Carmen Pignatiello #63

Carmen has spent his entire career within the Cubs' minor leagues after being selected by the Cubs in the 2000 draft - attended big league camp as a non-roster invitee ... has struck out 662 batters in 720.0 innings of work in his six-year career ... graduated from Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, IL, in 2000 ... was a first-team all-state selection and co-MVP of the Chicago Catholic League in 2000, going 14-0 with a 0.79 ERA and 123 strikeouts ... selected as the 2000 Illinois Baseball Player of the Year by Gatorade and named the 2000 *Chicago Sun-Times* Player of the Year ... was a member of the 1998 Gold Medal-winning USA Baseball Youth National team.

2000

Began his career at Mesa (R), going 4-1 with a 4.46 ERA in nine games (three starts) ... won four straight games from July 14-August 8, allowing 7 earned runs in 21.2 innings (2.91 ERA).

2001

Went 7-3 with a 3.00 ERA and 83 strikeouts for Boise (A) ... pitched the first complete game of his career, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits in 8.0 innings July 24.

2005

Carmen combined to go 6-9 with a 3.73 ERA (53 ER/128.0 IP) in 38 games for West Tenn (AA) and Iowa (AAA) ... started the season at West Tenn, where he was 5-4 with a 2.68 ERA in 16 games (10 starts) ... worked 6.0 or more innings in seven of his starts and allowed two or fewer earned runs in eight of his starts ... pitched 9.0 innings on May 23, allowing no runs on 1 hit while striking out 11 and walking 3 batters - however, he did not factor into the decision in West Tenn's 10th-inning, 1-0 victory ... saw Triple-A action for the first time in his career.

2004

Went 9-7 with 137 strikeouts and a 4.56 ERA for West Tenn (AA) ... went 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA over his final three starts (August 21-September 2), striking out 20 batters in 19.0 innings ... struck out 11 batters in 7.0 innings July 16.

2003

Led the Florida State League with a careerhigh 140 strikeouts in 156.1 innings for Daytona (A) ... did not allow a hit in 8.0 innings of work July 17 against Palm Beach - walked 2 and struck out 11 ... appeared in one game for West Tenn, picked up the win in 6.0 innings, allowing just 3 hits while striking out 11 batters in his first Double-A start ... worked 6.0 or more innings in 18 of his starts.

2002

Spent the year at Lansing (A), going 9-11 with a 3.17 ERA in 27 starts ... was selected to the Midwest League midseason all-star squad ... fanned a season-high 11 batters July 14 at Peoria.