Mike Minor, Pitcher, Cincinnati Reds

Date of Birth: 12/26/1987
Birthplace: Chapel Hill, Tennessee
College: Vanderbilt University

Mike Minor, pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, was first drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2006 but he opted instead to play for Vanderbilt University. Three years later, he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves as a top collegiate player. He pitched in the Braves' minor league system for almost two years before being called up to the Braves in 2010 to pitch in nine games.

Minor pitched in 15 games with the Braves in 2011. The following year, his first full season in the major leagues, he pitched 179.1 innings in 30 games and finished with an 11-10 record and a 4.12 ERA. He had better numbers in 2013, pitching 204.2 innings in 32 games and finishing with a 13-9 record, 181 strikeouts to 46 walks, and a 3.21 ERA.

Minor spent time on the DL in 2014 and he didn't perform nearly as well as he did the year before. He finished the 2014 season with a 6-12 record, 120 strikeouts to 44 walks, and a 4.77 ERA in 145.1 innings in 25 games.

Minor and the Braves agreed to a one-year, $5.6 million contract on February 20, 2015. He missed the entire 2015 season due to a shoulder injury and surgery for a torn labrum.

Minor signed a two-year, $7.25 million contract with the Kansas City Royals on February 19, 2016. He spent the entire 2016 season in the minors.

Minor pitched in 65 games of relief with the Royals in 2017. He finished the season with 6 wins and 6 losses, 6 saves, 88 strikeouts to 222 walks, and a career low ERA of 2.55 in 77.2 innings.

Minor became a free agent on November 3, 2017. He signed with the Texas Rangers on December 6, 2017. He finished the 2018 season with 12 wins and 8 losses, 132 strikeouts to 38 walks, and a 4.18 ERA in 157.0 innings in 28 games.

Minor finished the 2019 season with 14 wins to 10 losses, 200 strikeouts to 68 walks, and a 3.59 ERA in 208.1 innings in 32 games.

The Rangers traded Minor to the Oakland Athletics on August 31, 2020. He finished the 2020 season with 1 win and 1 loss, 27 strikeouts to 7 walks, and a 5.48 ERA in 21.1 innings in 5 games.

Minor elected free agency on October 28, 2020. He returned to the Royals on December 1st. He spent time on the IL in 2021 with left shoulder impingement syndrome. He finished the season with 8 wins and 12 losses, 149 strikeouts to 41 walks, and a 5.05 ERA in 158.2 innings in 28 games.

The Royals traded Minor to the Reds on March 16, 2022.

Career pitching statistics for Minor through 2021 include:

• 276 games played
• 1,311.0 innings pitched
• 79-78 win-loss record
• 1,197 strikeouts to 376 walks
• 4.11 ERA

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Mike Minor
ESPN - Mike Minor