Rick Porcello, Starting Pitcher

Date of Birth: 12/27/1988
Birthplace: Morristown, New Jersey

Rick Porcello, starting pitcher, was a top pitcher in high school. In his senior year, he finished with a 10-0 win-loss record and a 1.44 ERA. In May, 2007, he pitched a perfect game. That same year, he was drafted by the Detroit Tigers and he signed a four-year, $7.28 million contract with them. He pitched in their minor league system for a year before being called up to the majors.

Porcello pitched 170.2 innings in 31 games with the Tigers in 2009. He finished the season with 14 wins to 9 losses and a career low 3.96 ERA. Although he had a good 2009 season, the next year he was back pitching in the minor leagues. He finished his minor league career with a 9-8 record and a 2.76 ERA.

In 2011, Porcello was back with the Tigers, pitching 182.0 innings in 31 games. He finished the season with a 14-9 record and a 4.75 ERA. He signed a one-year, $3.1 million contract with the Tigers in January, 2012.

Porcello signed a new one-year, $5.1 million contract with the Tigers in January, 2013. He pitched in 32 games in 2013 and he finished the season with a 13-8 record and a 4.32 ERA.

In January, 2014, Porcello again signed a one-year contract with the Tigers, this time valued at $8.5 million. He finished the 2014 season with the 2014 season with career highs in innings pitched (204.2) and wins (15 to 13 losses). He had a career low ERA of 3.43 with 129 strikeouts to 41 walks in 32 games.

On December 11, 2014, Porcello was traded to the Boston Red Sox. In 2015, he spent the month of August on the DL with triceps soreness and inflammation. He finished the season with a 9-15 record, a career high 149 strikeouts to 38 walks, and a 4.92 ERA in 172.0 innings in 28 games.

Porcello had his best season in 2016, finishing with a career low ERA of 3.15 and career highs in wins (22 to 4 losses), strikeouts (189 to 32 walks), innings pitched (223.0), and games played (33). He led the American League in wins and he won his first Cy Young award in 2016. He didn't fare well, however, in the postseason, pitching 4.1 innings in 1 game and giving up 3 hits and 5 runs.

Porcello finished the 2017 season with an ERA of 4.65 in 33 games. He had 11 wins and 17 losses and 181 strikeouts to 48 walks in 203.1 innings. In the postseason, he pitched 4.0 innings in 2 games and he gave up 5 hits and 2 runs. He struck out 4 batters and walked 3.

Porcello pitched in 33 games in 2018, and he had 17 wins and 7 losses, 190 strikeouts to 48 walks, and a 4.28 ERA in 191.1 innings. In the postseason, he pitched 15.1 innings in 5 games and he gave up 15 hits, including 3 home runs, and 6 runs. He had 1 win and no losses and a 3.52 ERA. He struck out 11 batters and walked 2.

Porcello finished the 2019 season with 14 wins and 12 losses, 143 strikeouts to 45 walks, and a 5.52 ERA in 174.1 innings in 32 games.

Porcello became a free agent on October 31, 2019. He signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the New York Mets on December 16, 2019. He pitched in 12 games in 2020, and he had 1 win and 7 losses, 54 strikeouts to 15 walks, and a 5.64 ERA in 59.0 innings.

Porcello elected free agency on October 28, 2020. He didn’t play professional baseball in 2021.

Career pitching statistics for Porcello through 2020 include:

• 355 games played
• 2,096.1 innings pitched
• 150-125 win-loss record
• 1,561 strikeouts to 489 walks
• 4.40 ERA

Personal Life

Porcello's grandfather, Sam Dente, was a major league shortstop from 1947 through 1955. He played for the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Browns, Washington Senators, Chicago White Sox, and Cleveland Indians.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Rick Porcello
ESPN - Rick Porcello