Luke Gregerson, Relief Pitcher

Date of Birth: 5/14/1984
Birthplace: Park Ridge, Illinois
College: St. Xavier University

Luke Gregerson, relief pitcher, was originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006. He played in the Cardinals' minor league system from 2006 through 2008 before being included in a trade to the San Diego Padres.

Gregerson joined the Padres in March, 2009. In his first year in the major leagues, he pitched 75.0 innings and had a 2-4 record with 1 save and a 3.24 ERA in 72 games as a relief pitcher (not the closer). The following season was a similar one, with 78.1 innings pitched in 80 games. He finished the 2010 season with a 4-7 record, 2 saves, and a 3.22 ERA. In 2011, he pitched just 55.2 innings in 61 games.

Gregerson briefly became the closer for the Padres in August, 2012, when he replaced the injured Huston Street. In 2013, he returned to the bullpen, pitching mostly in the eighth inning for the Padres.

In December, 2013, Gregerson was traded to the Oakland Athletics. He pitched out of the bullpen, sometimes in the closer position, in 2014. He finished the season with a career low 2.12 ERA, 5 wins to 5 losses, and 3 saves in 72.1 innings in 72 games.

Gregerson signed a three-year, $18.5 million contract with the Houston Astros in December, 2014. As the Astros closer in 2015, he had 31 saves, 59 strikeouts to 10 walks and a 3.10 ERA in 61.0 innings in 64 games. He pitched 4.0 innings in 4 postseason games and he gave up 2 hits, including a home run, and 1 run. He had 3 saves and a 2.25 ERA.

Gregerson finished the 2016 season with a 3.28 ERA in 59 games. He had 4 wins to 3 losses, 15 saves, and 67 strikeouts to 18 walks in 57.1 innings.

Gregerson pitched in 65 games with the Astros in 2017. He finished the season with 2 wins and 3 losses, 1 save, 70 strikeouts to 20 walks, and a career high ERA of 4.57. In the postseason, he pitched 3.2 innings in 5 games and he gave up 2 hits and no runs.

Gregerson elected free agency on November 2, 2017. He returned to the Cardinals on December 14, 2017. He spent time on the DL in 2018 with right shoulder impingement. He pitched 12.2 innings in 17 games with the Cardinals and he had a 7.11 ERA.

The Cardinals released Gregerson on May 20, 2019. He spent time on the DL and in the minors in 2019, pitching just 5.2 innings in 6 games with the Cardinals.

Gregerson hasn't played professional baseball since 2019.

Career pitching statistics for Gregerson through 2019 include:

• 646 games played
• 617.1 innings pitched
• 35-36 win-loss record
• 66 saves
• 621 strikeouts to 177 walks
• 3.15 ERA

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Luke Gregerson
ESPN - Luke Gregerson