Lenny Harris
Encyclopedia
Leonard Anthony Harris is a former Major League Baseball
utility infielder
who is currently the hitting instructor for the Great Lakes Loons
. He is best known for holding the record for the most pinch hits in a major league career. He batted left-handed
and threw right-handed.
' fifth-round pick in the 1983 amateur draft
. He made his major league debut with the Reds in . He batted
.372 in 16 games with Cincinnati in 1988. He played 61 games with the Reds in ; his batting average that year with the Reds was .223, and he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Kal Daniels
for Tim Leary and Mariano Duncan
.
Harris continued playing with the Dodgers through the season, playing in at least 107 games each season. 1993 was also the year when he started doing more pinch hitting. He never hit more than 3 home run
s in any given year until , but while with the Dodgers he did have several good seasons at the plate; he batted .304 in and .287 in .
He became a free agent
after the 1993 season, at which point he resigned with Cincinnati, where he continued to play until he was traded to the New York Mets
in . Harris pitched once for the Reds, on June 1, 1998. It was the first time a Reds position player had been used as a pitcher in ten years.
In 1998, he batted .295 with the Reds in 57 games, but after joining the Mets, he batted only .232 and did not resign with the Mets the following year, instead opting to sign with the Colorado Rockies. He hit well with Colorado, but was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks
for minor leaguer Belvani Martinez after 91 games there. He went 11-for-29 in 19 games with the Diamondbacks; he remained in Arizona for the first two months of the season, when he was traded back to the Mets for pitcher Bill Pulsipher
. He finished the 2000 season with the Mets and also spent the season there. In 2001, he broke MLB's career pinch hits record, previously held by Manny Mota
.
The season proved successful for Harris. He batted .305 in 122 games with the Milwaukee Brewers
at the age of 37, showing that he would still be able to play for several more years. He started the season with the Chicago Cubs
, with whom he played 75 games before being released and signing with the Florida Marlins
. He was on the Marlins' championship team in the 2003 World Series
. Although he batted just .193 in the 2003 campaign, he re-signed for one year with the Marlins in . Although he had said that he would retire after the 2004 season, he re-signed for another year with the Marlins in and said that he will return for the season. However, the Marlins released him during spring training
in 2006.
, and eventually, the hitting coach. He was fired by the Nationals on September 28, , after less than two seasons on the job.
On October 24, 2008, Harris became the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league hitting instructor at Camelback Ranch, the team's Spring Training
facility. For 2011, he will be the hitting coach for the Great Lakes Loons
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
utility infielder
Utility infielder
A utility infielder is a baseball player, usually one who does not have a regular starting role on the team and who is capable of playing more than one of the four defensive infield positions: second base, third base, shortstop, and less typically first base...
who is currently the hitting instructor for the Great Lakes Loons
Great Lakes Loons
The Great Lakes Loons, based in Midland, Michigan, is a Low Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team plays in the Midwest League and their home park is Dow Diamond, which opened in April 2007.-History:...
. He is best known for holding the record for the most pinch hits in a major league career. He batted left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
and threw right-handed.
Professional career
Harris was the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
' fifth-round pick in the 1983 amateur draft
1983 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1983 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Other notable players :*Kevin Ward, 6th round...
. He made his major league debut with the Reds in . He batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.372 in 16 games with Cincinnati in 1988. He played 61 games with the Reds in ; his batting average that year with the Reds was .223, and he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Kal Daniels
Kal Daniels
Kalvoski Daniels is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played from 1986–1992. He spent time with the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs during his seven year career.Daniels was born on August 20, 1963 in Vienna, Georgia...
for Tim Leary and Mariano Duncan
Mariano Duncan
Mariano Duncan Nalasco is a retired second baseman and shortstop who played for several Major League Baseball teams during his 12 year career. He was the infield coach and 1st base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers under Managers Grady Little and Joe Torre...
.
Harris continued playing with the Dodgers through the season, playing in at least 107 games each season. 1993 was also the year when he started doing more pinch hitting. He never hit more than 3 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s in any given year until , but while with the Dodgers he did have several good seasons at the plate; he batted .304 in and .287 in .
He became a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
after the 1993 season, at which point he resigned with Cincinnati, where he continued to play until he was traded to the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
in . Harris pitched once for the Reds, on June 1, 1998. It was the first time a Reds position player had been used as a pitcher in ten years.
In 1998, he batted .295 with the Reds in 57 games, but after joining the Mets, he batted only .232 and did not resign with the Mets the following year, instead opting to sign with the Colorado Rockies. He hit well with Colorado, but was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
for minor leaguer Belvani Martinez after 91 games there. He went 11-for-29 in 19 games with the Diamondbacks; he remained in Arizona for the first two months of the season, when he was traded back to the Mets for pitcher Bill Pulsipher
Bill Pulsipher
William Thomas Pulsipher is a professional baseball pitcher. Pulsipher, a left-handed pitcher, has played in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, and St. Louis Cardinals over six seasons from to . He currently plays for the Somerset...
. He finished the 2000 season with the Mets and also spent the season there. In 2001, he broke MLB's career pinch hits record, previously held by Manny Mota
Manny Mota
Manuel Rafael Mota Geronimo, more commonly known as Manny Mota was a Major League Baseball Outfielder for the San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos and most notably the Los Angeles Dodgers, best known for his pinch hitting abilities...
.
The season proved successful for Harris. He batted .305 in 122 games with the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
at the age of 37, showing that he would still be able to play for several more years. He started the season with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, with whom he played 75 games before being released and signing with the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
. He was on the Marlins' championship team in the 2003 World Series
2003 World Series
The 2003 World Series marked the 99th baseball World Series event. The Florida Marlins defeated the New York Yankees in six games, 4–2.-Background:...
. Although he batted just .193 in the 2003 campaign, he re-signed for one year with the Marlins in . Although he had said that he would retire after the 2004 season, he re-signed for another year with the Marlins in and said that he will return for the season. However, the Marlins released him during spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in 2006.
Coaching career
After his release, he became the infield coordinator for the Washington NationalsWashington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
, and eventually, the hitting coach. He was fired by the Nationals on September 28, , after less than two seasons on the job.
On October 24, 2008, Harris became the Los Angeles Dodgers minor league hitting instructor at Camelback Ranch, the team's Spring Training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
facility. For 2011, he will be the hitting coach for the Great Lakes Loons
Great Lakes Loons
The Great Lakes Loons, based in Midland, Michigan, is a Low Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team plays in the Midwest League and their home park is Dow Diamond, which opened in April 2007.-History:...
.