Mark Thomas Teahen (born September 6, 1981, in
Redlands, California) is a Canadian Major League
Baseball player for the Kansas City Royals. He
graduated from Yucaipa High School in 1999 and
attended St. Mary's College in California, and was
drafted in the first round of the 2002 draft by the
Oakland Athletics, 39th overall. Teahen was one of
the featured players in the book Moneyball, which
claimed that Teahen had the potential to become the
next Jason Giambi.
Oakland traded him to Kansas City in 2004, along
with Mike Wood, as part of a three-way trade that
sent Carlos Beltran to the Houston Astros, Octavio
Dotel from the Astros to the Athletics, and John
Buck from the Astros to the Royals. Although he had
been one of the most highly regarded prospects in
the Oakland organization, he became available when
the Athletics were able to sign Eric Chavez to a
long-term contract.
Royals management did not expect Teahen to make the
opening-day roster in 2005; however, after hitting
.344 in spring training and after injuries sidelined
potential third basemen Chris Truby and Chris
Clapinski, the Royals announced Teahen would be
their regular third baseman for 2005, and he made
his major-league debut on April 4, 2005.
His first hit was a triple and he hit 4 homers in
his last 17 games of 2005. Teahen hit .240 in his
rookie season with KC. He had the lowest fielding
percentage of all third basemen in the league, .947,
and the lowest zone rating of all major league third
basemen (.706).
In 2006, he hit .290 with 18 home runs and 69 RBIs.
During July, he raised his performance level with 10
home runs and 35 RBIs during the 38 games ending
August 2. He continued to hit well, but suffered an
injury and had to have season-ending surgery on
September 8.
Going into the 2007 season, Teahen moved from third
base to right field because of the arrival of young
prospect Alex Gordon.
Teahen recently obtained dual Canadian-American
citizenship since his father originates from St.
Marys, Ontario.
