurped| archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715140853/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/Canada/2005/05/11/1034954.html| archive-date=July 15, 2012}} he was able to play for the Canadian team in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/ctvnews/?id=263921|title=Cubs' Dempster not on Canada's WBC roster|date=January 19, 2009|agency=Canadian Press|website=TSN|access-date=April 27, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018083143/http://www.tsn.ca/ctvnews/?id=263921|archive-date=October 18, 2012}} In {{mlby|2009}}, he hit .271 with a career-high 34 doubles, 12 home runs and 50 RBI in 144 games with Kansas City. He made 99 starts at third base, 31 in right field and three at second.

=Chicago White Sox=

On November 5, 2009, Teahen was traded by the Royals to the Chicago White Sox in exchange for infielders Chris Getz and Josh Fields.Merkin, Scott. [http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091106&content_id=7631598&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws White Sox acquire Teahen from Royals] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225082641/http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091106&content_id=7631598&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws |date=February 25, 2012 }}, Chicago White Sox. Published November 6, 2009. Retrieved December 8, 2009. He later received the 2009 Hutch Award for his efforts on and off the field.Kaegel, Dick. [http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091130&content_id=7731426&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws Teahen tabbed for Hutch Award] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225082715/http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091130&content_id=7731426&vkey=news_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws |date=February 25, 2012 }}, Chicago White Sox. Published November 30, 2009. Retrieved December 8, 2009.

On December 8, Teahen and the White Sox agreed to a three-year, $14 million deal.[http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=342608&src=162 Sox, Teahen agree to three-year deal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609030433/http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=342608&src=162 |date=June 9, 2011 }}, Daily Herald. Published December 8, 2009. Retrieved December 8, 2009.

=Toronto Blue Jays=

On July 27, 2011, Teahen was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays with Edwin Jackson for Jason Frasor and Zach Stewart.{{cite web|last=Nowak|first=Joey|title=White Sox send Jackson to Blue Jays for Frasor|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110727&content_id=22367388&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb|work=MLB.com|access-date=July 27, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107005027/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110727&content_id=22367388&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb|archive-date=November 7, 2012}} The Blue Jays designated him for assignment on January 9, 2012. He was released on January 17. In his one season with the Blue Jays, Teahen played in 27 games, mostly as a pinch hitter and defensive replacement, and hit .190 with one home run and three RBI.

=2012–2013=

Teahen signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals on February 6, 2012. Teahen spent the 2012 season with the Nationals Triple-A affiliate Syracuse Chiefs. According to the International League transactions page, Teahen declared free agency on November 2, 2012.

On November 26, 2012, Teahen signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He started the 2013 season with the Reno Aces, but was released by the Diamondbacks at his request on May 20.{{cite web|url=http://tireball.com/mlb/2013/05/20/diamondbacks-release-infielder-mark-teahen/|title=Diamondbacks release infielder Mark Teahen|date=May 20, 2013|access-date=May 20, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160110132428/http://tireball.com/mlb/2013/05/20/diamondbacks-release-infielder-mark-teahen/|archive-date=January 10, 2016}}

The Texas Rangers signed Teahen to a minor league deal on May 23, 2013,{{cite web|url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/texas-rangers/headlines/20130523-rangers-put-derek-lowe-on-waivers-sign-mark-teahen-to-minor-league-deal.ece|title=Rangers put Derek Lowe on waivers, sign Mark Teahen to minor league deal|publisher=dallasnews.com|date=May 23, 2013|access-date=May 23, 2013}}

{{cite web|url=http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130523&content_id=48392284&vkey=news_tex&c_id=tex|title=Texas releases Lowe, inks Teahen to Minors deal|date=May 23, 2013|access-date=May 23, 2013|work=MLB.com|first=Master|last=Tesfatsion|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221225151/http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130523&content_id=48392284&vkey=news_tex&c_id=tex|archive-date=February 21, 2014}} and assigned him to the Triple-A Round Rock Express. He was released on June 3, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/03/mark-teahen-released/|title=Mark Teahen released|last=Calcaterra|first=Craig|publisher=NBCSports.com|date=June 3, 2013|access-date=June 4, 2013}}

On June 17, 2013, he signed a contract to play for the York Revolution in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/06/mark-teahen-signs-with-york-revolution.html|title=Mark Teahen Signs With York Revolution|website=MLB Trade Rumors|date=June 17, 2013 |access-date=April 27, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706210031/https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/06/mark-teahen-signs-with-york-revolution.html|archive-date=July 6, 2017}} In 78 games he hit .271/.355/.406 with 6 home runs, 30 RBIs and 1 stolen base.

Teahen signed a minor-league contract with the San Francisco Giants on February 15, 2014. This contract did not include an invitation to major league spring training.{{cite web|url=http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/giants-sign-former-st-marys-star-mark-teahen|title=Giants sign former St. Mary's star Mark Teahen|last=Baggarly|first=Andrew|work=csnbayarea.com|date=February 15, 2014|access-date=February 15, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302081926/http://www.csnbayarea.com/giants/giants-sign-former-st-marys-star-mark-teahen|archive-date=March 2, 2014}} He was released on March 19.{{cite web|url=http://calltothepen.com/2014/03/19/san-francisco-giants-release-mark-teahen/|title=San Francisco Giants release Mark Teahen|first=Aaron|last=Somers|date=March 19, 2014|access-date=March 20, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320080249/http://calltothepen.com/2014/03/19/san-francisco-giants-release-mark-teahen/ |archive-date=March 20, 2014}}

On December 15, it was reported that Teahen had retired.{{cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article4502975.html|title=Former Royal Mark Teahen reportedly retires and there is sadness on Twitter|last=Grathoff|first=Pete|work=kansascity.com|date=December 15, 2014|access-date=December 16, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150824212355/http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article4502975.html|archive-date=August 24, 2015}}

=2017=

On January 24, 2017, it was announced that Teahen would play in the Italian Baseball League after signing with the Padua team.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball.it/leggi_articolo.asp?id=24487|title=Marc Teahen, un ex-Major per il Tommasin Padova|work=baseball.it|date=January 24, 2017|access-date=January 24, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202130754/http://www.baseball.it/leggi_articolo.asp?id=24487|archive-date=February 2, 2017}} In 33 games he struggled hitting .205/.375/.313 with 2 home runs, 14 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.

Personal life

Mark married Lauren McClain on December 31, 2010. They have three children.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ESPY_TEAHEN|title=Twitter / Account Suspended|website=twitter.com|access-date=April 27, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822060225/https://twitter.com/ESPY_TEAHEN|archive-date=August 22, 2016}}

References

External links

{{Baseballstats |mlb=433597 |espn=6011 |br=t/teahema01 |fangraphs=4511 |brm=teahen001mar}}

[https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=260802107 Recap of 8/2/06 game in which Teahen went 3 for 5 including a home run and his performance scrutinized a bit more]
[https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Areds7VSueAF8rph2AE.oRsRvLYF?slug=jp-moneyball081706&prov=yhoo&type=lgns Column by Yahoo! Sports columnist primarily about Teahen]

Category:1981 births

Category:Living people

Category:American sportspeople of Canadian descent

Category:Canadian baseball players

Category:Canadian expatriate sportspeople in Italy

Category:Charlotte Knights players

Category:Chicago White Sox players

Category:American expatriate baseball players in Italy

Category:Kansas City Royals players

Category:Major League Baseball third basemen

Category:Midland RockHounds players

Category:Modesto A's players