Mark Wohlers was a professional baseball player who played as a relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds. He was born on January 23, 1970, in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and grew up in the Atlanta area. Wohlers attended Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, Florida, where he played baseball and football. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the eighth round of the 1988 Major League Baseball draft.
Wohlers made his Major League debut with the Braves in 1991 and quickly established himself as a dominant relief pitcher. He was known for his fastball, which regularly reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour. Wohlers was a key member of the Braves' bullpen during their run of success in the 1990s, which included five National League pennants and a World Series championship in 1995.
Wohlers' best season came in 1996 when he recorded 39 saves and a 2.09 earned run average (ERA) while striking out 100 batters in 74 innings pitched. He was named to the National League All-Star team that year and finished third in the voting for the Cy Young Award, which is given annually to the best pitcher in each league.
Despite his success, Wohlers is perhaps best remembered for his performance in the 1996 World Series against the New York Yankees. In Game 4 of the series, Wohlers entered the game with a 6-3 lead in the eighth inning. He proceeded to give up a single to Yankees outfielder Paul O'Neill and a home run to third baseman Wade Boggs, cutting the Braves' lead to 6-5. In the ninth inning, Wohlers gave up a game-tying home run to Yankees catcher Jim Leyritz. The Yankees went on to win the game and eventually the series.
Wohlers struggled with his control in the years following the 1996 World Series. He battled injuries and was eventually traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 1999. He retired from baseball in 2002 with a career record of 39-29, 3.97 ERA, and 119 saves.
After retiring from baseball, Wohlers struggled with addiction and underwent treatment for alcoholism. He has since become an advocate for addiction recovery and has spoken publicly about his experiences. Wohlers currently works as a motivational speaker and has written a book about his struggles with addiction and recovery.
In conclusion, Mark Wohlers was a dominant relief pitcher for the Atlanta Braves in the 1990s. He was known for his fastball and was a key member of the Braves' bullpen during their run of success. Despite his success, Wohlers is perhaps best remembered for his performance in the 1996 World Series. He struggled with injuries and control issues in the years following the series and eventually retired from baseball in 2002. Wohlers has since become an advocate for addiction recovery and has spoken publicly about his experiences.
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