Tom Wilhelmsen | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Born: Tucson, Arizona, U.S. | December 16, 1983|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
MLB debut | |
April 3, 2011, for the Seattle Mariners | |
Last MLB appearance | |
June 9, 2017, for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |
MLB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 14–15 |
Earned run average | 3.53 |
Strikeouts | 339 |
Saves | 68 |
Teams | |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
Thomas Mark Wilhelmsen (born December 16,1983) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners,Texas Rangers,and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Wilhelmsen graduated from Tucson High School, [1] whence he was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh round (199th overall) of the 2002 MLB Draft. [2] Later that summer,upon signing with the Brewers on August 19,he received a US$250,000 bonus. [3] [4] He began his professional career the next season.
Wilhelmsen played for the AZL Brewers and Beloit Snappers in 2003,going a combined 5–6 with a 2.84 ERA in 17 starts. Following that season,he twice tested positive for marijuana and was suspended for the 2004 campaign. He decided to quit professional baseball during extended spring training after his suspension ended in 2005. [3]
During his five-year hiatus from 2005 to 2009,he worked as a bartender at The Hut,a tiki bar in his hometown. This occupation would later be the inspiration for his nickname. [5]
Prior to the 2010 season,Wilhelmsen attempted a comeback and signed a minor league contract with the Mariners. [3] He played for the AZL Mariners,Everett AquaSox and Clinton LumberKings that season,going a combined 7–1 with a 2.19 ERA in 15 games (12 starts).
On May 17,2011,after being signed by the Mariners he was optioned to Class AA in order to clear room for Franklin Gutierrez to be activated. After a series of trades created an opening on the Mariners' 25-man roster,Wilhelmsen was recalled from the minor leagues on August 2,2011. [6] He won his first major league game on August 15,pitching a perfect 8th inning against the Toronto Blue Jays.
On June 8,2012,Wilhelmsen recorded the save in a six-pitcher combined no-hitter which was started by Kevin Millwood who left the game after the 6th inning due to a groin injury. The six pitchers used by the Mariners tied the record of most pitchers used in a no-hitter with the 2003 Houston Astros. The Mariners beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 1–0. [7] Wilhelmsen said after the game that while he was pitching,he had forgotten it was a no-hitter,and only remembered after catcher Jesús Montero reminded him. [8]
Wilhelmsen was optioned to Tacoma on August 6,2013, [9] and recalled in September. In 2014 Wilhelmsen was back in the Mariner bullpen,appearing in 57 games and finishing the season with a 2.27 ERA and a WHIP of 1.05. [10] It was also in 2014 that Wilhelmsen reached a wider audience in baseball after his formidable dancing ability was captured on video. [11]
During the 2015 season,Wilhelmsen had a brief stint on the disabled list after a bullpen accident;Wilhelmsen was swinging his arms when teammate Danny Farquhar ran into Wilhelmsen's right arm,resulting in a hyperextended elbow. [10]
On November 16,2015,the Mariners traded Wilhelmsen,James Jones,and a player to be named later (Patrick Kivlehan) to the Texas Rangers for Leonys Martín and Anthony Bass. [12] On January 13,2016,the Rangers and Wilhelmsen agreed to a one-year,$3.1 million contract to avoid arbitration. [13] Wilhelmsen had a rough start with the Rangers with an ERA of 10.55. With this,the Rangers optioned Wilhelmsen to Triple A,but he refused,making him a free agent.
On June 22,2016,Wilhelmsen signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Mariners. [14] He was designated for assignment by the Mariners on November 18, [15] and released on November 22. [16]
On February 10,2017,Wilhelmsen signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. [17] He made the Diamondbacks' Opening Day roster. [18] He was designated for assignment on June 11. He was released on June 16,2017,after struggling with his command,allowing 12 walks in 26 innings and posting a 4.44 ERA for the Diamondbacks.
On June 22,2017,Wilhelmsen signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. [19] He was released on August 5.
On February 5,2018,Wilhelmsen signed a minor league contract with the San Diego Padres. [20] He was released on March 19. [21]
On May 2,2018,Wilhelmsen signed with the St. Paul Saints of the independent American Association. [22] In 18 games 18.2 innings of relief he went 0-1 with a 2.89 ERA with 14 strikeouts and 7 saves.
On July 3,2018,Wilhelmsen signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. He was released on August 18,2018. In 15 games 14 innings of relief he went 0-1 with a 3.86 ERA with 11 strikeouts and 8 saves.
Wilhelmsen announced his retirement on December 10,2018. [23]
Wilhelmsen mainly throws two pitches — a four-seam fastball,which is usually 95-98 mph,and a 12-6 curveball,which will be in the upper 70s with a big,12-6 break. He has experimented with a slider and circle changeup,but he uses these pitches sparingly. However,the changeup was seen more frequently during Spring Training in 2013. [24]
Jamey Alan Wright is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played for 10 different teams in Major League Baseball (MLB):the Colorado Rockies,Milwaukee Brewers,St. Louis Cardinals,Kansas City Royals,San Francisco Giants,Texas Rangers,Cleveland Indians,Seattle Mariners,Los Angeles Dodgers,and Tampa Bay Rays. Wright batted and threw right-handed.
Yovani Gallardo is a Mexican former professional baseball pitcher. He was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the second round of the 2004 Major League Baseball draft out of Trimble Technical High School in Fort Worth,Texas. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers,Baltimore Orioles,Texas Rangers,Seattle Mariners,and Cincinnati Reds. Gallardo was an All-Star in 2010,and won the Silver Slugger Award for pitchers that year.
NeftalíFeliz Antonio is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Caliente de Durango of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers,Detroit Tigers,Pittsburgh Pirates,Milwaukee Brewers,Kansas City Royals,Philadelphia Phillies,and Los Angeles Dodgers. Feliz won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2010.
Wade Matthew LeBlanc is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres,Miami Marlins,Houston Astros,Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,New York Yankees,Pittsburgh Pirates,Seattle Mariners,Baltimore Orioles and St. Louis Cardinals and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Saitama Seibu Lions.
Ernesto Frieri Gutiérrez [free-eh'-ree] is a Colombian former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres,Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim,Pittsburgh Pirates,Tampa Bay Rays,and Texas Rangers.
Chaz Daniel Roe is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks,New York Yankees,Baltimore Orioles,Atlanta Braves,and Tampa Bay Rays.
Anthony Ray Swarzak is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins,Cleveland Indians,New York Yankees,Chicago White Sox,Milwaukee Brewers,New York Mets,Seattle Mariners,Atlanta Braves,Arizona Diamondbacks,and Kansas City Royals. He also played in the KBO League for the Doosan Bears.
Juan Carlos Ramírez is a Nicaraguan professional baseball pitcher for the Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies,Arizona Diamondbacks,Seattle Mariners,Cincinnati Reds,and Los Angeles Angels,and in the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for the Fubon Guardians.
James Steven Jones is an American former professional baseball outfielder and pitcher. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the fourth round of the 2009 Major League Baseball draft and made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with them in 2014.
Anthony Edward Bass is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres,Houston Astros,Texas Rangers,Chicago Cubs,Seattle Mariners,Miami Marlins,and Toronto Blue Jays. Bass has also played for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He played college baseball at Wayne State University.
Wade Allen Miley is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks,Boston Red Sox,Seattle Mariners,Baltimore Orioles,Houston Astros,Cincinnati Reds,and Chicago Cubs.
Lucas Lester Luetge is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Chicago Cubs organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners,New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves.
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.
Robert Chase Anderson is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks,Milwaukee Brewers,Toronto Blue Jays,Philadelphia Phillies,Cincinnati Reds,Tampa Bay Rays,Colorado Rockies,Boston Red Sox,and Texas Rangers.
Thyago Vieira Lucio is a Brazilian professional baseball pitcher in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners,Chicago White Sox,Milwaukee Brewers,and Baltimore Orioles,and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants.
Dominic Joseph Leone,nicknamed "Dominator",is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Seattle Mariners,Arizona Diamondbacks,Toronto Blue Jays,St. Louis Cardinals,Cleveland Indians,San Francisco Giants,New York Mets,and Los Angeles Angels. Leone played college baseball for the Clemson Tigers. The Mariners selected Leone in the 16th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.
Matthew Lee Andriese is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays,Arizona Diamondbacks,Los Angeles Angels,Boston Red Sox,Seattle Mariners,and Miami Marlins. He has also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Yomiuri Giants.
Luke Allen Weaver is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals,Arizona Diamondbacks,Kansas City Royals,Cincinnati Reds and Seattle Mariners.
Christopher Michael Devenski,also known as "Devo",is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros,Arizona Diamondbacks,Philadelphia Phillies,Los Angeles Angels,and Tampa Bay Rays. Prior to playing professionally,Devenski played college baseball for Golden West College and California State University,Fullerton. The Chicago White Sox selected Devenski in the 25th round,with the 771st overall selection,of the 2011 MLB draft. He was named an MLB All-Star in 2017.
Paul Stanton Sewald is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the New York Mets and Seattle Mariners. Sewald played college baseball for the San Diego Toreros.