Education
Mercer attended Taloga High School in Taloga, Oklahoma. Mercer attended Oklahoma State University–Stillwater, where he played baseball for the Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball team in the Big 12 Conference.
Mercer attended Taloga High School in Taloga, Oklahoma. Mercer attended Oklahoma State University–Stillwater, where he played baseball for the Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball team in the Big 12 Conference.
Prior to beginning his professional career, he played college baseball for Oklahoma State University. He has also competed for the United States national baseball team in international competition. Mercer bats and throws right-handed, and has also filled in at second base for the Pirates.
Amateur career
Mercer earned All-State honors in high school and played three seasons starting at shortstop for the Elk City Travelers of Oklahoma amateur baseball organization.
Out of high school, the Los Angeles Dodgers drafted Mercer in the 26th round (796th overall) of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft. Mercer did not sign, as he did not feel ready for professional baseball.
At Oklahoma State, Mercer was a shortstop and pitcher, serving as the team"s closer. He was named to the Big 12 All-Star Team as a utility player in 2006 and 2008.
He set the Oklahoma State record for saves.
International career
In the summer of 2007, following his sophomore year at Oklahoma State, Mercer joined the United States. national baseball team He competed in the 2007 Pan American Games, winning silver, and 2007 World Portuguese Tournament, winning silver. Mercer competed for the United States. team in the 2011 Pan American Games, winning silver.
He also competed for the United States. in the 2011 Baseball World Cup.
Professional career
The Pirates drafted Mercer in the third round, with the 79th overall selection, of the 2008 MLB Draft, choosing him as a shortstop. He began his professional career that season with the State College Spikes of the Class-A Short Season New York-Penn League, before he was promoted to the Hickory Crawdads of the Class-A South Atlantic League.
In 2009, Mercer played for the Lynchburg Hillcats of the Class-A Advanced Carolina League, finishing fifth in the Carolina League and second in the Pirates" farm system with 83 runs batted in (Reserve Bank of India). He was promoted to the Altoona Curve of the Double-A Eastern League in 2010.
He began the 2010 season with Altoona, before receiving a promotion to the Indianapolis Indians of the Triple-A of the International League.
The Pirates added him to their 40-man roster after the 2011 season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. On May 29, 2012, the Pirates optioned Yamaico Navarro to Indianapolis and promoted Mercer to the major leagues. Mercer recorded his first major league hit off Cincinnati Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto on May 30, 2012.
Mercer got only 9 at-bats with the Pirates before being sent back to Indianapolis on June 24, 2012.
On May 3, 2013, Mercer was called up from Indianapolis and led the Pirates to a 3-1 victory over the Washington Nationals with a two-run home run. On May 11, 2013 he had his first multiple home run game with two home runs against the New York Mets.
Mercer was sent back to Indianapolis when Neil Walker was activated from the disabled list on May 13. Mercer was recalled on May 15 when John McDonald was placed on the disabled list.
Mercer was named the new Pirates starting shortstop for the 2014 season, with Clint Barmes becoming his backup.
Mercer competed with Jung-ho Kang for playing time in 2015. Mercer suffered a leg contusion and sprained medial collateral ligament in July.