Mark Malaska
Encyclopedia
Dennis Mark Malaska to Darlene and Dennis Malaska is an American
former professional baseball
pitcher
who played for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in and the Boston Red Sox
in in Major League Baseball
. Malaska grew up on the crime filled south side of Youngstown, Ohio and attended Cardinal Mooney High School
where he earned three varsity letters in both baseball and basketball as well as All-Steel Valley honors in both sports. After being offered several athletic scholarships in both sports, Malaska chose to continue his baseball career at The University of Akron.
Malaska attended the University of Akron
(1997–2000), where he set and still holds Akron single-game records for runs (5), doubles (3), and RBIs (10). He also garnered back-to-back Best Pro Prospect honors in the New England Collegiate Baseball League
(1998 and 1999) where he set and still holds NECBL season records for total bases, extra-base hits, and triples while playing center field for the Danbury Westerners (Danbury, CT.) He would later be inducted into the New England Collegiate Baseball League Hall of Fame in 2010 as part of its inaugural class. In the spring of 2000, Malaska was developed into a relief pitcher at the University of Akron because of the team's need for a closer. He finished the 2000 NCAA season with a .326 batting average and a 1.13 ERA
earning him All Mid-American Conference
First Team honors. He was drafted in the 8th round of the 2000 MLB draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. A year after being drafted, he tied for the organizational lead in strikeouts, and in 2002 led the organization in complete games. He made his Major League debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003 and posted a 2.81 ERA in 22 appearances out of the bullpen, becoming only the third player in University of Akron history to reach the major leagues. He was acquired off waivers by the Boston Red Sox
after the 2003 season and received a World Series
Championship ring as a member of the 2004 Boston Red Sox after 19 appearances out of their bullpen. In his major league career, Malaska appeared in 41 games and compiled a 3-2 record with 29 strikeout
s and a 3.75 ERA
.
Mark retired from baseball
during spring training
of after an arm injury and now resides in Youngstown, Ohio with his wife Shelby and son Benjamin.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who played for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in and the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
in in Major League Baseball
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...
. Malaska grew up on the crime filled south side of Youngstown, Ohio and attended Cardinal Mooney High School
Cardinal Mooney High School
Cardinal Mooney High School is a coeducational Catholic high school in Youngstown, Ohio.-History:Cardinal Mooney was founded in 1956 and is run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown. In the early 1950s, the Diocese of Youngstown recognized the need to expand Ursuline High School and to build...
where he earned three varsity letters in both baseball and basketball as well as All-Steel Valley honors in both sports. After being offered several athletic scholarships in both sports, Malaska chose to continue his baseball career at The University of Akron.
Malaska attended the University of Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
(1997–2000), where he set and still holds Akron single-game records for runs (5), doubles (3), and RBIs (10). He also garnered back-to-back Best Pro Prospect honors in the New England Collegiate Baseball League
New England Collegiate Baseball League
The New England Collegiate Baseball League is a 12-team collegiate summer baseball league founded in 1993 and sanctioned by the NCAA and Major League Baseball. Each NECBL team plays an eight-week, 42-game schedule during June and July, with a playoff in early August...
(1998 and 1999) where he set and still holds NECBL season records for total bases, extra-base hits, and triples while playing center field for the Danbury Westerners (Danbury, CT.) He would later be inducted into the New England Collegiate Baseball League Hall of Fame in 2010 as part of its inaugural class. In the spring of 2000, Malaska was developed into a relief pitcher at the University of Akron because of the team's need for a closer. He finished the 2000 NCAA season with a .326 batting average and a 1.13 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
earning him All Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
First Team honors. He was drafted in the 8th round of the 2000 MLB draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. A year after being drafted, he tied for the organizational lead in strikeouts, and in 2002 led the organization in complete games. He made his Major League debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2003 and posted a 2.81 ERA in 22 appearances out of the bullpen, becoming only the third player in University of Akron history to reach the major leagues. He was acquired off waivers by the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
after the 2003 season and received a World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
Championship ring as a member of the 2004 Boston Red Sox after 19 appearances out of their bullpen. In his major league career, Malaska appeared in 41 games and compiled a 3-2 record with 29 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and a 3.75 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
Mark retired from baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
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...
of after an arm injury and now resides in Youngstown, Ohio with his wife Shelby and son Benjamin.
Honors and awards
- 1998 New England Collegiate Baseball League All Star
- 1998 New England Collegiate Baseball League Best Pro Prospect
- 1999 New England Collegiate Baseball League All Star
- 1999 New England Collegiate Baseball League All Star Game MVP
- 1999 New England Collegiate Baseball League Best Pro Prospect
- 2000 All Mid-American Conference First Team
- 2002 Baseball America Tampa Bay Devil Rays #29 Rated Prospect
- 2002 California League All Star
- World Series Champion (2004)
- 2010 New England Collegiate Baseball League Hall of Fame Inductee