071907MarkMerchantMP305

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 shows off the Florida Player of the Year award he won while at Oviedo High School..(Photo by Marc Piscotty / © 2007)

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Filename: 071907MarkMerchantMP305.jpg
Copyright: © 2007 Marc Piscotty
Image Size: 2912x4368 / 3.0MB; sports equipment baseball sports & recreation sports athlete star disappoint disapointment plaque
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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 shows off the Florida Player of the Year award he won while at Oviedo High School..(Photo by Marc Piscotty / © 2007)