Jump to content

Eric Stults

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused withEric Stoltz.

Eric Stults
Stults with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010
Pitcher
Born:(1979-12-09)December 9, 1979(age 44)
Argos, Indiana,U.S.
Batted:Left
Threw:Left
Professional debut
MLB:September 5, 2006, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
NPB:April 23, 2010, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Last appearance
NPB:September 18, 2010, for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
MLB:May 26, 2015, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
Win–loss record36–48
Earned run average4.24
Strikeouts433
NPB statistics
Win–loss record6–10
Earned run average5.07
Strikeouts87
Teams

Eric William Stults(born December 9, 1979) is an American formerprofessional baseballpitcher.He pitched for theLos Angeles Dodgers,Colorado Rockies,Chicago White Sox,San Diego PadresandAtlanta BravesinMajor League Baseball,and for theHiroshima Toyo CarpinNippon Professional Baseball.

College career

[edit]

Stults played forBethel CollegeinMishawaka, Indiana.[citation needed]Stults pitched and playedcenter fieldfor Bethel, which won the 2002National Christian College Athletic AssociationDivision I championship, posting a 10–1 record that season, and also playedbasketballat Bethel.

Professional career

[edit]

Los Angeles Dodgers

[edit]

Stults was selected by theLos Angeles Dodgersin the 15th round of the2002 Major League Baseball draft.

In 2002, he pitched for theVero Beach Dodgersand had a record of 3–1 with anERAof 3.00 in 13 appearances (6starts). In 2003, he was 3–4 with a 4.97 ERA in 7 starts for theJacksonville Suns.In 2004, he pitched for theColumbus Catfishof theSouth Atlantic Leagueand had a record of 1–2, ERA of 2.49 in 12 appearances. He also pitched in 7 games for Vero Beach that year. In 2005, he alternated between Jacksonville and theLas Vegas 51s,he was 4–3, 3.31 in 12 starts for Jacksonville and 3–7, 6.58 in 14 starts for Las Vegas. In 2006, with Las Vegas he was 10–11 with a 4.23 ERA in 26 starts.

Stults made his Major League Baseball debut with the Dodgers on September 5, 2006, against theMilwaukee BrewersatMiller ParkinMilwaukee.He pitched threeinningsand gave up threeearned runs.He earned his first Major Leaguevictoryon September 10 atShea Stadiumas he held theNew York Metsto just onerunand twohitsover 6.0 innings and 86 pitches,walkingtwo andstruck outthree in the Dodgers' 9–1 win.

In 2007, he returned to the starting rotation with the Las Vegas 51s. He was called up by the Dodgers to start the game against theColorado Rockieson August 17, and struck out 9 batters en route to his first victory in 2007 after having thrown 7 innings and giving up only 2 runs, 2 hits, and a walk.

After an inconsistent stay in the majors in 2007, Stults was a long shot to make the Dodgers inspring training2008 and was sent to Triple-A Las Vegas. He was called up and made his first start with the Dodgers on June 19, 2008, replacing injured DodgeraceBrad Pennyin the starting rotation after Penny was placed on thedisabled list.

On June 25, 2008, Stults pitched his first Major Leagueshutout,as well ascomplete game—as the Dodgers blanked the visitingChicago White Sox,5–0.

Early in the 2009 season, Stults replaced injured starting pitcherHiroki Kuroda.He made the best start of his career against theSan Francisco Giantson May 9, 2009. AtDodger StadiumStults threw a complete-game shutout, throwing 123 pitches. He struck out 5, walked none, and allowed only four hits.

On May 15, 2009, Stults injured his thumb while making a toss on a bunt attempt by theFlorida Marlins'Hanley Ramírez.Stults would make 2 more starts before going on thedisabled list.On July 1, Stults was optioned to the AAAAlbuquerque Isotopes.He pitched well with the Isotopes, before getting called up to make a spot start on August 9 against theAtlanta Braves.Stults was optioned back to Albuquerque on August 13 and finished the season there.

Hiroshima Toyo Carp

[edit]
Stults with Hiroshima Toyo Carp

On March 30, 2010 Stults was sold to theHiroshima Toyo CarpofNippon Professional Baseball.[1]He was 6–10 with a 5.07 ERA in 21 starts in Japan.

Colorado Rockies

[edit]

On November 30, 2010 Stults signed a minor league contract with theColorado Rockies.[2]He had his contract purchased on July 3, 2011. He appeared in six games for Colorado, recording a 6.00 ERA in 12 innings, before being designated for assignment on July 25.[3]

Chicago White Sox

[edit]

On December 11, 2011, he signed a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.[4]Stults was called up on May 7, 2012.[5]He made two appearances for the White Sox before being designated for assignment on May 15.[6]

San Diego Padres

[edit]

Stults was claimed off waivers by theSan Diego Padreson May 17, 2012,[7]and he made his first start on May 19. Stults went on the disabled list on June 6 with a strained left lat after compiling a 3.19 ERA in four starts, and he returned to the Padres on July 22 after making rehab starts with theTucson Padres.After pitching out of the bullpen, he rejoined the starting rotation on August 6. He finished the season with an 8–3 record and 2.91 ERA in 20 games and 15 starts.[8]

Stults had 33 starts for the Padres in 2013, going 11-13 with a 3.93 ERA, striking out 131 in 203.2 innings. He led the team in wins, losses, complete games (2), innings pitched and strikeouts. After the season, Stults re-signed with San Diego to a one-year deal worth $2.75 million.[9]Stults was designated for assignment by the Padres on November 3, 2014.[10]

Atlanta Braves

[edit]

Stults signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves on January 29, 2015.[11]The team announced that Stults had made the Opening Day roster on April 4.[12]Stults struggled to a 1–4 record and 5.36 ERA[13]before he was replaced in the rotation byWilliams Pérezon May 20.[14]Due toAlex Wood's illness, Stults made one final start for the team just two days later against theMilwaukee Brewers.He pitched3+2⁄3innings, yielding three hits, five walks, and seven runs.[15]

Return to Los Angeles Dodgers

[edit]

On May 27, 2015, he was traded to theLos Angeles Dodgers(withAlberto Callaspo,Ian ThomasandJuan Jaime) in exchange forJuan UribeandChris Withrow.The Dodgers promptly designated him for assignment.[16]He cleared waivers and accepted an outright assignment to the Double-ATulsa Drillers.[17]He made eight starts (and two relief appearances) for Tulsa and six starts for the AAAOklahoma City Dodgersand was 6–5 with a 3.30 ERA.[18]

Pitching style

[edit]

Stults threw three pitches regularly and two infrequently. His most common pitch was afour-seam fastballaveraging about 87-90 mph, followed by achangeup(79–81) and slider (80–84). Less commonly, he threw a slow curveball (average about 70 mph), and rarely, atwo-seam fastball.To right-handers, Stults mainly threw a combination of fastballs and changeups, with occasional sliders. When facing left-handers, he replaced the slider with a changeup.[19]

Personal life

[edit]

He and his wife Stephanie have two daughters, Madeline and Hallie, and a son, Luke.[20][21]

References

[edit]
  1. ^Jackson, Tony (March 30, 2010)."Left-hander was out of options".ESPN.com.RetrievedNovember 5,2014.
  2. ^Renck, Troy E."Rockies consider adding pitcher Carl Pavano".Denver Post.
  3. ^"Rockies RHP Esmil Rogers is returned from rehab assignment and reinstated from 15-day disabled list".MLB.com.July 25, 2011. Archived fromthe originalon November 5, 2014.RetrievedNovember 5,2014.
  4. ^"Minor League Transactions: Dec. 1-8".Baseball America.December 9, 2011.
  5. ^"White Sox reinstate Crain from DL, designate Stults".MLB.com.May 15, 2012. Archived fromthe originalon November 5, 2014.RetrievedNovember 5,2014.
  6. ^van Dyck, Dave (May 15, 2012)."Sox reinstate reliever Crain from DL".Chicago Tribune.RetrievedNovember 5,2014.
  7. ^"Padres claim Stults from White Sox".SB Nation.May 17, 2012.
  8. ^Moreno, Robert (October 15, 2012)."The Emergence of Eric Stults".Chicken Friars.SI.com. Archived fromthe originalon October 26, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 19,2013.
  9. ^Brock, Corey (December 2, 2013)."Stults, Stauffer reach one-year deals".MLB.com.RetrievedNovember 4,2014.
  10. ^Sanders, Jeff (November 3, 2014)."Stults, Roach designated for assignment".U-T San Diego.RetrievedNovember 4,2014.
  11. ^Bowman, Mark (January 29, 2015)."Braves sign rotation candidate Stults to Minors deal".MLB.com.Archived fromthe originalon February 6, 2015.RetrievedJanuary 30,2015.
  12. ^Bowman, Mark (April 4, 2015)."At 35, Stults grateful to be on just his fourth Opening Day roster".MLB.com.Archived fromthe originalon April 7, 2015.RetrievedApril 5,2015.
  13. ^"Braves LHP Minor out for season after shoulder surgery".ESPN.com.Associated Press. May 14, 2015.RetrievedMay 21,2015.
  14. ^Bowman, Mark (May 20, 2015)."Perez impressive in first Major League start".RetrievedMay 21,2015.
  15. ^Bowman, Mark (May 23, 2015)."Walks costly for Stults in emergency outing".MLB.com.Archived fromthe originalon May 30, 2015.RetrievedMay 30,2015.
  16. ^Hoornstra, J.P. (May 27, 2015)."The six-player Juan Uribe trade is official".LA Daily News.RetrievedMay 27,2015.
  17. ^Hoornstra, J.P. (June 1, 2015)."Eric Stults will report to Double-A Tulsa".LA Daily News.RetrievedJune 1,2015.
  18. ^"Eric Stults minor league statistics & history".Baseball Reference.RetrievedSeptember 20,2015.
  19. ^"Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool – Player Card: Eric Stults".Brooks Baseball.RetrievedMay 29,2012.
  20. ^"Life in Japan not routine for Eric Stults and family".The Elkhart Truth. November 23, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon November 5, 2014.RetrievedNovember 5,2014.
  21. ^"Padres Pitcher is Passionate about Faith, Family, Farming and Baseball".Athletes in Action. February 28, 2013. Archived fromthe originalon November 5, 2014.RetrievedNovember 5,2014.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eric_Stults&oldid=1245096013"