Kevin Saucier

Last updated
Kevin Saucier
Kevin Saucier - Oklahoma City 89ers.jpg
Pitcher
Born: (1956-08-09) August 9, 1956 (age 64)
Pensacola, Florida
Batted: RightThrew: Left
MLB debut
October 1, 1978, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
July 25, 1982, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record 15–11
Earned run average 3.31
Strikeouts 94
Saves 19
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Kevin Andrew Saucier (born August 9, 1956) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1978 to 1982 for the Philadelphia Phillies and Detroit Tigers. Nicknamed "Hot Sauce", [1] Saucier (whose name is pronounced "So-Shay"), was an energetic pitcher who would often display his emotions while on the mound. Saucier retired prior to the 1983 season due to his loss of control on the mound leading him to fear that he might kill someone with a pitch. [2]

Contents

Playing career

Saucier was selected in the 2nd round (27th overall) in the 1974 June Amateur Baseball Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies out of Escambia High School in Pensacola, Florida. After serving primarily as a middle reliever for the Phillies in 1979 and 1980, winning a World Series ring in 1980, he was traded to the Texas Rangers in the offseason. Before spring training in 1981, the Rangers subsequently dealt Saucier to the Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers named him their closer for 1981 season. During the strike-shortened '81 season, he saved 13 games in 15 opportunities and posted an excellent 1.65 ERA. After saving five games to start the 1982 season, he started to complain of a tired arm and was eventually placed on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. [3] His attempt to come back from the injury with the AAA Evansville Triplets was unsuccessful, as he walked 23 batters in 22 innings and pitched to a 7.36 ERA. Concerned that he "didn't know where the ball was going to go", he chose to retire from baseball. [2]

Post-playing career

Since the 1980s, Saucier has been a scout for the Major League Scouting Bureau, [1] evaluating amateur baseball prospects in Alabama, the Florida panhandle and a portion of Georgia. [4] In this position he has scouted future MLB players such as Chipper Jones, Alex Rodriguez, and Bo Jackson. [5]

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References

  1. 1 2 Dokoupil, Tony (July 4, 2014). "Major League Baseball's Open Tryouts: A Real Field of Dreams". nbcnews.com. NBC News. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  2. 1 2 UPI (1983-04-13). "PITCHER WHO RETIRED TELLS OF THE PRESSURE". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
  3. ↑ Holmes, Dan (March 15, 2015). "A Timeline of Detroit Tigers' Closers". VintageDetroit.com. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  4. ↑ Reeves, D. C. (May 9, 2014). "Mikey White becomes 'centerpiece' of Alabama baseball team". tuscaloosanews.com. Tuscaloosa, AL: Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  5. ↑ Caree, Chuck (August 5, 2002). "Saucier no stranger to work stoppages". Star-News. Wilmington, NC. Morning Star. p. 3C. Retrieved November 28, 2014.


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