The Milwaukee Brewers selected Sarfate in the ninth round (268th overall) of the 2001 MLB Draft.[4] In 2003,while pitching for the Single-A Beloit Snappers in the Midwest League,he was 12–2 with a 2.84 ERA in 26 starts,and 140 strikeouts (second in the league) in 139.2 innings.[5]
He made his MLB debut on September 3,2006,striking out three batters in 1.1 scoreless innings against the Florida Marlins.[6] Sarfate pitched in eight games for the Brewers,with a 4.32 earned run average (ERA),and 11 strikeouts in 8.1 innings.[7]
Houston Astros
The Brewers traded Sarfate to the Houston Astros on September 11,2007,for cash considerations.[7] After beginning his professional career as a starter,Sarfate spent 2007 as a relief pitcher. He made seven relief appearances for Houston,and was 1–0 with a 1.08 ERA and 14 strikeouts in 8.1 innings.[8]
Sarfate also began 2008 as a relief pitcher. On July 28,2008,he was moved to the Orioles' starting rotation.[10] He returned to the bullpen after just four starts,in which he went 0–2 while allowing 18 runs in just 152⁄3 innings. Overall, in 57 games, he was 4–3 with a 4.74 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 79.2 innings.[8]
Sarfate began 2009 in the Orioles' bullpen, but was placed on the disabled list in May after posting a 6.39 ERA in eight appearances.[11] He was activated in September, and pitched much better, posting a 3.48 ERA over 12 relief appearances. Overall, he was 0–1 in 20 relief appearances with a 5.09 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 23 innings.[8]
In 2010, Sarfate pitched with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, where he was 2–2 with 20 saves (tied for seventh in the International League) and a 2.73 ERA in 47 games, as he struck out 72 batters in 56 innings.[5] He was named an MiLB Organization All Star.[12]
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
In 2011, Sarfate signed with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Japan's Central League.[13] Sarfate quickly became one of the top closers in Japanese baseball.[14] He was a 2011 All Star.[15] In 2011 he was 1–3 with 35 saves (second in the Japan Central League) and a 1.34 ERA in 57 games.[16][5] In 2012, he was 2–5 with nine saves (ninth in the league) and a 2.90 ERA in 47 games.[5][17]
In 2015, Sarfate closed out the 2015 Japan Series as well, as the Hawks won their second championship in a row.[22] For the season he was 5–1 with 41 saves (leading the league) and a 1.11 ERA (fourth) in 65 games (third).[5][23]
During the 2016 season, Sarfate recorded 43 saves, a new record for most single-season saves in the Pacific League.[24] He was named a 2016 All Star.[25] For the season he was 0–7 with a 1.88 ERA (seventh in the league) in 64 games (second).[5][26]
On April 2, 2017, Sarfate recorded his 178th save in Japan, setting a new record for most saves by a foreign pitcher in Nippon Professional Baseball history. The record was previously held by Marc Kroon of the Yomiuri Giants (177).[27] On July 4, 2017, Sarfate recorded his 200th save, becoming the sixth pitcher in NPB history to reach that threshold and the first foreign pitcher. On September 5, 2017, Sarfate earned his 47th save of the season, breaking the record for most single-season saves in Japanese baseball history.[28] He finished the season leading the league with 54 saves, as he was 2–2 with a 1.09 ERA (fourth in the league) in 66 games (second).[29][5][30] Sarfate earned two saves and a win in the 2017 Japan Series, and won the Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award.[31] He won the Pacific League MVP.[32] He also received the Matsutaro Shoriki Award, for the year's greatest contribution to Japanese professional baseball.[33]
Sarfate had season-ending surgery on his right hip in April 2018, after pitching six innings.[34] He missed the 2019 season as well.[35][36] His 234 career saves rank seventh-most in NPB history.[37]
On October 14, 2020, Sarfate underwent hip reoperation and spent the 2020 season in rehabilitation.[38] On November 30, 2021, Sarfate announced his retirement from professional baseball, having missed the past three seasons due to injury.[39]
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