Pat Neshek, Relief Pitcher


Date of Birth: 9/4/1980
Birthplace: Madison, Wisconsin
College: Butler University

Pat Neshek, relief pitcher, was first drafted in 1999 by the Minnesota Twins but he didn't sign with them. Three years later, they drafted him again and he signed with them. He played in the Twins' minor league system from 2002 through part of 2006.

Neshek first joined the Twins for 32 games in 2006. He finished the season with a 2.19 ERA in 37.0 innings. The following season, he had career highs in games played (74), innings pitched (70.1), and strikeouts (74 to 27 walks). He finished the 2007 season with a 2.94 ERA.

Neshek's 2008 season was ended in May after 15 games with the Twins when he went on the DL with an ulnar collateral ligament tear. He had Tommy John surgery that November and he missed the entire 2009 season.

Neshek's return from his surgery was slow. In 2010, he spent most of his time on the DL and in the minors, pitching just 9.0 innings in 11 games with the Twins.

The San Diego Padres claimed Neshek off waivers on March 20, 2011. He spent half of the 2011 season in the minors and half of the season with the Padres. In 24.2 innings in 25 games with the Padres, he had a 4.01 ERA.

Neshek signed with the Baltimore Orioles on January 30, 2012. After playing in the Orioles' minor league system, he was traded to the Oakland Athletics on August 3, 2012. He pitched from the Athletics' bullpen in 24 games and he had a career low ERA of 1.37. The following season, he pitched 40.1 innings in 45 games with the Athletics before they designated him for assignment on August 26, 2013.

Neshek moved to his fifth team, the St. Louis Cardinals, when he signed a minor league contract with them on February 6, 2014. He made the team roster in Spring training and he pitched in 71 games with the Cardinals in 2014. In 67.1 innings, he had a 7-2 record, 68 strikeouts to 9 walks, and a 1.87 ERA.

On December 12, 2014, Neshek signed a two-year, $12.5 million contract with the Houston Astros. He pitched 54.2 innings in 66 games with the Astros in 2015 and he finished with a 3.62 ERA.

In 2016, Neshek pitched in 60 games for Houston. He had a 3.06 ERA and he struck out 43 batters and walked 11 in 47.0 innings.

Neshek was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies on November 4, 2016. He was acquired by the Colorado Rockies in a trade on July 26, 2017. He finished the 2017 season with 5 wins and 3 losses, 1 save, 69 strikeouts to just 6 walks, and a 1.59 ERA in 43 games with the Phillies and 28 games with the Rockies. In the Wild Card game, he pitched 1.1 innings and he gave up 2 hits and 2 runs.

Neshek became a free agent on November 2, 2017. He returned to the Phillies on December 15, 2017. He spent time on the DL in 2018 with right shoulder strain. He finished the season with 3 wins and 2 losses, 5 saves, 15 strikeouts to 5 walks, and a 2.59 ERA in 24.1 innings in 30 games.

Neshek spent time on the DL in 2019 with a right shoulder strain and with a left hamstring strain. He pitched just 18.0 innings in 20 games with the Phillies and he had an ERA of 5.00.

Neshek became a free agent on November 4, 2019. He hasn't played professional baseball since 2019.

Career pitching statistics for Neshek through 2019 include:

  • 544 games played
  • 488.0 innings pitched
  • 36-25 win-loss record
  • 16 saves
  • 471 strikeouts to 133 walks
  • 2.82 ERA

Personal Life

Neshek is a collector of autographs and memorabilia and he has an impressive website at PatNeshek.com.

Neshek and his wife Stephanee have a son who was born in March, 2014. They had another son who died in October, 2012, after just 23 hours of life.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Pat Neshek
ESPN - Pat Neshek