Travis Harper

Married Tiffany on Oct. 5, 2002 in West Virginia...They welcomed their first child, daughter, Leia, on Sept. 8, 2003...Owns a health sciences degree form JMU...His father,Orville, played college baseball at Glenville State in Glenville,W.Va...Lettered at James Madison University...Played baseball and basketball at Circleville (W.Va.) High School.

2006

Harper missed the final two months of the season with a right shoulder impingement. He is the longest-tenured current Rays player; has 240 career appearances that ranks him second behind Esteban Yan in club history. Harper has been a steady presence for the team in middle relief.

2005

Led the bullpen with 73.1 innings pitched...has actually led the Rays 'pen in IP each of the last three seasons also (78.2 in 2004, 93.0 in 2003)...his 245.0 relief IP over the last three seasons rank fourth in the majors...First 9 app thru April 28: 3.95 ERA - 13.2-IP, 7-H, 6-ER, 1-BB, 12-SO, 2-HR...Pitched to a 7.39 ERA over 43 outings the rest of the season (59.2-IP, 81-H, 49-ER, 23-BB, 28-SO, 12-HR)...The latter streak began April 30 at Baltimore when he allowed 5 runs, including 2 homers (Miguel Tejada and Brian Roberts) as his ERA soared to 6.32...had retired 32 of the previous 35 batters he'd faced before that outing...Surrendered 14 home runs, most ever by a Rays reliever and tied with the Orioles' Jorge Julio for most among major league relievers in 2005...Finished with six losses...only the Angels' Scot Shields (11) and the Blue Jays' Miguel Batista (8) had more among AL relievers...had 4 in a 6-outing stretch from May 30 to June 21...did not record a defeat the rest of the season...Last defeat, June 21 at Yankee Stadium, he pitched the final 0.2 innings of a 20-11 loss (Rays were up 10-2), allowing a career-high 9 runs on 8 hits and a walk...6 of the runs were the result of 4 home runs (Posada, Sheffield, A-Rod, Matsui)...the last 3 were consecutive (8th inning)...tied a ML record for most HR allowed in a single inning...game hiked his ERA nearly 2 full runs from 7.32 to 9.22...Rebounded from that outing to post 8 scoreless outings (11-IP), his best stretch of the season...Was on the mound for two of the Rays' four extra-inning losses: May 17 at DET and May 30 at OAK...Struck out 5 consecutive batters June 7 at Cincinnati, tying a club record...Allowed a 2-run single to Derek Jeter September 14 at Tropicana Field that gave the Yankees a 6-4 lead and eventual win...Jeter had been just 3-for-21 off him in his career before that hit (.143)...Rays were vying for their 12th win over the Bombers on the season, which would have been their most ever versus any opponent...Since allowing 3 runs and 5 hits in one inning, Aug. 29 at Boston, he allowed just one run in his final 7 outings, covering 10 innings (0.90 ERA)...included were two wins...stretch dropped his ERA below 7.00 for the first time since May 27 (6.18)...Pitched a season-high 4.0 on two occasions: June 17 vs. St. Louis and his last appearance of the season, Sep 30 vs. the Orioles.

2004

Spent the first two weeks of the season at AAA Durham, but still led the Rays in relief wins with a career-high 6 and finished with 78.2 innings, tied with NYY's Mariano Rivera for 12th in the AL and 2nd on the staff behind Lance Carter (80.1)...While the team ERA went up after the All-Star Break, his ERA went down...Posted a 3.24 ERA after the break, 2nd on the staff behind Bobby Seay's 2.49...For the season, held opponents to a .234 batting average, 23 points below the league average against relievers...Opponents batted only .205 with men in scoring position...He held AL batters to a .220 average (58-264), but National Leaguers hit him at a .355 (11-31) clip...Worked a season-high 4 innings (H-2, R-0, BB-1) to get the win in Rays' 5-1 victory at Toronto on June 22 for their club record 12th straight win...Also pitched 3 scoreless innings in the Rays' 7-4 win at Detroit in the season finale that got the team to 70 wins for the first time in club history...Pitched to a 2.31 ERA in his last 14 apps from Aug. 23: IP-23.1, H-20, R-7, ER-6, BB-5, SO-17...Allowed his last 3 inherited runners to score, but only 12 of 42 inherited runners to score on season (28.6%).

2003

His first full major league season in 2003 he appeared in a career-high 61 games, one behind closer Lance Carter for most on the staff...had 45 career ML outings entering the season...Finished 2nd among AL relievers with 93 innings pitched behind DET/OAK Steve Sparks (107.0)...the club relief record is 105.2 by Rick White in 1999...His 8 losses set a club record for defeats by a reliever and tied the Rangers' Francisco Rodriguez for 2nd most among AL relievers behind the Indians' Danys Baez (9)...His 4 relief wins were 2nd on the club to Carter's 7...ERA was below 4.00 for all but 11 days of the season...Threw the final pitch in four of TB's nine "walk-off" losses on season: April 12 at NYY, April 15 at BOS, May 1 at MIN and Aug. 15 at CLE...Threw one pitch July 21 vs. Anaheim and picked up his 2nd career save (first June 14, 2002 vs. Florida)... that outing dropped his ERA to a season-low 3.14...Best month was August as he pitched to a 1.88 ERA (14.1-IP/3-ER), posting a 2-1 record...Was more successful at Tropicana Field (2.27 ERA) than on the road (5.36)...Held right-handed hitters to a .223 avg.

2002

Began the 2002 season at AAA Durham, but was promoted April 23 and made 37 appearances (7 starts) for the Rays, 3rd-most games on the staff behind Esteban Yan (55) and Victor Zambrano (42)...Finished runner-up to OF Carl Crawford for Rays Most Outstanding Rookie as voted by Tampa Bay BBWAA...Had more success out of the bullpen than the rotation...went 3-5 with a save and a 3.81 ERA in 30 relief appearances (54.1-IP, 59-H, 23-ER) and 2-4, 8.33 in 7 starts (31.1-IP, 42-H, 29-ER)...His 3.81 relief ERA was best on the staff among relievers with 30 or more innings...His ERA at the All-Star break was 3.57 (45.1-IP, 41-H, 18-ER, .236 opp avg.)...pitched to a 7.59 ERA the rest of the way (40.1-IP, 60-H, 34-ER, .343 opp. avg.)...Logged 3 perfect innings in relief of Paul Wilson June 27 vs. TOR to pick up the 6-4 win...had 5 strike outs, all consecutive - tying a club record for consecutive K's...Earned the first save of his career June 14 (IP-1, BB-2) vs. the Marlins...Was selected April 23 from AAA Durham when the Rays DL'd Tom Martin.

2001

In 2001, his third full professional season, he made the Rays staff out of spring training as its no. 5 starter and made two starts (losing both to Boston), before being optioned to Durham April 18 for the remainder of the season...In his two starts lost 6-2 April 7 at Fenway (5.0-IP, 11-H, 4-R/ER, 0-BB, 1-SO, 2-HR-Nixon, Hillenbrand) and 10-0 April 17 at Tropicana Field, Larry Rothschild's final game as manager (2.0-IP, 4-H, 7-R/2-ER, 3-BB, 1-SO, 3-HR-Ramirez, Daubach, Everett).

2000

Rookie made 6 appearances for the Rays (5 starts) over two tours of duty and went 1-2 with a 4.78 ERA (32.0-IP/17-ER)...FIRST WIN!: Sep 24 @ Toronto...became the first pitcher to record his first major league win by complete-game shutout since COL Mark Brownson July 21, 1998 at Houston and the first in the AL since CAL Tim Fortugno blanked Detroit July 25, 1992...defeated former Ray Steve Trachsel 6-0 (9.0-IP, 2-H, 1-BB, 3-SO)...tossed TBbs 7th franchise CG SHO, but the first 2-hitter in team history (prev low was 3 hits 4x)... allowed just 4 batters over the minimum...no runner reached 3rd base and just two reached second...retired 17 of his final 18 BF...Joined Rolando Arrojo, Mickey Callaway, Jason Johnson and Ryan Rupe as the only Rays hurlers to record their first ML win as a Ray in a starting assignment...Was up with the club July 29 to Aug. 5 and made one start - his major league debut, Aug. 4 vs. BAL and got a no decision in a 10-9 Obs win in 15 innings (2.2-IP, 8-H, 7-R/ER, 1-BB, 2-SO, 2-HR)...allowed home runs to Delino DeShields and Albert Belle...was optioned back to Durham 2 days later...Became the 5th Ray to make his major league debut in a starting assignment (Rolando Arrojo, Mickey Callaway, Ryan Rupe, Dan Wheeler)...was placed into the rotation with Steve Trachselbs trade and Esteban Yanbs move to the bullpen...Rejoined the Rays Sep 4 and pitched to a 3.07 ERA (29.1-IP, 22-H, 10-ER) over the seasonbs final month (4 games-3 starts)...Made his lone relief appearance Sep 6 @ CLE (was scheduled to start 9/8 @ OAK but put into emergency relief duty Sep 6 @ CLE after Ryan Rupe exited after 3 inn. with what was later discovered as a small blood clot above his right biceps)...entered the game tied 2-2 and tossed 3.1 (7-H, 2-R/ER, 1-BB, 1-SO)...suffered his first major league defeat as the Indians went on to win 6-2... allowed a solo HR to Roberto Alomar...Was his third professional season, second full season...Was signed by the Rays as a free agent June 29, 1998...was originally drafted by the Red Sox in the third round of the b97 Draft but had his contract voided due to a prior injury (tendinitis in his right elbow)... Is 27-15 in his minor league career with 312 Kbs in 370.1 IP...led the organization in 1999 in strikeouts (147) and T-3rd in wins (11)...Began the season at AA Orlando and went 3-1 with a 2.63 ERA in 9 starts before being promoted to AAA Durham May 25...there he was 6-2 with a 4.26 ERA in 12 starts before his first promotion... went 1-2, 4.18 (28.0/13) upon returning to the Bulls... combined he went 10-5 with a 3.71 ERA (155.1-IP/64-ER)...the teams were 18-8 in games he started.

1999

In his second professonal season, he split time between Class A St. Petersburg and Double-A Orlando...combined he was 11-7 with a 4.34 ERA in 28 starts (153.1-IP, 155-H, 74-ER, 49-BB, 147-SO)...Led the organization in strikeouts and finshed tied for third in wins...Is 17-9 as a professional with 228 Kbs in 210 innings pitched...Began the season 0-1 thru his first five starts with St. Pete, then went 5-3 with a 3.38 ERA (56.0-IP/21-ER) over his next nine starts before his promotion to Orlando June 24...averaged more than 6.2 innings a start over that span...Won his AA debut 9-3 over Carolina June 29, fanning seven in 6.0 innings (7-H, 2-ER, 1-BB)...Recorded the victory his first three decisions for the O-Rays from June 29 to July 22 and three of his last four leading up to the Southern League playoffs...Tied his career high with 10 strikeouts over 5.1 innings in a 6-4 win at Tampa May 26...Pitched a career-high nine innings in his next start, May 31 vs. Brevard (7-H, 3-R/2-ER, 3-BB, 2-SO) but did not receive the decision as the Devil Rays won in extra innings, 4-3...Tossed his first professional complete game, a 7-0, four-hit shutout of Greenville Aug. 23 in the first game of the doubleheader (7.0-IP, 1-BB, 7-SO)...was his second win in as many starts in which he surrendered just an earned run over 14 innings (0.64 ERA)...Ranked tied for second in minor league baseball with 20 hit by pitches...Did not record a decision in his only outing of the Southern League postseason (3.0-IP).

1998

Placed at Class A Hudson Valley after signing with the Devil Rays in late June...Made his professional debut July 2 at Lowell, throwing a pair of scoreless innings in relief (2 BB, 2 SO)...Made two more appearances out of the bullpen (3.1 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 7 SO) before joining the rotation for the balance of the season...earned the win in his first start, July 12, hurling five scoreless innings leading to a 1-0 shutout at Vermont. Allowed just three hits while striking out eight...Won four of his first five starts, surrendering a pair of earned runs in 26.0 innings of work (0.69 ERA, 15 H, 6 BB, 34 SO)...Yielded just three earned runs in his first 11 appearances, a 0.58 clip. Struck out 69 in 46.1 innings over that span...Fanned a season-high 10 batters in a 7-0 win at Batavia August 18 (6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER)...Struck out seven or more in seven of his 10 starts...Ranked second in the NY-P League with a 12.71 K/nine innings ratio and fifth with a .199 average against for starters.