In baseball and softball,a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who pitches in the game after the starting pitcher has been removed because of fatigue,ineffectiveness,injury,or ejection,or for other strategic reasons,such as inclement weather delays or pinch hitter substitutions. Relief pitchers are further divided informally into various roles,such as closers,setup men,middle relief pitchers,left/right-handed specialists,and long relievers. Whereas starting pitchers usually throw so many pitches in a single game that they must rest several days before pitching in another,relief pitchers are expected to be more flexible and typically pitch in more games with a shorter time period between pitching appearances but with fewer innings pitched per appearance. A team's staff of relievers is normally referred to metonymically as a team's bullpen,which refers to the area where the relievers sit during games,and where they warm-up prior to entering the game.
Joseph Gordon Dobson was an American professional baseball player,a right-handed pitcher who appeared in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians (1939–40),Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox (1951–53). After his playing career,Dobson was the pitching coach for the Red Sox for a season and a general manager in the Red Sox minor league system.
Robert William Stanley is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher who spent his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the Boston Red Sox. He was later the pitching coach for the Buffalo Bisons,Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays,through the 2018 season.
Melvin Leroy Harder,nicknamed "Chief",was an American right-handed starting pitcher,coach and manager in Major League Baseball,who played his entire career with the Cleveland Indians. He spent 36 seasons overall with the Indians,as a player from 1928 to 1947 and as one of the game's most highly regarded pitching coaches from 1948 to 1963. He set franchise records for wins (223),games started (433) and innings pitched which were later broken by Bob Feller,and still holds the club record of 582 career games pitched;he was among the American League's career leaders in wins (9th),games (8th) and starts (10th) when he retired. He was also an excellent fielder,leading AL pitchers in putouts four times,then a record.
William Edward Wagner,nicknamed "Billy the Kid",is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He pitched for the Houston Astros (1995–2003),Philadelphia Phillies (2004–2005),New York Mets (2006–2009),Boston Red Sox (2009),and Atlanta Braves (2010). Wagner is one of only eight major league relief pitchers to accumulate at least 400 career saves. A left-handed batter and thrower,Wagner stands 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) tall and weighs 180 pounds (82 kg).
Timothy Adam Hudson,nicknamed "Huddy" is an American former professional baseball pitcher of Major League Baseball (MLB). After spending his college years at Chattahoochee Valley Community College and Auburn University,Hudson played in the major leagues for the Oakland Athletics (1999–2004),the Atlanta Braves (2005–13),and the San Francisco Giants (2014–15). With the Giants,he won the 2014 World Series over the Kansas City Royals. He is now the varsity head coach for the Lee-Scott Academy baseball team,located in Auburn,AL.
Allan Fulton Worthington,nicknamed "Red",is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of 14 seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York / San Francisco Giants,Boston Red Sox (1960),Chicago White Sox (1960),Cincinnati Reds (1963–64) and Minnesota Twins (1965–69). Worthington batted and threw right-handed.
William Henry "Bucky" Walters was an American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball from 1931 to 1950. He was a six-time All-Star and the 1939 National League Most Valuable Player.
Robert Andrew Veale is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher from 1962 through 1974 for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox. Veale was one of the top strikeout pitchers in the National League during his tenure with the Pirates. The two-time All-Star player was the National League strikeout leader in 1964. He was a member of the Pirates teams that won three consecutive National League Eastern Division titles between 1970 and 1972 and,won the World Series in 1971. Veale also played for the Boston Red Sox from 1972 to 1974.
Thomas Joseph Beckwith was an American baseball pitcher who played seven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kansas City Royals from 1979 to 1986. He threw right-handed and served primarily as a relief pitcher.
Joshua Morgan Hancock was a professional baseball pitcher,who played Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox,Philadelphia Phillies,Cincinnati Reds,and St. Louis Cardinals. He was killed in an auto accident on April 29,2007,at the age of 29.
George David "Slick" Coffman was an American baseball pitcher. He played 18 years of professional baseball,including four years in Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers (1937–1939) and St. Louis Browns (1940). In his major league debut in May 1937,Coffman won in an 11-inning,4–2 pitching duel with Lefty Grove. Coffman compiled a career record of 15–12 in 313+2⁄3 innings pitched with a 5.60 earned run average.
Thomas Jerome Ferrick was a Major League Baseball pitcher,pitching coach and scout. Primarily a relief pitcher,he stood 6 ft 2+1⁄2 in (1.89 m) tall and weighed 220 pounds (100 kg) in his playing days. He batted and threw right-handed.
David Alan Robertson,nicknamed D-Rob,is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the New York Yankees,Chicago White Sox,Tampa Bay Rays,Chicago Cubs,and Philadelphia Phillies.
Below are select minor league players and the rosters of the minor league affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles:
Below is a partial list of minor league baseball players in the Kansas City Royals system.
Alan Goodman Koch was an American professional baseball player. A right-handed pitcher and graduate of Auburn University,Koch spent 1½seasons in Major League Baseball as a member of the Detroit Tigers and Washington Senators in 1963–1964. He stood 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) tall and weighed 195 pounds (88 kg). He was Jewish. He attended Decatur High School in Decatur,Alabama,and Alabama Polytechnic Institute.
Evan Shane Crawford is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Tanner Scott Rainey is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft. He made his MLB debut with the Reds in 2018.
Keegan Cole Thompson is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2021.
