Jeff Samardzija, Starting Pitcher

Date of Birth: 1/23/1985
Birthplace: Merrillville, Indiana
College: University of Notre Dame
Nickname: Shark

Jeff Samardzija, starting pitcher, was a top football and baseball player at the University of Notre Dame. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs and he played in their minor league system from 2006 through 2007. In 2008, he pitched 27.2 innings in 26 games with the Cubs. The following season, he pitched in 20 games with the Cubs as well as playing in the minors. He spent most of 2010 in the minor leagues, playing in just 7 games with the Cubs that year. He ended his minor league career with a 31-28 win-loss record and a 4.30 ERA.

In 2011, Samardzija was a relief pitcher for the Cubs, pitching in 75 games with them. The following season, he became a starting pitcher for the team. In 2013, he pitched 213.2 innings in 33 games and he finished with a 4.34 ERA, 8-13 record, and a career high 214 strikeouts to 78 walks.

On July 4, 2014, Samardjiza was traded to the Oakland Athletics. He finished the 2014 season with a 7-13 record, 202 strikeouts to 43 walks, and a 2.99 ERA in 17 games with the Cubs and 16 games with the Athletics.

On December 9, 2014, Samardjiza was traded to the Chicago White Sox. He finished the 2015 season with a career high 11 wins (to 13 losses), 163 strikeouts to 49 walks, and a 4.96 ERA in 214.0 innings in 32 games. On April 23rd, he received a five game suspension for his involvement in an on-field brawl.

Samardjiza pitched his second career complete game shutout on July 9, 2015. He pitched another complete game shutout on September 21st. In that game, he needed just 88 pitches to win the game.

Samardjiza signed a five-year, $90 million contract with the San Francisco Giants on December 8, 2015. He finished the 2016 season with a 3.81 ERA, 12 wins to 11 losses, and 167 strikeouts to 54 walks in 203.1 innings in 32 games. In one postseason game, he pitched 2.0 innings and he gave up 6 hits and 4 runs.

In 2017, Samardjiza had a 4.42 ERA in 32 games. He had 9 wins and 15 losses and 205 strikeouts to 32 walks in 207.2 innings.

Samardjiza spent time on the DL in 2018 with right shoulder inflammation. He pitched in just 10 games and he had a 6.25 ERA in 44.2 innings.

Samardjiza finished the 2019 season with an 11-12 record, 140 strikeouts to 49 walks, and a 3.52 ERA in 181.1 innings in 32 games.

Samardjiza pitched in just 4 games in 2020, and he had a 9.72 ERA in 16.2 innings.

The Giants released Samardjiza on September 28, 2020. He didn’t play professional baseball in 2021.

Career pitching statistics for Samardzija through 2020 include:

• 364 games played
• 1,645.1 innings pitched
• 80-106 win-loss record
• 1,449 strikeouts to 491 walks
• 4.15 ERA

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Jeff Samardzija
ESPN - Jeff Samardzija