Joe Savery

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Joseph Cain Savery (born November 4, 1985 in Houston, Texas) is a pitcher drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies. Savery was the Phillies' first-round draft pick out of Rice University in 2007 as the 19th overall pick.

[edit] University

After a standout two-sport career in football and baseball at Lamar High School, Savery matriculated to Rice University in August 2004. Savery concentrated on baseball but remained a two-way player, starting at first base and in the outfield when not pitching.

As a freshman in 2005, Savery stepped into the starting lineup as opening-day pitcher and a regular in the batting lineup. Savery earned second- and third-team all-America honors while being named National Freshman of the Year and Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He was named first-team all-WAC at pitcher and first base after leading the conference with a .382 batting average and finishing second with a 2.49 ERA. In the postseason, Savery helped Rice to an upset NCAA regional win over LSU at formidable Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge. In the NCAA super regional against top-ranked Tulane, Savery broke his right hand in the opening game while making a sliding catch against the Turchin Stadium fence. The injury prevented Savery from hitting, but he pitched into the seventh inning and allowed only one run in Rice's Game 2 loss. Tulane advanced to the 2005 College World Series with a win in Game 3.

As a sophomore in 2006, Savery again earned third-team all-America status despite making only 11 pitching starts due to injury. At the plate, Savery hit .335 and was one of Rice's most dangerous postseason hitters, earning Conference USA Tournament MVP honors and making the all-regional team. He also hit a three-run home run in the decisive third game of the NCAA super regional against Oklahoma, helping the Owls to the 2006 College World Series. At the College World Series, Savery went 3-for-3 in Rice's opening-game win against Georgia but was just 1-for-9 after that. The television clip of Savery slamming his helmet in the dugout during Rice's 23-inning scoreless drought that led to its elimination by eventual champion Oregon State was one of the lasting images of the 2006 CWS.

As a junior in 2007, Savery spent much of the season trying to recover his form on the mound after offseason surgery. He continued to dominate at the plate, leading the Owls in hitting, but struggled with control and efficiency on the mound while posting a sub-3.00 ERA. Savery was named a first-team all-America as a two-way player and earned his second conference Player of the Year award in three seasons. He saved his best for the postseason, leading Rice through the NCAA regional with a Most Outstanding Player performance that included a dominant mound performance in the Sunday clincher against TCU. Four days after the regional, during an emotional pre-super-regional press conference, Savery was selected in the first round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. Rice then swept Texas A&M in a tense super regional to advance to the 2007 College World Series. After hitting a homer in the first game against Louisville, Savery finally got to pitch in Omaha and earned the win in a 14-4 win over North Carolina.

[edit] Minor Leagues

After signing with the Philadelphia Phillies, Savery was assigned to the Williamsport Crosscutters of the New York-Penn League (Class A Short Season). In 7 starts, he compiled a 2-3 W-L record with a 2.73 ERA. He played in the 2007 Arizona Fall League with the Peoria Saguaros.