Chad Qualls, Relief Pitcher

Date of Birth: 8/17/1978
Birthplace: Lomita, California
College: University of Nevada-Reno

Chad Qualls, relief pitcher, was first drafted in 1997 by the Toronto Blue Jays but he opted instead to attend the University of Nevada. Three years later, he was drafted by and signed with the Houston Astros. He pitched in the Astros' minor league system as a starting pitcher from 2001 through 2003. He transitioned to a relief pitcher in 2004.

Qualls pitched in 25 games with the Astros in 2004 and he had a 3.55 ERA in 33.0 games. The following season, his first full one in the major leagues, he had a 3.28 ERA in 79.2 innings in 77 games. In 2006, he finished with a 3.76 ERA in a career high 81 games. He had a 3.05 ERA and a career high 78 strikeouts (to 25 walks) in 82.2 innings in 79 games in 2007.

The Astros traded Qualls to the Arizona Diamondbacks on December 14, 2007. In his first season with the Diamondbacks, he had a 2.81 ERA in 77 games. He became their closer in 2009 and he finished with a 3.63 ERA and 24 saves in 52.0 innings in 51 games. He had season ending surgery in August.

Qualls was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on July 31, 2010. He finished the 2010 season with an ERA of 7.32 in 43 games with the Diamondbacks and 27 games with the Rays.

Qualls became a free agent on November 1, 2010. He signed with his fourth team, the San Diego Padres, on January 19, 2011. In 2011, his only season with the Padres, he had a 3.51 ERA in 74.1 innings in 77 games.

Qualls became a free agent again on October 31, 2011. He signed a one-year, $1.15 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on January 31, 2012. After 35 games with the Phillies in 2012, he was traded to the New York Yankees on July 1st. He lasted through only 8 games with the Yankees before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 31st. He then pitched in 17 games with the Pirates.

Qualls became a free agent for the third consecutive year on October 29, 2012. Once again, he had to wait until January to be signed by a team, this time to a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins. He made the Marlins' roster in 2013 and he finished the season with a career low ERA of 2.61 in 66 games. He stayed with the Marlins through the 2015 season, finishing in 2014 with a 3.33 ERA in 58 games and a 4.38 ERA in 2015 in 60 games.

After becoming a free agent on November 3, 2015, Qualls signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the Colorado Rockies on December 8th. He spent time on the DL in 2016 with colitis. He finished the season with 2 wins and no losses, 22 strikeouts to 9 walks, and a 5.23 ERA in 32.2 innings in 44 games.

The Rockies released Qualls on July 5, 2017. He finished the 2017 season with a 5.40 ERA in 16.2 innings in 19 games. He hasn't played professional baseball since 2017.

Career pitching statistics for Qualls through 2017 include:

• 844 games played
• 807.1 innings pitched
• 52-48 win-loss record
• 74 saves
• 624 strikeouts to 211 walks
• 3.89 ERA

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Chad Qualls
ESPN - Chad Qualls