Kerry Ligtenberg #46

In 1989 graduated from Park-Cottage Grove High School in Cottage Grove, Minnesota..in 2000 graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in chemical engineering...in September 2000 received his diploma during an on-field ceremony at Atl's Turner field.

2006

Went to spring training with the Marlins but was released on 3/29...on 4/22 was signed by the Cubs to a minor league contract and spent the season at Class AAA Iowa...posted 18 saves and a 3.57era in 53 relief apps...allowed just 6 walks in 58.0 innings while striking out 44...following the season became a minor league free agent...on 2/14/07 was signed by the Reds to a minor league contract and was invited to Major League spring training camp.

2005

Went to spring training with the Blue Jays but was released on 4/5...on 4/15 was signed by the Diamondbacks to a minor league contract and spent most of the season at Class AAA Tucson, where he made 3 starts and 35 relief apps...were his first starts since 1994-95, when he pitched in the independent Prairie League...began the season at Tucson and went 2-1, 2.38 in 7 apps before he was promoted on 5/5... was designated for assignment on 6/4, following a pair of scoreless apps vs LA on 5/27 and 5/29 over which he threw 3.2 scoreless innings...on 7/1 asked for his free agency and was released, then 4 days later was re-signed by Ari to a minor league contract and pitched in 22 more games for Tucson.

2004

Spent the season with the Blue Jays and made 57 apps...in June spent time on the disabled list with inflammation in his left hip...posted a 1.98era in his fi rst 14 apps of the season through 5/12...began to experience problems with his hip and had a 9.58era in the 13 apps prior to his disabling...in his fi rst 5 apps after he was reinstated didn't allow a run (5.1ip)...earned his only victory in a 10-inning, 5-4 win on 4/24 at Bal...fi nished the season with a career-high 6-game losing streak...earned the third of his 3 saves on 7/25/04 vs TB...did not pitch after 9/16.

2003

Made 68 apps for the Orioles, second-most on the staff to B.J. Ryan's 76g and his highest single-season total since he worked in a career-high 75g for the Braves in 1998...stranded 34-48 inherited baserunners (71%)...when he entered a game with the score tied or the O's ahead, he held the lead or kept the score even in 32-35 apps...with 2 outs in the ninth inning on 4/26 at TB recorded his fi rst Major League hit batter (Toby Hall)...had thrown 278.0 career innings without hitting a batter...his save on 5/24 at Tex was his first since 6/7/01 while with the Braves...finished the season with a career-best 3-game winning streak.

2002

In his final season with the Braves posted a 2.97era, his lowest mark since 1998...would become a free agent following the season and would sign with the Orioles...his first batters faced hit just .143, T2nd best among all National League relievers...shut out opponents in 40 of his 52 apps...in 26 apps from 4/23-7/28 posted a 1.21era over 37.1 innings... began that stretch with 15.0 scoreless innings over 11 apps from 4/23-6/7...made 1 scoreless appearance in the National League Division Series against the Giants.

2001

Spent most of the season with the Braves...in May spent 2 days at Class AAA Richmond and made 1 appearance...posted a 7.04era through 6/7 but a 1.62era in his final 37 apps of the season...finished the season with 15 consecutive scoreless apps covering 18.0 innings...didn't pitch in the National League Division Series vs Hou but threw 3.0 scoreless innings over a pair of apps in the LCS vs Ari.

2000

Made 59 apps for the Braves after missing the previous season recovering from "Tommy John" surgery to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow...earned saves in his first 2 apps of the season, on 4/5 and 4/8...followed those 2 outings with a 7.36era over 9 apps and was optioned to Class AAA Richmond on 5/13...was recalled 5 apps and 11 days later and then fi nished the season with a 3.14era over his last 46 apps...appeared in all 3g of the National League Division Series vs the Cardinals.

1999

Suffered an elbow injury during spring training and missed the entire season following "Tommy John" surgery to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

1998

In his first full Major League season recorded 30 saves for the Braves and fi nished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting...was the highest saves total by an NL rookie since Todd Worrell produced 36 saves for the Cardinals in 1986...among all NL pitchers ranked T7th in saves...with 75 apps led the Braves' staff and ranked sixth in the league...began the season in a setup role but took over the closer's spot from Mark Wohlers in June...over 38 apps from 5/27-8/27 produced 18 of his 30 saves...made 6 postseason apps...didn't allow a run in 3 apps vs the Cubs in the National League Division Series...appeared in 4g of the NLCS vs SD...was the losing pitcher in Game 1 after he allowed a solo HR to Ken Caminiti in the top of the 10th inning...in Game 6 allowed a 2-run HR to Greg Myers in the bottom of the ninth.

1997

Made the jump from Class AA to the Major Leagues...made 45 apps for Greenville and Class AAA Richmond and in his big league debut posted a 3.00era in 15g for the Braves...began the season at Greenville and went 3-1, 2.04 with 16 saves in 31 apps before he was promoted to Richmond...on 8/12, after 14 apps at Richmond, was promoted to Atl...that night vs the Pirates made his Major League debut with a scoreless appearance (0.2ip)...following that debut allowed at least 1 run in 5 of his next 6 outings...picked up his fi rst career victory in a 5-4 win vs SF on 9/15 by throwing a scoreless innings...in the 7-6 win vs NYM on 9/26 pitched a scoreless 11th inning for his fi rst career save...on 8/30 was optioned to Class A Durham to make room on the roster for catcher Tim Spehr but was recalled when rosters expanded 2 days later...didn't pitch in the National League Division Series vs Hou but threw 3.0 scoreless innings over a pair of apps in the LCS vs the eventual World Series champion Marlins.