Mark Merila

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 180 lb.
• School University of Minnesota

• Born November 9, 1971

BR Register page

Biographical Information

Second baseman Mark Merila was drafted by Major League Baseball teams twice - first, he was taken in the 10th round of the 1993 amateur draft, though he refused to sign. He was next taken by the Padres in the 33rd round of the 1994 amateur draft, beginning his professional career that year.

He was the starting second baseman for Team USA in the 1993 Intercontinental Cup, batting .333/.500/.467 with a team-high 9 walks for Team USA. He scored 14 runs, one shy of team leader Todd Helton. He fielded .963 at second base but only .500 when he switched spots with 3B Todd Walker. He did not win All-Star honors, which went to Japan's Toshihisa Nishi.

He played for the Spokane Indians in 1994, hitting .253 in 54 games. In 1995, he played for the Idaho Falls Braves, hitting .284 in 56 games. Overall, he hit .268 in his two-year career. He also pitched in two games, posting a 32.40 ERA.. Since 1996, he has been the Padres bullpen catcher.

He retired from professional baseball due to a brain tumor. Following his playing career, he became the Padres' bullpen catcher. After the tumor returned in 2005, he was forced to give up his bullpen catching duties, however he still served as an aide to third base coach Glenn Hoffman.

He has since resumed his bullpen catching duties.