Shawn Abner

Shawn Wesley Abner (born June 17, 1966) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played from 1987 to 1992. He is best known for being chosen first in the 1984 Major League Baseball Draft, although he went on to have a marginal career.[1]

Shawn Abner
Abner in 1985
Outfielder
Born: (1966-06-17) June 17, 1966
Hamilton, Ohio
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 8, 1987, for the San Diego Padres
Last MLB appearance
October 3, 1992, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
Batting average.227
Home runs13
Runs batted in71
Teams

Abner attended high school at Mechanicsburg Area High School in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, where he was identified by New York Mets scouts as an all-around "can't miss" outfield prospect after his sophomore year.[2] He was also a star at football, and his number "16" was retired by the school for use in both sports. The Mets made him the first pick in the 1984 amateur draft, having had recent draft successes with Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden, two players who became stars almost immediately despite their young age.

Abner never played a big league game for the Mets. After moving slowly through the minor league system, he was traded after the 1986 season to the San Diego Padres as part of an eight-player swap that sent Kevin Mitchell west in exchange for Kevin McReynolds.[1] He made his debut on September 8, 1987 in a loss to the Braves. Abner entered in the top of the eighth inning as a pinch hitter for Lance McCullers and flied out to center field in his first major league at bat.[3]

The light-hitting Abner played sparingly over the next five seasons for San Diego, used mostly as a reserve outfielder. He was traded to the California Angels in 1991 and signed by the Chicago White Sox in 1992. His season with the White Sox was probably his best, as he attained a .279 batting average over 97 games.[1]

However, Abner injured his knee the following season playing basketball before a Triple-A game for the Omaha Royals,[4] and never played in the majors again.

Personal life

Abner was[5] married to Kristen Abner. Their son Seth "Scump" Abner is a professional Call of Duty player.

On August 28, 2019, he was charged with animal cruelty for leaving his 14 year old husky alone at home, for over a month, resulting in the dog's death by starvation. He apparently neglected to ask anyone to care for the dog while he was away.[6]

References
  1. "Shawn Abner Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. Balasis, Matt. "The Mets' Hardscrabble History Of Drafting Outfielders | Metsmerized Online".
  3. "San Diego Padres at Atlanta Braves Box Score, September 8, 1987". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. "ABNER BACK WITH NO GREAT EXPECTATIONS". scholar.lib.vt.edu.
  5. https://twitter.com/momofscump/status/478191681196789761?lang=en
  6. Former baseball player Shawn Abner charged with animal cruelty in Cumberland County @ Local 21 News

Preceded by
Tim Belcher		 First overall pick in the MLB Entry Draft
1984		 Succeeded by
B.J. Surhoff
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