In 2021, Aaron and his wife, Francesca Barilla, established Pearls for Perseverance (PFP), their charitable foundation…The acronym “PFP” is derived from the phrase “pitchers’ fielding practice”…As Aaron explained, “Breaking down, simply, the pitcher fields the ball. If he can’t, there’s a bunch of players behind him that will make the play or at least give it their best shot and be there for backup and support. That concept we wanted to apply to anyone going through something. They’re going to give it their best shot and try and field what’s in front of them. If it gets past them, there’s people behind them that are going to pick up that slack and take care of whatever they can.”...As part of PFP, Aaron would set aside his warm-up baseball, referred to as a “pearl,” which would be signed and dated before being distributed to a patient at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital…He often recorded video messages or scheduled in-person visits for those who received baseballs…Aaron was selected as Cleveland’s 2021 Roberto Clemente Award nominee for his efforts...In the summer of 2021 Aaron visited the Wilson Sporting Goods headquarters to design a glove for the following season…A percentage of proceeds from sales of the glove go to LifeAct, an Ohio-based nonprofit working to prevent teen suicide...During his sophomore year at Northeastern in 2015, he started against the Boston Red Sox in a spring exhibition game in Fort Myers, tossing a pair of scoreless innings while striking out David Ortiz, Hanley Ramirez and Mike Napoli…His performance led to an opportunity with the Cape Cod League’s Hyannis Harbor Hawks that summer, where he was named an All-Star...This past offseason, Aaron and Rays Pitching Coach Kyle Snyder met for a bullpen session at Northeastern in front of the school’s baseball team…Rays prospect Dominic Keegan, a fellow Massachusetts resident, handled catching duties...Selected by Cleveland in the third round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Northeastern University…Went 16-9 with a 2.34 ERA (50ER, 192.2IP) over 50 games (16GS) with the Huskies...Began his collegiate career as a reliever before converting to a starting role as a junior…During his junior season, he ranked among Division I leaders in innings pitched (second, 114.1), strikeouts (seventh, 121) and ERA (13th, 1.73)…Was named a 2016 Louisville Slugger Third Team All-American and Coastal Athletic Association Co-Pitcher of the Year...Played under coach Mike Glavine at Northeastern, brother of Hall of Famer Tom Glavine...Graduated from Loomis Chaffee (Conn.) High School, where, as a senior, he tossed a no-hitter and was named team MVP.
2023
Acquired by the Rays in a trade deadline swap with the Guardians in exchange for INF Kyle Manzardo on July 31...Between both clubs, set career highs in starts (23), strikeouts (116), opponent slugging percentage (.363) and bWAR (2.7)...After making two starts with the Guardians on April 1 & 7, was on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain from April 10–June 2…Went 4-1 with a 2.24 ERA (64.1IP, 16ER) in his final 11 starts with Cleveland following his activation...In 10 starts with the Rays, he was 2-3 with a 5.36 ERA (45.1IP, 27ER)…Went 2-1 with a 3.82 ERA (30.2IP, 13ER) in his first six starts from Aug. 6– Sept. 4 compared to 0-2 with an 8.59 ERA (14.2IP, 14ER) in four outings from Sept. 9 on...Held opponents to a .188 (25-for-113) average on his curveball, recording 45 of his 113 (39.8%) strikeouts on the offering but five of the 12 HR he allowed came on his curve…Averaged 2,985 RPM on the pitch, fourth highest on any MLB pitcher’s curveball (minimum 400 curves thrown)...Limited opposing hitters to a .210 (21-for-100) average and .549 OPS with RISP, the fifth-lowest such OPS in the AL (minimum 100BF w/ RISP)...Went 4-3 with a 2.40 ERA (60.0IP, 16ER) over 12 road starts…Minimum 60.0 IP, it signaled the third-lowest road ERA in the Majors behind SD Blake Snell (1.99) and NYY Gerrit Cole (2.34)...Opened the season 3-1 with a 3.48 ERA (54.1IP, 21ER) in his first nine starts at home, extending his career-best streak of 5.0+ IP starts at home to 13 dating back to Aug. 15, 2022…allowed 10 ER in 8.0 IP (11.25 ERA) over his final two starts at Tropicana Field on Sept. 9 & 20...Was one of the AL’s top pitchers in July, going 3-0 with a 1.45 ERA (27.IP, 6ER) in six starts…He ranked among MLB leaders during the month in ERA (second), opponent OPS (second, .458), opp. average (third, .176) and WHIP (third, 0.80)…It marked his lowest ERA in any month of his career (min. 2GS), ahead of Aug. 2019 (2.35)…Allowed two or fewer runs in each start and yielded only one home run (7/14 at TEX - Nathaniel Lowe)...From July 1-Aug. 16, his 1.88 ERA (52.2IP, 11ER), ranked third in the Majors behind SD Blake Snell (1.65) and CLE Tanner Bibee (1.82)...On Aug. 5 at DET, took the loss in his Rays debut after allowing three runs on a season-high-tying nine hits, six of which were singles...From his Rays debut on Aug. 6 thru the end of the season, opponents recorded a .350 batting average on balls in play against him, the third-highest mark in the AL in that timeframe (min. 40.0IP)…This, despite ranking among the top 20 AL pitchers (minimum 100 balls put in play) with an average exit velocity of 88.2 mph in that span...On Aug. 23 vs. COL, collected a season-high 16 swings-and-misses, his most since Oct. 5, 2022 vs. KC (17)…It also marked his third career outing with nine-plus SO and zero walks (also: 7/7/23 vs. KC; 8/2/20 at MIN)...On Sept. 4 vs. BOS, recorded a career-high 12 SO but became the eighth pitcher (10th instance) in Rays history to record 12+ SO and not receive a decision...On Sept. 20 vs. LAA, allowed a season-high six runs over 3.0 IP, ending his streak of 35 straight starts allowing four runs or fewer dating back to May 20, 2022...It was the longest active streak in the Majors.
2022
Logged 97.0 innings around three nearly month-long stints to the Injured List, missing 69 games with forearm, wrist and glute injuries…Posted a 7.04 ERA (36ER/46.0IP) in his first 10 starts from April 11-July 2, before rebounding with a 3-1 mark and a 3.00 ERA (17ER/51.0IP) in his final 10 outings from July 8-Oct. 5 (.86 WHIP over span was 2nd in AL to Justin Verlander’s .77 over the span)…Struck out a season-high 10 batters on Aug. 15 vs. Detroit, marking the second time in his career he fanned double-digit batters (also: June 11, 2021 vs. SEA - career-high 11SO)…Earned the win in Cleveland’s AL Central-clinching 10-4 victory on Sept. 25 at Texas (5.0IP, 3H, 2ER, 7SO)…His campaign was interrupted by injury...Had three separate stints on the 15-day Injured List: May 25-June 21 (left glute soreness), July 14-Aug. 10 (sprained right wrist) & Sept. 2-20 (right forearm inflammation)…Went 3-1 with a 3.31 ERA in 11 starts vs. the AL Central (54.1IP, 45H, 20ER)…Started Game 5 of the ALDS at New York on Oct. 18, lasting just five hitters while recording just one out (0.1IP, 2H, 3R/ER, 3-run HR to G. Stanton)…Equaled shortest postseason start in Cleveland history (Doc Gooden 1998 ALDS vs. BOS; Ray Caldwell 1920 WS vs. Brooklyn).
2021
Was one of MLB’s best pitchers over the first two-and-a-half months prior to injuring his right middle finger…Set new career-highs with 21 starts (+9), a team-high 12 wins (+8), 124.1 IP (+50.1) and 99 K's (+30)...Earned a spot in club's season-opening rotation and Opening Day roster for a second straight year and was on course for an All-Star caliber season until suffering a finger injury June 21 at Chicago-NL that sidelined him for nearly 2.5 months...Sustained a sprained middle finger on his right hand while starting the club's 4-0 win on June 21 at Wrigley Field; exited one out shy of completing 5.0 scoreless frames, which would have delivered his 11th win in 15 starts...Had pitched at least 5.0 innings in all 14 prior starts...Made 15 starts prior to the injury (10-2, 3.32 ERA, 97.2IP, 81H, 36ER, 14HR) and six after returning in early September (2-3, 5.74 ERA, 26.2IP, 27H, 17ER, 9HR)...At the time of his injury, he was leading all MLB pitchers in wins (10) and innings (97.2 IP) and was ninth in the A.L. in ERA (3.32) and eighth in WHIP (1.06)…Cleveland went 14-7 in Civale starts, including 12-3 prior to injury and 2-4 after return (received zero runs of support in 3 of last 6 outings)...Activated on Sept. 7...Began year as the rotation's No. 3 starter (won season debut, April 4 at DET), posting a career-best 5-game win streak over his first 7 starts...Did not take first loss until 8th start of year, May 14 at Seattle... Went 6.0+IP in 13 of 21 starts, including 7.0-or-more seven times… Tossed a season-high 8.0 innings on a pair of occasions, earning a 4-1 win on May 25 at Detroit (6H, 1R/ER) and, just 3 starts later, 8.0 shutout IP on June 11 vs. SEA (1H, 0R, career-high 11 SO)... Allowed a career-high 4 homers on Sept. 23 vs. CWS (day)…Became MLB's first 10-game winner of 2021 on June 16 vs. Baltimore...First start for Cleveland following June 21 injury/2.5-month rehab came on Sept. 7 vs. Minnesota (4.2 IP, 1R/ER)…Won final start in club's last game of 2021, tossing 6.0 scoreless frames of 6-0 SHO on Oct. 3 at Texas, lowering his ERA from 4.03 to 3.84 for the season...Went 7-1 with a 3.03 ERA across his 11 road starts (23ER/68.1IP) compared to 5-4 with a 4.82 ERA in 10 starts at home (30ER/56.0IP)…Ended year having won each of his last 5 road decisions…Held left-handed batters to a .215 clip (49-for228) & .659 OPS (11HR); right-handers hit .257 (59-for-230) with an .802 OPS (12HR)...Opponents hit .228 (36-for-158) w/runners on & .225 (18-for-80) w/RISP...opp. avg 1st time thru order: .286 (50-for-175), 2nd time: .214 (36-for-168), 3rd time: .185 (20-for-108)...Carried a 4.96 ERA (34 ER/61.2IP) across innings 1-3, but a 2.73 ERA (19ER/62.2IP) from the 4th inning on...Was a perfect 12-0 across 16 starts when receiving just 3-or-more runs of support (18-0 across 24 such career starts, team is 22-2)…Combined to make three rehab starts between Double-A Akron (2) & High-A Lake County (1), going 1-0 w/ 0.79 ERA (11.1IP, 5H, 2R-1ER, 3BB, 12SO, .128 AVG), Aug. 22-Sept. 1.
2020
Averaged over 6.0 innings per start and was a reliable member of the rotation in his first "full" Major League season...Made every turn in the rotation and finished third in the AL with 74.0 IP but also yielded the most hits (82) in the league... His 11 starts working at least 6.0 IP was tied for first in MLB with Cubs' Yu Darvish and Texas' Lance Lynn...His seven quality starts were tied for seventh in the league...Tossed his first career complete game, the only by a Cleveland starter in 2020, on August 19 at Pittsburgh (9.0IP, 5H, 1R/ER, 0BB, 6SO)... Marked 2nd CLE pitcher to throw a CG in their first 15 career starts since 2010 and first since Cody Anderson worked 8.0 IP in his 3rd career start on July 4, 2015 (Tribe lost, 1-0)...the quickest MLB pitcher to record a complete game since PHI's Ben Lively threw 8.0IP in 12th GS on Sept. 10, 2017, against Washington...Civale has never lost in his career (6-0 across 8 GS) when he has received three-or-more runs of support in an outing...Has gone 1-10 in 14 GS of two-or-fewer runs of support in his career and was 0-6 in games of two-or-fewer runs of support in 2020 (club scored 5 runs in his 6 losses)...Started year with three consecutive QS's...Civale (fanned 9 in each GS) & Shane Bieber (14 K in 1st GS, 13 K in 2nd GS) became just 2nd starting pitcher duo in Cleveland history to each strike out at least nine batters in each of their first two respective starts to begin a season, joining Sam McDowell (3 GS) & Luis Tiant (2 GS) in 1966...Allowed a career-high 10 hits, 8 R/ER and three homers in final start on Sept. 26 vs. PIT…Over his last four starts, he was 1-2 w/a 7.36 ERA (22.0IP, 32H, 18R/ER)...Was on the AL Wild Card Series roster vs. New York-AL, but did not pitch...Had a 6.09 ERA at home; 3.60 ERA on the road...RHH batters hit .333 (48-for-144) w/8HR and a .941 OPS allowed...Batters hit .301 (37-for-123) with runners on and .333 (21-for-63) with RISP.
2019
Entered the 2019 season ranked as the 19th-best prospect in the Indians system according to MLB.com, Aaron concluded the season as one of the most consistent starters on the staff, recording a 2.34 ERA over 10 mostly impressive starts after entering the spring injured and starting the campaign at AA Akron...Recorded the lowest ERA (1.82) for any pitcher that made his first 9 career starts with the Indians (11ER/54.1IP) and was just the fifth MLB pitcher since 1908, and the first since 1910, to work at least 5.0 innings and allow 2-or-fewer earned runs in each of his first 9 appearances, joining Pittsburgh's Harley Young (1908), Detroit's Ed Summers (1908), Boston's Cliff Curtis (1909) and Chicago-NL's King Cole (1909-10)...The previous franchise low for ERA over their first nine starts was held by MikeGarcia (2.07 in 1949)...in his final and tenth start Sept. 26 at Chicago-AL, he allowed 4 runs in 3.1 IP, taking the loss in the 8-0 White Sox win..Civale spent most of the first four months of the season between Double-A Akron and Triple-A Columbus, going 7-1 with a 2.35 ERA (19ER/72.2IP) with 15 walks and 70 strikeouts over 13 starts...Started the year on the IL recovering from an August 2018 right lat strain that set back his 2019 preparation...Was also on the IL at Columbus, July 8-19, with right shoulder tightness...Season debut came on May 11 at Reading...Went 4-0 with a 2.67 ERA (9ER/30.1IP) with six walks and 24 strikeouts over 5 starts for Akron, including striking out a career-high tying 10 and allowing just one run on five hits with no walks over 6.0 innings at Erie in his final Double-A start on June 2...Promoted to Columbus on June 6 and made his first start for the Clippers on June 8 vs. Norfolk, limiting the Tides to two runs on five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts over 5.2 innings...Went 3-1 in 8 starts with the Clippers, carrying a 2.13 ERA (10ER/42.1IP), nine walks and 46 strikeouts...Elevated to theMajor League level for the first time tomake hisMLB debut on June 22 vs. Detroit, working 6.0 scoreless innings (2H, 3BB, 6SO) in notching his first win, a 2-0 win over the Tigers... Start was necessitated by Mike Clevinger going back on the IL with an ankle injury precipitated by the absences of Kluber and Carrasco... Became the first Indians pitcher to earn the win in his Major League debut since Danny Salazar did so on July 11, 2013 vs. Toronto (and the first in a scoreless debut of least 6.0IP since 2015)...Optioned back to Columbus on June 24...Made six starts with Columbus, June 27-July 30, around his 12 days stint on the IL, going 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA (6ER/31.2IP)...Recalled for the second and final time on August 5 to make second start that night vs. Texas (6.0IP, 3H, 1R/ER)... Civale became just the fifth Cleveland pitcher since 1908 to record six-or-more strikeouts in each of his first two career starts, joining Bieber (2018), Salazar (2013), Luis Tiant (1964) and Herb Score (1955)...In his third start at Minnesota on Aug. 11 (6.0IP, 4H, 1R/ER), became just the third Indians pitcher since 1908 to allow four-or-fewer hits in each of his first three starts (no relief appearances), joining Josh Tomlin (2010) and Clarence Garrett (1915)...Right-handed hitters hit just .203 (25-for-123) off him, including an OPS allowed of just .602...Overall OPS allowed on the year was .638...Batters hit just .209 (14-for-67) off him with runners on base and .211 (8-for-38) with RISP... Entering the 2019 season, Aaron was voted as having the "best control" in the Indians organization (Baseball America).
2018
Limited to 21 starts due to three DL stints: 5/6-6/8 (right shoulder strain), 8/8-17 (blister) and 8/29-on (right back/lat strain)…Voted Best Slider in Indians Farm System entering 2018 by Baseball America.
2017
Led organization with 13 wins, divided between Lake County (2) and Lynchburg (11)...Ranked 2nd among all Indians minor leaguers with 164.2 innings pitched.
