| Corey Hart | |
|---|---|
 Hart with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008 | |
| Right fielder | |
| Born: (1982-03-24)March 24, 1982 (age 43) Bowling Green, Kentucky, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 25, 2004, for the Milwaukee Brewers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 21, 2015, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .271 |
| Home runs | 162 |
| Runs batted in | 538 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Jon Corey Hart (born March 24, 1982) is an American former professionalbaseballright fielder. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theMilwaukee Brewers from 2004 through 2013, theSeattle Mariners in 2014 and thePittsburgh Pirates in 2015. Hart was a two-timeMLB All-Star, and also participated in the MLB Home Run Derby.
Hart played for theGreenwood High School Gators inBowling Green, Kentucky. Hart also played basketball for four years for the Gators for coach Jason Couch and was recruited to be college basketball atUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham. He regularly played shortstop on the baseball team.[1][2] Hart's jersey is retired by Greenwood and hangs from the rafters in the school's gymnasium.[citation needed]
Hart playedAmerican Legion Baseball and was named the program's Graduate of the Year for 2011.[3]
The Milwaukee Brewers selected Hart in the 11th round of the2000 MLB Draft.[4] He started his career that summer with the rookie levelOgden Raptors, primarily playing atfirst base. He moved up to the Single-AHigh Desert Mavericks and then the Double-AHuntsville Stars by the2002 season. He was selected for theAll-Star Futures Game.[5] He moved up to theTriple-AIndianapolis Indians in 2004.
In 2005, Hart batted .308 with 17 home runs and 69 RBIs in 113 games for the Triple-ANashville Sounds.[6] While there, Hart played alongside future major league teammatesPrince Fielder andJ. J. Hardy.[7] He also had 31stolen bases. Hart continued to play in both the minor and major leagues through 2006, and was regarded as one of Milwaukee's top prospects.[8]
Hart made hisMLB debut with the Brewers on May 25, 2004.[4] Hart's next game in the majors was Sunday, August 14, 2005, when he hit his first MLB home run, a three-run blast against theCincinnati Reds into the upper deck atMiller Park.[9] Hart played 87 games for the major league club in 2006 and was with the Brewers for the entire 2007 season, mainly seeing action in right field.[4] Hart also led off for the Brewers for almost half of the 2007 season when second basemanRickie Weeks was on the disabled list.[10]
In spring training in 2007, Hart, who stands at 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m), recorded the fastest 60 yard dash of any player on the Brewers roster.[11]
During the 2007 season, Hart had a 22-game hitting streak which was snapped in a July 7 game against theWashington Nationals, as Hart went 0-for-4 with a walk.[12][13] In 2007, Hart became the first Brewer since 2003 to steal 20 bases and hit 20 home runs in a season.[14] He andRyan Braun were the first two Brewers to have two 20–20 seasons.[15][16]
In 2008, Hart was selected as an outfielder to theNational League team at theMajor League Baseball All-Star Game, which took place on July 15 atYankee Stadium.[4] He was voted in by the fans as a final vote, beating outDavid Wright of theMets,Pat Burrell of thePhillies,Aaron Rowand of theGiants, andCarlos Lee of theAstros.[17] On August 30, Hart became the first player in Brewers history to have consecutive 20–20 seasons.[18] Hart reached base on an error 14 times in 2008, more than any other batter in the NL.[19]
On May 29, 2010, Hart hit his first major league grand slam. In that game against the Mets he also hit a two-run home run.[20] In July, Hart was voted by his peers to play in theAll-Star Game inAnaheim and also was chosen to participate in theHome Run Derby. Hart had a breakout season in 2010 statistically. As the regular Brewers right fielder, he posted a career-best 31 home runs, 102 RBIs, and a .283 batting average.
On May 23, 2011, Hart tied the Brewers records for home runs in a game with three and RBIs with seven. Hart had another productive regular season with the Brewers in 2011, posting 26 home runs, and 63 RBIs with a .285 batting average, .386 OBP, and .866 OPS. Hart's drop in home runs and RBIs is a result of missing the first three weeks of the season with an injury. He batted leadoff beginning in July, limiting his chances to drive in runs.[21]
Hart started the 2012 season as the Brewers regular right fielder, but injuries to Brewers first basemenMat Gamel andTravis Ishikawa resulted in Hart becoming the Brewers starting first baseman, where he ended up having a successful season, recording a .995 fielding percentage playing in over 100 games at first base. He had a productive offensive season with the Brewers in 2012, batting .270 with 30 home runs and 83 RBIs.
Hart had surgery on his left knee in January 2013 and missed the entire 2013 season.[22]
On December 11, 2013, Hart agreed to a one-year, $6 million contract with theSeattle Mariners. The deal contained up to $7 million in incentives.[23][2] In 68 games in 2014, he batted .203 with 6 home runs.[4] He wasdesignated for assignment on September 29.[24]
ThePittsburgh Pirates signed Hart to a one-year, $2.5 million contract on December 19, 2014.[25]
Hart finished his professional baseball career in 2015.[26]
On June 27, 2017, it was announced that Hart would officially retire from Major League Baseball as a Milwaukee Brewer after being honored at Miller Park on June 30 with a plaque on the park'sWall of Honor. A two-time All-Star, Hart spent nine of his 11 major league seasons with the Brewers, batting .276 with 154 home runs, 508 RBI, and 83 stolen bases in 945 games. He had five 20-home-run seasons in Milwaukee, tied with four others for fourth-most in franchise history. Among the 38 players who have at least 2,000 plate appearances for the Brewers, his .491 slugging percentage ranks sixth all-time.[27][28]
In 1048 games over 11 seasons, Hart compiled a .271batting average (1009-for-3729) with 549runs, 221doubles, 33triples, 162home runs, 538RBI, 85stolen bases, 286walks, .329on-base percentage and .478slugging percentage. Defensively, he recorded a .988fielding percentage playing all three outfield positions and first base. In the postseason, Hart batted .241 (13-for-54) with 6 runs, 2 home runs and 5 RBI in 14 playoff games.
Hart is married and has four children.[29] After retiring, his family lived nearPhoenix, Arizona.[26]
Hart helped pay for an indoor baseball facility for Bowling Green Little League in 2015.[31]
· Baseball Almanac