Graduated from Wellington (Fla.) High School...played college baseball at Palm Beach Community College...he is an avid ice hockey fan...resides in Jupiter, Fla.
2016
Appeared in 67 games, his 2nd-most in a season to 2015's MLB-leading 81 games...Led all qualifying National League left-handed relievers with a 2.77 ERA...Did not allow a run in 51 of his 67 appearances...Recorded a team-leading 17 Holds...Struck out 66 batters in 61.2 innings pitched, 2nd most among Cardinals relief pitchers (Oh, 104)...Earned six wins, T4th among N.L. relievers...Did not allow a run through his first eight appearances (7.2 IP) from April 5-24...Worked a season-high 1.1 innings on five occasions (1 R, 4 scoreless). Pitched less than 1.0 inning on 12 occasions...Began the season with four wins before suffering a loss at CIN (6/7) allowing a home run. His four wins in the team's first 28 games as a reliever were the most since Bruce Sutter (1983) & Larry Jackson (1957)...Credited with three saves. Earned his first save at LAA (5/12) stranding the bases loaded with one out in the 9th. Marked the 10th time in Cardinals franchise history a reliever came in with the bases loaded in the 9th and picked up a two-out save...Was on the disabled list from 6/30-7/14 with Mononucleosis...Posted a 1.50 ERA over 12 appearances in Sept./Oct. covering 12.0 IP. Was called on to nail down saves vs. CHI (9/13) and at COL (9/19) during the final month...Held opposition to a .160 BA (8-50, 2 HR) with runners in scoring position...Surrendered a career-high 10 home runs in 2016, after allowing 10 HR total over 144.2 IP in his first three seasons (2013-15)...His .193 opponent batting average was the 3rd-lowest among N.L. left-handed relief pitchers. Held right-handed batters to a .180 BA (27-150), 2nd-best for N.L. relievers (Ryan Buchter .168).
2015
Led the Majors with 81 appearances. His 81 app. are the 3rd-most for a Cardinals left-handed reliever in a single-season behind Steve Kline (89, 2001) and Ray King (86, 2004)…Became the first Cardinals pitcher since Steve Kline (89, 2001) to lead MLB in appearances…Set the Cardinals record for strikeouts by a left-handed relief pitcher with 90, surpassing Al Hrabosky's 82 in 1974 & '75…Finished the season ranked 3rd among National League relievers in strikeouts (90) trailing Aroldis Chapman (CIN, 116) and Will Smith (MIL, 91)…Ranked among N.L. relief leaders in innings pitched (74.2, T6th) and ERA (2.17, 10th)…Led the Cardinals with 28 Holds (T3rd NL)…Had 7 wins in relief, T4th most among N.L. relievers and his single-season high…Earned wins in his first five decisions of 2015. Only loss was at SF (8/28)…Had six saves, his first season recording a save. Ranked 2nd among National League LHP in saves (Chapman, CIN, 33)…Posted 13 straight scoreless appearances from 4/27-5/24 (13.0 IP)…Among N.L. left-handed pitchers, recorded the lowest opp. BA vs. right-handed batters (100 or more AB's) at .164 (31-189), trailing Andrew Miller (.131, NYY) for the MLB lead.
2014
Began the season on the Opening Day roster for the first time and made 37 appearances in an injury-shortened season...Placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left forearm strain on May 24. Reinstated to the active list on July 23 after missing 53 games. Pitched in five rehab games at Springfield with five scoreless appearances covering 4.2 innings...Led the National League and was tied for the Major League lead with 12 Holds prior to landing on the disabled list...Struck out 37 in his 30.1 IP with St. Louis. Ranked 12th among MLB left-handers with 10.98 strikeouts/9 IP (min. 30 IP)...Fanned 27 during his first 20.0 innings (23 games) to start the season...Tied his career high with a 2.0 inning appearance vs. MIL (4/29)...Stranded 11 of 13 inherited runners including 4-of-4 after returning from the disabled list...In the nine games (8.0 IP) following his time on the D.L. allowed 11 runs and was optioned to Memphis (AAA) on 8/16...Made six relief appearances at Memphis going 0-0 with a 1.35 ERA and a save in 6.2 innings...Recalled to St. Louis on 8/31 and made five relief appearances down the stretch...Was 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA in 23 appearances with a team-high 12 Holds prior to landing on the disabled list. After returning from the disabled list was 0-3 with a 13.06 ERA in 14 appearances.
2013
Rookie finished the season with a 25.0 inning scoreless streak (8/2-end of season), the longest active in MLB to end the season, 5th longest scoreless streak in N.L. in 2013... Was recalled from Memphis (AAA) on 6/6 and remained with club rest of the season... Named Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Month for May going 1-0 with an 0.00 ERA in nine appearances between Springfield and Memphis. Struck out 21 batters over 13.2 innings and holding left-handed batters to a .103 BA (3-29)... Struck out a season-high four over 1.2 IP in his Major League debut (6/6 vs. ARI)... Posted 43 scoreless appearances of 45 total; allowed two runs and 17 hits in 39.2 IP with 50 strikeouts... Was unscored upon in a Cardinals rookie record 12 consecutive games to begin his career, snapped by Starlin Castro solo home run (7/12) at CHI, his only HR allowed during the regular season... His 0.45 ERA in 39.2 IP was the 2nd lowest in MLB since 1911 (Buck O'Brien, BOS), by any pitcher with at least 35 IP, and the lowest by any relief pitcher in MLB history (min 35 IP)... Posted an 0.88 WHIP (walks + hits/innings pitched), ranking 9th among MLB pitchers (min. 35 IP)... Led N.L. relievers with a .128 opponent BA (17-133) with only five extra base hits (1 HR)... Held LH batters to a .118 BA (8-68) with one extra base hit; RH batters to .138 (9-65) with one RBI coming on a solo HR... Averaged 11.34 strikeouts/9 IP, ranking 2nd on team (Rosenthal)... Did not allow a run at Busch Stadium (24 app, 20.2 IP)... Earned first MLB victory vs. PIT (8/15) as the Cardinals won in walk-off fashion in 12 innings of a 6-5 win... Cardinals were 20-8 in his final 28 scoreless appearances to finish the season, with his three wins in relief during that stretch... Suffered his only loss of the season in relief at PIT (7/30 - Game 1 of DH) allowing a game-ending single to Alex Presley in the 11th inning in a 2-1 loss. Was not scored upon the remainder of the season... Was 2-1 with a 1.95 over 18 appearances between Memphis (AAA) & Springfield (AA) covering 27.2 IP with 44 K's... Made nine relief appearances in the postseason with two in the NLDS, three in the NLCS and four in the World Series posting an 0-0 record with a 3.00 ERA over 6.0 innings... allowed three runs (2 ER) in the postseason after allowing two over 39.2 innings during the regular season...did not allow a run over his final three World Series appearances...was the only Cardinals pitcher to strike out David Ortiz during the 2013 World Series with a strikeout swinging in Game 6, snapping Ortiz's 30 AB postseason strikeout-less streak...recorded a Hold in Game 2 of the NLCS vs. LAD (10/12).
2012
Was on Palm Beach disabled list April 5 to May 6 to begin season due to left shoulder strain and was sidelined May 25 to June 24 with a back strain. Following fist DL stint, began the season in Palm Beach (A) on May 6 making 10 starts and was promoted to Springfield (AA) on July 6 where he finished the season, helping the Cardinals to the Texas League Championship. Combined to go 7-2 with a 2.77 ERA in 18 appearances (15 starts) while holding opposing batters to a .190 batting average. Was 6-0 with a 2.28 ERA in 10 starts at Palm Beach, posting an 0.99 WHIP in 55.1 innings with 41 strikeouts and inducing five double plays.
Had four scoreless starts at Palm Beach, all of 5.0 innings or more, five quality starts and three starts in which he held the opponent to one hit over 5.0 innings (5/12 vs. Jupiter, 6.0 IP, 1 H; 5/24 vs.Tampa, 5.0 IP, 1 H; 6/24 vs. Clearwater, 5.0 IP, 1 H). Struck out a season-high nine batters at Jupiter(7/24) allowing just two hits over 6.1 scoreless frames. Went 1-2 with a 3.62 ERA at Springfield in eight appearances making five starts. Held left-handed batters to a .179 BA(14-78) with one home run and three extra base hits on the season. Right-handers only were slightly better, hitting at a .194 clip (45-232).
•Was 0-0 with a 3.18 ERA in three relief appearances all coming in Springfield. Made two starts in the Texas League playoffs going 1-1 with a 4.22 ERA, striking out nine in 10.2 innings.
Hurled 5.0 innings in Game 3 of the opening round series in the Texas League playoffs vs.Tulsa, holding the Drillers to two runs on four hits for the win. Took the loss in Game 3 of the Texas League Championship at Frisco (9/14), allowing four runs (3ER) on eight hits over 5.2 innings, but struck out Rangers minor league rehab Mike Napoli three times. 2-1, 2.37 ERA in 6 games (5 starts)for Surprise in Arizona Fall League season, striking out 27 in 19.0 IP with .214 opp.BA.
2011
Split the season, starting in Quad Cities (A) before reporting to High-A Palm Beach for his first start on June 5...Combined to go 8-4 with a 2.26 ERA in 107.1 innings pitched (27 ER), appearing in 20 games and making 19 starts...His 2.26 ERA would have ranked 3rd among Cardinals pitchers and 2nd in all of single-A ball, but failed to qualify by 4.2 IP...Picked off seven runners, ranking 2nd among Cardinals pitchers and T30th in all of minor league baseball...His eight wins ranked T7th among Cardinals minor league pitchers...Was 8-1 at Quad Cities in eight starts (9 app.), ranking 2nd on the team and posted a decision in every appearance...Allowed only seven earned runs at Quad Cities, posting a 1.15 ERA in 54.2 innings...Did not allow an earned run in five different starts at Quad Cities (all over 5.0 IP) and had a scoreless relief appearance of 5.0 IP at Wisconson (5/7) for a win...Won five consecutive starts (5/7-30) and went 5-1 with a 1.47 ERA in five May starts (6 app.)...Made 11 starts in Palm Beach including five quality starts and four scoreless (over 4.0 IP), but was 0-3 with a 3.42 ERA...Threw a career-high 7.0 IP three times in Quad Cities, and struck out a career-high 10 vs. St. Lucie (9/1) in his final start of the season at Palm Beach...In nine consecutive road starts from 7/26/10-5/30/11 was 8-0 with an 0.58 ERA (3 ER/46.1 IP) allowing 32 H and 0 HR...Allowed his first pro HR to a left-handed batter (6/25 at Charlotte) in his 46th career app., after 170.1 IP. (1 HR/210 LH AB).
2010
Started the season at Batavia (SS-A) before a move to Johnson City (R) to finish the season...threw a season-high 6.1 IP of three-hit scoreless ball at Princeton (8/20) striking out seven, tying his season high...was brilliant on the road with a 3-0 record and 0.55 ERA in three starts (16.1 IP).
2009
Reported to Batavia (SS-A) appearing in 10 games,
starting four...recorded first pro victory in relief at Auburn 7/6...was 2-for-2 in save opps...five of six relief app. were 2.0 IP or more.
2008
Posted a miniscule .070 BA (3 H/43 AB) in the Gulf Coast League, while making appearances in seven games (13.0 IP)...had a walks+hits/9 IP of 0.46, leading the team...threw 6.0 perfect innings over last four appearances of the season.
