Mike Magnante is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for several teams during his career. He was born on June 17, 1965, in Glendale, California, and attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he played college baseball.
Magnante was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 11th round of the 1988 MLB draft. He made his Major League debut with the Royals in 1991 and played for the team until 1995. During his time with the Royals, Magnante was primarily used as a relief pitcher and had a career ERA of 4.08.
In 1996, Magnante signed with the Houston Astros as a free agent. He played for the Astros for two seasons and was again primarily used as a relief pitcher. Magnante had a career-best ERA of 2.95 in 1997 while playing for the Astros.
After his time with the Astros, Magnante played for several other teams, including the Arizona Diamondbacks, Oakland Athletics, and Anaheim Angels. He continued to be used primarily as a relief pitcher and had a career ERA of 4.63.
Magnante's best season came in 2000 while playing for the Athletics. He had a 2.91 ERA in 57 appearances and helped the team reach the American League Division Series.
Magnante retired from baseball in 2002 after playing for the Angels. He finished his career with a record of 25-22 and 10 saves in 619 appearances.
In addition to his Major League career, Magnante also played for the United States national baseball team in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. The team won a bronze medal, and Magnante pitched in two games, allowing no runs in three innings.
After retiring from baseball, Magnante worked as a color commentator for the San Francisco Giants' radio broadcasts. He also worked as a pitching coach for the Giants' minor league teams.
Overall, Mike Magnante had a successful career as a Major League Baseball pitcher, playing for several teams over the course of 11 seasons. He was primarily used as a relief pitcher and had a career ERA of 4.63. Magnante also represented the United States in the 1992 Summer Olympics, helping the team win a bronze medal.
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