Derrick Turnbow
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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|---|---|
| Milwaukee Brewers — No. 59 | |
| Relief pitcher | |
| Born: January 25, 1978 Union City, Tennessee |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
| April 17, 2000 for the Anaheim Angels | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through April 30, 2008) |
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| Win-Loss | 17-16 |
| Saves | 65 |
| Earned Run Average | 4.30 |
| Strikeouts | 265 |
| Teams | |
Thomas Derrick Turnbow (born January 25, 1978 in Union City, Tennessee, USA) is a right-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher in the Milwaukee Brewers organization.
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[edit] Early career
Turnbow played baseball at Franklin High School in Franklin, Tennessee, where he compiled a 30-4 record over four years. In his senior year, he posted a Franklin High single-season best 0.77 ERA. The school retired Turnbow's number (20) in 2001, and he is currently the only baseball player to have been awarded that honor. He was drafted in 1997 by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 5th round of the Major League Baseball Draft. He was then acquired by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 1999 rule 5 draft. In October 2003, Turnbow became the first major league player to test positive for a banned steroid.[1] The positive test came during tryouts for USA Baseball's Olympic qualifying team. He did not face sanctions from Major League Baseball, because they did not begin testing for or penalizing steroid use until the 2004 season. He was banned for two years from international competition.[1]
[edit] 2004–2005
Claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers following the 2004 season, Turnbow worked with Brewers pitching coach Mike Maddux before the 2005 season to help control his fastball, which routinely clocks at 97-98 mph. Turnbow became the Brewers' closer in April 2005 and finished the 2005 season with 39 saves, matching the team record set previously by Dan Kolb in 2004, and setting personal bests with a 1.74 ERA and 7-1 record in 67.1 innings pitched. Turnbow was rewarded with a three-year $6.5 million contract, which runs through 2008 and "buys out" his first two seasons of arbitration eligibility.
Turnbow picked up his first career save on April 24, 2005 at San Francisco. He finished the 2005 season with an ERA of 1.74, the second lowest among National League relievers. He finished second, by just 3 points, behind Washington's Chad Cordero for the 2005 Rolaids Relief Man award.
[edit] 2006 season
In April 2006, Turnbow made major league history by earning a save in each of the first four games of the season. In 2006, he was selected to his first All-Star team. Turnbow struggled with his command through the 2006 season, however, converting only 1 of 5 save opportunities and posting a 21.32 ERA in July 2006, and causing manager Ned Yost to remove Turnbow from the closer role in favor of Francisco Cordero.[2]
[edit] 2007 & 2008 Seasons
Turnbow struggled throughout much of 2007. In eight relief appearances with Milwaukee in 2008, he accumulated an 0-1 record with one save and a 15.63 ERA (11 er/6.1 ip). On May 1, 2008, Turnbow was designated for assignment by the Brewers. He was given the choice of reporting to the minors, being claimed off waivers by another team, or becoming a free agent and thus forfeiting his $3.2 million salary. On May 9, he was outrighted to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. He joined the team on May 12.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Pitcher receives two-year international ban." ESPN. 6 January 2005. 9 May 2008.
- ^ McCalvy, Adam. "Notes: Cordero takes over as closer." MLB.com. 31 July 2006. 9 May 2008.
- ^ "Derrick Turnbow To Join Sounds On Monday." Nashville Sounds. 9 May 2008.
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference
