Rick Honeycutt

Last updated
1+1⁄2 seasons in their minor league system, the Pirates traded him to the Seattle Mariners in August 1977 to complete an earlier trade for Dave Pagan. [4]

Honeycutt made his major league debut on August 24, 1977, against the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched two scoreless innings of relief, struck out three, and allowed two hits. [5] His first start was against the New York Yankees on August 31. He pitched 7+1⁄2 innings in that start, allowing three earned runs in a no-decision. [6] He finished the season 0–1 with a 4.34 ERA in 10 games (three starts). [7]

Honeycutt earned his first career win in his first start the following year, beating the Minnesota Twins on April 7, 1978. In the game, he allowed three earned runs and four walks in seven innings as the Mariners won 6–3. [8] In 26 games (24 starts) during the 1978 season, he posted a 5–11 record and a 4.89 ERA. [7]

Honeycutt matured into a control pitcher, being selected to the 1980 All-Star Game. While he was pitching on September 30, 1980, he was caught using a thumbtack to illegally cut the ball. He was ejected and suspended for 10 games. [9] On December 18, 1980, Honeycutt was traded along with Willie Horton, Leon Roberts, Mario Mendoza and Larry Cox from the Mariners to the Texas Rangers for Richie Zisk, Jerry Don Gleaton, Rick Auerbach, Ken Clay, Brian Allard and minor-league right-handed pitcher Steve Finch in an 11-player blockbuster deal. [10] In 1983, Honeycutt represented the Rangers in the All-Star Game. On August 19, 1983, Honeycutt was traded from the Rangers to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Dave Stewart and Ricky Wright. [11] Honeycutt led the American League in ERA in 1983 with 2.42, although he was traded to the Dodgers late in the season. [7]

On August 29, 1987, the Dodgers traded Honeycutt to the Oakland Athletics for a player to be named later, [12] who would be Tim Belcher. [7] Converted from a starting pitcher to relief in 1988 by Oakland, he became a set-up man to Dennis Eckersley, posting a series of sub-3.7 ERAs from 1988 through 1993. He was the oldest major league player in both 1996 and 1997.

Honeycutt made 268 starts and 529 relief appearances in his career, logging 2,160 innings pitched and compiling 109 wins and 38 saves. [7]

Coaching career

Following his playing career, Honeycutt spent a year coaching his kids' teams before joining the Dodgers as their minor league pitching coordinator. [13]

Honeycutt joined the Dodgers' coaching staff as pitching coach for the 2006 season. [14] He also launched a sporting goods and apparel business in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Honeycutt and Mariano Duncan were the only holdovers from Grady Little's 2007 coaching staff to return on new Dodgers' manager Joe Torre's 2008 coaching staff. [15] Honeycutt also remained as pitching coach when Don Mattingly replaced Torre after the 2010 season. [16] When Mattingly left the team after the 2015 season, Honeycutt was the only coach to remain on the staff for new manager Dave Roberts. [17]

Due to a back injury, Honeycutt stepped down as pitching coach for the Dodgers after the 2019 season to take a new role as a special assistant to the team. Honeycutt's 14 years as the Dodgers pitching coach (under four different managers) tied Ron Perranoski for the longest tenure in that role in the organization's history. [18]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Wetteland</span> American baseball player

John Karl Wetteland is an American former baseball pitcher who played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (1989–2000). He pitched for four teams: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Montreal Expos, New York Yankees, and Texas Rangers. A relief pitcher, Wetteland specialized as a closer, recording 330 saves during his career. With the Yankees, he won the 1996 World Series over the Atlanta Braves and won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award for saving four games in the series. After his playing career, he served as a coach for the Washington Nationals and Seattle Mariners. In 2019, Wetteland was arrested and indicted on charges of sexually abusing a child under the age of 14. These charges were later dismissed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlie Hough</span> American baseball player (born 1948)

Charles Oliver Hough is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) knuckleball pitcher and coach who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and Florida Marlins from 1970 to 1994.

Timothy Wayne Belcher is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1987 to 2000 for seven different teams. He was named The Sporting News Rookie Pitcher of the Year in 1988 for the National League. After his playing career, he served as pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians in 2010 and 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Harang</span> American baseball player (born 1978)

Aaron Michael Harang is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Atlanta Braves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Correia</span> American baseball player (born 1980)

Kevin John Correia, is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Lowe</span> American baseball player

Mark Christopher Lowe is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Cleveland Indians, Toronto Blue Jays, and Detroit Tigers. His fastball has been clocked as high as 101 mph. He also throws a slider and a circle changeup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1987 Los Angeles Dodgers season</span> Major League Baseball season

The 1987 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 98th of the franchise in Major League Baseball and their 30th season in Los Angeles, California. They finished in fourth place in the Western Division of the National League, with an identical record to the previous season, 73-89.

The 1983 Los Angeles Dodgers rebounded from being eliminated from the playoffs on the final day of the previous season to win their second National League Western Division title in three years, but lost in the National League Championship Series to the Philadelphia Phillies 3 games to 1.

The 1977 Los Angeles Dodgers season saw Tommy Lasorda in his first full season at the helm of the Dodgers, replacing longtime manager Walter Alston as manager of the team near the end of the previous season. The Dodgers won the National League West by 10 games and defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in four games in the NLCS, then lost to the New York Yankees in the World Series. This edition of the Dodgers featured the first quartet of teammates that hit 30 or more home runs: Steve Garvey with 33, Reggie Smith with 32, and Dusty Baker and Ron Cey, who both hit 30. The Dodgers duplicated this feat again 20 years later in 1997.

Below is a partial list of Minor League Baseball players in the Los Angeles Dodgers system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Fields (pitcher)</span> American baseball player (born 1985)

Joshua David Fields is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cesar Ramos (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1984)

Cesar Ramos is an American former professional baseball pitcher and the current pitching coach for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and Texas Rangers. Before playing professionally, Ramos played college baseball at Long Beach State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Juan Nicasio</span> Dominican baseball player (born 1986)

Juan Ramón Nicasio is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, and Texas Rangers. Nicasio made his major league debut in 2011. In 2017, he led the National League (NL) in appearances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Montgomery (baseball)</span> American baseball player

Michael Paul Montgomery is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the first round of the 2008 MLB draft, and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Seattle Mariners in 2015. The Mariners traded him to the Chicago Cubs in 2016. Montgomery recorded the final out in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, earning the save and sealing the Cubs' first World Series title since 1908.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Andriese</span> American baseball player (born 1989)

Matthew Lee Andriese is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox, and Seattle Mariners and for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carson Fulmer</span> American baseball player (born 1993)

Carson Springer Fulmer is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Los Angeles Angels organization. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles, and Cincinnati Reds. He played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores. He was drafted by the White Sox in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Yarbrough</span> American baseball pitcher (born 1991)

Ryan Christian Yarbrough is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Rays and Kansas City Royals. The Seattle Mariners selected Yarbrough in the fourth round of the 2014 MLB draft.

Tyson Marcus Miller 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, Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Los Angeles Dodgers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tayler Scott</span> South African baseball player (born 1992)

Tayler James Scott is a South African professional baseball pitcher for the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Seattle Mariners, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Boston Red Sox and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. He is the first South African baseball pitcher in MLB and NPB history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andre Jackson</span> American baseball pitcher (born 1996)

Andre Terrell Jackson is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

References

  1. ↑ "14th Round of the 1972 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Former BJ Coach Treated as Royalty". KSCB . August 16, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  3. ↑ "17th Round of the 1976 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Major League Box Scores". The New York Times . August 23, 1977. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Toronto Blue Jays vs Seattle Mariners Box Score: August 24, 1977". Baseball-Reference.com . August 24, 1977. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Seattle Mariners vs New York Yankees Box Score: August 31, 1977". Baseball-Reference.com . August 31, 1977. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Rick Honeycutt Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Minnesota Twins vs Seattle Mariners Box Score: April 7, 1978". Baseball-Reference.com . April 7, 1978. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Biggest cheaters in baseball". ESPN . Retrieved January 2, 2012.
  10. ↑ "The Texas Rangers Thursday completed an 11-player trade with..." UPI . December 18, 1980. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  11. ↑ "SPORTS PEOPLE; Honeycutt to Dodgers". The New York Times . August 20, 1983. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Dodgers Trade Honeycutt to A's for Unnamed Player". Los Angeles Times . August 30, 1987. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  13. ↑ "The Official Site of The Los Angeles Dodgers: Team: Manager and Coaches". Los Angeles Dodgers . MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2008.
  14. ↑ "Eddie Murray hired as Dodgers' hitting coach". ESPN . Associated Press. January 11, 2006. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  15. ↑ Nadel, John (November 16, 2007). "Dodgers add 4 more coaches to Joe Torre's staff". USA Today . Associated Press . Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Dodgers announce 2011 coaching staff". Los Angeles Dodgers . MLB.com. November 22, 2010. Archived from the original on November 26, 2010. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  17. ↑ Weisman, Jon (December 17, 2015). "Dodgers name coaches for 2016". Los Angeles Dodgers . MLBlogs. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  18. ↑ Calcatera, Craig (October 14, 2019). "Dodgers to reassign pitching coach Rick Honeycutt, Mark Prior to take over". NBC Sports . Retrieved October 14, 2019.
Rick Honeycutt
Rick Honeycutt.jpg
Honeycutt with the Los Angeles Dodgers
Pitcher
Born: (1954-06-29) June 29, 1954 (age 69)
Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
August 24, 1977, for the Seattle Mariners
Last MLB appearance
May 2, 1997, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Oldest Player in the
National League
1996–1997		Succeeded by
Preceded by Los Angeles Dodgers Pitching Coach
2006–2019		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.