Left-hander has proven to be valuable member of Giants bullpen over last 3 seasons...spent majority of 2002 and 2003 campaigns with SF, while logging 4 different stints with big club in 2001...earned September call-up in 2000, completing advance from single-A to Major League level in just 3 years in Giants organization...has recorded 6-1 lifetime record with 3.87 ERA (65er, 151.0ip) in 114 big league games (2 starts)...compiled 57-63 record with 3.99 ERA in 247 minor league contests (157 starts) over last 12 seasons...played in independent Western Baseball League for portion of 1997 season before joining Giants system in 1998...was originally selected by Dodgers in 17th round of June, 1991 draft.
Graduated from Gaither (Tampa, FL) High School...attended Hillsborough (FL) Community College...married (Rachael Leon, Nov. 4, 2000)...daughter (Syrah Rose, Sept. 28, 2003).
A Giant in the Community:
Has been very active in community during 3 seasons with Giants...over last 2 campaigns, has regularly visited with critically ill children at either Oakland Children's Hospital or UCSF Medical Center...in 2003, attended pair of functions to promote first ever Giants Wives' cookbook, which benefits Giants Community Fund...also participated in Giants Wives' post-game auction and clinic to raise money for Junior Giants and Comfort for Kids, which provides specialized medical care to children throughout the Bay Area who are facing life-threatening illness...participated in Giants Challenger Clinic, teaching disabled children baseball basics and playing in t-ball game with group...greeted fans entering gates at SBC Park prior to 2003 home opener...in 2002, visited with homebound seniors during home visits with Meals on Wheels program...supported Giants Summer Reading Program by reading to school-aged children and teaching them importance of literacy...visited with teens from Delancey Street's Life Learning Academy, a charter school which provides troubled teens with a sense of hope...during 2001 season, helped with clinic for more than 100 participants from Special Olympics...visited Lucille Packard Children's hospital and met with more than 50 critically ill children...has also participated in Giants Community Fund Golf Tournament and Giants' off-season Care-A-Van, paying visits to hospitals, youth organizations and civic groups throughout Northern and Central California during January.
2003
Was on SF's Opening Day roster and spent most of campaign as long reliever out of Giants bullpen...was touched for 9.64 ERA in April and was optioned to triple-A Fresno May 9...spent just 10 days with Grizzlies and returned to log 2.77 ERA (8er, 26.0ip) over his next 14 outings (1 start)...suffered 1st career loss June 22 at Oakland in 98th lifetime appearance...97 games without loss in career would have been Major League record, as Dean Hartgraves holds mark with 84 career appearances without loss...was SF's starting pitcher July 24 vs. Arizona, allowing just 1 earned run in 4.2 innings to set stage for 3-2 Giants victory...was placed on Disabled List next day with right intercostal strain...made 3 appearances after Aug. 9 activation before being optioned to minors Aug. 18...was recalled to SF prior to Sept. 1 contest in Arizona and was with club remainder of season...was left off Giants' roster for NLDS vs. Florida.
2002
Emerged as valuable left-handed arm in SF bullpen after season-ending elbow injury to Jason Christiansen...opened season with triple-A Fresno, but after 3 starts (10.1-scoreless innings), was recalled from Grizzlies prior to April 20 contest when Christiansen was disabled...appeared out of SF 'pen more often than any southpaw, logging career highs in both games (50) and innings pitched (56.1)...held lefty hitters to .247 avg. (21-for-85) with no home runs...was effective at home, notching 2.55 ERA (7er, 24.2ip) in 23 outings at Pacific Bell Park...in addition to being quality situational lefty, also proved to be effective innings eater by registering 5 different scoreless outings of 2.0-innings or more, highlighted by perfect 3.0-frame stint Aug. 17 at Florida...was touched for 3 earned runs in 3.0 innings over his 1st 2 big league outings of season, but then posted 2.67 ERA (10er, 33.2ip) over his last 24 efforts before All-Star Break...began stretch with 3.1-scoreless innings April 27 in Cincinnati, game in which he matched career high with 5 strikeouts...earned victories May 22 at Arizona and June 15 vs. Oakland...was unscored upon in 19 of his final 25 regular season outings (beginning July 4) with 2.66 ERA (6er, 20.1ip)...was not on Giants' roster for NLDS vs. Atlanta, and although was active for NLCS, did not pitch against St. Louis...however, was clutch for SF during World Series, notching victory in Game 5 while posting 3.00 ERA (2er, 6.0ip) in 3 outings overall...made post season debut in Game 2 of Fall Classic, saving bullpen with stellar 4.0-inning effort (4h,2r,1er,0bb,0so) as SF rallied from 5-0 deficit to take 9-7 lead...was credited with victory in Game 5, entering in relief of Jason Schmidt with 2 outs in 5th inning and retiring Adam Kennedy with 2 on and SF nursing 6-3 lead...worked total of 1.0-frame (2h,1er) as Giants pounded Angels 16-4...tossed perfect 3rd inning in Game 7 at Anaheim.
2001
Rookie left-hander spent 4 different tours of duty with SF, becoming reliable middle-to-long reliever...in 27 ML appearances (1 start), notched 3-0 record with 3.92 ERA...logged 17 scoreless outings in 26 relief efforts for Giants, recording 4.50 ERA (17er, 34.0ip) out of 'pen...in 16 appearances at triple-A Fresno (all in relief), was 3-4 with 5 saves and 3.55 ERA (10er, 25.1ip)...recalled from Fresno for 1st SF stint April 20...at time of 1st promotion to SF, was 2nd in PCL with 3 saves...prior to June 12 demotion, made 17 appearances (1 start) with Giants, logging 1-0 record with 3.67 ERA (11.0er, 27.0ip)...was unscored upon in 6 of 1st 8 appearances (all in relief)...forged 2.70 ERA over initial 8 outings, allowing just 4 earned runs over 13.1 innings...made 2001 ML debut April 21 and fired 2.1-scoreless frames vs. Milwaukee (2h)...earned 1st career win in 1st career start May 13 vs. Mets, working 5.0 frames in SF's 6-3 triumph (2h,2r,0er,3bb,3so)...was emergency starter, notified minutes before start of game when scheduled starter Shawn Estes was unable to get shoulder loose in bullpen...was recalled from Grizzlies for 2nd time on June 29 following trade of Alan Embree to White Sox...in 1st appearance after recall, earned win with stellar effort in SF's 5-4, comeback victory over St. Louis July 1...relieved starter Mark Gardner with 2 outs in top of 2nd and Giants trailing 4-0, then blanked Cards on 1 hit over next 4.1 frames while posting career-best 5 strikeouts...also contributed run-scoring single (1st career RBI) as part of 5-run, 2nd inning SF uprising...scuffled in 4 appearances out of All-Star Break, yielding 3 earned runs in 3.0 innings prior to July 31 demotion to Fresno...was recalled from Grizzlies briefly Aug. 24 when Shawn Estes was placed on 15-day Disabled List, but returned to Fresno Aug. 27...earned final promotion from Grizzlies Sept. 4 and worked 2.2-scoreless innings (1h) in 3 appearances...worked in 4 games for Bayamon in Puerto Rican Winter League, forging 2.70 ERA.
2000
Had contract purchased from triple-A Fresno Sept. 11, marking 1st appearance on Major League roster in 10th professional season...made 4 appearances for Giants, yielding runs in 2 outings (6.0ip,6h,3r)...made ML debut Sept. 18 vs. Reds, tossing perfect 8th frame (1so)...prior to joining ML club, split campaign between triple-A Fresno and double-A Shreveport...overall on year, posted 9-4 mark with 3.68 ERA in 26 minor league appearances...his 3.68 ERA ranked 6th in Giants organization...went 7-3 with 4.32 ERA in 17 games (11 starts) for Grizzlies, while going 2-1 with 2.33 ERA in 9 starts for Shreveport...was named Fresno's Player of Month for August...pitched for Grand Canyon club in Arizona Fall League following season.
1999
Split season between single-A Bakersfield and Shreveport...overall, went 8-10 with 3.23 ERA in 28 games (27 starts)...his 3.23 ERA ranked 3rd in Giants organization...started season with Bakersfield, going 7-7 with 3.64 ERA in 21 starts...was named Howe Sportsdata's California League Pitcher of Week for April 19-25, 1999...went 1-3 with 1.96 ERA in 7 games for Shreveport, marking 1st appearance at double-A level.
1998
Spent entire campaign at single-A San Jose after signing with Giants prior to season...went 2-0 with 3.35 ERA and 1 save in 23 relief appearances.
1997
Started season at single-A High Desert after being signed by Arizona May 20...went 1-6 with 7.43 ERA in 9 games (8 starts) for Mavericks...was released by D-backs organization and signed with independent Sonoma County of Western Baseball League...was 4-5 with 5.42 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) for Crushers...tossed 2 complete games.
1996
Played for Dodgers double-A club at San Antonio...went 4-6 with 4.50 ERA and 1 save in 17 games (11 starts)...after spending 6th season in Dodgers organization, was released Dec. 10.
1995
Had winningest professional season, going 11-7 with 4.57 ERA in 28 games (27 starts) for single-A San Bernardino...worked career-high 163.1 innings.
1994
Went 5-5 with 3.39 ERA in 18 starts for Dodgers single-A Vero Beach club.
1993
Split season between LA's single-A affiliates at Bakersfield and Vero Beach...was 0-10 with 5.91 ERA in 14 games (12 starts) for Bakersfield, while going 1-0 with 6.57 ERA in 10 relief appearances at Vero Beach.
1992
Made 15 starts for single-A Great Falls, going 8-3 with 2.14 ERA.
1991
Started pro career with Gulf Coast League Dodgers...went 0-2 with 2.20 ERA in 16 appearances, including 1 start.
