Homer Bailey, Starting Pitcher

Date of Birth: 5/3/1986
Birthplace: La Grange, Texas

Homer Bailey, starting pitcher, was a star pitcher in high school, finishing his four years with a 41-4 win-loss record and a 0.98 ERA. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2004 and he played in their minor league system from 2004 through most of 2007. He joined the Reds for 9 games in 2007 and he pitched in 8 games with them in 2008.

In 2009, Bailey pitched 113.1 innings in 20 games with the Reds. He finished the season with an 8-5 record and a 4.53 ERA. The next year, he was sidelined with a shoulder injury, pitching in just 19 games with the Reds.

Bailey had a good 2012 season, pitching his first no-hitter on September 28th against the Pittsburgh Pirates. That season, he pitched 208.0 innings and had a 13-10 record with 168 strikeouts to 52 walks and a 3.68 ERA in 33 games.

Bailey pitched his second no-hitter on July 2, 2013, against the San Francisco Giants. He was only the third pitcher in major league baseball history to have the last no-hitter of one season and the first no-hitter of the next season. He finished the 2013 season with an 11-12 record and a 3.49 ERA in 32 games.

Bailey pitched 145.2 innings in 23 games in 2014. He finished the season with a 9-5 record, 124 strikeouts to 45 walks, and a 3.71 ERA.

Bailey pitched in just two games in 2015 before his season ended with Tommy John surgery. He spent most of the 2016 season recovering from his surgery. He pitched just 23.0 innings in 6 games in 2016.

Bailey had surgery to remove bone spurs on February 8, 2017. He pitched in 18 games in 2017, finishing with 6 wins and 9 losses, 67 strikeouts to 42 walks, and a 6.43 ERA in 91.0 innings.

Bailey finished the 2018 season with 1 win and 14 losses, 75 strikeouts to 33 walks, and a 6.09 ERA in 106.1 innings in 20 games.

The Reds traded Bailey to the Los Angeles Dodgers on December 21, 2018. He was released a day later. He signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals on February 9, 2019. He was traded to the Oakland Athletics on July 14th. He finished the 2019 season with 13 wins and 9 losses, 149 strikeouts to 53 walks, and a 4.57 ERA in 163.1 innings in 18 games with the Royals and 13 games with Oakland. He didn't play in the postseason.

Bailey became a free agent on October 31, 2019. He signed with the Minnesota Twins on December 31st. In 2020, he pitched just 8.0 innings in 2 games and he had an ERA of 3.38. The Twins released him on September 26, 2020.

Bailey signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics on June 22, 2021. He played just 15 games in the minors in 2021.

Bailey elected free agency on November 7, 2021.

Career pitching statistics for Bailey through 2020 include:

• 245 games played
• 1,401.2 innings pitched
• 81-86 win-loss record
• 1,157 strikeouts to 463 walks
• 4.56 ERA

Charitable Work

Bailey has a charity wine, Homer Bailey's Chardonnay. Proceeds from sales of the wine go to "Outdoors Without Limits," an organization that helps disabled people have the freedom to enjoy outdoor life.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Homer Bailey
ESPN - Homer Bailey