Kelly Stinnett

Various Major League Baseball clubs

What is Kelly Stinnett known for?

Born on February 14, 1970, in Lawton, Oklahoma, Kelly Stinnett is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. As an alumnus of Lawton High School, Stinnett had a notable high school career. A talented sportsman, he was a letterman in both football and baseball. In 1987, as a junior, he quarterbacked Lawton's football team to an undefeated record and state championship.

Stinnett attended Seminole Junior College in Oklahoma, where he performed impressively. In his freshman year, he led all junior college players with 30 home runs and 124 runs batted in, earning him All-Conference and All-Region honors. His performance in his sophomore year won him the title of National Junior College Player of the Year and earned him a first-team All-American selection, having achieved a batting average of .399, hitting 22 home runs and notching up 97 RBI.

His professional journey in baseball was kickstarted when he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 1989 amateur draft as the 279th overall pick, and later selected by the New York Mets in the Rule 5 draft on December 13, 1993. His debut in Major League Baseball came on April 5, 1994, for the New York Mets.

Throughout his career, he played for various teams including the New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Royals, New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals. His last appearance in Major League Baseball was on September 30, 2007, for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Stinnett displayed his prowess with commendable statistics - achieving a batting average of .234, 65 home runs, and 230 runs batted in during his 14-season stint in the majors.

Post-retirement, Stinnett is still involved with the sport, serving as the head coach for the Park–Gilbert Buccaneers. The legacy he leaves behind is a testament to his illustrious career and contributions to Major League Baseball.

More about his life and career can be read on his Baseball-Reference Profile.