Gary Thurman was a professional baseball player who played as an outfielder for several teams during his career. He was born on November 12, 1964, in Indianapolis, Indiana, and attended North Central High School. After graduating, he attended the University of Nebraska, where he played college baseball.
Thurman was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the first round of the 1983 Major League Baseball draft. He spent several years in the minor leagues before making his major league debut with the Royals in 1987. He played for the Royals for three seasons before being traded to the Detroit Tigers in 1990.
Thurman played for the Tigers for two seasons before being traded to the Seattle Mariners in 1992. He played for the Mariners for two seasons before being traded to the Cleveland Indians in 1994. He played for the Indians for one season before being traded back to the Mariners in 1995.
Thurman's best season came in 1992 when he hit .276 with 6 home runs and 38 RBIs for the Mariners. He was known for his speed and was a good defensive outfielder. He stole 20 or more bases in three different seasons and had a career-high 32 stolen bases in 1990.
Thurman's career came to an end in 1997 when he was released by the Mariners. He finished his career with a .245 batting average, 11 home runs, 106 RBIs, and 118 stolen bases in 594 games.
After his playing career, Thurman became a coach and worked in the minor leagues for several years. He was the first base coach for the Kansas City Royals from 2013 to 2017 and is currently the outfield and baserunning coordinator for the Baltimore Orioles.
Overall, Gary Thurman had a solid career as a professional baseball player. He was a good defensive outfielder and a speedy baserunner who stole over 100 bases in his career. While he never became a star player, he was a valuable contributor to several teams during his career.
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