Adam Bernero attended John F. Kennedy High School in Sacramento,California,where he played on the varsity baseball team. Joe Davidson of The Sacramento Bee described Bernero as a "capable and willing arm" during his junior season[1] and "one of the area's top arms" in the lead-up to his senior season.[2]
In May 1999,Bernero met with Detroit Tigers scout Jeff Wetherby at a Denny's restaurant near his alma mater. Wetherby apparently forgot to bring an official contract with him,and Bernero ended up signing an official contract on a napkin,making him a member of the Tigers organization for $8,000. The Tigers had narrowly beaten out the Atlanta Braves,who failed to locate the correct diner.[12]
A few short weeks ago, Adam Bernero was looking over the late-night menu at Denny's and was thoughtfully pondering the future. Deli Dinger or Super Bird? Grand Slam or Moons Over My Hammy? A meeting the next day with the Atlanta Braves or an offer on the table from the Detroit Tigers to play professional baseball right away? The 22-year-old free-agent pitcher knew what would satisfy his appetite.
—Brian VanOchten, "Bernero baffles Wizards in dazzling home debut", The Grand Rapids Press (June 4, 1999)[13]
Bernero made his professional debut for the Class-A West Michigan Whitecaps on May 29, 1999 at Marinelli Field in Rockford, Illinois. Bernero gave up three home runs in the 7–2 loss against the Rockford Reds.[14] In the month of June, Bernero posted a 5–0 record with a 0.99 earned run average, being named Detroit's Minor League Pitcher of the Month.[15] Bernero missed most of the final month of August after experiencing shoulder stiffness during an August 5 start.[16] Bernero finished the season with a record of 8-4 in 15 appearances. Reporter Brian VanOcthen of The Grand Rapids Press gave Bernero an end-of-season grade of "A-", describing him as a standout prospect who "showed he has the right stuff."[17] Bernero's 2.54 ERA led all Tigers minor leaguers. Tigers head of scouting described Bernero as having "phenomenal numbers," saying he "might have been the best pitcher in the Midwest League."[18]
Bernero started the 2000 season with the Double-A Jacksonville Suns.[19] In his first start against the Carolina Mudcats on April 8, Bernero threw four scoreless innings before being pulled for shoulder tightness.[20] The tightness proved to be a more serious injury, as Bernero was placed on the disabled list for a sprained elbow.[21] Bernero returned to the mound on April 29.[22] Bernero was called up to the Toledo Mud Hens on June 21, 2000. Despite a 2-5 record, Bernero had a 2.79 ERA in ten starts to that point.[23]
Bernero's first start as a Mud Hen coincided with Dave Anderson's final day as manager in Toledo. Bernero pitched six solid innings against the Ottawa Lynx, allowing only one run through six innings.[24] Through Bernero's first seven starts with the Mud Hens, he posted a 3–1 record with a 2.48 ERA. A July 26 article in The Blade noted that "if Adam Bernero keeps this up much longer, the Detroit Tigers may start believing he's the best find they've had in some time."[25]
Detroit Tigers (2000–2003)
On July 31, Bernero was called up to the major-league roster to replace starting pitcher Dave Mlicki, who underwent surgery to correct a sinus issue.[26] Bernero made his MLB debut the following day against the Los Angeles Angels at Edison Field in Anaheim. That game, he struck out the first major-league hitter he faced, Darin Erstad. He ended the night with five strikeouts and two earned runs through five and two-thirds innings. Although the Tigers won 6–3, Bernero was credited with a no decision as the game was tied when he was relieved.[12]
Following a June 10, 2002, pitching win against the Montreal Expos, Bernero went 17 starts without recording a win, setting a Tigers team record. Bernero broke the winless streak on June 1, 2003, when the Tigers defeated the New York Yankees, 4–2.[27]
Colorado Rockies (2003–2004)
On July 13, 2003, Bernero was traded to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for catcher and outfielder Ben Petrick. At the time of his trade, Bernero had posted a 1–12 season record, with a 6.08 earned run average. Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said that Bernero would be utilized as a long reliever, despite Bernero making only one appearance as a reliever during his major league career up to that point.[28]
Atlanta Braves (2005)
Bernero was a free agent following the 2004 season.[29] On January 8, 2005,[30] Bernero was invited to spring training by the Atlanta Braves.[31] In a March 16 interview with the Anderson Independent-Mail, Bernero said that he turned down offers from about ten different major league teams, instead opting to be a "longshot" with the contending Braves, who won the National League East with a 96-66 record the year prior. "I've learned that being the 12th guy on a losing team is better than being the ace on a losing team," Bernero said.[32] In a March 18 article in The Atlanta Constitution, sportswriter David O'Brien deemed Bernero a "reclamation project," noting that should Bernero succeed in Atlanta, it "would go down as one of the biggest (Leo Mazzone) turnaround jobs to date." O'Brien also noted that Bernero seemingly had Braves manager Bobby Cox in his corner. After a March 16 sixth-inning appearance against the Washington Nationals in which Bernero struck out two, Cox said "He's got a bunch of good pitches. Every once in a while you find a guy like that in camp."[33]
It should be a good bullpen, Bernero is sort of the surprise guy. He's striking out a lot of hitters down here. He was invited as a free agent. Sometimes you hit paydirt on that.
Dubbed by Associated Press sportswriter Charles Odom as "perhaps the biggest surprise of the Braves' camp" in a March 26 article, Bernero had a 2.25 ERA before a March 24 game against the Yankees, in which he gave up four runs in one inning.[34] Bernero finished the spring with a 7.36 ERA and 15 strikeouts, having at first pitched seven scoreless innings before giving up nine runs in his last four. Despite ending on a sour note, Bernero earned a bullpen roster spot for Opening Day.[35] Bernero made his first appearance out of the bullpen on Opening Day on April 5 against the Florida Marlins, giving up two runs in the 9-0 Braves loss.[36] Bernero got his first win as a Brave the next day, pitching two scoreless innings in extra innings against the Marlins.[37]
On July 16, Bernero was sent down to the Triple-A Richmond Braves in exchange for veteran pitcher Jay Powell. Through 47.0 innings of work up to that point, Bernero had an ERA of 6.51.[38]
Kansas City Royals (2006)
On November 21, 2005,[30] Bernero signed a minor-league contract with the Kansas City Royals.[39] In an early spring assessment of the Royals by The Kansas City Star, Bernero was described as an "experienced arm" that was "ticketed for (the Omaha Royals)," the Royals' Triple-A affiliate.[40] Indeed, following the spring, Bernero was assigned to Omaha and started the 2006 season there.[41] When Royals starter Mark Redman was out of action for an army injury and family bereavement concerns, Benero was initially planned to be called up to the major-league roster to serve as an emergency starter on May 24. Bernero, however, had the flu, leading the Royals to call up Jimmy Gobble instead.[42] Bernero took a 2-2 record and 3.27 ERA into June, before being granted a release on June 2.[43]
I just got tired of playing for losing (major league) teams. I got enough of that when I was in Detroit. The Phillies are in a pennant race, and I really feel like I can help them.
Phillies vice president Mike Arbuckle clarified to the Courier-Post that Bernero would likely not see much playing time in the major leagues, saying "in a stop-gap measure, he can help us at the major league level but we signed him to help our Triple-A club."[46] Bernero pitched well for the Red Barons, described by Van Rose of the Times Leader as "the most dominant pitcher on the staff."[45] Bernero amassed a 1-1 record, 1.88 ERA, and 15 strikeouts in four appearances before being called up to the major-league squad on June 28 in place of starter Brett Myers, who had taken a leave of absence for personal and legal troubles.[47]
In his first and only game with the Phillies, a June 30 start against the Toronto Blue Jays, Bernero surrendered eight runs in two innings in an 8-1 loss.[48] The team designated him for assignment on July 4.[49] After clearing the waivers, Bernero opted to become a free agent.[50]
Second stint with the Royals (2006)
On July 14, 2006,[30] Bernero signed with the Royals and was assigned to Omaha.[51] Bernero was called up on August 11 by the Royals for a series opener against the Cleveland Indians, having amassed a 3-0 record in three starts and giving up only three runs in 20 innings for Omaha up to that point.[52] Bernero made his debut the same day, going five-and-two-thirds innings in the start, allowing only one run and seven hits.[53] Following the game, Royals manager Buddy Bell said that the team would utilize a six-man starting rotation, allowing Bernero to stay on the major-league roster as a starter.[54]
In an August 17 game against the Chicago White Sox, Bernero pitched six scoreless innings and earned his first major-league win as a starter since 2003.[55] Bernero was placed on the disabled list with elbow inflammation after the game.[56] Bernero was reinstated from the DL on September 10, with the Royals' intention of using him as a reliever for the rest of the season.[57] Bernero's first appearance back from the DL, a September 30 bullpen appearance against the Detroit Tigers, was his final major-league game. In one-and-one-thirds innings, Bernero gave up one run.[58]
On December 14, 2007,[30] Bernero signed a minor-league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.[60] With the Indianapolis Indians, Bernero made his first pitching appearance since 2006 against the Norfolk Tides on May 2, 2008. Bernero pitched four innings, allowing two runs.[61] Bernero left a May 18 start against the Louisville Bats with right elbow soreness after two innings, the same elbow that was reconstructed the previous year.[62] Two days later, Bernero was placed on the minor-league disabled list.[63] He was granted free agency by the Pirates on November 3.[30]
Post-playing activities
An avid fly fisherman, Bernero's first job outside of baseball was as a summer fishing guide in Alaska, in an effort to "get as far as possible from the game and the doctors," according to a 2015 Sports Illustrated article. In September 2015, Bernero started a master's program in sports and performance psychology at the University of Denver, with the intent of helping athletes prepare for retirement.[64]
Bernero started as a mental performance coach with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017. He stayed with the team for 18 months before joining the Seattle Mariners in the same role in December 2018, where he remains.[65][66]
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