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Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Mark Charbonnet succeeded over 12 pro seasons, made AA

Mark Charbonnet 1990 Watertown Indians card

Mark Charbonnet had a big day for the Harrisburg Senators in this May 1995 game, according to The Carlisle Sentinel.

His day included two hits, one a solo home run, two RBIs, and praise from his manager Pat Kelly, The Sentinel wrote.

"He's very good in the clutch. Last I saw he was hitting .375 with runners in scoring position," Kelly told The Sentinel afterward. "You kind of overlook him in the lineup with the big three ... at the top. I don't know if they relax on him or he's that good. But he's really come up big for us."

Charbonnet came up big for Harrisburg that year in his seventh professional season and his first at AA. He went on to play five more campaigns in independent ball and in Mexico. He never made the majors.

Charbonnet's career began in 1989, taken by the Indians in the sixth round of the draft out of Gahr High School in Cerritos, Ca

He started at rookie Burlington and hit .231 in 41 games. He then moved to high-A Reno and short-season Watertown for 1990, then single-A Columbus and Watertown for 1991. He hit .267 in 84 total games in 1991.

Charbonnet saw high-A Kinston in 1993, then moved to the Expos system and high-A West Palm Beach for 1994. 

He had a slow start for West Palm Beach in 1994, hitting .214 in the first half, but broke out with a .344 average by early Augist in the second half,  The Palm Beach Post wrote.

"I'm trying to relax and help the team the best way I can," Charbonnet told The Post then. "In past years, I've done well the first half and slowed up the second half. This year I turned it around." 

Charbonnet hit .266 on the year and made AA Harrisburg for 1995. In 120 games there, he hit .251, he then moved to independent ball.

He played 1996 between independent Moose Jaw and Southern Minnesota, then 1997 and 1998 at independent Bend. At Zion in 1999, he hit .350, with 28 home runs. The home runs marked a Western League record.

"He definitely has the attention of the opposition," Zion batting coach Randy Wilstead told The Saint George Daily Spectrum in August 1999 of Charbonnet. "Mark is a big guy and he can hit a home run on any pitch and he can hit a home run any place in the league." 

Charbonnet played 2000 at independent Tri-City and then for Torreon and Puebla in Mexico to end his career.

Mark Charbonnet 1990 Watertown Indians card



1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,223
Made the Majors:1,385-32.8%
Never Made Majors:2,838-67.2%
5+ Seasons in the Majors:562
10+ Seasons in the Minors:345

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