Adam Gino Bernero (born November 28, 1976) is an American former professional baseball player. A pitcher, Bernero played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers from 2000 to 2003, the Colorado Rockies in 2003 and 2004, the Atlanta Braves in 2005, and the Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Royals in 2006. He serves as a mental performance coach for the Seattle Mariners.
In 1999, Bernero was signed by the Tigers out of NCAA Division II Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia. After about a year in the minor leagues, Bernero was called up to the major-league team in July 2000 and made his MLB debut on August 1, 2000, against the Anaheim Angels. Bernero spent four seasons with the Tigers, where he served as both a starting pitcher and relief pitcher, spending time on both the major-league squad and in the minors. He set a team record for most consecutive starts without a win when, following a June 10, 2002, win against the Montreal Expos, he went 17 starts before recording another win against the New York Yankees on June 1, 2003.
Bernero was then traded to the Rockies in the middle of the 2003 season in exchange for catcher and outfielder Ben Petrick. In Colorado, Bernero served primarily as a reliever and also spent time in both the majors and minors before being released at the conclusion of the 2004 season. The Braves picked him up in 2004, and after a successful spring, Bernero made the Opening Day roster. Bernero spent time with both the Phillies and the Royals in 2006. After being designated for assignment by the Phillies, Bernero elected free agency and chose to sign for the Royals, where he made his final major-league appearance on September 30, 2006. He had an 11–27 record, a 5.91 earned run average, and 247 strikeouts in his career.
Bernero tried unsuccessfully to return to MLB in 2007, when Tommy John surgery prevented him from playing the season after being a spring invitee by the Boston Red Sox, and in 2008, when he played four games for the Indianapolis Indians, the AAA affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. After baseball, Bernero began coaching. In 2017, he served as the mental performance coach for the Toronto Blue Jays before moving to the Mariners the following year, where he remains.
Early life Adam Bernero was born on November 28, 1976, in Los Gatos, California. His father, Gino, married Susan Roberts when Bernero was five. Although they divorced when Adam was ten, Roberts remained close to him. Gino subsequently married Janet Bernero, and started his son on private hitting and pitching lessons when Adam was about 13.
He attended John F. Kennedy High School in Sacramento, California, where he played on the varsity baseball team. Joe Davidson of The Sacramento Bee described Bernero as a "capable and willing arm" during his junior season and "one of the area's top arms" in the lead-up to his senior season.
Bernero was selected in the 24th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball draft by the Chicago White Sox, but did not sign. Instead, Bernero opted to attend Sacramento City College, where he pitched. Bernero was selected out of SCC in the 38th round of the 1996 Major League Baseball draft by the Colorado Rockies, but again chose not to sign. Bernero continued to play at SCC, and during the summer of 1997 played for the Santa Barbara Foresters of the California Collegiate League. Bernero spent the 1998 season with NAIA-affiliated Culver–Stockton College in Canton, Missouri.
In 1999, Bernero moved to the Division II Armstrong Atlantic State Pirates of Savannah, Georgia. There, Bernero earned multiple Peach Belt Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week awards, finishing the regular season with an 11–2 record across 96.1 innings of work, posting a 2.99 earned run average with 103 strikeouts.
Professional career Minor leagues In May 1999, Bernero met with Detroit Tigers scout Jeff Wetherby at a Denny's restaurant near Armstrong Atlantic State. Wetherby forgot to bring an official contract with him, and Bernero ended up signing his first major-league contract on a napkin, making him a member of the Tigers organization for $8,000. The Tigers had narrowly beaten out the Atlanta Braves, who failed to locate the correct diner.
Bernero made his professional debut for the Class-A West Michigan Whitecaps on May 29, 1999, at Marinelli Field in Rockford, Illinois. Bernero gave up three home runs in the 7–2 loss against the Rockford Reds. In the month of June, Bernero posted a 5–0 record with a 0.99 earned run average, being named Detroit's Minor League Pitcher of the Month. Bernero missed most of August after experiencing shoulder stiffness during an August 5 start. Bernero finished the season with an 8–4 record in 15 appearances. Reporter Brian VanOcthen of The Grand Rapids Press gave Bernero an end-of-season grade of "A-", describing him as a standout prospect who "showed he has the right stuff." Bernero's 2.54 ERA led all Tigers minor leaguers. Tigers head of scouting described Bernero as having "phenomenal numbers," saying he "might have been the best pitcher in the Midwest League."
Bernero started the 2000 season with the Double-A Jacksonville Suns. In his first start against the Carolina Mudcats on April 8, Bernero threw four scoreless innings before being pulled for shoulder tightness. The tightness proved to be a more serious injury, as Bernero was placed on the disabled list (DL) for a sprained elbow. Bernero returned to the mound on April 29. Bernero was called up to the Toledo Mud Hens on June 21, 2000. Despite a 2-5 record, Bernero had a 2.79 ERA in ten starts to that point.
Bernero's first start as a Mud Hen coincided with Dave Anderson's final day as manager in Toledo. Bernero pitched six solid innings against the Ottawa Lynx, allowing only one run. Through Bernero's first seven starts with the Mud Hens, he posted a 3–1 record with a 2.48 ERA. A July 26 article in The Blade noted that "if Adam Bernero keeps this up much longer, the Detroit Tigers may start believing he's the best find they've had in some time."
Detroit Tigers (2000–2003)
On July 31, 2000, Bernero was called up to the major-league roster to replace starting pitcher Dave Mlicki, who underwent surgery to correct a sinus issue. Bernero made his MLB debut the following day against the Anaheim Angels at Edison Field in Anaheim, California. That game, he struck out the first major-league hitter he faced, Darin Erstad. He ended the night with five strikeouts and two earned runs through five and two-thirds innings. Although the Tigers won 6–3, Bernero was credited with a no decision as the game was tied when he was relieved.
Bernero made four starts during the 2000 season before transitioning to a bullpen role, serving as the team's long reliever. He finished with an 0–1 record and a 4.19 ERA in his rookie season, tallying 34.1 innings pitched.
Prior to the 2001 season, Bernero was considered a contender for the fifth spot in the starting rotation. Manager Phil Garner said that while Steve Sparks tentatively had the spot, he would allow Dave Borkowski, Matt Perisho, and Bernero to compete for it. Despite this, Bernero was sent to the minor league complex during spring training. Bernero spent most of his 2001 season in Toledo, compiling a 6–11 record and 5.13 ERA before being called up to the Tigers on September 4. In five appearances in relief for the major-league squad, Bernero compiled a 7.30 ERA in 12.1 innings with eight strikeouts.
Bernero once again started the season in Toledo for the 2002 season, having been optioned there on March 16 that year. Prior to a May 26 game against the Chicago White Sox, Bernero was called up to replace struggling rookie pitcher Nate Cornejo. During his time with the Mud Hens, Bernero finished with a 1.57 ERA in 57 and a third innings, good for second-highest in the International League at the time. In his first major-league start of the season, Bernero picked up his first MLB win since 2000 in a 9–2 win against the White Sox. Following a June 10, 2002, pitching win against the Montreal Expos, Bernero went 17 starts without recording a win, setting a Tigers team record.
During spring training in 2003, Bernero was noted as a contender for the starting roster, though USA Today clarified that the Tigers' rotation was still up in the air. Manager Alan Trammell announced that Bernero earned a starting spot following a March 20 game against the Boston Red Sox, in which he went five innings, allowing three runs on five hits.
Bernero broke the winless streak on June 1, 2003, when the Tigers defeated the New York Yankees, 4–2. During that stretch, Bernero carried a 2–11 record, with both wins coming in relief. Bernero and teammate Mike Maroth were noted for their bad luck while pitching during this stretch. Immediately following the third time the Tigers had been shut out while Bernero took the mound, a May 10, 2003, piece from The Grand Rapids Press compared Bernero's 4.87 ERA and no wins with Toronto pitcher Cory Lidle's 4.94 ERA and five wins, a critique on the Tigers offense's poor run support. A May 21 piece from the Kalamazoo Gazette, following Bernero's sixth loss, identified Bernero as the pitcher with the least run support in the MLB, with 1.51 offensive runs scored per nine innings.
Bernero started six more times for the Tigers in 2003 and was credited with a loss in all of them. His final appearance for the Tigers came in relief on July 6 against the Kansas City Royals. At the time of his departure, Bernero had a 1–12 record with a 6.08 ERA across 17 starts and one relief appearance. He continued to have the lowest run support in the league, with only 2.50 offensive runs per nine innings pitched.
Colorado Rockies (2003–2004) On July 13, 2003, Bernero was traded to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for catcher and outfielder Ben Petrick. Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said that Bernero would be used as a long reliever, in an effort to replace struggling reliever Nelson Cruz.
Bernero made his Rockies debut on July 17, 2003, against the San Francisco Giants, where he pitched the fifth inning in relief. Bernero made 30 appearances for the Rockies during the 2003 season, and picked up five holds, two blown leads, and two losses.
Prior to the 2004 season, Bernero was assessed by The Denver Post as a pitcher who "will be stretched out as a starter in the spring" and as a competitor for the major-league rotation. It was further reported that Hurdle would give Bernero at least "an initial shot" at the starting job, according to Rocky Mountain News reporting. After a March 7 start, Bernero was placed under throwing restrictions due to a right shoulder injury. An MRI exam showed inflammation, but no substantial damage. Despite this, the shoulder impingement caused Bernero to exit a minor-league game on March 28 after nine pitches, and start the regular season on the 60-day DL.
Bernero made his first start of the 2004 season on June 2 for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers as part of his rehab effort. In that start, which Tulsa World reporter Barry Lewis described as a possible "audition for a spot in the Colorado Rockies' starting rotation," Bernero threw six scoreless innings. Bernero, still in rehab, was then promoted to the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox for a start on June 14. He pitched seven scoreless innings in his first Sky Sox appearance. Bernero was activated from the DL on July 1, with right-hander Marc Kroon sent down in a subsequent move. Bernero earned his first win as a member of the Rockies on July 4 against Detroit, his former team. Bernero was optioned back to Colorado Springs on August 14, before rejoining the major-league team on September 7 after his contract was purchased. Bernero finished 2004 with a 1–1 record with one blown save and a hold. He amassed a 5.57 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 32.1 innings of work.
Atlanta Braves (2005)