Chris Rauth kept away from big inning over eight pro seasons; Made AAA

The Port St. Lucie Mets pulled out the win in this May 1988 game and St. Lucie manager Clint Hurdle pointed to his starter Chris Rauth's performance as the big reason, according to The Palm Beach Post.

Rauth gave up five hits en route to the 4-1 victory, The Post wrote.

"The key tonight was that Rauth kept away from that big inning," Hurdle told The Post afterward. "He was constantly ahead of the batters and he pitched aggressively."

Rauth worked on hitters over seven professional seasons. He made AAA, but he never made the majors.

Rauth's career began in 1985, taken by the Mets in the 15th round of the draft out of Ithaca College.

At Ithaca, Rauth helped take his team to the 1985 Division III World Series with 12 wins. He threw eight shutout innings in a regional contest.

With the Mets, Rauth started at short-season Little Falls. He went 6-5 in 15 starts, with a 3.84 ERA. He threw 10 innings in an August 1-1 tie.

He played 1986 between single-A Lynchburg and Columbia, then returned to Lynchburg for 1987. He went 12-9 at St. Lucie in 1988, with a 3.18 ERA.

In 1989, he made AA Jackson. He picked up six wins to 13 losses that year, with a 3.81 ERA. He hit a batter in a July game, causing some tension between teams.

Rauth moved to the Blue Jays and AA Knoxville for part of 1990. He played the rest of that year with independent Reno. He posted a 6.24 ERA overall.

After not being recorded as playing in 1991, Rauth came back for 1992 with the Mets at AAA Tidewater. Over 26 outings, 19 starts, with a 5.12 ERA. He helped in a June three-hitter.

Rauth's final time in pro ball came after two seasons away, in 1995 at independent Adirondack. He threw eight innings in a July loss, giving up five runs but one earned. He went 9-6 on the year, ending his career.

Rauth has remained in the game since. In 2009, he managed an American Legion team near Buffalo.

• Palm Beach Post, May 12, 1988: Rauth's 5-hitter leads St. Lucie in 4-1 win over Fort Lauderdale

What happened to the rest of the 1990 Knoxville Blue Jays? Find out

1990 Minor League Tally

Players/Coaches Featured: 2,267
Made the Majors: 946-41.7%
Never Made Majors:1,321-58.3%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 396
10+ Seasons in the Minors:240