Mark Teahen

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**Mark Teahen**
Major League Baseball debut
Kansas City Royals — No. 24
Third Baseman
Bats: Left	Throws: Right
April 4, 2005 for the Kansas City Royals
Selected MLB statistics (through 2006)
Batting average	.267
Home runs	25
RBIs	124
Former teams
Kansas City Royals (2005–present)

Mark Thomas Teahen (born September 6, 1981 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a US 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. So far during 2006, he is hitting .282 with 14 home runs and 56 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 got an injury and had to have season-ending surgery on September 8 and so finished an encouraging sophomore season with a .290 batting average, 18 home runs, and 69 RBI.

Going into the 2007 season, Teahen looks to be moved from his third base spot to the outfield because of the arrival of young prospect Alex Gordon. Alex Gordon and Mark Teahen look to be the focal point of the Kansas City offense for years to come.

Teahen recently obtained dual Canadian-American citizenship since his father originates from St. Mary's, Ontario. [1]