Gil Meche (Class of 1996)

MLB pitcher, Seattle Mariners (1999–2000, 2003–2006) and Kansas City Royals (2007–2010)

What is Gil Meche (Class of 1996) known for?

Notable Acadiana High School alumni, Gilbert Allen Meche, fondly known as Gil Meche, was born on September 8, 1978, in Lafayette, Louisiana. This renowned right-handed starting pitcher played in Major League Baseball (MLB) and left an indelible mark on the sport, particularly during his tenure with the Seattle Mariners and the Kansas City Royals.

He began his professional journey with the Seattle Mariners in 1999 and played until 2000 before returning to the team from 2003 to 2006. Later, Meche joined the Kansas City Royals, where he played from 2007 until 2010. During his time with the Royals, he made three consecutive Opening Day starts and earned an All-Star title in 2007. Unfortunately, his impressive career was cut short by shoulder and back problems, which led to his early retirement in 2011, aged just 32.

Meche's baseball statistics are nothing short of remarkable. He earned a win-loss record of 84-83 and an earned run average (ERA) of 4.49. Moreover, he struck out a total of 1,050 batters during his career.

Before his professional career, Meche was a star pitcher at Acadiana High School in his hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana, even earning Most Valuable Pitcher honors at the 1995 National Amateur All-Star Tournament. Despite being set back by a viral infection during his senior year, Meche was named to the All-America Second Team by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Rawlings.

Meche's talent extended beyond his high school and professional career. He was also a valued member of the U.S. Junior Olympic team, contributing to their gold medal win at the 1995 World Junior Baseball Championship.

Read more about Gil Meche's inspiring journey from being a promising high school baseball player to becoming a revered MLB pitcher on his Wikipedia page. More information about Lafayette, Louisiana, where Meche was born and raised, can be found here.