Mark Marris saw 6 pro seasons in Yankees system, made AA
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New Yankees minor leaguer Mark Marris talked to his hometown Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin in June 1986 about his first assignment as a pro - just up the road at short-season Oneonta.
"I've never really been away from home," Marris told The Press and Sun-Bulletin then. "When I signed I knew there was a chance I'd be going to Sarasota (of the Gulf Coast League), but I'm glad it worked out this way. My father has been my biggest supporter and it's important for me that he gets the chance to watch me pitch."
Marris' family ended up having the opportunity to watch him pitch professionally, both near home and further away, over six seasons. He topped out at AA Albany-Colonie in 1991.
Marris' career began that year in 1986, signed by the Yankees as a free agent out of Broome Community College in Binghamton. Marris was also credited as Moose Marris.
Marris started with the Yankees at Oneonta and in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He saw 14 outings, seven starts between them and had a 4.44 ERA.
He played 1987 largely back at Oneonta, where he got into 20 games in relief and had a 3.79 ERA. He split 1988 between single-A Fort Lauderdale and Prince William.
Marris picked up a complete game win in the front end of a June 1988 double header at Fort Lauderdale, getting past a rough first inning to do so, The Stuart News wrote.
"I was a little mad, but that happens now and then," Marris told The News of his first inning. "I was breaking a lot of bats, though."
Marris played 1989 back at Prince William, then 1990 between Fort Lauderdale and Prince William. He went 5-8, with a 5.58 ERA in 34 outings, 16 starts in 1990.
In May 1990, The Tampa Tribune wrote of Marris' curveball, that hitters couldn't hit it, but catchers couldn't handle it.
"The ball goes everywhere on him," Yankees roving pitching instructor Tony Cloninger told The Tribune. "It's a big breaker, but he just can't control it. And that really is what's been keeping him down."
Marris returned to Fort Lauderdale for 24 outings in 1991. He also saw eight outings, four starts at AA Albany-Colonie. Overall, he went 6-8 on the year, with a 4.65 ERA in 32 outings, 12 starts. That season proved his last as a pro.
- Binghamton Press and Sun-Bulletin, June 15, 1986: Marris' debut close to home
- Stuart News, June 9, 1988: St. Lucie Mets split doubleheader
- Tampa Tribune, May 7, 1990: Marris owns curveball too hot to handle
Made the Majors:1,461-31.8%
Never Made Majors:3,141-68.2%-X