Rusty Meacham, a right-handed pitcher, spent a decade in Major League Baseball, showcasing his skills on the mound for several teams. Born on January 27, 1968, in Stuart, Florida, Meacham's journey to the majors began when he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 33rd round of the 1987 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut with the Tigers on September 5, 1991.
Meacham's time with the Tigers was brief, as he was traded to the Kansas City Royals in 1992. It was with the Royals that he spent the majority of his career, pitching for them from 1992 to 1995. During his tenure in Kansas City, Meacham was primarily utilized as a relief pitcher. In 1992, he appeared in 62 games, posting a 10-4 record with a 3.09 ERA, which was one of his best seasons statistically. His performance that year demonstrated his ability to be a reliable arm out of the bullpen.
After his stint with the Royals, Meacham's career saw him move between several teams. In 1996, he joined the Seattle Mariners, where he played for part of the season. The following year, he signed with the Houston Astros, although his time there was short-lived. Meacham continued to seek opportunities to pitch in the majors, and in 1998, he found himself with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. His role remained consistent as a relief pitcher, providing depth to the bullpen.
Meacham's final appearance in the major leagues came in 2001 with the Houston Astros. Over the course of his career, he played in 218 games, finishing with a win-loss record of 23-17 and an ERA of 4.43. While his career may not have been filled with accolades or headlines, Meacham's perseverance and ability to adapt to different teams and roles allowed him to maintain a presence in the league for a decade.
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