Mark Canha

Mark Canha
Canha with the New York Mets in 2023
Detroit Tigers – No. 21
Outfielder/ First baseman
Born: (1989-02-15) February 15, 1989 (age 34)
San Jose, California, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 8, 2015, for the Oakland Athletics
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.250
Home runs113
Runs batted in417
Teams

Mark David Canha (/ˈkænə/;[1] born February 15, 1989) is an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Oakland Athletics, New York Mets, and Milwaukee Brewers. Canha made his MLB debut in 2015.

Career

Early career

Canha attended Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, California. In 2007, his senior year, he batted .440 with 11 home runs.[2] After graduating from high school, he attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he played college baseball for the California Golden Bears baseball team. In 2009, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3][4] In 2010, his junior season, he hit .319 with ten home runs and 69 runs batted in (RBIs) in 54 games.

After the season, the Florida Marlins selected Canha in the seventh round, with the 227th overall selection, of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft.[5][6] In 2014, Canha played for the New Orleans Zephyrs of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League (PCL).[7]

Oakland Athletics

Canha with the Athletics in 2019

The Colorado Rockies chose Canha in the 2014 Rule 5 draft from the Marlins,[8] and then traded him to the Athletics for Austin House.[9] During spring training in 2015, Canha led the Athletics in home runs, but led all major league players in strikeouts. Due to the team's need for a power hitter following the offseason trades of Josh Donaldson and Brandon Moss,[10] Canha made the Athletics' Opening Day roster.[11] In his major league debut, on April 8, Canha had three hits and four RBIs.[12] Canha remained with the Athletics throughout the 2015 season, and led all American League rookies in RBIs.[13] He finished the season with 16 home runs and 70 RBIs, while playing multiple positions for the A's.[citation needed]

Canha underwent season-ending hip surgery after only 16 games with Oakland in 2016. Returning in 2017, he played six games with the A's before being optioned to the Nashville Sounds of the PCL on April 15.[14] On November 8, 2017, Canha underwent right wrist surgery to remove a cyst.[15]

In 2018, Canha hit a career-high 17 home runs with 52 RBIs and a .249/.328/.449 batting line.[16] In 2019, Canha set career highs in average (.273), home runs (26), runs (80) and walks (67) in 126 games. In 2020, Canha slashed .246/.387/.408 with 5 home runs and 33 RBIs in 191 at-bats for the club.[17]

On May 2, 2021, Canha was hit by a pitch for the 60th time in his career, most all-time in the Oakland history of the Athletics franchise. In 2021 he tied for the major league lead in hit by pitches, with 27.[18] After the season, Canha became a free agent and the Athletics did not make an $18.4 million qualifying offer.[19] During his time at Oakland, Canha recorded 645 appearances and recorded a .244 batting average, a .344 on-base percentage and a .431 slugging percentage. He hit 89 home runs and drove in 294 runs.[1]

New York Mets

On November 30, 2021, Canha signed with the New York Mets on a two-year deal worth $26.5 million, with an option for a third year.[20] Canha said he signed with the Mets because he "was ready for the big stage and New York's a big stage" and he wanted "to show the world what [he] can do."[21] On April 15, 2022, Canha was placed on the COVID-19 injured list.[22] He returned five days later on April 20.[23] On September 10, Canha hit his first career grand slam off of Andrew Nardi of the Miami Marlins.[24] In 2022, Canha led the majors in hit by pitch (28), and batted .266/.367/.403 with 13 home runs in 462 at bats.[25][26]

Milwaukee Brewers

On July 31, 2023, the Mets traded Canha to the Milwaukee Brewers for Justin Jarvis.[27][28]

Detroit Tigers

On November 4, 2023, the Brewers traded Canha to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Blake Holub.[29][30]

Personal life

Canha's wife, Marci, is an architect originally from San Jose.[31] Canha is of Portuguese heritage.[32]

Canha is also a foodie; he loves trying new places and new types of food. Canha has described himself as a liberal and an ardent supporter of LGBT rights.[33]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Mark Canha Stats | Baseball-Reference.com".
  2. ^ "Mark Canha '07: Playing in the Big Leagues". March 28, 2019.
  3. ^ "2009 Brewster Whitecaps". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  4. ^ "Mark Canha". wickedlocal.com. June 24, 2009. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
  5. ^ "Three former Bells are selected in MLB draft". ContraCostaTimes.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  6. ^ "Former Cal player Mark Canha is busting out with the New Orleans Zephyrs". ContraCostaTimes.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  7. ^ "Former Cal player Mark Canha is busting out with the New Orleans Zephyrs". July 30, 2014.
  8. ^ "Marlins add reliever, lose slugger Canha in Rule 5 draft". Miami Marlins. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  9. ^ "A's trade for Rule 5 pick Mark Canha, who may find niche". CSN Bay Area. Archived from the original on January 10, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  10. ^ "A's hoping for power from rookie Canha". SFGate. April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  11. ^ "Athletics first baseman Mark Canha earns roster spot". CBSSports.com. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  12. ^ "A's Mark Canha enjoys a smashing major-league debut". Sacramento Bee. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  13. ^ "Year of change for A's rookies Burns and Canha". InsideBayArea.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  14. ^ "Oakland A's call up Jaff Decker, option Mark Canha". SBNation.com. April 15, 2017. Retrieved April 15, 2017.
  15. ^ "Mark Canha has wrist surgery". MLB. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  16. ^ "Evaluating A's arbitration in 2018 MLB offseason: Mark Canha". RSN.
  17. ^ "Mark Canha 2021 Outlook - Fantasy Baseball Talk - NBC Sports EDGE Forums". Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  18. ^ "Major League Leaderboards » 2021 » Batters » Standard Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball". www.fangraphs.com.
  19. ^ "Mark Canha does not receive $18.4M qualifying offer from Athletics | RSN". Nbcsports.com. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  20. ^ DiComo, Anthony (April 15, 2022). "Marte, Canha, Escobar deals made official". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  21. ^ Johnson, Dalton (December 2, 2021). "Former A's OF Canha explains why he chose Mets in free agency". NBC Bay Area. NBC Sports. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  22. ^ DiComo, Anthony (April 15, 2022). "Brandon Nimmo, Mark Canha on COVID-19 injured list". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  23. ^ Ragazzo, Pat (April 20, 2022). "Mets Activate Mark Canha From COVID IL". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  24. ^ "Mark Canha blasts first career grand slam as Mets mash Marlins". nypost.com. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  25. ^ "Splits Leaderboards | FanGraphs". www.fangraphs.com.
  26. ^ "Mark Canha Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  27. ^ Anderson, R. J. "Mark Canha trade: Mets send veteran outfielder to Brewers as deadline sell-off continues". CBSSports.com.
  28. ^ Passan, Jeff (July 31, 2023). "Milwaukee Brewers acquire OF Mark Canha from New York Mets". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  29. ^ "Brewers acquire right-handed pitcher Blake Holub from Detroit". November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  30. ^ "Tigers acquire OF Mark Canha from Brewers for minor leaguer". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
  31. ^ Slusser, Susan (December 11, 2014). "A's trade for Rule 5 player Mark Canha, a Cal alum". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  32. ^ Martinez, Phillip (July 24, 2022). "Mets' Mark Canha reveals surprising 'proper' pronunciation of last name". SNY.tv. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
  33. ^ Martino, Andy (June 21, 2022). "Mark Canha talks Pride Night, feminism, the Tampa Bay Rays, and how to use our platform and privilege". SNY.tv. Retrieved September 23, 2022.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mark Canha.