Ross Powell

For the West Indian cricketer, seeRoss Powell (cricketer).

Ross Powell
Pitcher
Born:(1968-01-24)January 24, 1968 Grand Rapids, Michigan
Died:October 25, 2017(2017-10-25)(aged 49) Lucas, Texas
Batted:Left Threw:Left
MLB debut
September 5, 1993, for the Cincinnati Reds
Last MLB appearance
September 30, 1995, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Win–loss record	0–5
Earned run average	5.40
Strikeouts	42
Innings pitched	531⁄3
Teams
Cincinnati Reds(1993) Houston Astros(1994–1995) Pittsburgh Pirates(1995)

Ross John Powell(January 24, 1968 – October 25, 2017) was an AmericanMajor League Baseballpitcherwho played for theCincinnati Reds,Houston AstrosandPittsburgh Piratesover parts of three seasons (1993–95). Aleft-hander,he was listed as 6 feet (1.83 m) tall and 180 pounds (82 kg).

A native ofGrand Rapids, Michigan,he attended theUniversity of Michigan,and in 1988 he playedcollegiate summer baseballwith theHarwich Marinersof theCape Cod Baseball League.

Powell was a third-round selection by Cincinnati in the1989 Major League Baseball Draft.He was called up by the Reds at the end of his fifth professional season and debuted on September 5, 1993, against thePhiladelphia Phillies,when he threw twoinningsofone-hitrelief.In his second appearance, six days later against theMontreal Expos,Powell took the mound for one of his four careerstartingassignments. He allowed twoearned runsand three hits in four innings, and left for apinch hitterwith the Reds trailing, 2–1. He was charged with thelossin an eventual 4–2 Montreal victory.Powell then absorbed two more losses in relief over the season's last month.

In April 1994, Powell was traded to Houston in a deal forcatcherEd Taubensee.He spent much of that year atTriple-A,but made 12 appearances in relief in June and August for the Astros. He faced 32 batters in only 71⁄3innings pitched,but was effective: although he allowed six hits and fivebases on balls,he surrendered only one earned run, for a 1.23ERA.That MLB season was curtailed by aplayers' strikeon August 12, one day after Powell, pitching against theSan Diego Padres,surrendered the earned run.

The 1995 season started late because of the strike. Powell made seven relief appearances for Houston between April 27 and May 13, but was treated harshly, allowing ten hits, eight bases on balls and nine earned runs in five innings pitched. He returned to Triple-A for six weeks, then was recalled by the Astros in July. His effectiveness returned, as he allowed two earned runs in four innings pitched and eight appearances. Then, on July 28, his contract was sold to the Pirates.

After four appearances out of the Pittsburghbullpen,Powell was given three starting assignments in mid-August by PiratemanagerJim Leyland.He receivedno-decisionsagainst theFlorida Marlinson August 19 and theColorado Rockieson August 24, before losing a return match against Colorado on August 28. He then returned to the bullpen for the remainder of the year, his last in the majors.

Throughout his MLB career Powell played in 48 games, with four starts. He never collected a big-league win and ended his career with a 0–5win–loss record.In 531⁄3innings pitched, he gave up 52 hits, 32 bases on balls, and 32 earned runs. Hestruck out42. Hisprofessional baseballcareer lasted for eight seasons (1989–96).

Two decades after leaving baseball, Powell, 49, who had opened a lawn-care company, was found dead ofcarbon monoxide poisoningin his business's van inLucas, Texas,a suburb ofDallas–Fort Worth.His 72-year-old father, Lyle, also perished in the October 25, 2017, incident.

External links

• Career statistics and player information fromMLB,orBaseball Reference,orFangraphs,orBaseball Reference (Minors),orRetrosheet,orPelota Binaria (Venezuelan Winter League)