| Mike Grzanich | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born:August 24, 1972 Canton, Illinois, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 14, 1998, for the Houston Astros | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| May 14, 1998, for the Houston Astros | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Games pitched | 1 |
| Earned run average | 18.00 |
| Strikeouts | 1 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Michael Edward Grzanich (born August 24,1972) is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who played for the Houston Astros in 1998.
Grzanich was born in Canton,Illinois,on August 24,1972. He attended Lewistown High School and Parkland College. [1]
Grzanich was a 19th-round draft pick of the Houston Astros during the 1992 MLB draft. [1] He made his professional debut for the GCL Astros last that year,posting a 2–5 record and an earned run average of 4.54 in 17 appearances. [2]
In 1993,Grzanich was promoted to the Single–A Auburn Astros of the New York–Penn League. He made 14 starts,with a 5–8 record and a 4.82 ERA. He also struck out 71 batters in 93.1 innings. [2]
Grzanich spent 1994 with the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Single–A Midwest League. In 22 starts with Quad Cities,he went 11–7 with a 3.09 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 142.2 innings. [2]
For the 1995 season,Grzanich was promoted to the Double–A Jackson Generals of the Texas League. He was converted from a starting pitcher to a relief pitcher and made 50 appearances from the bullpen. He had a 5–3 record,an ERA of 2.74,and 8 saves. In 65.2 innings,Grzanich struck out 44 but also surrendered 38 bases on balls. [2]
Grzanish remained with Jackson in 1996. He made 57 relief appearances,posting a 5–4 record,6 saves,and an ERA of 3.98. Over 72.1 innings,he struck out 80 batters and walked 43. [2]
In 1997,Grzanich spent a third consecutive season with the Jackson Generals. He made 38 appearances (13 starts) and tallied a 7–6 record and 12 saves. His ERA was 4.96 over 101.2 innings,and he totaled 73 strikeouts and 46 walks. [2]
Grzanich was promoted to the Triple–A New Orleans Zephyrs of the Pacific Coast League for the 1998 season. He made 34 appearances for New Orleans,recording a 1–1 record,a 2.27 ERA,and 5 saves. [2] He also made his MLB debut on May 14 against the Pittsburgh Pirates and surrendered two earned runs in an inning of relief. [1] On January 27,1999,Grzanich was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Tigers. [3]
1999 was Grzanich's final season in affiliated baseball. He struggled with the Triple–A Toledo Mud Hens,posting a 9.28 ERA in 14 appearances. He struck out 17 batters in 21.1 innings,but also recorded 25 walks. [2]
After spending 2000 out of professional baseball,in 2001 Grzanich joined the Yuma Bullfrogs of the independent Western League for what would be his final season. He saw action in 7 games (4 starts),posting an ERA of 10.43. [2]
Grzanich is married and has a daughter. After his playing career had ended,he paid $120 in an internet auction to buy the uniform he had worn during his lone MLB appearance. [4]
