Selected by the Giants in the ninth round of the 2007 June Draft out of UC-Riverside… previously selected by the Mariners as a drafteligible sophomore in the 17th round of the 2006 June Draft, but did not sign…began his high school career at Chaminade (Calif.) HS as a 5'6" first baseman and right fielder, and graduated high school at 6'4"…in fact, he was the only junior on the school's junior varsity team…for his senior year, former major leaguer and two-time All-Star Mark Gubicza took over as the varsity coach and moved him to the mound…he and his wife, Michelle, have two sons, Ryan (5) and Quinn (1).
2017
Was a non-roster invite to Pirates spring training…selected to the major league roster on Sep 10 and made 8 apps with the club…his Pirates debut on Sep 11 at MIL marked his first app in the majors since Sep 30, 2012 at SD, going 1,807 days in between…his first 6 apps with the Pirates were scoreless…was with Triple-A Indianapolis through their exit in the International League playoffs.
2013
Spent the entire season with triple-A Fresno, going 3-7 with a 5.68 ERA (33 ER, 52.1 IP)...Was 1-0 with a 2.61 ERA (3 ER, 10.1 IP) over 11 games in April...Struggled in June and July, going 2-4 with a 7.72 ERA (20 ER, 23.1 IP) in 21 relief appearances...Right-handed opponents hit .299 (38-for-127) off him...Was 1-for-8 in save opportunities.
2012
Missed the first two months of the season due to
injury and played the majority of his games in the
minors, appearing in 32 games and going 0-4 with
a 6.00 ERA (20er, 30.0ip). Missed almost all of spring training and did not appear in any Cactus League games after aggravating his latissimus
dorsi muscle in a bullpen session during the first week of spring. Visited Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Fla., who looked at Runzler's MRIs and determined that surgery would not be necessary...tore his lat muscle in the final regular season game in 2011. Was placed on the 15-day disabled list on March 26 and began the 2012 campaign in extended spring training to build up innings. Went on a rehabilitation assignment to Class A Advanced
San Jose on June 8 and appeared in three games before being reinstated from the DL and transferred to triple-A Fresno on June 27. Went 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA (18er, 27.0ip) and one save in 29 relief appearances for the Grizzlies. Was called up by the Giants in September and appeared
in six games, logging 3.2-scoreless innings. Participated in the Arizona Fall League following the regular season.
2011
Southpaw spent most of 2011 season at triple-A Fresno, but did appear in 31 games for
San Francisco, going 1-2 with 6.26 ERA (19er, 27.1ip) ... Made SF's Opening Day roster for 2nd-consecutive
season and was one of 3 left-handers in bullpen
(also Affeldt, Lopez) ... Spent 1st month and half with big league club, but
struggled, allowing 14 runs in 19.2 innings (6.41 ERA)...
was optioned to triple-A Fresno on May 28 where he
finished Grizzlies' season, compiling 2-3 record with 4.17
ERA (23er, 49.2ip) in 14 games (10 starts) ... Worked his way into starting role while at Fresno, slowly
increasing his pitch count in each start...as starter, went
1-3 with 4.02 ERA (18er, 40.1ip) ... Was recalled to San Francisco on Aug. 16, taking roster
spot of RHP Sergio Romo, who was placed on DL ... Made his 1st career start on Aug. 21 at Houston, filling
rotation spot of LHP Jonathan Sanchez, who sprained
his left ankle in his start on Aug. 16 at Atlanta...manager
Bruce Bochy was hoping to get at least 6.0 innings out of
Runzler, but he got just 1.2 innings as southpaw struggled
with his command, allowing 4 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks...
faced 10 total batters ... Following that start was moved back to bullpen where he
ended season as one of Giants' best relievers, working
5.1-scoreless innings over 11 relief appearances ... Pitched in season finale against Colorado and exited
during 7th inning with strained left lat muscle.
2010
Proved to be valuable out of bullpen during Giants run to World Series championship as he was 3-0 with 3.03 ERA (11er, 32.2ip) in his 1st complete season at Major League level ... Rookie made his 1st Opening Day Roster as he entered 2010 ranked by Baseball America as 5th-best prospect in Giants' minor league system ... Fashioned 0.52 ERA (1er, 17.1) in 18 home games while also holding opposition to .183 (11-for-60) avg. against ... Missed 47 games with an injury to his left patella, an injury that occurred while taking his 1st ML at-bat July 8 at MIL ... In 8 rehab games with rookie-level Arizona, Class A Advanced San Jose and triple-A Fresno, went 0-1 with 2.70 ERA (3er, 10.0ip), allowing 8 hits, 4 walks and 11 strikeouts ... Fashioned 1.10 ERA (2er, 16.1ip) with 7 walks and 20Ks...while allowing .250 (16-for-64) avg. against in his last 23 outings with SF.
2009
entering season was 24-year-old reliever who had never pitched above Class A...
sure made up for lost time as he climbed up Giants' Minor League ladder rapidly, combining to go
5-1 with an 0.76 ERA (5er, 59.0ip), 17 saves and 83 strikeouts against 24 walks in 47 relief appearances
at all four of San Francisco's full season minor league affiliates, and was called up to majors
when rosters expanded in Sept...being southpaw may have attributed to his lightning ascent, but by
any measure, his 2009 season was nothing short of phenomenal...skipped from low-A Augusta to
Class A San Jose to double-A Connecticut to triple-A Fresno...is considered to be 1st Giants player
to play on five different levels in one season...was promoted to big league club Sept. 2, having his
contract purchased from triple-A and became one of Giants' clutch left-handers out of 'pen...overall,
appeared in 11 games for San Francisco, allowing just 1 earned run in 8.2 innings (1.04 ERA) with
11 strikeouts against 5 walks...certainly didn't seem overmatched in his major league debut Sept. 4
at Milwaukee when he took mound with 2 outs in 6th inning of 2-2 game in major league pennant
race to face veteran Jody Gerut, who struck out looking on three fastballs to end threat in Giants 3-2
victory...most of his 11 appearances came in situational matchups, where he was called upon to retire
1 or 2 hitters...dominated left-handed batters, holding them to just 1 hit in 17 at-bats (.059)...
Arizona's Stephen Drew was lone lefty to record hit off Runzler (single, Oct. 1)...some notable lefties
he faced were Prince Fielder, Adrian Gonazlez, Carlos Gonzalez, Todd Helton and James Loney, all
of whom combined to go 0-for-4 with hit by pitch against him...retired 26 of 38 ML hitters faced,
while holding opponents to .180 avg. against (6-for-32)...began season with low-A Augusta, going 1-1
with 0.68 ERA (2er, 26.1ip), 11 saves and 45 strikeouts in 19 relief outings...credited his success to
scaled back approach that pitching coach and former Giant Steve Kline helped him form at Augusta...
did not allow run in 15 home appearances and was unscored upon in 17 of his 19 outings...fanned
at least 1 batter in 18 of 19 games, including 6
over 2.0 innings May 20 vs. Greenville...was
named to South Atlantic League's Mid-Season
All-Star team, however did not participate due to
his promotion to San Jose...was promoted to
Class A SJ June 8 and proceeded to log 17-scoreless
appearances while going 1-0 with 0.84 ERA
(2er, 21.1ip), 5 saves and 26 strikeouts against 4
walks in 19 games overall...started Class A
career with 16.2-inning scoreless streak, before
allowing runs in 2 of his final 4 appearances...
in fact, had 32.2-inning personal scoreless streak
from May 2-July 22, which spanned his final 12
outings with Augusta through his 1st 15 appearances with San Jose...was transferred to double-A Connecticut Aug. 6 and went 3-0 with 1 save and 0.96 ERA (1er, 9.1ip) with 11 K's and .172 avg. against (5-for-29) in 7 games...allowed run in his very 1st outing Aug. 7 at Erie, however held opposition scoreless over his next 6 games (7.2ip)...ended his minor league tour at triple-A Fresno, being transferred Aug. 28...appeared in just 2 games for Grizzlies, tossing 2.0-scoreless innings...
2008
Split season between single-A Augusta and short-season Salem-Keizer, combining for 0-2 record with 3.62 ERA (22er, 54.2ip) in 47 relief appearances
2007
Began 1st professional season with Arizona Giants and short-season Salem-Keizer, going 1-2 with 3.72 ERA (8er, 19.2ip) in 16 relief outings...converted his last 4 save chances and did not allow an earned run over his final 11 appearances with Giants, spanning 12.2 innings...
