| Jason Grilli | |
|---|---|
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|
| Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 39 | |
| Relief pitcher | |
| Born: November 11, 1976 Royal Oak, Michigan |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| May 11, 2000 for the Florida Marlins | |
| Career statistics (through May 15, 2013) |
|
| Win–loss record | 21–26 |
| Earned run average | 4.21 |
| Strikeouts | 418 |
| Saves | 21 |
| Teams | |
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Jason Michael Grilli (born November 11, 1976) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He has previously played for the Florida Marlins, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies, and Texas Rangers.
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Amateur career [edit]
Following his high school career at Baker High School in Baldwinsville, New York, Grilli was drafted in the 24th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft by the New York Yankees, but chose not to sign. Instead, he opted to played college baseball at Seton Hall University, which he attended from 1995–1997.
While at Seton Hall, Grilli once struck out 18 batters in a game to break Charles Nagy's Big East record. Grilli was drafted in the first round, fourth overall, of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft by the San Francisco Giants.
Professional career [edit]
San Francisco Giants [edit]
Grilli began his professional career in 1998 with the Double-A Shreveport Captains of the Texas League and the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League. In 21 games for the Captains, Grilli went 7–10 with a 3.79 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 123⅓ innings pitched. With the Grizzlies Grilli went 2–3 with a 5.14 ERA in eight games, all starts.
Florida Marlins [edit]
In 1999, Grilli was a key component of a midseason trade that brought Liván Hernández to the San Francisco Giants, and sent Grilli and pitcher Nate Bump to the Florida Marlins.[1]
Grilli made his major league debut on May 11, 2000. He pitched mostly all of 2003 with the Albuquerque Isotopes.
Chicago White Sox [edit]
Grilli was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 2003 Rule 5 draft.[2] He spent 2004 in the White Sox organization after being selected. In January 2005, after the White Sox signed Tadahito Iguchi, Grilli was designated for assignment.[3] Grilli was then released.
Detroit Tigers [edit]
In 2005, he signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers. After helping the Triple-A affiliate Toledo Mud Hens to a league championship (he clinched the championship game), he joined the parent club for a late-season audition.
Grilli pitched for Team Italy in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He also had a good spring training and earned a spot in the Tigers bullpen as a long reliever, leading to his first extended stint in the majors.
In 2007, Grilli posted career highs in almost every category, including games (57), innings (79⅔), strikeouts (62), wins (5), and holds (11). However, Grilli heard boos at Comerica Park during the season, mostly due to his home ERA of 7.96. He was much more effective away from home, posting a 1.91 ERA in road games. Tigers manager Jim Leyland defended Grilli: "I like Grilli because he's got a resilient arm...There's a lot to be said for that."[4][5]
Colorado Rockies [edit]
On April 30, 2008, Grilli was traded to the Colorado Rockies for reliever Zachary Simons. This move was made to clear a roster spot for incoming reliever Francisco Cruceta.[6]
In January 2009, Grilli announced that he would again pitch for Team Italy in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.[7]
On June 5, 2009, Grilli was designated for assignment by the Rockies.
Texas Rangers [edit]
On June 9, 2009, Grilli was acquired by the Texas Rangers for cash considerations.[8] In October 2009, Grilli was granted free agency.
Cleveland Indians [edit]
On December 2, 2009, Grilli signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians with an invite to spring training.[9] Grilli suffered a severe knee injury in spring training and would miss the entire 2010 season. Grilli filed for free agency on November 6, 2010.
Philadelphia Phillies [edit]
On January 30, 2011, Grilli signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.[10] He pitched for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, posting a 1.93 ERA in 32 1/3 innings, before being released on July 20.[11]
Pittsburgh Pirates [edit]
Grilli signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 21, 2011.[12]
Grilli played in 64 games for the Pirates in the 2012 season, recording a 1–6 record and 2.91 ERA. His 32 holds were second-best in the National League, and his 13.8 strikeouts per nine innings was the fourth-best among NL relievers with 40 or more innings pitched.[13][14]
On December 12, 2012, the Pirates announced that they had re-signed Grilli to a two-year contract. He would also play for Team Italy in the 2013 WBC.[15]
Personal [edit]
He is the son of former major league pitcher Steve Grilli,[16] who pitched for parts of four seasons in the late 1970s, including three with the Detroit Tigers. His dad is also known for being the losing pitcher for the Rochester Red Wings in the longest professional baseball game on June 23, 1981. He has worn number 49 in honor of his father, and the two still talk after every game in which Jason makes an appearance.[17]
Grilli and his wife, Danielle Hurt, welcomed their first child, in February, 2008. The couple reside in Orlando, Florida during the offseason.[18]
Grilli runs a company called Perfect Pitch Marketing which sells videophones and other consumer telecommunications equipment through Rochester-based 5LINX. Perfect Pitch Marketing offers a full range of online marketing services with a focus on helping businesses increase their SEO rankings. The company also offers services in mobile and social media marketing. He discusses this business venture in an interview with Jimmy Scott.[19]
See also [edit]
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References [edit]
- ^ "Marlins Send Ex-hero Hernandez To Giants". July 25, 1999.
- ^ "White Sox take four in Rule 5". December 15, 2003.
- ^ "White Sox designate pitcher Jason Grilli for assignment". January 28, 2005.
- ^ Morosi, Jon Paul (February 29). "Tigers Jason Grilli always ready to pitch in; Leyland likes his resilient arm". Detroit Free Press.
- ^ "Fans want to see Grilli put out fires; Reliever says numbers don't always tell story". Grand Rapids Press. March 15, 2008. p. D6.
- ^ "Tigers trade Jason Grilli to Colorado". Detroit Free Press. April 30, 2008. Retrieved April 30, 2008.[dead link]
- ^ Thomas Harding (January 14, 2009). "Grilli proud to represent Italy at Classic". MLB.com. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
- ^ "Rockies trade RHP Jason Grilli to Texas". June 9, 2009.
- ^ Jason Beck (December 2, 2009). "Indians to give Grilli a Minors deal". MLB.com. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
- ^ Zolecki, Todd. "Grilli, Phillies work out Minor League contract". MLB.com. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
- ^ Biertempfel, Rob. "Pirates close to picking up reliever Grilli". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
- ^ Brink, Bill. "Pirates sign free agent pitcher Jason Grilli". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
- ^ "Jason Grill". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ^ "MLB Player Pitching Stats – As Reliever – 2012". ESPN. Retrieved 2012-10-18.
- ^ "Pirates sign free agent RHP Jason Grilli". December 12, 2012.
- ^ "Steve Grilli Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
- ^ http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060614&content_id=1504835&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det
- ^ The Official Site of The Detroit Tigers: News: Notes: Comerica packing them in
- ^ Jimmy Scott (January 5, 2009). "Jimmy Scott's High & Tight: The Jason Grilli Interview". Jimmyscottshighandtight.com. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
External links [edit]
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- Jason Grilli on Twitter
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