Kevin Melillo | |||
---|---|---|---|
infielder/outfielder | |||
Born: Orlando, Florida |
May 14, 1982 |||
|
|||
MLB debut | |||
June 24, 2007, for the Oakland Athletics | |||
Last MLB appearance | |||
June 24, 2007, for the Oakland Athletics | |||
MLB statistics | |||
On-base percentage | 1.000 | ||
Walks | 1 | ||
Teams | |||
Kevin Michael Melillo (born May 14, 1982) is a former American professional baseball player.
Melillo was born on May 14, 1982, to Joanne and John Melillo in Orlando, Florida. He has an older sister, Shana. He attended Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs. He attended the University of South Carolina, where he played second base for four years (although he was redshirted his freshman year). In 2003, he was named to the Atlanta NCAA Regional All-Tournament team. In 2004, he was named to the Columbia NCAA Regional All-Tournament team.
Melillo was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 5th round (157th overall) in the 2004 baseball draft.
Melillo signed nine days after the draft, and was assigned to the Vancouver Canadians, Oakland's A-Short Season team for the 2004 season. In 2005, he was advanced to the Kane County Cougars, the team's Single-A affiliate. After 78 games, he was bumped up to the , the Single-A Advanced team, where he hit .400. After 22 games, he was promoted again, this time to the Double-A Midland RockHounds in the Texas League. He remained with Midland for the 2006 season, hitting .280. During this time, he played almost entirely at second base, with five combined games at first base, shortstop, and outfield.
In 2007, Melillo was promoted to Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. On June 24, 2007, he made his major league debut against the New York Mets, as a pinch hitter for pitcher Jay Marshall. Leading off the top of the eighth, Melillo reached on a walk, in his only major league plate appearance and game. (The next three A's were set down in order, and Melillo did not advance to second.) Melillo thus became the fifth player in MLB history to accomplish this "feat", the best-known of which is Eddie Gaedel. The next day, he was optioned back to Sacramento. He spent one month of the 2007 season (from July 3 to August 2) on the disabled list with a sprained left wrist.