All-Time Top 100 Marlins: #65 Mark Redman

Throughout the 2016-17 offseason, Fish Stripes is counting down the top 100 Marlins of all-time. For comparison’s sake, we are using the Wins Above Replacement (WAR) metric as a measuring device. The top 100 WAR ratings are being featured. Today’s Marlin, Mark Redman, earned 2.9 while with Florida.

Mark Redman was a 6’5”, 220 lb. left-handed starter from San Diego, California. Born on January 5th, 1974, he was initially drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 41st round of the 1992 amateur draft, although he never signed. Three years later, the Minnesota Twins picked him in the first round of the 1995 amateur draft, with the 13th overall selection, between Matt Morris and Reggie Taylor.

In his first professional assignment, Redman reported to the high-A Fort Myers Miracle in the Florida State League for what remained of the 1995 season, and went 2-1 over eight appearances, including five starts. He struck out 26 batters in 32.2 innings, and allowed a 2.76 ERA and a 1.255 WHIP.

1996 would see Redman start with the Miracle (13 starts, 3-4, 1.85 ERA, 82.2 innings, 75 strikeouts, 1.173 WHIP) before earning a promotion to the Hardware City Rock Cats in the double-A Eastern League. He went 7-7 with a 3.81 ERA, a 1.420 WHIP, and 96 whiffs in 106.1 innings. The performance helped him earn a second promotion late in the season, to the triple-A Pacific Coast League with the Salt Lake Buzz. He started one game for them, a no decision, allowing four runs and striking out four in as many innings.

In 1997, Redman remained at the triple-A level with the Buzz all season, starting 28 times and going 8-15 with an alarming 6.31 ERA and a 1.794 WHIP. Predictably, the Twins decided to let him get another season of work in before considering him at the major league level. 1998 would be a season that Redman spent between Minnesota’s two top minor league affiliates. He was 4-2 with a 1.52 ERA and a 1.204 WHIP in eight starts for the Buzz and 6-7 with a 5.53 ERA and a 1.530 WHIP for the Rock Cats.

Redman started the 1999 season with the Buzz, going 9-9 with a 5.05 ERA, a 1.436 WHIP, and 114 whiffs in 133.2 innings. In July, the Twins called him up for his first taste of the majors. In five games, including his first start, he earned one decision, a victory, while giving up 8.53 earned runs per nine innings, with a 1.895 WHIP and 11 strikeouts in 12.2 innings.

2000 would see Redman emerge as a full time major leaguer for the first time, as part of the Twins starting rotation. He totaled parts of three seasons with Minnesota, accumulating a 15-13 record over 34 starts and 12 relief appearances. He struck out 157 over 213 innings pitched, with a 4.86 ERA and a 1.469 WHIP. Before finding his way to the Marlins, he also played a season-and-a-half with the Detroit Tigers, going 8-17 in 32 starts, with a 1.307 WHIP, a 4.29 ERA, and 113 whiffs in 212 innings.

On January 11th, 2003, the Tigers traded Redman with Jerrod Fuell to the Marlins for Rob Henkel, Gary Knotts, and Nate Anderson. Redman joined the Marlins’ rotation as the number three starter, behind Josh Beckett and Carl Pavano. The Marlins went 91-71 through the season, qualifying for the wildcard and the postseason. Redman went 14-9 for them, and they went 16-13 in his 29 starts, going 75-58 when someone else started. He was one of three players to share the team-lead with 14 wins, with Dontrelle Willis and Brad Penny. Redman also had a 3.59 ERA, a team-leading 1.222 WHIP, and a team-second 151 strikeouts (Beckett had 152) in 190.2 innings. He ranked third in the NL with three complete games, 10th with 0.755 home runs allowed per nine innings, and ninth with a 3.58 FIP.

Redman spent the entire season in Florida’s rotation, less most of the month of May, which he missed with a broken thumb. On April 24th, in his fifth start of the season, he pitched a complete game 4-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, striking out 11 and allowing four hits and a walk. In his next start, a 7-5 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks, he pitched seven shutout innings, striking out five and allowing three hits and zero walks. On June 20th, he struck out eight Devil Rays over eight innings, giving up one earned run on five hits and zero walks in a 3-1 victory against Tampa Bay.

Redman faced off against six Braves pitchers on June 30th, going the distance and allowing five hits and a walk against two strikeouts in an 8-1 triumph over Atlanta. On July 18th, he gave up four hits and zero walks over seven shutout innings, striking out nine Cubs in a 6-0 shutout of Chicago.

Redman went on to start four times for the Marlins in the postseason, earning a 6.50 ERA over 18 innings. His only decision came in game two of the Fall Classic, a 6-1 loss to the New York Yankees. Of course, the Marlins came back to win three of the next four games to win the Series in six for their second World Championship. After the season, the Marlins traded him to the Oakland Athletics for Michael Neu and a PTBNL (Bill Murphy).

After a season with the A’s (32 starts, 11-12, 4.71 ERA, 1.497 WHIP, 102 strikeouts in 191 innings), Redman played with the Pittsburgh Pirates (30 starts, 5-15, 4.90 ERA, 1.368 WHIP, 101 strikeouts in 178.1 innings), the Kansas City Royals (29 starts, 11-10, 5.71 ERA, 1.587 WHIP, 76 whiffs in 167 innings), the Braves (six starts, 0-4, 11.63 ERA, 2.262 WHIP, 13 K’s in 21.2 innings), and the Colorado Rockies (15 starts, 4-5, 6.23 ERA, 1.600 WHIP, 34 strikeouts in 65 innings). He was awarded free agency just after the close of the 2008 campaign, but he never again signed on with a major league team.

From all of us at Fish Stripes to all of you out there in Marlins’ land, have a Happy Holiday.