Chris Tillman, Starting Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles
Chris Tillman, starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, was first drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2006 but he only played in their minor league system. In February, 2008, they traded him to the Orioles. He continued to play in the minor leagues through most of the 2012 season, finishing his minor league career with a 51-46 win-loss record and a 3.87 ERA. [read more...]
C.J. Wilson, Starting Pitcher, Los Angeles Angels
C.J. Wilson, starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, was first drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2001. He played in the minor leagues from 2001 through 2003. In August, 2003, he had Tommy John surgery and then missed the rest of the 2003 season and the entire 2004 season. He pitched in both the minor leagues and with the Rangers in 2005. [read more...]
David Price, Starting Pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays
David Price, starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, was a top pitcher in high school. He had a 0.43 ERA and he won several awards for his pitching. The New York Yankees drafted him straight out of high school but he opted instead to go to Vanderbilt University. He was a top player at Vanderbilt, winning several national awards. [read more...]
Hisashi Iwakuma, Starting Pitcher, Seattle Mariners
Hisashi Iwakuma, starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners, started playing baseball in Japan when he was in first grade. He was a top Japanese pitcher from 2000 through 2011. In 2008, he won the Pacific League MVP award and he led the league in wins in 2004 and 2008 and in ERA in 2008. [read more...]
Hyun-Jin Ryu, Starting Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers
Hyun-Jin Ryu, starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, was a top pitcher in Korea from 2006 through 2012. In 2006, he won the Rookie of the Year award, the MVP award, and the Triple Crown title, leading his league in ERA, wins, and strikeouts. He led the league in strikeouts again in 2009, 2010, and 2012, and in 2010, he also led the league in ERA. Ryu won two Gold Glove awards, first in 2006 and then a second one in 2010. [read more...]
James Shields, Starting Pitcher, Kansas City Royals
James Shields, starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, was first drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2000. After spending the 2001 season in the Rays' minor league system, he had surgery and he missed the 2002 season. From 2003 through 2005, he pitched in the minor leagues. [read more...]
Jarred Cosart, Starting Pitcher, Houston Astros
Jarred Cosart, starting pitcher for the Houston Astros, is the grandson of former major league pitcher Ed Donnelly. Cosart was first drafted in 2008 by the Philadelphia Phillies. He played in the minor leagues for the Phillies from 2009 until 2011, when they traded him to the Astros. [read more...]
Jason Vargas, Starting Pitcher, Kansas City Royals
Jason Vargas, starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, was first drafted in 2001 by the Minnesota Twins but he opted for college instead. Three years later, he was drafted by the Miami Marlins. He played in the minor leagues from 2004 through 2006, joining the Marlins for 17 games in 2005 and 12 games in 2006. The Marlins traded him to the Mets in November, 2006 and he spent most of the 2007 season in the minor leagues, playing in just two games with the Mets that year. [read more...]
Jesse Chavez, Starting Pitcher, Oakland Athletics
Jesse Chavez, starting pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, was first drafted by the Texas Rangers in 2002 but he only pitched in their minor league system. At the end of July, 2006, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He continued to play in the minor leagues through part of 2009, pitching for the Pirates in 15 games in 2008 and as a relief pitcher in 73 games in 2009. [read more...]
Jhoulys Chacin, Starting Pitcher, Colorado Rockies
Jhoulys Chacin, starting pitcher for the Colorado Rockies, was first signed by the Rockies in 2004. He pitched in the Rockies' minor league system from 2006 until 2009, when he was called up to pitch for the Rockies in 9 games. [read more...]