Phil Plantier

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Phillip Alan Plantier (born January 27, 1969 in Manchester, New Hampshire) is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as an outfielder from 1990-1997. Although he enjoyed a rather successful major league career, Plantier is most often remembered for the unrealistic expectations placed upon him after a torrid rookie season.

Plantier was an 11th round draft pick of the Boston Red Sox in the 1987 amateur entry draft. He developed a knack for hitting home runs in the minor leagues and skipped the AA level altogether. Plantier burst onto the national scene in 1991 after a mid-season callup from the Pawtucket Red Sox. In only 53 games and 148 at bats, he was able to slug 11 home runs and amass 35 RBIs while hitting .331. This worked out to a home run hit in roughly every 13 at bats. By comparison, the league leader in home runs that season, José Canseco, also hit a home run every 13 at bats on average. As a result, Plantier finished 8th in Rookie of the Year voting despite only playing one-third of a season.

Plantier was unable to repeat his rookie performance in 1992, and was traded to the San Diego Padres the following season. He enjoyed his best full season in 1993, in which he hit 34 home runs with 100 RBIs, both career highs. Currently, he is the hitting coach for the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx.

[edit] Teams

Boston Red Sox 1990-1992
San Diego Padres 1993-1994, 1995, 1997
Houston Astros 1995
Oakland Athletics 1996
St. Louis Cardinals 1997
Plantier also spent time in spring training with the Detroit Tigers in 1996 (traded to the A's) and the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998 (released).