Full name JOHN BAPTISTE CRESSEND III...Wife's name is Katy
(Gilbert)...They have one son, Cole (8/16/02)...Resides in Mandeville,
LA...Is a 1993 graduate of Mandeville (LA) High School...Named All-
State, All-District and All-Metro...Attended Tulane University from 1994-
96...Pitched a shutout in Conference-USA championship game in 1996,
leading the conference in strikeouts and named to All-Tournament team
in 1996...Signed as a non-drafted free agent by Boston in July of
1996...Dedicates time and support in the off-season to running a Big
League Baseball Camp for youth, with proceeds benefiting Toys for
Tots...With Cleveland he has participated in the Giant Eagle Baseball
Camps.
2003
Waiver claim from off-season rebounded from September shoulder surgery and was one of the club's most
reliable relievers over the last three months of the season...Came to spring training with a limited throwing program
as he rehabilitated his surgically repaired right shoulder.
Began throwing off the mound at the end of spring training and appeared in some simulated and minor league
games at the conclusion of camp...Stayed in extended spring until reporting to A Kinston on April 24 where he
appeared in 2 games before being promoted to AA Akron on May 1...Did not allow a run and walked just 2 batters
in 16.0 innings while with the Eastern League champion Aeros and was promoted to AAA Buffalo on May
30...Worked 2.0 or more innings in 6 of his 8 appearances with Akron.
After appearing in 8 games for the Bisons his contract was purchased from AAA Buffalo on June 25 after Dan Miceli
was traded to the Yankees... Combined 3-1 w/a 2.06 ERA & 1 SV (35.0 IP, 31 H, 12 R/8 ER, 8 BB, 26 SO) at Kinston,
Akron & Buffalo...Allowed just 2 ER in his last 30.2 IP (0.59 ERA) between Akron & Buffalo in 16 games.
Made his Indians debut on July 1 at Kansas City, his first appearance in the big leagues since 6/7/02 vs.
Florida...Picked up his first win of the season on August 9 vs. Anaheim (day), his first since 10/6/01 vs. Chicago-
AL... Allowed a run in 10 of his 33 appearances with the Tribe...Struggled in September, going 0-1 w/a 7.56 ERA
in 9 appearances to finish the season (8.1 IP, 14 H, 7 ER)...Did not record an ERA above 1.33 in July or August.
Allowed only 25% (5 of 20) of his inherited runners to score...Did not walk more than 1 batter in any of his outings
with Cleveland in 2003 (9 walks in 43.0 IP)...Batters hit .250 (9-36) off him with RISP and .190 (4-21) off him with
RISP-2outs...Overall on the year batters hit .252 (40-159) off him with 1 HR allowed...LHH hit .260 (19-73) and
RHH hit .244 (21-86)...Did not allow a run in 4.0 IP (1 H) off work in extra innings.
2002
Spent the season with the Minnesota Twins and missed most of the last 4 months of the season due to
shoulder troubles...Started off the season well, not allowing a run in 7 of 8 appearances from 4/8-27...First career
ejection on 4/11 at Cleveland and received a 3-game suspension handed down by Major League Baseball on 4/18 for intentionally throwing at and hitting Ricky Gutierrez...Went 0-1 w/a 0.96 ERA (9.1 IP, 1 ER) in 6 appearances
from 5/13-28, tossing a season-high 3.0 innings on 5/17 at New York...Tied career-high 3 strikeouts on 5/28 at
Texas before being placed on the disabled list with strained right rotator cuff on 6/8...Began a rehab assignment
at GCL Twins and Ft. Myers on 8/9, making a combined 6 appearances between the two stops before shutting it
down for the season...Had season-ending surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews to repair torn labrum in right
shoulder on 9/12...Batters hit .222 (4-18) off him with RISP and 2 outs...Was outrighted off the Tribe's 40-man
roster and invited to major league camp on 11/20 after being claimed off waivers by the Indians from the Twins
during the ALCS.
2001
Began season at Edmonton...Was 2-0, 2.77 (13.0 IP, 4 ER) with one save, 4/14-5/4...Recalled on 5/5...Was
1-0 w/a 1.69 ERA (5.1 IP, 1 ER) in 4 appearances, 5/12-29 and collected first big league victory on 5/29 at
Anaheim...Tossed a career-high 4.0 innings on 6/1 at Texas and did not allow a run in 7 appearances (6.0 IP), 6/14-24...Allowed one earned run in 10 appearances, going 0-0, 0.56 ERA (16.0 IP, 1 ER), 7/5-8/9...Stranded 19 of
29 (66%) inherited runners and first-batters-faced in relief were 9-40 (.225).
2000
Began season at Salt Lake as he was converted to relief...Recalled on 8/21 after allowing just 3 HR in 86.1
PCL innings...Made major league debut on 8/26 vs. Detroit...Was 0-0 w/a 1.76 ERA (5.1 IP, 1 ER) in 4 games from
9/9-26...Season-high 2.1 innings and 2 strikeouts on 9/19 vs. Texas.
1999
Began season at Trenton before being claimed off waivers by Minnesota on 4/22 and spent the remainder
of the season in a starting role at New Britain...Allowed just one homer in 77.1 innings from 7/3-8/31...Tossed
a 4-hit shutout on 7/9 at New Haven...Went 3-1 w/a 1.95 ERA (32.1 IP, 7 ER) in 5 starts, 7/9-30...Tied season-high
9 strikeouts on 7/20 vs. New Haven...Tossed second shutout of the season on 8/15 vs. Akron as his 2 shutouts
led all Eastern League pitchers...Led New Britain club in games started, shutouts, innings pitched and strikeouts,
and was second in wins...Was tied for third in league in games started, 5th in hits allowed (171) and 4th in ER
allowed (82).
1998
Was 3-1 w/a 1.19 ERA (37.2 IP, 5 ER) in 6 starts, 5/6-6/4...Had consecutive 10-strikeout games on 5/29-6/4...Had 3-hit shutout on 8/31 vs. Reading...Led club in games started and tied for league lead in games started.
1997
Was 2-1, 0.95 ERA (28.1 IP, 3 ER) in 4 starts, 5/11-28...Tossed a complete game, 3-hitter on 8/1 vs.
Clearwater...Led club in games started, innings and strikeouts...Was second in league in strikeouts.
1996
1996 League Pitcher of the Week, 8/19-25, at Lowell of the NYPL in his first professional season...Season-high
15 strikeouts on 8/24 vs. Oneonta...Had .226 batting-average-against...Led team in strikeouts per-9-innings (11.2).
