Collin Thomas Balester...he and wife Ashley
have a daughter, Roslyn (12/13/11), and reside in Dana Point,
Calif. during the offseason...grew up surfing and his father, Tom,
runs a surfboard manufacturing company...fan of hockey and
fantasy football.
2012
A member of the Tigers Opening Day bullpen, he was
outrighted off the 40-man roster in late May and spent the duration of the year at Toledo (AAA)...it was his lone season in the
Detroit organization after being acquired in a December trade
from Washington...DETROIT: Made an Opening Day roster for the first time in
his career, but permitted runs in 9 of his 11 outings...was 2-0,
6.50 (13 ER/18.0 IP) in the 11 games...had 18.0 innings, his
fewest in any big league season...opponents hit .209, but he
had nearly equal walks (11) as strikeouts (12)...first batters were
4-for-10 with a HR, double, and sac fly...had 2 games finished
and allowed 8 of 13 (61.5%) inherited runners to score...faced
Rangers on April 19 in Detroit, giving up 2 runs (one earned) in
2.2 innings of a 10-3 Texas victory...earned wins April 12 vs. TB
and May 15 at CWS after entering season with one career relief
victory...permitted homers in 4 of last 5 and 5 of last 7 outings...
threw 2 pitches in outing May 10 at Oakland, giving up grand
slam to former Tiger Brandon Inge...in final outing on May 16
vs. Minnesota, gave up 2-run HR to Trevor Plouffe in the 9th
that gave Twins a 4-run lead...was designated for assignment
on May 23 and outrighted to Toledo on May 29...TOLEDO: Went 1-1, 3.64 (19 ER/47.0 IP) with a save in 31
relief outings with Mud Hens...opponents batted .224 (38-170)
with 12 walks and 45 strikeouts...his 1.06 WHIP ranked 2nd on
the staff to only starter Adam Wilk (1.01)...held right-handed
batters to a .189 (18-95) mark with 2 walks and 29 strikeouts...
had 8 holds, allowed 3 of 11 inherited runners to score, and was
1-for-2 in save chances...first 20 outings at Triple-A: 4.40 ERA
(15 ER/30.2 IP), 10 BB, 26 SO, .255 (28-110) opp. avg....allowed runs in just one of last 11 games with Toledo beginning
Aug. 5: 2.20 ERA (4 ER/16.1 IP), 2 BB, 19 SO, .167 (10-60)
opp. avg.
2011
Split the 2011 season between Washington and Triple A Syracuse -- appeared in 23 games during his four separate
stints with the Nationals...Assigned to Syracuse to begin the season -- recalled by Washington on April 17...appeared in three games with the
Nationals before he was optioned back to Syracuse on April 23...Compiled a 1.06 ERA (17.0IP/2ER) and 19 strikeouts over a 12-outing stretch with Syracuse May 20-July 14...Recalled by Washington from Syracuse on May 28 -- did not appear in the game with the Nationals that day and he
was optioned back to Syracuse following the game...Recalled by Washington from Syracuse on June 15...Fanned a season-high five batters with Washington on July 3 versus Pittsburgh -- equaled the high with five strikeouts
on September 17 versus Florida...Optioned back to Syracuse by Washington on July 7 -- recalled by Washington from Syracuse for the remainder of the
season on August 2...Posted a 1.72 ERA (15.2IP/3ER) and 14 strikeouts over an 11-outing stretch August 13-September 15.
2010
In 7th pro campaign, struggled at Triple-A, but turned in strongest effort to date at the big league level...thrived in
Sept./Oct. (1.35 ERA in 11 appearances) and closed the season with a strong 2.57 ERA in 17 relief appearances with
Washington...fanned 12.0 batters per 9.0 innings...registered a strong .203 batting average against...despite pitching
1.0 inning or less in 12 of 17 appearances, recorded at least one strikeout in 14 of 17 appearances...from Aug. 5-Sept.
29, spun 15.1 consecutive scoreless innings spanning 12 appearances...struck out 18 of 46 right-handed batters faced
(39%)...started the season in Triple-A Syracuse's rotation and struggled (1-3, 11.57 ERA, 5 starts) before shifting to
the bullpen for good on May 8 vs. Gwinnett...notched a 3.38 bullpen ERA in 30 games or 48.0 innings with Syracuse.
2009
Spent majority of season pitching for Triple-A Syracuse, but did get 7 starts with the Nationals, going 1-4 with a 6.82
ERA...combined to go 8-14 with a 4.97 ERA in 27 starts for Washington and Syracuse...joined the Nationals for the
first time on July 23...16 of 24 runs allowed scored via the home run...of 34 hits allowed, 10 were home runs (29%)...
took the loss in each of final 3 starts...was optioned to Syracuse, August 26.
Game-by-Game Highlights: In 2nd start of the season, July 28 at MIL, allowed 2 runs in a season-high 6.0 innings
to earn his lone win of '09.
In Minor Leagues: Made 20 starts with Syracuse, going 7-10 with a 4.44 ERA in 20 starting assignments...allowed 3
earned runs or less in 15 of those starts...went 5-0 with a 1.56 ERA in 7 starts from May 17-June 21.
2008
In first taste of big leagues, pitched better than 3-7, 5.51 ERA numbers indicate...made 15 starts after having contract
selected from Columbus, June 30...walked 2 or less 10 times...combining Triple-A and big league stats, went 12-10 with
a 4.76 ERA (84 ER/158.2 IP) in 30 starts and finished the campaign just 4 months past 22nd birthday...held opponents
without a hit through the game's first 3 innings on 5 occasions...thus, posted a .210 batting average against the first
time through the lineup, .338 thereafter...ranked among NL rookies in starts (tied for 7th, 15) and innings (9th, 80.0).
Game-By-Game Highlights: By allowing just one run on one hit in 5.0 innings, July 1 at FLA, posted the "W" and
became only the 2nd franchise pitcher to garner a win in an MLB debut on the road (immortal Expos RHP Hal Dues
had previously turned the trick on Sept. 9, 1977 at PIT)...in 2nd inning of that initial start, fanned Cody Ross for first big
league punch out...earned the win at Derek Lowe's expense, August 26 vs. LAD, allowing one run in 5.0 innings.
In minor leagues: Went 9-3 with a 4.00 ERA in 15 starts with Columbus of the Triple-A International League at the
time of first big league promotion...was 8-1 with a 3.90 ERA in final 10 IL starts...was 4-0 with a 2.82 ERA in 4 June
assignments and was named Nationals Minor League Pitcher of the Month...at time of promotion, was tied for 3rd in
the IL with 9 wins despite being one of the IL's younger pitchers...allowed 2 runs or less in 9 of 15 IL starts.
2007
Turned 21 in June, yet combined to go 4-10 with a 3.89 ERA in 27 starts for Columbus of the Triple-A International
League and Harrisburg of the Double-A Eastern League...was one of youngest players in both circuits, especially
Triple-A...led all Nationals minor-league pitchers in strikeouts...posted stellar 2.4/1 strikeout-to-walk ratio...earned spot
in Double-A Eastern League mid-season All-Star Game (did not play due to XM Futures Game invitation)...combined
on 11 quality starts at the 2 levels.
2006
Pitched for both Harrisburg and Potomac of the Single-A Carolina League...despite relative youth, combined to go 5-5
with a 4.71 ERA at the 2 levels...fanned 6.3 batters per 9.0 innings...ranked 9th among Nationals minor-league pitchers
in ERA...began season attempting new delivery and struggled...however, reverted to prior mechanics in August and
went 1-0 with a 2.96 ERA in final 7 starting assignments, 6 of which rendered quality starts...combined on a batting
average against of .179 with RISP and 2 outs.
2005
In first complete professional season, finished 8-6 with a 3.67 ERA in 23 games (22 starts) with Savannah of the
Single-A South Atlantic League...ranked 5th among Nationals minor-league hurlers in ERA...5 of 8 wins came on the
road...notched quality starts in 7 of first 15 starting assignments...posted .186 batting average against when facing
left-handed hitters...tossed 8.0 scoreless innings, faced only 27 batters and garnered the win, July 9 at Greensboro...
allowed only one hit, one walk and matched season-high with 8 strikeouts in the same game...posted sub-3.00 ERA
in both April (1.61) and June (2.59).
2004
Pitched in 5 games (4 starts) for the Expos' Gulf Coast League entry in professional debut...posted a .215 batting average
against and 7.7 strikeouts per 9.0 innings...did not allow a home run in 24.2 innings...pitching in relief in professional
debut, scattered 2 hits and fanned one in 3.1 scoreless innings in nightcap of July 2 doubleheader at GCL Marlins.
