Jason Bere

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Jason Phillip Bere

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Biographical Information[edit]

Once a star prospect, Jason Bere never developed into the top-line starter people expected him to be. Some cited his heavy workload at a young age as the reason for his multiple injuries.

Jason made his mark early, going 12-5 and then 12-2 in his first two seasons, 1993 and 1994. Each season, his Chicago White Sox finished first in their division, going to the ALCS in 1993. He struggled badly in his two appearances in the spotlight, being rocked and tagged with a loss in his only postseason start in the 1993 ALCS against the Toronto Blue Jays, and taking the loss in extra innings while failing to retire a batter in the 1994 All-Star Game.

Bere struggled with injuries and inconsistency throughout the remainder of his big league career. He led the American League in losses with 15 in 1995 while walking almost as many batters as he struck out and posting an awful 7.15 ERA. He missed most of the next two seasons with injuries, then started 1998 with a 3-7, 6.45 record for the Sox to earn his unconditional release in July. He was picked up by the Cincinnati Reds a week later and found a second wind, going 3-2, 4.12 for them, and then a combined 5-0 with Cincinnati and the Milwaukee Brewers in 1999. He had shining moments later in his career, such as on June 29, 2000, when he struck out 13 Philadelphia Phillies while playing for the Brewers, and when he posted double figures in wins in 2000 and 2001, the latter year with the Chicago Cubs. Coincidentally, Bere had another one of the greatest moments of his career on June 29, 2001, when he pitched a shutout through eight innings at the Cincinnati Reds, only to give up a homer in the 9th to Dmitri Young, and still finished with a complete game victory.

After retiring as a player, Bere worked in the Cleveland Indians front office as a Special Assistant to Baseball Operations where his responsibilities involved scouting, evaluating, and instructing the organization's pitchers. He stayed in this role from 2006 through 2014. In 2015 Bere was named the team's bullpen coach, replacing Kevin Cash who had been hired to manage the Tampa Bay Rays. He remained in this position through 2017.

Notable Achievements[edit]

  • AL All-Star (1994)
  • AL Winning Percentage Leader (1994)

Related Sites[edit]