Jeremy Hermida

'02 Major League Baseball player

What is Jeremy Hermida known for?

Jeremy Ryan Hermida, born January 30, 1984 in Atlanta, Georgia, is a notable Wheeler High School alumni and an accomplished baseball player. After his graduation from the Marietta-based high school, Hermida was picked as Marlins' No.1 draft (11th overall) during the 2002 Major League Baseball draft. Prior to his promotion to major league baseball, Hermida was a rising star in minor league baseball and even received comparisons to Jeff Francoeur, another prodigious talent from the Atlanta area.

He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2005, playing for the Florida Marlins. Hermida also showed his skills by playing for various teams, including the Boston Red Sox in 2010, the Oakland Athletics in 2010, the Cincinnati Reds in 2011, and the San Diego Padres from 2011 to 2012. In 2015, he joined the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), playing for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.

Interestingly, Hermida achieved a rare feat of hitting a grand slam in his first major league at-bat, becoming the second of only four players in history to do so. What's more, he is the only player to achieve this while being a pinch hitter. His outstanding performance in his debut further solidified his place in the annals of baseball history.

Reflecting on his career statistics, Hermida held a batting average of .257 in MLB and .211 in NPB. He hit 65 home runs and had 250 runs batted in during his MLB career, and 1 home run and 18 runs batted in throughout his NPB career.

Today, Hermida is remembered as one of the most notable alumni from Wheeler High School, and his achievements in baseball serve as an inspiration for many budding athletes.