Biography
Mark David Canha (/ˈkænə/; born February 15, 1989) is an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Oakland Athletics, New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, Detroit Tigers, and San Francisco Giants. He made his MLB debut in 2015.
Career
Amateur 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 runs batted in (RBI) in 54 games.
Florida / Miami Marlins
After the season, the Florida Marlins selected Canha in the seventh round, with the 227th overall selection, of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft. He split his first professional season between the rookie-level Gulf Coast League Marlins and Low-A Jamestown Jammers, hitting .243 with four home runs and 10 RBI across 20 total games. Canha spent the 2011 season with the Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers, playing in 107 games and batting .276/.374/.529 with 25 home runs, 85 RBI, and seven stolen bases.
Canha made 114 appearances for the High-A Jupiter Hammerheads in 2012, slashing .293/.382/.411 with six home runs and 68 RBI. He spent the 2013 campaign with the Double-A Jacksonville Suns, playing in 128 contests and batting .273/.371/.449 with 13 home runs and 58 RBI. In 2014, Canha played for the New Orleans Zephyrs of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League (PCL). In 127 appearances, he slashed .303/.384/.505 with 20 home runs and 82 RBI.
Oakland Athletics
On December 11, 2014, the Colorado Rockies chose Canha in the Rule 5 draft from the Marlins, and then traded him to the Oakland Athletics in exchange 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 RBI. 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 RBIs, 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 six 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 2018, Canha hit a career-high 17 home runs with 52 RBIs and a .249/.328/.449 batting line. In 2019, Canha set career highs in average (.273), home runs (26), runs (80) and walks (67) in 126 games. In 2020, Canha slashed .246/.387/.408 with 5 home runs and 33 RBIs in 191 at-bats for the club.
On May 2, 2021, Canha was hit by a pitch for the 60th time in his career, most all-time in the Oakland history of the Athletics franchise. In 2021 he tied for the major league lead in hit by pitches, with 27. After the season, Canha became a free agent and the Athletics did not make an $18.4 million qualifying offer. During his time at Oakland, Canha recorded 645 appearances and recorded a .244 batting average, a .344 on-base percentage and a .431 slugging percentage. He hit 89 home runs and drove in 294 runs.
New York Mets
On November 30, 2021, Canha signed a two-year, $26.5 million contract with the New York Mets with an option for a third year. Canha said he signed with the Mets because he "was ready for the big stage and New York's a big stage" and he wanted "to show the world what [he] can do."
On April 15, 2022, Canha was placed on the COVID-19 injured list. He returned five days later on April 20. On August 30, Canha hit the 100th home run of his career off of Andrew Heaney of the Los Angeles Dodgers. On September 10, he hit his first career grand slam off of Andrew Nardi of the Miami Marlins. In 2022, Canha led the majors in hit by pitch (28), and batted .266/.367/.403 with 13 home runs in 462 at-bats.
Milwaukee Brewers
On July 31, 2023, the Mets traded Canha to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Justin Jarvis. In 50 games for the Brewers, Canha slashed .287/.373/.427 with five home runs, 33 RBI, and four stolen bases.
Detroit Tigers
On November 4, 2023, the Brewers traded Canha to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Blake Holub. Across 93 games for Detroit, Canha batted .231/.337/.350 with 7 home runs, 38 RBI, and 4 stolen bases.
San Francisco Giants
On July 30, 2024, the Tigers traded Canha to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for Eric Silva. Across 32 games for the Giants, Canha batted .288/.376/.329 with no home runs and 4 RBI. He became a free agent after the season.
Kansas City Royals
On February 22, 2025, Canha signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. On March 21, the Brewers traded Canha to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Cesar Espinal. He was added to the team's 40-man roster three days later.
On April 8, Canha exited a game against the Minnesota Twins early after running into the left field wall at Kauffman Stadium, resulting in a stint on the injured list. He returned to the Royals on April 20 and hit his first RBI of the season that day, in an extra-innings victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Personal life
Canha's wife, Marci, is an architect originally from San Jose. Canha is of Portuguese heritage.
Canha is also a foodie; he loves trying new places and new types of food. Canha has described himself as a liberal and an ardent supporter of LGBT rights.