Joe Saunders


Date of Birth: 6/16/1981
Birthplace: Fairfax, Virginia
College: Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Joe Saunders was a top player in college, finishing his time there with a 27-7 win-loss record. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in 2002 and he spent that season in their minor league system. He missed the entire 2003 season due to an injury but he returned to the minors in 2004 and stayed there through part of the 2007 season.

In 2005, Saunders joined the Angels for two games. The next year, he pitched 70.2 innings in 13 games and he finished the 2006 season with a 7-3 record and a 4.71 ERA. Saunders was part of the Angels' starting rotation in 2008, pitching 198.0 innings in 31 games. That year, he finished with a career high 17 wins (to 7 losses) and a career low ERA of 3.41.

The Angels traded Saunders to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Dan Haren in July, 2010. He finished that season with a 9-17 record and a 4.47 ERA in 20 games with the Angels and 13 games with the Diamondbacks.

In December, 2011, Saunders became a free agent and a month later, he agreed to return to the Diamondbacks with a one-year, $6 million contract. He didn't stay, however, an entire season with the Diamondbacks. On August 26, 2012, they traded him to the Baltimore Orioles. He finished the 2012 season with a 9-13 record and a 4.07 ERA in 21 games with the Diamondbacks and 7 games with the Orioles.

Saunders left the Orioles after the 2012 season and in February, 2013, he signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Mariners. In 2013, he pitched 183.0 innings in 32 games and he finished the season with an 11-16 record and a 5.26 ERA. In March, 2014, he signed a one-year contract with the Rangers.

On July 1, 2014, Saunders was designated for assignment by the Rangers and he was released three days later. The Kansas City Royals signed him to a minor league contract on July 8th but they then released him on July 29th. Three days later, he signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles. He finished the 2014 season with a 0-5 record, 23 strikeouts to 24 walks, and a 6.70 ERA in 8 games with the Rangers and 6 games with the Orioles.

Saunders played in the minor leagues in 2015. He became a free agent on May 1, 2015. He hasn't played professional baseball since 2015.

Career pitching statistics for Saunders through 2015 include:

  • 235 games played
  • 1,387.1 innings pitched
  • 89-86 win-loss record
  • 792 strikeouts to 439 walks
  • 4.37 ERA

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Joe Saunders
ESPN - Joe Saunders