Scott Garceau: Pearce Won't Go Away
There are over 100 Steve Pearce's in Major league Baseball. Take your 30 MLB teams and find the last 3 or 4 players on the roster and those are Pearce guys I'm talking about. No All-Stars here, these are the players fighting for their jobs everyday.
There's always a prospect ready to make them go away. They often get caught in the "numbers game" they are the odd man out and we're never surprised when they're optioned, waived or designated for assignment. Their lives are spent in limbo caught between Triple A and Major League clubs that commit to them for days not years.
Steve Pearce is that guy and he's been terrific for the Orioles this season. His 5th home run of the year helped beat the Rays Tuesday night at the Trop. Wednesday, his opposite-field double down the line drove in Nick Markakis to snap a scoreless tie with the Rays. It's easy to cheer for Steve Pearce; nothing comes easy for the back-end of the roster guys. The Orioles are embracing him today but who knows about next month or next week. Check out his itinerary over the last 2 years courtesy of Baseball-Reference.
June 2, 2012: Purchased by the Orioles from the Yankees.
July 28, 2012: Selected off waivers by the Astros from the Orioles.
August 27, 2012: Purchased by the Yankees from the Astros.
September 29, 2012: Selected off waivers by the Orioles from the Yankees.
April 27, 2014: Released by the Orioles.
April 29, 2014: Signed as a Free Agent with the Baltimore Orioles.
In 2012 he went from the Yankees to the Orioles to the Astros back to the Yankees and then back to the Orioles in less than 4 months! This year the Orioles released him but he turned down an offer from the Blue Jays to come back to Baltimore for a third time.
His 5th homer Tuesday night established a career high, he's never had more than 165 at bats in his previous 7 major league seasons.
His role has been to hit against left-handed pitching but this year he's hitting over .300 against left-handers and righties and 4 of his 5 Home Runs have come against right-handers. At 31, Pearce looks like more than a role player for the Orioles and maybe for the first time in a long time he's not looking over his shoulder. His replacement will have to wait Steve Pearce is having the time of his baseball life.
Enjoy Steve, you've earned it!
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