Mark Canha


Mark David Canha is an American professional baseball first baseman and outfielder for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball.

Career

Canha attended Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose, California. In 2007, his senior year, he batted.440 with 11 home runs. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he played college baseball for the California Golden Bears baseball team. In 2009, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League. In 2010, his junior season, he hit.319 with ten home runs and 69 RBIs in 54 games.

Miami Marlins

After the season, the Florida Marlins selected him in the seventh round of the 2010 MLB draft. In 2014, Canha played for the New Orleans Zephyrs of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League.

Oakland Athletics

The Colorado Rockies chose him in the 2014 Rule 5 draft from the Marlins, and then traded him to the Athletics for Austin House. During spring training in 2015, Canha led the Athletics in home runs, but led all major league players in strikeouts. Due to the team's need for a power hitter following the offseason trades of Josh Donaldson and Brandon Moss, Canha made the Athletics' Opening Day roster. In his major league debut, on April 8, Canha had three hits and four runs batted in. Canha remained with the Athletics throughout the 2015 season, and led all American League rookies in RBIs. He finished the season with 16 home runs and 70 runs batted in, while playing multiple positions for the A's.
Canha underwent season-ending hip surgery after only 16 games with Oakland in 2016. Returning in 2017, he played 6 games with the A's before being optioned to the Nashville Sounds of the PCL on April 15. On November 8, 2017, Canha underwent right wrist surgery to remove a cyst. In 2019, Canha set career highs in average, home runs, runs and walks in 126 games.
Canha is known for his bat flips after hitting home runs.

Personal life

Canha's wife Marci, is an architect originally from San Jose. They live in San Francisco. Canha is of Portuguese heritage.