Clay Rapada

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Clay Rapada
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Relief pitcher
Born: (1981-03-09) March 9, 1981
Portsmouth, Virginia
Bats: Right Throws: Left
MLB debut
June 14, 2007 for the Chicago Cubs
Career statistics
(through 2013 season)
Win–loss record 8–0
Earned run average 4.09
Strikeouts 82
Teams

Clayton Anthony Rapada (born March 9, 1981) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He has for the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Indians.

Early life

Rapada was born in Portsmouth, Virginia and graduated from Deep Creek High School of Chesapeake, Virginia in 1999. He then attended Virginia State University and played on the NCAA Division II Trojans baseball team.

Career

Chicago Cubs

Rapada started in the Chicago Cubs organization pitching for the Single-A Boise Hawks from 2002–03. At the beginning of 2003, he was promoted to the Single-A Lansing Lugnuts, where he posted a 4.96 earned run average (ERA) and recorded 27 strikeouts over 45⅓ innings pitched, primarily in relief.

In 2004, Cubs coaches suggested that Rapada try a sidearm delivery.[1] Rapada showed improvement that season for the Lugnuts, going 6–6 with an ERA of 2.33 in 57 appearances.[2]

In 2005, the Cubs moved Rapada up to the Single-A Daytona Cubs, where he went 1–3 with an ERA 3.83 in 27 appearances. 2006 saw Rapada progressing through the Cubs minor league organization, and he pitched for both the Double-A West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx and the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. Between the two teams, he appeared in 61 games and posted an ERA of 1.59.[2]

Rapada made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs on June 14, 2007, against the Seattle Mariners. He faced one batter, Raúl Ibáñez, who lined out to Cubs right fielder Cliff Floyd.[3] Rapada was sent back to the Iowa Cubs on June 19, 2007, without making another appearance.

Detroit Tigers

On August 30, 2007, Rapada was announced as the player to be named later in the trade between the Tigers and Cubs involving outfielder Craig Monroe.

Rapada made his Tigers debut on September 9, 2007. In a coincidence, he faced Ibáñez again, giving up a three-run home run. He was pulled immediately after, giving him the distinction of facing the same batter (and only that batter) twice in his first two major league appearances; one while pitching for a National League club and the other with an American League club. He earned his first major league victory on April 15, 2008 as the Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 6–5.[4]

Rapada did not make the Tigers 25-man roster and began the 2009 season playing for the Toledo Mud Hens.

Texas Rangers

Rapada with the Orioles in 2011

On December 7, 2009, Rapada was traded to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later or cash considerations.[5] On December 16, Rapada was outrighted off the 40-man roster to Triple-A.

Rapada played most of the 2010 season with the minor league Oklahoma City RedHawks. On September 3, 2010, Texas called up Rapada to the major league roster.[6]

Rapada was listed as an alternative during the postseason when the Texas Rangers would make it to the World Series for the first time in franchise history. The Rangers would eventually lose the 2010 World Series against the San Francisco Giants.

Baltimore Orioles

On January 14, 2011, Rapada was placed on release waivers by the Rangers. On January 25, 2011, Rapada was signed by the Baltimore Orioles and invited to spring training to compete for a roster spot. After being sent to the minors after spring training, Rapada was called up by Baltimore on April 17.[7] He made his Orioles debut on April 18 with two outs in the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins.[8] He was designated for assignment on June 29. In 16⅓ innings with Baltimore, Rapada had a 6.06 ERA.[9]

After being designated for assignment on February 6, Rapada was released by the Orioles on February 15. He leads the major leagues in left-handers' batting average who face him since 2010.[10]

New York Yankees

Rapada signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees on February 18, 2012 with an invitation to spring training. Rapada made the Yankees Opening Day roster. After 2013 Spring Training, he was designated for assignment. He cleared waivers and was released on April 3.[11] He was re-signed to a minor league deal on April 9[12] and released on June 3.[13]

Cleveland Indians

Rapada signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians on June 13, 2013. After spending most of the season with the AAA Columbus Clippers, he was added to the Indians' major-league roster as a September call-up.[14] He was designated for assignment on October 2, 2013. After being outrighted to Triple-A Columbus on October 7, Rapada elected free agency on October 16.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Rapada signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in December 2013.

References

  1. ↑ Aber, Ryan (2010-08-13). "RedHawks' sidearm relievers excelling". News OK. Retrieved 2013-05-11. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Clay Rapada Statistics (Minor Leagues)". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 23, 2008. 
  3. ↑ "June 14, 2007 Seattle Mariners at Chicago Cubs Box Score and Play by Play –". Baseball-reference.com. 2007-06-14. Retrieved 2013-05-11. 
  4. ↑ "April 15, 2008 Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers Play by Play and Box Score –". Baseball-reference.com. 2008-04-15. Retrieved 2013-05-11. 
  5. ↑ Jason Beck (December 7, 2009). "Tigers sign Thomas, deal Rapada". MLB.com. Retrieved December 7, 2009. 
  6. ↑ Grant, Evan. "Rangers activate Nippert, recall Teagarden and bring up Rapada. After the Texas Ranger's first postseason series clinch in franchise history, the team announced that Clay should be in the bullpen in the ALCS against the Yankees.". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 3, 2010. 
  7. ↑ "Clay Rapada: Rapada to be promoted from AAA on Monday". Rotoworld.com. Retrieved 2013-05-11. 
  8. ↑ "Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles - April 18, 2011". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved 2013-05-11. 
  9. ↑ Nicholson-Smith, Ben. "Orioles To Designate Clay Rapada For Assignment". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved 29 June 2011. 
  10. ↑ Melewski, Steve (February 15, 2012). "The Orioles have released Clay Rapada". MASN Sports. 
  11. ↑ "Yankees release Clay Rapada | HardballTalk". Hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved 2013-05-11. 
  12. ↑ New Jersey. "Yankees re-sign lefty reliever Clay Rapada to minor-league deal". Nj.com. Retrieved 2013-05-11. 
  13. ↑ Vitale, Josh; Hoch, Bryan (June 4, 2013). "Ichiro even with Williams on all-time hits list". MLB.com. Retrieved June 4, 2013. 
  14. ↑ Massie, Jim (September 1, 2013). "Tribe call-ups require Clippers to pare down". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved October 3, 2-13. 

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