Chris Tillman
Chris Tillman | |
---|---|
Tillman pitching for the Orioles in 2009 | |
Baltimore Orioles – No. 30 | |
Starting pitcher | |
Born: Anaheim, California | April 15, 1988|
Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
MLB debut | |
July 29, 2009 for the Baltimore Orioles | |
Career statistics (through 2013 season) | |
Win–loss record | 32–25 |
Earned run average | 4.28 |
Strikeouts | 361 |
Teams | |
| |
Career highlights and awards | |
Christopher Steven Tillman (born April 15, 1988) is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles.
Early life
Tilman was born in Anaheim, California and played prep football and basketball at Fountain Valley High School at Fountain Valley, California. [1]
Baseball career
Tillman was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the second round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. On February 9, 2008, Tillman, along with Adam Jones, George Sherrill, Kam Mickolio, and Tony Butler, was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for Érik Bédard.[2]
According to Baseball America, he was Baltimore's second best prospect, behind only Matt Wieters.[3]
On July 29, 2009, Tillman made his major league debut against the Kansas City Royals.[4] He pitched 4⅔ innings, allowing three runs on three solo home runs. The Orioles ended up winning 7-3, leaving Tillman with a no decision.[5]
On April 28, 2010, Tillman threw a no-hitter at the Gwinnett Braves as the Triple-A Norfolk Tides won the game 6-0. This no-hitter was the first for the Tides since 1992.
On April 2, 2011, Tillman carried a no-hitter through six innings against the Tampa Bay Rays in the Orioles second game of the season. He was lifted by manager Buck Showalter after the sixth inning, however, as Tillman's pitch count was already up to 101 pitches. The team no-hitter was lost the following inning by Jeremy Accardo but the Orioles did go on to win 3-1. The Orioles did not score their runs until the 8th inning, giving Tillman a no-decision.
On March 31, 2012, the Orioles decided to option Tillman to the Tides rather than include him on their starting rotation. He posted an 8-8 record with the Tides in 16 games, pitching to a 3.63 ERA with 30 walks and 92 strikeouts. Tillman made his return to the Orioles on July 4, 2012, allowing only 2 hits over 8-1/3 innings against the Mariners and recording his first major league win of the season.[6]
The 2013 season was a breakout one for Tillman. He assumed the role of ace of the rotation and compiled the most wins of any pitcher on the staff. Although he did not get the call to pitch, Tillman was selected to his first All Star Game, by American League manager Jim Leyland, after Justin Verlander decided not to go. On August 29, Tillman became the first Oriole pitcher since Erik Bedard in 2006 to record 15 victories in a single season, winning against the Boston Red Sox, pitching 7 innings, allowing two runs, no walks and striking out 8.[7] On September 9, Tillman recorded his 16th win, going into the 8th inning against the New York Yankees, allowing 2 runs (both solo home runs), 4 hits and no walks, while striking out 9. Tillman ended the season with 16 wins, the most of any Orioles pitcher since Mike Mussina had 18 in 1999. He pitched 206.1 innings, struck out 179 batters and had a final ERA of 3.71.[8]
Pitching Style
Tillman throws five pitches: a four seam fastball at 90-94 MPH, a sinker at 89-92 that has reached 95, a cutter at 83-87, a curveball at 75-78 that reached 80 during the first month of his career and a changeup, thrown mostly to lefties, at 78-84.[9] The curveball and changeup are Tillman's out pitches.
References
- ↑ "Chris Tillman Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
- ↑ Orioles trade Bedard to Mariners for five prospects
- ↑ Baltimore Orioles top 10 prospects
- ↑ O's set to unveil prospect Tillman
- ↑ Orioles ride three-run seventh inning past Royals
- ↑ "Chris Tillman dazzles in season debut as Orioles hold off Mariners". ESPN.com. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
- ↑ http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/08/29/baltimore-orioles-beat-boston-red-sox-score-chris-tillman-jon-lester/2736263/
- ↑ http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tillmch01.shtml
- ↑ http://brooksbaseball.net/velo.php?player=501957&time=month&startDate=03/30/2007&endDate=08/22/2013&s_type=2
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chris Tillman. |
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- Baseball Almanac
|