Mike MacDougal

Mike MacDougal
MacDougal with the Washington Nationals
Relief pitcher
Born: (1977-03-05) March 5, 1977 Las Vegas, Nevada
Batted: Switch Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 22, 2001, for the Kansas City Royals
Last MLB appearance
April 30, 2012, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	18–23
Earned run average	4.00
Strikeouts	325
Saves	71
Teams
Kansas City Royals (2001–2006) Chicago White Sox (2006–2009) Washington Nationals (2009) St. Louis Cardinals (2010) Los Angeles Dodgers (2011–2012)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star (2003)

MacDougal pitching for the Florida Marlins in 2010 spring training.

Robert Meiklejohn MacDougal (born March 5, 1977) is a former relief pitcher in professional baseball. He is a switch-hitter and throws right-handed. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals, St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers.

His pitch selection include a fastball in the 95-98 mph range, a slider, curve, and a changeup used only occasionally.^[1]

Early life

MacDougal was born in Las Vegas, Nevada and graduated from Mesa High School (Mesa, Arizona) in Mesa, Arizona.^[2]

Amateur career

MacDougal attended Wake Forest University, where he pitched for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons baseball team. He was selected in the 22nd round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft and the 17th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft by the Baltimore Orioles, but did not sign on either occasion. MacDougal resumed his amateur playing career in 2015, staying sharp by pitching and playing outfield for the Royersford Rockies of the Bux-Mont (PA) MSBL 30+ baseball league.

Professional career

Kansas City Royals

Following his senior season at Wake Forest, MacDougal was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the first round (25th overall) of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed on July 1, 1999.

MacDougal made his major league debut as a starting pitcher, but suffered a fractured skull late in the 2001 season when he was struck in the head by a bat that had escaped from the hand of Carlos Beltrán. He lost feeling in his right arm and was unable to pitch for three months. In 2003, the Kansas City Royals turned him into a closer. He recorded 24 saves by mid-season and made the American League All-Star team.

MacDougal struggled with flu-like symptoms in spring training in 2004, causing him to lose weight and, as a result, to lose velocity off his fastball, which had been clocked as high as 103 miles per hour. He lost his job as the Royals' closer to Jeremy Affeldt and spent much of the 2004 season in the minor leagues. However, early in 2005, he was reinstalled as the closer after Affeldt himself was injured.

MacDougal battled injuries again in 2006, starting the season on the DL and not returning to the field until mid July. After only about a week after his first appearance of the year, he was traded to the Chicago White Sox for minor-league pitchers Tyler Lumsden and Dan Cortes on July 24, 2006.^[3]

Chicago White Sox

The addition of MacDougal was to be a move to bolster the White Sox bullpen as they vied for playoff contention, and while the team ended up missing the playoffs, MacDougal was quite effective in his 25 appearances. Combining his appearances with both teams, he finished the year with a 1.55 ERA.

MacDougal's 2006 performance earned him a new three-year deal with the White Sox,^[4] but he was not able to carry his success from the end of the 2006 season into 2007. MacDougal finished 2007 with an ERA about 6.00, spent more time on the DL with right-shoulder inflammation,^[5] and was actually optioned to the team's Triple-A affiliate at one point.

On April 21, 2009, MacDougal was designated for assignment by the White Sox, and was released on April 30.^[6]

Washington Nationals

He then signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals on May 3.

On December 12, 2009, MacDougal was non-tendered by the Nationals, making him a free agent.

On February 18, 2010, MacDougal signed a minor league contract with the Florida Marlins with an invite to spring training.^[7] He was released on March 23. He then signed a minor league deal with the Nationals. On July 1, 2010, he decided to opt out of his contract to become a free agent.

St. Louis Cardinals

On July 7, 2010, he signed a minor league deal with the St. Louis Cardinals, making his debut for Triple-A Memphis that night, giving up two runs on two hits in one inning pitched. MacDougal made his Cardinals debut on July 28, 2010.

Los Angeles Dodgers

On January 28, 2011, he signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and made the Major League club to start the season. MacDougal pitched in 69 games with the Dodgers, working 57 innings and had a record of 3-1 and a team leading 2.05 ERA. He re-signed with the Dodgers after the season for a one-year, $1 million contract that included a 2013 option. He pitched in seven games for the Dodgers in 2012, with a 7.94 ERA and was designated for assignment on May 3, removing him from the 40-man roster. He was released on May 11.

Chicago Cubs

On May 15, the Chicago Cubs signed him to a minor league contract. He pitched in 19 games for the AAA Iowa Cubs, with a 7.95 ERA. On July 13, he was released by the Cubs.

Washington Nationals

On July 31, 2012, the Washington Nationals re-signed MacDougal to a minor-league deal. He joined the AAA Syracuse Chiefs, where he had an ERA of 4.22 in 12 games.

Cincinnati Reds

In April 2013, the Cincinnati Reds signed MacDougal to a minor-league deal. He joined the AAA Louisville Bats. He was released by the Reds on June 8, going 0-1 in 17 appearances with the Bats, striking out 20 in 19 2/3 innings with a 5.49 ERA.^[8]

Philadelphia Phillies

On June 25, MacDougal signed a deal with the Philadelphia Phillies and reported to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners signed MacDougal on a minor-league deal on May 10, 2014. He had been pitching for the independent Camden Riversharks.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball all-time saves leaders

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mike MacDougal.

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• MacDougal player profile page at Scout.com