# Mark Whiten
**Mark Whiten** (Mark Anthony Whiten, born 1966 in [Pensacola, Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/pensacola-florida)) is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played 11 seasons in [Major League Baseball](https://www.edgepedia.org/major-league-baseball) from 1990 to 2000, mostly as a right fielder, for eight different teams. A switch hitter nicknamed "Hard Hittin'", he is best known for a September 7, 1993 game in which he hit four home runs and drove in 12 runs, tying the MLB single-game RBI record.[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/mark-whiten-124207) • [2](https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Mark_Whiten)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / nickname | Mark Anthony Whiten; "Hard Hittin'"[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/mark-whiten-124207) |
| Born | 1966, Pensacola, FL; batted switch, threw right; 6'3", listed at 210–215 lb[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/mark-whiten-124207) • [3](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/whitema01.shtml) |
| Draft | 1986, Toronto Blue Jays, 5th round, 130th overall, from Pensacola State College[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/mark-whiten-124207) |
| MLB span | Debut July 12, 1990; last game May 11, 2000; eight teams, plus play in Mexico[3](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/whitema01.shtml) • [4](https://www.mlb.com/news/where-are-they-now-mark-whiten/c-34153000) |
| Career batting | 3,104 AB, .259 AVG, 804 H, 105 HR, 423 RBI, 78 SB, .341 OBP, .756 OPS, 14.1 WAR[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/mark-whiten-124207) • [3](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/whitema01.shtml) |
| Signature game | Four home runs and 12 RBI, September 7, 1993, vs. Cincinnati at Riverfront Stadium, tying Jim Bottomley's single-game RBI record[2](https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Mark_Whiten) |
| Pitching line | One career appearance: 1.0 inning, 3 strikeouts, 9.00 ERA[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/mark-whiten-124207) |
## Early life and drafting
Whiten attended Pensacola High School and Pensacola State College, both in his hometown of Pensacola, Florida.[3](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/whitema01.shtml) The Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 5th round, 130th overall, of the 1986 MLB January Draft-Regular Phase.[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/mark-whiten-124207) He climbed the Toronto organization's prospect lists, ranked by [Baseball America](https://www.edgepedia.org/baseball-america) as the Blue Jays' #10 prospect in 1988, #5 in 1989, and #1 in 1991, and #25 overall on Baseball America's top-100 list in 1991.[5](https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/12468-mark-whiten/)
He reached the majors on July 12, 1990, at age 23, appearing in 33 games for Toronto that season.[3](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/whitema01.shtml) In 1991 he finished sixth in American League Rookie of the Year voting after hitting 9 home runs with 45 RBI in a season split between two teams.[3](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/whitema01.shtml)
## Career path
Whiten's career was marked by frequent moves. He was traded from Toronto to the Cleveland Indians in mid-1991, then dealt to the [St. Louis Cardinals](https://www.edgepedia.org/st-louis-cardinals) at the end of spring training in 1993.[4](https://www.mlb.com/news/where-are-they-now-mark-whiten/c-34153000) His 1993 season in St. Louis was his strongest: 25 home runs (12th in the NL), 99 RBI (11th in the NL), and 152 games played, though he also struck out 110 times.[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/mark-whiten-124207) He won National League Player of the Week honors twice that year, for the weeks of July 18 and September 12, 1993.[1](https://www.mlb.com/player/mark-whiten-124207)
In 1995, after playing only 32 games for Boston and batting .185, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for Dave Hollins, a deal he later described as good for both sides. In 60 games of the strike-shortened season he tied Charlie Hayes and Gregg Jefferies for the team lead with 11 home runs, and the Phillies released him the following June.[4](https://www.mlb.com/news/where-are-they-now-mark-whiten/c-34153000) He finished his major league career on May 11, 2000, after 11 seasons with eight teams, and also played in Mexico.[3](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/whitema01.shtml) • [4](https://www.mlb.com/news/where-are-they-now-mark-whiten/c-34153000)
## The four-home-run game
On September 7, 1993, in the second game of a doubleheader against the [Cincinnati Reds](https://www.edgepedia.org/cincinnati-reds) at Riverfront Stadium, Whiten hit four home runs and drove in 12 runs, tying Jim Bottomley for the MLB single-game RBI record of 12; the Baseball Reference Bullpen notes he could have had 13.[2](https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Mark_Whiten)
## Pitching appearance
Whiten made one major league pitching appearance, on July 31, 1998, while with [Cleveland](https://www.edgepedia.org/cleveland) against Oakland, striking out 3 batters in 1.0 inning with a 9.00 ERA.
## Post-playing life
After retiring, Whiten stayed in the game. While working in the Texas Rangers organization, he served as the first professional hitting coach for John Mayberry Jr. at Class A Spokane in 2005; fittingly, Whiten's own first hitting coach after signing with Toronto had been Mayberry's father, John Mayberry Sr., who also gave him the "Hard Hittin'" nickname.[4](https://www.mlb.com/news/where-are-they-now-mark-whiten/c-34153000) In 2014 he was named manager of a select 13U national team drawn from MLB's RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) program, working with the Major League Scouting Bureau to pick players after regional showcases.[6](https://www.mlb.com/news/mark-whiten-ready-to-manage-rbi-13u-national-team/c-123979120) In a 2012 interview he said he emphasized learning over winning for young players, and he had also started a lawn business in Tampa while watching his children grow up.[4](https://www.mlb.com/news/where-are-they-now-mark-whiten/c-34153000)
## References
1. [Mark Whiten Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News, MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/player/mark-whiten-124207)
2. [Mark Whiten, BR Bullpen, Baseball-Reference](https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Mark_Whiten)
3. [Mark Whiten Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More, Baseball-Reference](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/whitema01.shtml)
4. [Where are they now? Mark Whiten, MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/where-are-they-now-mark-whiten/c-34153000)
5. [Mark Whiten Stats & Scouting Report, Baseball America](https://www.baseballamerica.com/players/12468-mark-whiten/)
6. [Whiten ready to manage RBI 13U national team, MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/mark-whiten-ready-to-manage-rbi-13u-national-team/c-123979120)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Baseball and related bat sports › Professional baseball in the Americas › MLB players and personnel biographies › Outfielders › Outfielders of the 1960s to 1990s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license