| Marvin Benard | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Benard in 2018 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1971-01-20)January 20, 1971 (age 55) Bluefields,Nicaragua | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 5, 1995, for the San Francisco Giants | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 27, 2003, for the San Francisco Giants | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .271 |
| Home runs | 54 |
| Runs batted in | 260 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Marvin Larry Benard (born January 20, 1971) is a Nicaraguan professionalbaseball manager and formeroutfielder. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theSan Francisco Giants. He has also managed theNicaraguan national team as well asGigantes de Rivas in the2024 Caribbean Series.
Benard moved to Los Angeles with his mother and father when he was 12.[1] After a stellar prep career atBell High School, he attended El Camino College (Torrance, CA) freshman year. After his Head Coach Tom Hicks stepped down, Benard transferred to L.A. Harbor Junior College in Wilmington, Calif., thenLewis-Clark State College inLewiston, Idaho.
His son, Isaac, was drafted by theTampa Bay Rays in the 23rd round of the2016 Amateur Draft and was a member of thePrinceton Rays in theAppalachian League, where he hit .255 with 3 home runs and 3 stolen bases in 110 at-bats.[2]
He is the cousin of actor,Maurice Benard.[3]
Benard played with theSan Francisco Giants from 1995 to 2003. He was a starter from 1999–2001, and played most of the 1996 season due to an injury toGlenallen Hill. He won the 1999Willie Mac Award for his spirit and leadership. Despite a disappointing postseason performance in 2000, Marvin had one of the most memorable hits of series, driving inEllis Burks with an RBI single in Game 3 of the2000 National League Division Series.
Benard had above-average power for a leadoff hitter. A notorious first-pitch hitter prone to striking out, Benard had good bat speed and couldsteal bases, though he was caught stealing 29% of the time over the course of his career. He played all three outfield positions, mostly as acenter fielder. As apinch hitter, he had a career .267batting average. Benard hit the final San Francisco Giants home run in the history ofCandlestick Park, which came in the first inning of the Giants' eventual 9-4 loss to theLos Angeles Dodgers.[4]
After becoming afree agent after the 2003 season, Benard agreed to a minor-league contract with theChicago White Sox but was released before the season began and signed with theToronto Blue Jays. He was released after one season with the Triple-ASyracuse Chiefs, hitting .211 with four homers and 18 RBI in 33 games.
On April 11, 2010, Benard admitted to using steroids during the 2002 season in which the Giants reached theWorld Series.[5]
Benard was employed as a hitting coach for theSan Diego Padres' short-season Class ANorthwest League affiliate, theTri-City Dust Devils, for the 2015 season. In 2016 he managed theNicaragua national baseball team.[6] He is currently employed as acolor commentator for the Giants' Spanish-language radio broadcasts, working road games alongside Erwin Higueros.[7]
Benard managedGigantes de Rivas, champions of the 2023–24Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League, at the2024 Caribbean Series (taking over fromGermán Mesa). He drew criticism after making comments criticizing the heart of his team, saying "I'm going to get in trouble for saying this... the Nicaraguan baseball player is a conformist. I try to motivate them, but they can't get it out of their heads."[8] The Nicaraguan team finished the tournament in last place with a 0–6 record, being eliminated in the first round.[9]