| Mike Ballard | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born:February 6, 1984 Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Left | |
| CPBL debut | |
| March 27, 2013, for the Brother Elephants | |
| Last CPBL appearance | |
| April 10, 2013, for the Brother Elephants | |
| CPBL statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 1–1 |
| Earned run average | 5.79 |
| Strikeouts | 8 |
| Teams | |
Michael Aaron Ballard (born February 6,1984) is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Brother Elephants. He is a phantom ballplayer,having spent a day on the active roster of the Baltimore Orioles without making an appearance.
Ballard went to Ocean Lakes High School,where he led the team to a second-place finish in the 2001 Virginia AAA State Tournament,setting a school record in ERA with a 0.69 ERA. He was drafted in the 50th round,1474th overall,in the 2002 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins,but he decided to go to the University of Virginia. [1] His 2003 season was cut short due to injury,where,in his seven starts,he had a 1.93 ERA in 7 starts. He missed all of 2004 due to injury. He was solid in 2005,where he went 8–3 with a 3.54 ERA over 15 starts. In 2005,he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod Baseball League. [2] Ballard was drafted again by the Minnesota Twins,in the 47th round,1415th overall,of the 2005 Draft,but decided to stay for his senior year. His senior year was less impressive,with a 4.09 ERA,despite having a 9–3 record and two complete games.
Ballard was drafted in the 14th round,418th overall,by the Texas Rangers in the 2006 Major League Baseball draft,and decided to sign. [3] He started 2006 with the Low–A Spokane Indians,where he went 2–7 with a 5.68 ERA and 41 strikeouts across 63+1⁄3 innings pitched.
Ballard started 2007 with the Single–A Clinton LumberKings, where he went 9–4 with a 3.93 ERA and 59 strikeouts before earning a promotion to the High–A Bakersfield Blaze. He started 2008 with the Double–A Frisco RoughRiders, where he went 8–3 with a 4.02 ERA and 72 strikeouts before earning a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma RedHawks. Ballard split the 2009 campaign between Frisco and the newly renamed Oklahoma City RedHawks. He spent all of 2010 with Oklahoma City after earning a spring training visit.
On January 17, 2011, Ballard signed a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles organization. He started the season with the Triple–A Norfolk Tides, but was demoted to the Double–A Bowie Baysox after posting a 4.91 ERA with 38 strikeouts over 10 games. [4]
On July 31, 2011, Ballard was called up to the major leagues to replace the struggling Jason Berken. [5] He went unused out of the bullpen and was optioned back to Bowie the next day, becoming a phantom ballplayer. On August 31, Ballard was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Bowie. [6] On November 2, he elected free agency.
On December 27, 2011, Ballard signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals that included an invitation to spring training. [7] He spent 2012 with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators, posting a 1-5 record and 4.31 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 64+2⁄3 innings pitched across 12 starts. [8] Ballard elected free agency following the season on November 2, 2012.
On January 6, 2013, Ballard signed with the Brother Elephants of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. [9] In 3 starts for the Elephants, he struggled to a 1-1 record and 5.79 ERA with 8 strikeouts across 9+1⁄3 innings pitched. Ballard was released by the team on April 12. [10]
On May 1, 2013, Ballard signed with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. [11] In 17 starts for the Blue Crabs, he compiled a 7-7 record and 4.89 ERA with 60 strikeouts across 92 innings of work. Ballard became a free agent following the season.