After going undrafted and attending several tryouts without signing on with a team, East Tennessee State alum Steve Meredith finally got noticed, The Kingsport Times-News wrote.
With some encouragement and some recommendations, he got a tryout with the Orioles, and he waited, The Times-News wrote.
"They told me they'd call, but I didn't get excited. I couldn't anymore," Meredith told The Times-News in July 1988. "When he called, he said he might have a place for me. After I hung up, I rattled the rafters her with the scream."
Meredith signed with the Orioles and began his pro career. His pro career would last three seasons. He topped out at high-A.
Meredith's career began that year in 1988, signed by the Orioles as an undrafted free agent out of East Tennessee State.
At East Tennessee State, Meredith hit .419 to lead the team. He also hit three home runs and had a .557 slugging percentage.
"My attitude about hitting is that every time I go to the plate, I haven't had a hit yet. I'm zero for zero," Meredith told The Johnson City Press at East Tennessee State in April 1988. "I'm trying to be consistent but what ticks me off is that yesterday I popped the ball up. I wasn't consistent."
Meredith played with the Orioles at rookie Bluefield. He got into 40 games and hit .267, with five home runs. He hit those five home runs in the span of nine days. That season marked his only campaign in the Baltimore system.
Meredith then signed with independent Reno for 1989. He saw 28 games there and hit .197. He then signed for 1990 with independent Salinas. He saw 15 games, getting three hits in one. But he was released by the time April was out, ending his career.
- Johnson City Press, April 9, 1988: ETSU's Meredith setting sights high
- Kingsport Times-News, July 8, 1988: Former Buccaneer outfielder to sign with Orioles
Made the Majors:1,401-32.2%
Never Made Majors:2,947-67.8%-X
10+ Seasons in the Minors:352
No comments:
Post a Comment