071907MarkMerchantMP020

SHOT 7/19/2007 - Mark Merchant, a former Florida State Player of the Year at Oviedo High School, was taken second overall in the 1987 amateur draft one spot behind another center fielder, Ken Griffey Jr. The two players' careers have taken drastically different paths since then with Griffey Jr. becoming one of the game's biggest stars and Merchant out of the game altogether after 11 years in the minor leagues. After injuries to his shoulder and ankle Merchant was never the same player and now lives in Morrison, Co. just outside of Denver where he is a real estate appraiser. Merchant is married with two children, Andrew, 2, and Sydney, 9. He admits missing the game but said he doesn't really follow it anymore. Merchant places a golf ball on a tee for his son Andrew as they hit balls at Red Rocks Country Club in his neighborhood..(Photo by Marc Piscotty / © 2007)

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Filename: 071907MarkMerchantMP020.jpg
Copyright: © 2007 Marc Piscotty
Image Size: 4197x2844 / 3.2MB; sports equipment baseball sports & recreation sports athlete star disappoint disapointment father son golf
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SHOT 7/19/2007 - Mark Merchant, a former Florida State Player of the Year at Oviedo High School, was taken second overall in the 1987 amateur draft one spot behind another center fielder, Ken Griffey Jr. The two players' careers have taken drastically different paths since then with Griffey Jr. becoming one of the game's biggest stars and Merchant out of the game altogether after 11 years in the minor leagues. After injuries to his shoulder and ankle Merchant was never the same player and now lives in Morrison, Co. just outside of Denver where he is a real estate appraiser. Merchant is married with two children, Andrew, 2, and Sydney, 9. He admits missing the game but said he doesn't really follow it anymore. Merchant places a golf ball on a tee for his son Andrew as they hit balls at Red Rocks Country Club in his neighborhood..(Photo by Marc Piscotty / © 2007)