Jimmy Barthmaier #46

James Richard Barthmaier (last name pronounced "BARTH-mire")...Is a 2003 graduate of Roswell (GA) High School, where he pitched for four seasons...Was rated by Baseball America as Houston's 4th-best prospect prior to 2007 season (was ranked as 10th-best prospect prior to 2004 campaign)...Was also rated by same publication as having the "Best Curveball" in the Astros system heading into the 2006 season...Played on same summer ball team as former Bucco Matt Capps in Roswell, Georgia.

2009

Began season on Pittsburgh's 40-man roster...Made lone start for Triple-A Indianapolis on 4/10 vs. Toledo, but was removed from the game after walking the two batters he faced...Underwent reconstructive elbow surgery (Tommy John) on 5/12 and missed remainder of season (surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews)...Was unconditionally released on 5/18...Resigned with Pittsburgh on 5/20 and spent remainder of season on disabled list.

2008

Went 5-5 with a 4.02 ERA (125.1ip/56er) in 26 minor league starts with Double-A Altoona (10 starts) and Triple-A Indianapolis (16 starts)...Began season with Altoona and received a no-decision in first start on 4/5 vs. Reading (5.0ip/2er)...Was victorious in second start on 4/11 at Reading (5.0ip/3er) and went 2-0 with a 5.04 ERA (25.0ip/14er) in his first five outings...Lost each of his last four starts with Altoona...Pitched 7.0 innings and gave up one unearned run in final Double-A start on 5/25 vs. Trenton...Was promoted to Indianapolis on 5/30 and won first start that night vs. Toledo (7.0ip/2er)...Suffered lone loss with Indy on 6/15 at Columbus (7.1ip/4er)...Struck out season-high eight batters and gave up one run in 6.0ip in victory vs. Rochester on 6/21...Was recalled by Pittsburgh on 6/27 and made Major League debut as a starter that night vs. Tampa Bay; lost a 10-5 decision to Scott Kazmir and was optioned back to Indy following the game...Tossed 6.0 scoreless frames in a no-decision vs. Columbus on 7/7...Won last game with Indianapolis on 7/13 vs. Toledo...Was struck by a line drive on his right wrist in the first inning of his start on 7/24 vs. Syracuse (x-rays on 7/25 were negative)...Pitched just 1.0 inning in his next assignment on 8/25 at Buffalo before tossing 5.0 frames on 8/9 at Rochester...Posted a 3.21 ERA (28.0ip/11r/10er) in six starts during the month of August, but did not receive a decision...Made final Triple-A start on 8/30 vs. Louisville (6.2ip/1er)...Was recalled by Pittsburgh on 9/19 after Tom Gorzelanny injured a finger on 9/10...Made second start with Pirates on 9/20 and received a no-decision in 6-4 Bucco victory vs. Houston (3.0ip/5h/2r/2er/2bb/2so)...Also grounded out in first major league plate appearance...Suffered loss in third and final start on 9/27 at San Diego (5.0ip/3er); gave up all three runs in the first inning after retiring the first two batters...Went 0-for-3 at the plate with the Pirates...Was rated by Baseball America as having the "Best Breaking Ball" in the International League in the publication's annual "Best Tools" issue.

2007

Spent entire season with Corpus Christi (Astros' AA)...Went 2-8 with a 6.03 ERA in 16 starts and 0-1 with a 7.04 ERA in eight relief appearances...Went 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA (11.0ip/3er) in first two starts...Surrendered nine runs in 0.2ip while suffering loss in third start on 4/21 at Frisco...Was on disabled list from 4/23 to 5/14 with a right elbow sprain...Made back-to-back relief appearances on 5/14 and 5/20 (4.0ip/3er) before returning to starting rotation on 5/23...Went 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA (12.0ip/2er) in three starts from 5/23 to 6/3...Picked up last win on 6/3 at Springfield...Pitched season-high 7.0 innings on 6/13 vs. Frisco...Lost his final seven decisions from 6/8 thru 8/1...Made final start on 8/8 at Arkansas...Made last five appearances in relief (8.0ip/7er)...Went 2-1 while making 11 relief appearances with Mesa during the Arizona Fall League.

2006

Spent entire season with Salem (Astros' A)...Established minor league career highs in starts and innings pitched...Led Carolina League in strikeouts and innings pitched...Ranked second in wins and sixth in ERA...Anchored a pitching staff which posted a league-best 3.36 ERA and captured the Southern Division second half title...Was named the Carolina League Pitcher-of-the-Week for 8/14-20 after he went 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA and 13 strikeouts in two starts...Won three games for the Avalanche during the team's franchise-record, 14-game winning streak from 8/15-29; allowed one run in three starts (21.0ip) while going 3-0 record with a 0.43 ERA during that streak, which was the longest in the Carolina League since 1958...Posted a 5-0 record and a 1.15 ERA in August...Won six consecutive starts from 7/30 thru 8/26...Went 6-0 with a 1.61 ERA in his final nine starts...Started Game 1 of the Southern Division playoff series and received the loss despite allowing only one earned run (six runs) in 4.1ip.

2005

Led Lexington and ranked second the South Atlantic League in ERA (2.27) at Lexington in his first season at the Class A level...also ranked sixth in minor league baseball in ERA...ranked fifth in the SAL and led the Legends with 142 strikeouts...posted a 7-3 record with a 1.54 ERA in home games...went 4-1 with a 0.66 ERA in August...named to the SAL's postseason All-Star team as the top righthanded pitcher...tossed one scoreless inning with two strikeouts for the North squad in the June 2005 SAL All-Star game...named SAL Pitcher of the Week twice (6/6-12 and 8/1-7)...earned Lexington's Pitcher of the Month honors for June...made one appearance at Class A Salem, earning the win with 6.0 innings of relief...fanned 12 batters on July 12 vs. Delmarva.

2004

Led Rookie League Greeneville and ranked fourth in the Appalachian League in strikeouts (65)...led the league in innings (69.0)...rated the No. 10 prospect in the Astros system by Baseball America heading into the season.

2003

Posted a 2.49 ERA in eight appearances (three starts) in his first professional season at Rookie League Martinsville.