Gil Meche

Infobox MLB player
name=Gil Meche

---

width=250
position=Starting Pitcher
team=Kansas City Royals
number=55
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1978|9|8
birthplace=city-state|Lafayette|Louisiana
debutdate=July 6
debutyear=1999
debutteam=Seattle Mariners
statyear=July 24, 2008
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=72-66
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=829
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=4.43
teams=
*Seattle Mariners (by|1999-by|2000, by|2003-by|2006)
*Kansas City Royals (by|2007-present)

Gilbert Allen "Gil" Meche (pronEng|ɡɪl.mɛʃ, born September 8, 1978 in Lafayette, Louisiana) is a right-handed pitcher for the Kansas City Royals. Meche previously pitched for the Seattle Mariners.

Meche was a member of the U.S. Junior Olympic team in 1995. During his senior season at Acadiana High school, Meche suffered from a viral infection that caused him to miss a considerable amount of time playing baseball. Because of his tremendous potential, Meche was still chosen in the 1st round of the by|1996 amateur draft. His first Major League game was on July 6, by|1999, against the Anaheim Angels, making him the second youngest debut for the Mariners at that time [ [http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=219194&y=1999 The Official Site of The Kansas City Royals: Team: Player Information : Biography and Career Highlights ] ] .

His by|2000 season was cut short due to what was thought at the time to be a dead arm. In February of by|2001, he underwent arthroscopic surgery to partially repair a frayed rotator cuff, and at the time he was expected to only be on the disabled list for six months [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/2001/spring_training/news/2001/02/26/mariners_preview/ CNNSI.com - 2001 MLB Spring Training - Seattle Mariners Preview - Tuesday March 13, 2001 04:12 AM ] ] . Unfortunately things were more severe, and he had to undergo surgery again on October 3, by|2001 on his right AC joint [ [http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/player_career.jsp?player_id=219194&y=2001 The Official Site of The Kansas City Royals: Team: Player Information : Biography and Career Highlights ] ] . He was forced to miss the entire 2001 and by|2002 MLB seasons.

He made his return in to professional baseball on April 5, by|2003.

On December 7, by|2006, Meche and the Royals agreed on a 5-year contract worth $55 million, which matches Mike Sweeney's contract as the largest in club history [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2689724 ESPN - Royals, Meche agree to five-year deal - MLB ] ] .

On July 1, by|2007, Gil Meche was selected to his first All-Star game as an AL reserve for the 2007 MLB All-Star Game on July 10 in San Francisco, although he did not pitch in the game. It has been reported that he will be the Kansas City Royals opening day starter for the second year in a row (as reported by manager Trey Hillman).

Meche resides in the Kansas City area with his fiancée Stacy and has three children (Landon, Ella and Brayden).

References

External links