Hubbry Logo
Rusty GreerRusty GreerMain
Open search
Rusty Greer
Community hub
Rusty Greer
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Rusty Greer
Rusty Greer
from Wikipedia

Thurman Clyde "Rusty" Greer III (born January 21, 1969) is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played in Major League Baseball for the Texas Rangers from 1994 to 2002. He is currently the Head Baseball Coach for Fort Worth Christian School.

Key Information

Biography

[edit]

Greer attended high school in Albertville, Alabama before playing college baseball at the University of Montevallo. (Montevallo was the only college interested in Greer prior to a senior-year all-star game where he finally drew attention from larger schools; however, he chose to remain at Montevallo since they initially offered him a scholarship.) While at Montevallo, Greer was a Resident Assistant in Napier Hall. The Rangers made him their tenth-round pick (279th overall) in the 1990 amateur draft, and he spent the rest of the season playing for their rookie-level minor league club in Butte, Montana. He would spend all 15 years of his professional baseball career in the Rangers organization, a feat that had become a rarity among professional ballplayers thanks to free agency.

At Butte, he batted .345 with an OPS of 1.032, which earned him a promotion to the Class A Florida State League the following season. He finished 1991 with the Class AA Tulsa Drillers in the Texas League; he stayed with Tulsa through 1992 and most of 1993, before being called up to the Class AAA Oklahoma City 89ers for eight games. He also started the 1994 season with the 89ers, batting .315 in 31 games, when he earned a call-up to the Rangers.

Major league career

[edit]

Greer continued his successful run at Oklahoma when he was called up to Texas, where he batted .314 with ten home runs in 80 games, including one in his second major-league at bat,[1] thus becoming the second Ranger to accomplish this feat.[2] (Rubén Sierra was the first on June 1, 1986, at Kansas City) He also played an integral part in baseball history against the Anaheim Angels on July 28, 1994, when he made a diving catch of Rex Hudler's fly ball to protect a perfect game by Kenny Rogers. Although that was one of the most significant catches he made in his career, he made many others like it, and his all-out style of play made him a fan favorite throughout his major-league career. Greer also caught Gary DiSarcina's fly ball for the game's final out.

Greer cooled off slightly in his second season, batting .271. However, in 1996, he had one of the best seasons of his career, batting .332 (fifth in the American League) and having his first of three 100-RBI seasons.

The 1997 season also proved successful for Greer, as he finished seventh in the AL with a .321 batting average, played in a career-high 157 games, and he hit a career-high 26 home runs. In 1998, he had a career-high 108 RBI and a .306 batting average. The Rangers honored him for his contributions by granting him a new contract that paid him $3.3 million in 1999, up from $1.025 million the previous season. In 1999, he batted an even .300 with 20 home runs, 101 RBI, and a career-high 96 walks (to go with 67 strikeouts). In the 2000 season, he was limited to 105 games due to injuries and posted a batting average of .297, with eight home runs.

In 2001, Greer was limited to 62 games because of injuries, but he still hit seven home runs. Still a fan favorite, he was honored with a three-year, $21 million contract before the 2002 season. However, due to injuries he would only play 51 games with the Rangers in 2002.

Injuries and attempted comeback

[edit]

Greer's aggressive style of play took a severe toll on his body, and he spent the remainder of his baseball career undergoing and recovering from surgeries. After first coming off of the disabled list in 2002, he was only able to play one more game, on July 11 of that year, before going back on the disabled list. On August 22, he had surgery to fuse the C5 and C6 vertebrae in his neck; and in the offseason, he had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his shoulder. He was then expected to miss the entire 2003 season. While rehabilitating from the rotator cuff surgery, he had to undergo Tommy John surgery and an ulnar nerve transposition in July 2003. He actually was also supposed to receive operations on his right hip and right knee, but he decided against those. He also had surgery in the following offseason to remove scar tissue that had built up in his elbow, and early in the 2004 season he had additional surgery to remove scar tissue from his shoulder.

Nevertheless, he was still determined to come back; and he and the Rangers expected to see him back on the field as a designated hitter during the last month of their season. He worked out at the Rangers' spring training facility in Surprise, Arizona, with the intention of doing a rehabilitation assignment in the minor leagues shortly thereafter. However, his workout was cut short; he returned to Texas, where he had surgery to remove scar tissue on his forearm and was declared out for the season. The Rangers, not surprisingly, decided to buy out the option year on his contract; he actually made almost as much money during the two lost seasons as he did in the rest of his career combined.

Greer received invitations from the Rangers and the Minnesota Twins to go to spring training as a non-roster invitee, but he decided that he would rather retire than move his family to another state. Thus, on February 20, 2005, he announced his retirement, officially ending his comeback attempt.[3]

On August 11, 2007, the Rangers inducted Greer into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame.[4]

Career statistics

[edit]
Seasons Games PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO HBP AVG OBP SLG FLD%
9 1027 4420 3829 643 1166 258 25 119 614 31 519 555 22 .305 .387 .478 .978

In the 1996, '98 and '99 American League Division Series, Greer batted only .111 (4-for-36). He played all three outfield positions and first base in his career. His fielding percentage was .980 at left field, .970 at right field, .981 at center field and .960 at first base. At 9 years, Greer had the longest tenure of any player to only play for the Rangers during his career.[5]

Life after playing career

[edit]

Today, Greer resides in Colleyville, Texas and has three children.[6] For several years he ran a baseball training facility, the Rusty Greer Baseball School, in Euless, Texas.[7] Greer announced in 2022 that he would be closing the school to take an assignment with the Jacksonville State Gamecocks as the Graduate Baseball Manager. [8]

On July 12, 2023, Greer was named Head Baseball Coach at Fort Worth Christian School located in North Richland Hills, Texas. [9]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Thurman Clyde "Rusty" Greer III (born January 21, 1969) is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played his entire nine-season (MLB) career with the Texas Rangers from 1994 to 2002. A consistent hitter and solid defender, Greer batted over .300 in five of his seasons, recorded 119 home runs and 614 runs batted in across 1,027 games, and contributed to three division championships during his tenure with the Rangers. Born in Fort Rucker, , to T.C. Greer, he grew up in , where he excelled in both and at Albertville High School, earning All-State honors in as a senior. After initially focusing on basketball, Greer walked on to the team at the on a tryout, becoming one of the program's most decorated players with a .451 as a freshman and .412 as a junior from 1988 to 1990. The Texas Rangers selected him in the 10th round (271st overall) of the 1990 MLB Draft, and he spent four seasons in the minors before his big-league debut on May 16, 1994, against the , where he hit a in his second at-bat. Greer's MLB career peaked in the mid-1990s, as he established himself as the Rangers' everyday left fielder from 1996 to 1999, batting .332 with 18 home runs and 100 RBIs in 1996—his highest average—and .321 with a career-high 26 home runs in 1997. He finished third in Rookie of the Year voting in after hitting .314 in 84 games and made a memorable diving catch to preserve ' perfect game on July 28, . Injuries limited his play in later years, leading to his retirement after the 2002 season (last game at age 33). Despite never earning an selection, his reliability earned him respect as a Rangers mainstay during a transformative era for the franchise. Following his playing days, Greer transitioned into coaching and baseball instruction, serving as an assistant at Texas Wesleyan University and in the Texas Collegiate Summer League while running the Rusty Greer Baseball School, which emphasizes defensive fundamentals. In July 2023, he was named head baseball coach at Fort Worth Christian School in Texas, where he continues to mentor young players as of 2025. His son Mason was selected by the Rangers in the 12th round of the 2024 MLB Draft. Greer has been honored with inductions into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2007, the University of Montevallo Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996, the Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame in 2009, and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2022. Married to Lauri since December 1994, he and his wife have three children and reside in Colleyville, Texas.

Early life and education

Upbringing and family

Thurman Clyde "Rusty" Greer III was born on January 21, 1969, in Fort Rucker, , to parents T.C. Greer and Marty Greer. His father, a veteran who served as a helicopter medevac pilot from 1969 to 1970, provided the family with strong ties that influenced their early mobility and lifestyle. Although T.C. Greer considered a long-term career, he transitioned to the sawmill and business after his service, first in Georgia and later in , which shaped the family's relocations. The Greer family, including Rusty's younger sister Anna, moved to , in 1976, where Rusty spent much of his childhood in the small town known for its manufacturing industry. This relocation from Georgia to Albertville offered a stable environment amid his father's post-military pursuits, fostering Rusty's early interest in as a way to build discipline and community connections influenced by his family's resilient background. At High School, Greer developed as a multi-sport athlete, earning four-year varsity letters in both and . As a senior in 1987, he received All-State honors in , highlighting his emerging talent as an while also excelling as a in , which was initially his preferred . Following graduation, Greer pursued at the .

College baseball career

Rusty Greer enrolled at the in 1988 and played for the Falcons, the school's NAIA program, through the 1990 season. As a business administration major, he quickly established himself as a standout , contributing to the team's success over three seasons. His college career built on his high school achievements, including All-State honors at High School, which provided a solid foundation for his collegiate performance. Over his tenure at Montevallo, Greer amassed 216 hits, 158 runs, 54 doubles, 25 home runs, and 133 RBIs, while posting a .394 and stealing 53 bases. In his year of 1988, he hit .451 with 54 RBIs and 7 home runs, earning NAIA Honorable Mention All-American honors, along with All-District 27 and All-Area 5 selections. Greer set school records with 88 hits and 20 doubles in a single season, and he also holds the program mark for four stolen bases in a game. His junior year in 1990 marked his peak, as he was named NAIA First-Team All-American and team MVP. Greer's exceptional college production culminated in his selection by the Texas Rangers in the 10th round, 271st overall, of the 1990 MLB Draft. In recognition of his contributions to Montevallo baseball, he was inducted into the University of Montevallo Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996.

Professional career

Minor league progression

Following his selection as a NAIA First Team All-American at the University of Montevallo, Rusty Greer was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 10th round of the 1990 MLB Draft and assigned to their rookie-level affiliate, the Butte Copper Kings of the Pioneer League. In 62 games that season, Greer batted .345 with 10 home runs, showcasing strong contact skills and power potential early in his professional career. Greer advanced to High-A Port Charlotte (later known as the Charlotte Rangers) in the Florida State League for the 1991 season, where he played 111 games and hit .294 with 5 home runs, earning selection to the All-Star team. Late in the year, he received a promotion to Double-A of the , appearing in 20 games with a .297 average and 3 home runs, demonstrating his readiness for higher competition. In 1992, Greer spent the full season with Tulsa, but faced adjustment challenges at the Double-A level, batting .267 with 5 home runs over 106 games as he refined his approach against more advanced pitching. He rebounded strongly in 1993, posting a .291 average and 15 home runs in 129 games with Tulsa before a brief late-season call-up to Triple-A 89ers of the American Association, where he hit .222 in 8 games. Greer began 1994 with , excelling in 31 games with a .315 and 3 home runs, which led to his promotion to the major leagues on May 16. Across his progression from 1990 to 1994, he appeared in 467 games, compiling a .292 and 42 home runs while steadily climbing the Rangers' system.

Major League Baseball tenure

Greer made his debut on May 16, 1994, with the Texas Rangers in a game against the at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, where he started in right field and batted second in the lineup. In his second at-bat of the game, he hit a two-run off Athletics pitcher Carlos Reyes, marking his first career hit and making him the first Rangers player to homer for his debut hit. In his season, Greer appeared in 80 games for the Rangers, primarily in , and batted .314 with 10 home runs, 16 doubles, and 46 RBIs while drawing 46 walks for a .410 . One of the season's highlights occurred on July 28, 1994, when Greer, playing center field, made a spectacular diving catch of a line drive by in the ninth inning, helping preserve teammate ' perfect game against the California Angels at —the 12th perfect game in MLB history and the first for the Rangers franchise. Greer's performance elevated during his peak years from to 1999, when he became a cornerstone of the Rangers' lineup during their first three division titles. In , he played 139 games, batting .332 to finish fifth in the AL, while leading the team with 41 doubles, scoring 96 runs, and driving in 100 runs to help secure the franchise's inaugural playoff berth. The following year, , Greer hit .321 with a career-high 26 home runs and 87 RBIs over 153 games, finishing seventh in the AL in and contributing to a 102-win season. In , he maintained consistency with a .306 , 16 home runs, a team-high 108 RBIs, and 107 runs scored in 151 games, powering the Rangers to their second straight division crown. Greer's 1999 campaign saw him bat .300 with 20 home runs, 101 RBIs, and another 41 doubles in 145 games, anchoring the lineup for the team's third consecutive title. Over his nine-season MLB tenure, which spanned 1994 to 2002 and was spent entirely with the Texas Rangers, Greer appeared in 1,027 games, establishing himself as the primary left fielder while demonstrating versatility across all three outfield spots and occasionally at first base. Renowned for his gritty, blue-collar approach—characterized by relentless hustle, wall-crashing pursuits, and diving defensive plays—he embodied team loyalty and became a fan favorite in for his all-out effort in a star-studded lineup alongside players like Juan González and . The Rangers qualified for the postseason in 1996, 1998, and 1999, each time reaching the , where Greer went 4-for-36 (.111 batting average) with two runs scored over 10 games.

Injuries and retirement

Key injuries sustained

Rusty Greer's aggressive playing style, characterized by diving catches and collisions with outfield walls, contributed significantly to his injury history throughout his career. This approach, exemplified by his iconic diving catch to preserve ' perfect game in 1994, often resulted in physical tolls that accumulated over time. In 1999, Greer sustained a broken and bruised after being struck in the face by a thrown ball during batting practice on , causing blurred vision that sidelined him for six . He returned briefly but was further hampered when hit on the left by a pitch on October 1, limiting his postseason contribution to a 1-for-9 performance. Despite these setbacks, he appeared in 147 games that season. The 2000 season brought additional lower-body challenges, including a strained left on April 15 and a hyperextended right , which placed him on the disabled list. Complicating recovery, he underwent on April 16 to remove bone spurs from his right ankle—an issue stemming from a 1994 minor league injury—keeping him out until late May; he also missed the final nine games due to . These injuries reduced his playing time to 105 games. By , back issues dominated, as a pinched in his lower back required in August, ending his season prematurely and limiting him to 62 games overall. This marked a sharp decline from his prior full-season participation, with ongoing pain affecting his mobility and performance. In 2002, Greer's injuries escalated with multiple procedures: he was placed on the disabled list on June 4 for a strained muscle in his left side (later identified as back and neck problems), returning on July 11; neck fusion surgery on the C5-C6 vertebrae on August 22 to address disc issues; and offseason repair of a torn left on November 20. In November 2002, Greer was scheduled for surgery to clean torn cartilage from his right knee, though it is unclear if the procedure was performed. These limited him to just 51 games, during which his dropped to .217 amid diminished power and speed from the cumulative physical wear. Frequent placements reflected the organization's response to his mounting health concerns.

Comeback efforts and final retirement

Following his 2002 surgeries on his neck and shoulder, which prompted initial comeback aspirations, Greer underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow along with an ulnar nerve transposition in July 2003. He spent the remainder of that year in rehabilitation, appearing in four games for the Gulf Coast League Rangers, where he batted .250. These efforts were part of a broader recovery process that kept him off the major league roster for the entire 2003 season. In 2004, Greer signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers and reported to in hopes of reviving his career. He progressed to play 13 games at the level with the , batting .286 during that stint. However, persistent shoulder issues forced him to be shut down, ending his on-field attempts for the year. Despite the setback, Greer continued consultations with medical experts and the Rangers organization throughout the offseason. On February 20, 2005, Greer officially announced his retirement at age 36, citing repeated failed physicals and the cumulative toll of his injuries as insurmountable barriers to returning to the majors. He attributed the end of his career primarily to the physical demands and multiple surgeries that had eroded his body, while expressing deep gratitude to the Rangers for their support during his tenure and recovery. In the immediate aftermath, Greer shifted his focus to family life in , prioritizing time with his wife and children over further professional pursuits.

Career statistics and honors

Professional statistics

Rusty Greer accumulated impressive offensive statistics during his nine-year Major League Baseball career, primarily as a left fielder for the Texas Rangers, demonstrating consistent contact hitting and plate discipline. Over 1,027 games, he posted a .305 , .387 , and .478 , along with 119 home runs, 614 runs batted in, and 218 doubles. His career fielding in stood at .979, highlighting reliable defensive play. The following table summarizes Greer's year-by-year MLB batting performance:
YearAgeTeamGBAOBPSLGHRRBI2BWAR
199425TEX80.314.410.4871046161.5
199526TEX131.271.355.4241361211.5
199627TEX139.332.397.53018100415.4
199728TEX157.321.405.5312687424.6
199829TEX155.306.386.45516108313.8
199930TEX147.300.405.49320101413.3
200031TEX105.297.377.459865342.1
200132TEX62.273.342.453729230.3
200233TEX51.296.356.37711790.0
Greer's value extended beyond traditional metrics, with a career Wins Above Replacement () of 22.4, bolstered by positive defensive contributions in left field. In the , Greer appeared in 467 games across various levels from 1990 to 1994, batting .295 with a .390 and .449 , including 42 home runs and 223 RBI in 1,649 at-bats. Greer's postseason opportunities were limited to three American League Division Series appearances with the Rangers, where he played 10 games and batted .111 with a .263 , no home runs, and no RBI.

Awards and recognitions

During his college career at the , Rusty Greer earned NAIA First-Team All-American honors in 1990 after batting .412 with 16 home runs, while also being named the team's MVP that year. He had previously received NAIA Honorable Mention All-American recognition as a in 1988. In high school at Albertville High School, Greer was selected as an all-state honoree in during his senior year. In , Greer finished third in Rookie of the Year voting in 1994 after posting a .314 with 10 home runs and 46 RBIs in 80 games following his midseason call-up. His breakout 1996 season, in which he hit .332 to rank fifth in the AL, led to a 22nd-place finish in AL MVP voting the following year. Additionally, Greer was named AL Player of the Week on June 15, 1997, after hitting .600 with three home runs and five RBIs over six games. Greer was inducted into the University of Montevallo Athletics Hall of Fame in 1996, recognizing his decorated collegiate performance. He joined the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2007 as the sole inductee that year, honored for his nine seasons of loyalty to the organization where he spent his entire MLB career, batting .305 with 119 home runs and 614 RBIs. Further post-career accolades include induction into the Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 and the Sports Hall of Fame in 2022, celebrating his consistent production and contributions to Alabama baseball. Greer is remembered for his steady, high-contact hitting and unwavering commitment to the Rangers, amassing over 100 RBIs in three seasons without earning major individual awards like All-Star selections or a Silver Slugger, yet establishing himself as a key part of three division-winning teams.

Post-playing life

Coaching positions

Following the end of his playing career in , Greer transitioned into coaching by volunteering in local youth leagues in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, where he instructed young players, including his own sons, on basic skills and game fundamentals. In 2006, Greer founded the Rusty Greer Baseball School in Colleyville, Texas, a training program dedicated exclusively to defensive fundamentals and for youth athletes, which he operated until 2022. The school emphasized building a strong foundation in positional play and motivational skills through positive reinforcement, serving players from various age groups in the region. Greer expanded his involvement in summer collegiate by managing the Colleyville Lone Stars of the in 2007 and serving as a coach for the Baseball Academy of (DBAT) teams that summer. He also contributed to youth travel programs, including the Mustangs, focusing on skill enhancement for aspiring high school and college prospects. In the collegiate ranks, Greer joined as an assistant coach in July 2008, working under Mike Jeffcoat for one season to support player development in a NAIA program. Later, in 2022, he served as graduate manager for the team, assisting with operations and training during their transition to . On July 12, 2023, Greer was appointed head baseball coach at Fort Worth Christian School in , where he led the team through the 2024 and 2025 seasons with a record of 42 wins in his first three years. His approach prioritizes defensive proficiency, all-out effort, and what he describes as "grit"—defined as consistent hard play and team-first responsibility—drawing from his Texas Rangers experience to instill determination in student-athletes.

Personal life and legacy

Greer has been married to Lauri Fields since December 2, 1994, and the couple has three children: son Clayton, born November 11, 1999, and twins Mason and Taylor, born May 23, 2000. The family resides in , where Greer has been actively involved in his children's lives, including supporting son Mason's baseball career despite Mason's diagnosis with as a teenager. In his post-playing career, Greer has contributed to community efforts through involvement in Texas Rangers alumni events and youth baseball programs, including the Rangers' Rookie League, Junior Rangers, drives, the North Texas Food Bank, and the Texas . After operating the Rusty Greer Baseball School in , for several years to train young players in defensive fundamentals, he transitioned his focus to broader community initiatives following its closure in 2022. Greer's legacy endures as a symbol of loyalty and fan engagement during his nine seasons with the Texas Rangers, culminating in his 2007 induction into the Rangers Hall of Fame. In 2022, he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the National Alumni Association, recognizing his achievements as a 1995 graduate and former standout player. Reflecting on his aggressive playing style in a 2025 SportsDay Rangers appearance, Greer discussed managing long-term health effects from injuries without regrets, emphasizing lessons on player safety for younger athletes. As of 2025, he remains engaged in the local community in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with no major business ventures reported beyond his family and charitable commitments.

References

Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.