Matt Belisle | |
---|---|
![]() Belisle with the Washington Nationals in 2016 | |
Pitcher | |
Born: Austin, Texas, U.S. | June 6, 1980|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
September 7, 2003, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
Last MLB appearance | |
September 30, 2018, for the Minnesota Twins | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 52–58 |
Earned run average | 4.32 |
Strikeouts | 711 |
Teams | |
Matthew Thomas Belisle (beh-LYLE;born June 6,1980) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds,Colorado Rockies,St. Louis Cardinals,Washington Nationals,Minnesota Twins,and Cleveland Indians. Belisle was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the second round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft.
He was born in Austin,Texas,and attended St. Andrew's Episcopal School through middle school. He attended McCallum High School and was drafted out of high school by the Atlanta Braves in the second round of the 1998 Major League Baseball draft.
Belisle began his professional career in 1999,pitching for the Rookie-level Danville Braves. He was promoted to the Single-A Macon Braves to begin the 2000 season;in 15 starts,he had a 2.38 ERA and a WHIP under 1. This was good enough to get Belisle a promotion to Single-A Advanced Myrtle Beach where he had a 3.43 ERA in 12 starts. He spent all of 2002 and most of 2003 with the Double-A Greenville Braves before being traded to the Cincinnati Reds for veteran relief pitcher Kent Mercker as the PTBNL on August 14,2003.
Belisle was assigned to Triple-A Louisville and was called up to the majors on September 7,2003,making his debut that same day. In his debut,he pitched 2 innings,giving up a solo home run and walking one. In 6 relief appearances,he had a 1–1 record and a 5.20 ERA. Belisle did not play in the majors in 2004. He spent the entire year in Triple-A and struggled with a 9–11 record and a 5.26 ERA in 28 starts.
In 2005,Belisle spent the entire year in the majors,mostly pitching out of the bullpen. He made 5 starts and 55 relief appearances with an ERA of 4.41. He went 2–0 with a 3.60 ERA in 40 innings in 2006,but missed a big chunk of the season with a back injury. In 2007,in a career-high 30 starts for the Reds,Belisle went 8–9 with a 5.32 ERA after winning the number five spot in the starting rotation,after being mostly a reliever the past two years. In 2008,he struggled in 6 starts with a 1–4 record and 7.28 ERA before being sent down to Triple-A and being reconverted into a relief pitcher.
On January 14,2009,Belisle signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies. [1] He had his contract selected to the major league roster on April 10. He was designated for assignment on May 25,he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox the next day. He had his contract selected to the major league roster a second time on July 11. He was designated for assignment a second time on July 16,he again cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A on July 21. He had his contract selected to the majors for a third time on September 8.
Belisle enjoyed the best season of his career with the Rockies in 2010,mostly as a setup pitcher,posting a 7–5 record,2.93 ERA,91 K in 92 innings of work. He led all big league relievers with his 92 innings pitched.
In January 2011,he avoided salary arbitration with Colorado by signing a 1-year deal worth $2.35 million. [2] The Rockies signed Belisle to a new two-year deal worth $6.125 million a month later that overwrote his prior deal,and also got him under contract an extra year before hitting free agency. In addition,it included an incentive in which he would earn an additional $225,000 in bonuses based on games finished. [3] He proceeded to compile a 10–4 record with a 3.25 ERA and 58 Ks in 72 IP.
Before the 2012 season,he agreed to a two-year extension (which added a $4.1 million salary for 2013 and included a mutual option for 2014) at a minimum of $4.35 million. [4] He went on to pitch to a 3.71 earned run average with a 3–9 record as well as 69 strikeouts in 80 innings.
The 33-year-old Belisle came into 2013 being considered one of the Rockies' more reliable relievers. He compiled a record of 5–7 with a 4.32 ERA in 72 games. [5] He became a free agent following the 2014 season.
On December 2,2014,Belisle signed a one-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals. [6] After throwing a perfect inning against the Miami Marlins,he experienced pain in his arm. The Cardinals attempted to give him rest to alleviate the pain,but were unsuccessful,placing him on the disabled list on June 30. Through that point,Belisle had a 3.00 ERA in 30 games. [7] The club activated him from the DL on September 12. [8]
During a game against the Chicago Cubs on September 18,Belisle helped further the more-than-century old Cardinals–Cubs rivalry. Cubs pitcher Dan Haren hit teammate Matt Holliday in the back of the helmet. Two innings later,Belisle grazed first baseman Anthony Rizzo behind the knee in the seventh inning,prompting his ejection. The Cubs won,8–3. Remarked Cubs manager Joe Maddon about Belisle hitting Rizzo,"I have no history with the Cardinals except I used to love them growing up. That really showed me a lot today in a negative way. I don't know who put out the hit. I don't know if Tony Soprano is in the dugout. I didn't see him in there. But we're not going to put up with it,from them or anybody else." [9]
On February 17,2016,Belisle,signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals. [10] The Nationals selected his contract and added him to their 40-man roster on March 29. [11] Belisle led the team with a 1.76 ERA over 46 innings out of the bullpen, [12] but he was left off the Nationals' roster for the 2016 National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. [13] He became a free agent following the season.
On February 3,2017,Belisle signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Twins. [14] Belisle began the season as the setup man for the Twins but after August,he was put as closer for the team for the remainder of the season. He finished the season with a 2–2 record in 62 games and a career high 9 saves.
On February 25,2018,the Cleveland Indians signed Belisle to a minor league contract, [15] and purchased his contract on March 29,2018.
Belisle was designated for assignment by the Indians on May 2,2018. [16] He elected free agency on May 8 after clearing waivers. [17] Belisle re-signed with the Indians organization on a minor-league contract on May 16,2018. [18] The Indians released Belisle on June 11,2018. [19]
Belisle rejoined the Twins after signing a Major League contract with the team on June 11,2018. [20] In his second stint with the Twins,Belisle did not have a good outing,finishing the season with a 9.13 ERA in 25 appearances. On the final day of the season,Joe Mauer requested Belisle to be the pitcher on the mound when he appeared for one final pitch as a catcher before retiring after the game. [21]
Zachary Thomas Duke is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates,Arizona Diamondbacks,Washington Nationals,Milwaukee Brewers,Chicago White Sox,St. Louis Cardinals,Minnesota Twins,Seattle Mariners,and Cincinnati Reds.
Matthew Olson Guerrier is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins,Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs.
Jason Aaron Hammel is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Rays,Colorado Rockies,Baltimore Orioles,Oakland Athletics,Chicago Cubs,and Kansas City Royals.
Daniel Paul Bard is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Boston Red Sox from 2009 to 2013. In 2011,Bard set a Red Sox team record with 25 consecutive scoreless appearances. His highest velocity pitch was 102 miles per hour (164 km/h). In subsequent years,Bard experienced a loss of control over his pitches,derailing his playing career. After pitching in only two major league games in 2013,he played for several minor league teams before retiring in 2017 to become a player mentor. In 2020,Bard returned as a player after regaining his control,earned a spot on the Rockies' MLB roster,and went on to win the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award as their closing pitcher.
Carlos Agustín Mármol is a Dominican former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs,Los Angeles Dodgers,and the Miami Marlins. Carlos owns Recta 49,a successful restaurant/car wash in the Dominican Republic.
Jason Louis Motte is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals,Chicago Cubs,Colorado Rockies,and Atlanta Braves. The Cardinals drafted him as a catcher in 2003 and he converted to pitching in 2006. Motte played a key role in the 2011 World Series championship run,saving five postseason games. In 2012,he led the National League (NL) in saves with 42. Motte had Tommy John surgery to repair an ulnar collateral ligament injury that kept him from playing all of 2013. After returning to the Cardinals midway through the 2014 season,Motte signed a one-year,$4.5 million deal with the Cubs for 2015.
John Berton Axford,nicknamed "Ax Man",is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers,St. Louis Cardinals,Cleveland Indians,Pittsburgh Pirates,Colorado Rockies,Oakland Athletics,Toronto Blue Jays,and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Adam Robert Ottavino is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals,Colorado Rockies,New York Yankees,and Boston Red Sox. Listed at 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) and 246 pounds (112 kg),he throws right-handed and is a switch hitter.
Richard Blake Parker is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs,Seattle Mariners,New York Yankees,Los Angeles Angels,Minnesota Twins,Philadelphia Phillies,and Cleveland Indians. Parker was drafted by the Cubs in the 16th round of the 2006 MLB draft,and made his major league debut in 2012.
Tyler Cole Chatwood is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels,Colorado Rockies,Chicago Cubs,Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants. The Angels selected Chatwood in the second round of the 2008 Major League Baseball draft.
Jason Kendall Adam is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the United States national team. He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas City Royals,Toronto Blue Jays,and Chicago Cubs.
Rex Colman Brothers is an American former professional baseball pitcher. After playing college baseball at Lipscomb University,Brothers was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 2009 MLB draft. He debuted with the Rockies in 2011 and played for them until 2015. He also played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs.
Neil Andrew Ramírez is an American professional baseball pitcher for the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs,Milwaukee Brewers,Minnesota Twins,San Francisco Giants,New York Mets,Cleveland Indians,and Toronto Blue Jays.
Justin Scott Grimm is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers,Chicago Cubs,Kansas City Royals,Seattle Mariners,Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland Athletics.
Matthew Joseph Carasiti is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Atlanta Braves organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies and Seattle Mariners,and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. He was drafted by the Rockies in the sixth round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.
Brooks Lee Raley is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Chicago Cubs,Cincinnati Reds,Houston Astros,and Tampa Bay Rays,and in the KBO League for the Lotte Giants. Raley played college baseball for the Texas A&M Aggies. The Cubs selected Raley in the sixth round of the 2009 MLB draft and he made his MLB debut with them in 2012.
Matthew Robert Wisler is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He was drafted by the San Diego Padres out of high school in the seventh round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves,Cincinnati Reds,San Diego Padres,Seattle Mariners,Minnesota Twins,San Francisco Giants,and Tampa Bay Rays.
Drew James Rucinski is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,Minnesota Twins,Miami Marlins,and Oakland Athletics and in the KBO League for the NC Dinos.
Rowan David Wick is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs.
Ryan Thomas Meisinger is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Diablos Rojos del México of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles,St. Louis Cardinals,and Chicago Cubs.