Mike Lincoln is a former professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams during his career. He was born on April 10, 1975, in Carmichael, California, and attended Elk Grove High School in Elk Grove, California.
Lincoln was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 13th round of the 1996 MLB draft. He spent several years in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut with the Twins in 1999. However, he only appeared in two games for the team before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates later that year.
Lincoln spent the next few seasons bouncing between the Pirates and their minor league affiliates. He struggled with injuries and inconsistency, and his performance on the mound was often erratic. However, he showed flashes of potential and was eventually traded to the Texas Rangers in 2003.
Lincoln's time with the Rangers was short-lived, as he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 2004. It was with the Reds that Lincoln finally found some stability and success. He spent four seasons with the team, primarily as a relief pitcher, and posted some of the best numbers of his career. In 2006, he had a 3.94 earned run average (ERA) and 63 strikeouts in 75 innings pitched.
After his stint with the Reds, Lincoln signed with the Baltimore Orioles in 2008. However, he struggled with injuries and was limited to just 11 appearances for the team. He then signed with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2009, but was released before the start of the season.
Lincoln's final MLB season came in 2010, when he signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He appeared in 11 games for the team, posting a 6.00 ERA in 15 innings pitched. He was released by the team in July of that year and subsequently retired from professional baseball.
Overall, Lincoln's MLB career was marked by inconsistency and injuries. He finished with a career record of 9-7 and a 5.33 ERA in 153 appearances (including 22 starts). While he never became a star player, he was able to carve out a decade-long career in the majors and was known for his hard work and dedication to the game.
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