Mark Whiten was a professional baseball player who played for several teams during his career. He was born on November 25, 1966, in Pensacola, Florida, and attended Pensacola High School. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round of the 1986 Major League Baseball draft.
Whiten made his Major League debut with the Blue Jays in 1990 and played for them until 1991. He then played for the Cleveland Indians from 1991 to 1992, the St. Louis Cardinals from 1993 to 1994, the Boston Red Sox in 1995, the Philadelphia Phillies in 1996, the Atlanta Braves in 1997, and the Seattle Mariners in 1998. He finished his career with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2000.
Whiten was primarily an outfielder and had a strong arm. He was also known for his power hitting and had several impressive performances throughout his career. One of his most notable games was on September 7, 1993, when he hit four home runs and drove in 12 runs in a game against the Cincinnati Reds. This performance tied several Major League records and earned him the nickname "Hard Hittin' Mark Whiten."
In addition to his power hitting, Whiten was also a solid defensive player. He won a Gold Glove award in 1993 for his play in the outfield.
Despite his impressive performances, Whiten struggled with consistency throughout his career. He had several seasons where he hit well over .300 and had over 20 home runs, but he also had several seasons where he hit below .250 and struggled to produce offensively.
Whiten retired from baseball in 2000 with a career batting average of .259, 105 home runs, and 423 RBIs. He continued to be involved in baseball after his playing career, coaching and managing in the minor leagues.
Overall, Mark Whiten had a solid career as a professional baseball player. While he struggled with consistency at times, he was known for his power hitting and strong arm in the outfield. His performance in the game where he hit four home runs and drove in 12 runs will always be remembered as one of the most impressive individual performances in Major League Baseball history.
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