Nathan Eovaldi

Nathan Eovaldi

Eovaldi with the New York Yankees
Tampa Bay Rays – No. 24
Starting pitcher
Born: (1990-02-13) February 13, 1990
Houston, Texas
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 6, 2011, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Win–loss record 38–46
Earned run average 4.21
Strikeouts 539
Teams

Nathan Edward Eovaldi (/ɛˈvældi/ e-VAL-dee; born February 13, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, and New York Yankees.

Baseball career

Eovaldi attended Alvin High School in Alvin, Texas, where he played for the school's baseball team. Eovaldi had Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow during his junior year of high school.[1][2] In 2008, Eovaldi's senior year, he was an honorable mention on Texas' All-State team.[3] He committed to attend Texas A&M University on a college baseball scholarship.[2]

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Eovaldi in the 11th round of the 2008 MLB Draft. His draft stock had fallen because of his first Tommy John surgery. Eovaldi signed with the Dodgers, receiving a $250,000 signing bonus, forgoing his commitment to Texas A&M.[2] He made his way through the Dodgers' farm system, pitching for the Gulf Coast Dodgers of the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2008 and the Great Lakes Loons of the Class A Midwest League in 2009. In 2010, with the Inland Empire 66ers of San Bernardino of the Class A-Advanced California League, Eovaldi was selected to the mid-season California League all-star team. Eovaldi was promoted to the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Class AA Southern League in 2011 and was selected to the mid-season all-star game. He had a 6–5 win–loss record with a 2.62 earned run average (ERA) for the Lookouts, where he started 19 games. He was also selected to the post-season All-Star team.[4]

Eovaldi pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012

Eovaldi was called up to the majors for the first time on August 6, 2011, and was the starting pitcher that night against the Arizona Diamondbacks.[5] In the game, he picked up the win, while pitching five innings, allowing only two runs while striking out seven. He also hit a single in his first major league at bat and scored a run. His seven strikeouts were tied for fourth in Dodgers' history for a major league debut and he was only the fourth Dodger pitcher to score a run in his debut since 1960.[6] Eovaldi became the first Dodger starter since Danny McDevitt in the 1957 season to start his career with four games of five innings or more while allowing two runs or less.[7] He made 6 starts for the Dodgers and was then moved to the bullpen in order to keep his innings down for the season.[8] He pitched in four games out of the bullpen late in the season. His 2011 totals included a 1–2 record and 3.63 ERA.[9]

After beginning the 2012 season with Chattanooga, Eovaldi made his first appearance of the season for the Dodgers on May 29 when he started against the Milwaukee Brewers. He had four strikeouts, allowed 4 hits and 2 runs through 7 innings in a 1–2 loss. In 10 starts with the Dodgers, he had a 1–6 record with a 4.15 ERA.[10]

Miami Marlins

On July 25, 2012, Eovaldi was traded, along with minor league pitcher Scott McGough, to the Miami Marlins for Hanley Ramírez and Randy Choate. In his first game with the Marlins, he got the win vs the San Diego Padres on July 28.[11] He started 12 games for the Marlins in 2012, with a 3–7 record and 4.43 ERA. He finished the season with a 4–13 record in 22 games with a 4.30 ERA, a 1.51 walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) ratio, 47 walks, and 78 strikeouts in 119 13 innings pitched.[10]

In 2013, Eovaldi had a 4–6 record with a 3.39 ERA and 78 Strikeouts in 18 starts.

In 2014, Eovaldi had a 6–14 record with a 4.37 ERA. He allowed 223 hits, the most in the National League. He set new career highs with 33 games started and 199 23 innings pitched.[12]

New York Yankees

On December 19, 2014, the Marlins traded Eovaldi, Garrett Jones, and Domingo Germán to the New York Yankees for Martín Prado and David Phelps.[13]

Eovaldi made his first start for the Yankees on April 10, 2015 against the Boston Red Sox, where he pitched 5.1 innings allowing 2 runs on 8 hits. He was credited with a no-decision as the Yankees lost to the Red Sox 6–5 in 19 innings.[14] Eovaldi developed a split-finger fastball, which led to improved results.[15] From June 20 through August 24, Eovaldi pitched to a 8–0 record with a 2.93 ERA. In September, Eovaldi experienced elbow inflammation, ending his regular season.[16] He went 14–3 with a 4.20 ERA for the season.[17] Eovaldi was prepared to pitch in the 2015 American League Division Series, but the Yankees were eliminated in the 2015 American League Wild Card Game.[18]

On August 16, 2016, it was announced that he would miss the remainder of the 2016 season and possibly the 2017 season due to a torn flexor tendon and partially-torn ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow.[19] Several days later, the Yankees announced that Eovaldi had undergone his second Tommy John surgery.[20] Eovaldi is expected to miss the 2017 season, after which he would become eligible for free agency.[21] On November 23, the Yankees released Eovaldi.[22]

Tampa Bay Rays

On February 14, 2017, Eovaldi signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Tampa Bay Rays. The contract includes a $2 million club option for the 2018 season.[23][24]

References

  1. "Tommy John surgery is rising among young pitchers". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Dodgers to promote Eovaldi for Saturday start". MLB.com. August 5, 2011. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  3. "Several area baseball players earn all-state honors". The Daily Sentinel. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  4. Wild, Danny (August 31, 2011). "Goldschmidt among Southern Stars". milb.com. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  5. "Dodgers call up Nathan Eovaldi; expected to start Saturday [Updated]". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  6. Gurnick, Ken (August 7, 2011). "Confident Eovaldi wins debut for Dodgers". MLB.com. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  7. Stephen, Eric (August 22, 2011). "Dodgers Handed Opportunities In 9th, Take Advantage To Beat Cardinals". truebluela.com. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  8. "Dodgers Notebook: August 18, 2011". MLB.com. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  9. "Dodgers like glimpse of future as Nathan Eovaldi shines". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Nathan Eovaldi statistics & history". Baseball Reference.
  11. Gurnick, Ken (July 25, 2012). "Source: Dodgers acquire Hanley from Marlins". MLB.com. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  12. McCarron, Anthony (December 20, 2014). "New Yankees pitcher Nathan Eovaldi hopes to follow footsteps of hometown hero Nolan Ryan". New York Daily News. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
  13. "New York Yankees trade Martin Prado to Miami Marlins for Nathan Eovaldi – ESPN New York". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  14. Feinsand, Mark. "Eovaldi makes first Yankees start, Red Sox win 6–5 in 19 innings.". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  15. King III, George A. (July 26, 2015). "Perfecting one pitch has taken Nathan Eovaldi to ‘another level’". New York Post. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  16. Hatch, Ryan (September 8, 2015). "Yankees' Nathan Eovaldi on elbow injury: 'Worst timing possible'". NJ.com. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  17. Kuty, Brendan (September 8, 2015). "No guarantees Yankees' Nathan Eovaldi returns in 2015, Brian Cashman says". NJ.com. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  18. Sherman, Joel (October 7, 2015). "Yankees answer lingering questions on Nova, Eovaldi". New York Post. Retrieved October 7, 2015.
  19. Axisa, Mike (August 16, 2016). "Nathan Eovaldi to have surgery for torn flexor tendon and partially torn UCL". River Ave Blues. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  20. Hatch, Ryan. "Yankees' Nathan Eovaldi undergoes 2nd Tommy John surgery". nj.com. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  21. Popper, Daniel (August 17, 2016). "Nathan Eovaldi expected to miss all of 2017 as Yankees righthander has torn flexor tendon, partially torn UCL". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  22. Hoch, Bryan (November 23, 2016). "Eovaldi among three pitchers released by Yanks". MLB.com. Retrieved November 28, 2016.
  23. Chastain, Bill (February 14, 2017). "Eovaldi joins Rays at spring camp". MLB.com. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
  24. "Rays finalize $2M, 1-year deal with injured Nathan Eovaldi". Arizona Daily Sun. February 14, 2017. Retrieved February 14, 2017.
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