Giants' 1st round selection (21st pick overall) in 2001 First-Year Player Draft has spent
majority of last 3 years at big league level, proving effective as both reliever and starter...in 91
career relief appearances, has 5-7 mark with 20 saves and 3.39 ERA (41er, 109.0ip)...SF has
logged 22-18 (.550) mark in his 40 career ML starts, while he has limited opponents to 3 earned
runs-or-less in 26 of those efforts (65.0%)...28-year-old missed all of 2002 campaign when benign
tumor was removed from his upper back...suffered defeat in ML debut Aug. 7, 2004 as Chicago's
Greg Maddux won his 300th game...became 1st starting pitcher to make ML debut against pitcher
who won 300th game since John McPherson of Philadelphia A's lost to Cy Young July 12, 1901
(courtesy: Bill Arnold/Sports Features Group)...former collegiate shortstop owns .225 lifetime avg.
(18-for-80) with 2 2Bs, 2 HRs and 7 RBI in big leagues.
Graduated from Whitmer (Toldeo, OH) High School in 1997...was named USA Today
honorable mention All-America...also earned All-Ohio honors...attended Youngstown State (OH)
University...set Youngstown State's single season records for strikeouts with 126 and innings with
88.2, while going 6-5 with 4.06 ERA in 16 games (12 starts) in 2001...was named Co-Pitcher of
Year in Mid-Continent Conference in final year with Penguins...started college career as shortstop/
pitcher, before concentrating on pitching during senior year...married (Erin Bullard, Dec. 14,
2002)...daughter (Emma, April 18, 2003)...son (Colin Jacob, Oct. 26, 2006).
A Giant in the Community:
Visited with patients at Shriners Hospital for Children in
Sacramento...participated in Genentech Strike Out Cancer Day, by taping Public Service
Announcement...taped PSA for Common Sense Media, not-for-profit group that educates parents
about internet protection for their children...has also lent his time to baseball skills clinics for
Junior Giants, Boys & Girls Clubs and Special Olympics...also lent his time to KNBR/Giants
Winter FanFest...served as waiter at Giants Community Fund Guardsmen crab freed, which benefited
childrens charities...has participated in "Picnic in the Park," event held on field at AT&T
Park following game for season ticket holders...attended "An Evening of Art with Brett Tomko" in
2004, with all proceeds from event benefiting Giants Community Fund.
2007
Worked exclusively out of bullpen for 1st time in career, leading Giants in
appearances (69) and saves (19)...overall, logged 4-5 mark with 3.42 ERA...took over closer role
following trade of Armando Benitez in late May, holding spot until final 2 weeks of season when
Brian Wilson was given save chances...overall, converted 19 of 24 save attempts, including 16 of
17 from May 30 (day before Benitez trade)-Aug. 31...in fact, converted 14-straight save chances
June 30-Aug. 31, for longest run by Giants closer since 2000 (Robb Nen had 28 consecutive July
4-Sept. 29)...was 5th-longest streak in SF history...however, scuffled following his 19th save (Aug.
31 at Washington), suffering 3 blown saves (in 5 chances) and going 1-2 with 11.11 ERA (7er, 5.2ip)
over 6 outings Sept. 4-14...bounced back to finish season strong, tossing 7.0-shutout innings over
last 6 appearances.
2006
Opened season with triple-A Fresno, but was recalled April 16 and became invaluable swingman on SF staff...worked out of rotation on 2 different occasions (April 16-May 4 and Aug.14-Sept.4), while making 3 different spot starts...also logged 1st 22 relief outings of career, having never appeared out of bullpen prior to campaign (majors or minors)...excelled as reliever, going 1-2 with save, 3.32 ERA and .211 avg.against (30-for-142)...Giants went 7-5 in his 12 starts, while he posted 4-4 mark with 4.91 ERA (32er, 58.2ip)...season ledger stood at 5-2 with 2.71 ERA (23er, 76.1ip) over his 1st 26 contests (7 starts, during which SF went 6-1)...however, beginning Aug.19, struggled to 0-4 mark with 9.39 ERA (24er, 23.0ip) over final 8 outings (5 starts, SF went 1-4)...tossed 2.0-perfect innings May 10 vs.Cubs in 1st career relief appearance...earned 1st career save June 5 vs.Florida, while becoming 1st Giants pitcher to record 4.0-inning rescue since Rafael Novoa did so Sept.30, 1990 vs.LA...posted initial relief victory July 6 at Los Angeles-NL, yielding 1 run on 1 hit over 3.0 innings as SF won 5-4.
2005
Started season at Fresno, before becoming fixture in Giants rotation following July 9 recall...posted 13 quality starts in 21 opening assignments (61.9%), best pct.among Giants hurlers to make at least 15 starts...limited opponents to 3 earned runs or less in 14 of 21 efforts (66.7%)...ranked among NL rookie leaders in wins (T9th), ERA (6th - 4.64), starts (4th), innings pitched (5th - 118.1), strikeouts (7th - 64) and opponents avg.(5th - .276)...had tendency to be either very good, or struggle...in his 13 quality starts, fashioned 1.93 ERA (19er, 88.2ip) and .204 avg.against (64-for- 314)...however, was touched for 12.74 ERA (42er, 29.2ip) and .432 avg.(63-for-146) in his other 8 games...offensively, batted .231 (9-for-39) with 2B, 1st 2 career HRs and 5 RBI...was 1 of 3 ML hurlers to go deep twice, joining WSH's Livan Hernandez and CIN's Eric Milton...logged 3 stints with Giants overall, making spot start May 1 and logging 3-effort turn in rotation May 12-June 2 before joining club for good July 9...tossed 7.0-shutout innings and clubbed 1st career HR (3-run shot in 5th off Victor Santos) for game's only runs in 3-0 victory at Milwaukee July 28...logged career-high 7.2 frames Sept.21 at Washington, holding Nationals to 1 run on 3 hits for 5-1 triumph...also doubled and belted solo HR that contest, both off John Patterson...became just 9th pitcher in SF history to hit at least 2 HRs in same season.
2004
Made Major League debut with Giants, logging 2 different stints with SF after pitching at organization's top 2 outposts...in 7 starts for big league club, fashioned 2-2 ledger with 4.98 ERA...SF won 5 of his 7 starts...limited opponents to 3 earned runs or less in 4 of his 7 efforts...suffered 8-4 defeat in his Major League debut Aug.7 vs.Chicago...battled Greg Maddux, who eventually won his 300th career game...earned 1st big league victory Aug.13 in Philadelphia, receiving obscene offensive support in 16-6 victory...collected 1st big league hit, single off Brian Powell in 4th and came around to score...worked at both double-A Norwich and Fresno, combining to go 9-6 with 3.16 ERA (48er, 136.2ip) in 23 minor league starts...made 18 starts for Norwich, going 5-5 with 3.56 ERA...was promoted to triple-A level July 14 and went 4-1 with 2.02 ERA in 5 starts for Fresno.
2003
Opened year in Extended Spring Training, but completed comeback from surgery June 14 when he joined single-A Hagerstown...spent remainder of season with with Suns, making 15 starts...fashioned 4.20 ERA with 3-9 mark, while tossing 1st career complete game.
2002
Missed entire season while recuperating from surgery to remove benign tumor from upper back...first felt discomfort during Instructional League during previous season...biopsy surgery was performed Feb. 26 by Dr. Robert McLain at Cleveland Clinic...another biopsy was needed Aug. 28, with Dr. McLain presiding.
2001
Opened professional career with rookie-league Salem-Keizer...helped Volcanoes to Northwest League championship...fashioned 1-0 mark with 2.38 ERA in 9 starts.
