Jay Spurgeon

Married (10/2/99), wife's name is Melissa...Was scouted and signed by Gil Kubski...Was a 27th round selection of the Houston Astros in the 1994 First Year Player Draft but elected college...Graduated from Yosemite (CA) HS in b94...Was a two-time all-league selection in baseball and basketball and was named school's senior male athlete of the year...Attended University of Hawaii at Manoa for three years...Played 28 games in outfield as a freshman before switching to pitcher as a sophomore...Led team in appearances as a sophomore and junior...Enjoys golf, jet skiing and snowboarding.

2000

Earned Jim Palmer Prize as Orioles Minor League Pitcher of the Year after beginning season at Class A Frederick and progressing to majors in his 4th pro season. Combined to go 13-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 24 minor league appearances (144.1IP, 112H, 58R/50ER, 47BB, 129K) between Frederick, AA Bowie and AAA Rochester before the Orioles purchased his contract on August 14. His 14 wins matched Jose Mercedes for most in the organization in 2000. Made 4 starts and 3 relief appearances for Orioles over the final 7 weeks...As a starter, went 1-1 with a 7.11 ERA (19.0IP, 23H, 15R/ER) and was 0-0 with a 1.80 ERA out of the bullpen (5.0IP, 3H, 1R/ER). Made his major league debut on August 15 vs. Chicago with perfect 8th inning, getting 3 fly outs on 5 pitches. Earned the win August 27 in his first big league start, going 7 innings to beat Tampa Bay, 3-2...Pitched twice in relief prior to his start. Made 4 starts between August 27 and September 19...After that he made one relief appearance, pitching a scoreless inning September 28 vs. Toronto. At Frederick, went 8-2 with a 4.15 ERA in 16 games (15 starts) before being promoted to AA Bowie in early July...Went 3-1 with a 1.62 ERA in 6 starts for Baysox before being called up in August to Rochester, where he went 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA in 2 starts. Pitched 8.1 no-hit innings on July 1 vs. Winston-Salem, striking out 13 batters in his final start for Class A Frederick to earn Carolina League Pitcher of the Week honors...Was removed from the no-hitter because of an organizational pitch count limit on starters. In his first start for AA Bowie, July 6 vs. Erie, he pitched a complete game 2-hit shutout...Over his first 4 starts for Bowie, went 2-0 and allowed just one earned run in 29.0 IP (20 H, 4 R, 6 BB, 19 K), capping the stretch with 7 shutout innings in a no decision vs. Norwich on July 23. Was named International League Pitcher of the Week for August 7-13 after his 2 wins for Red Wings...Was named Orioles organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Month for July. His 129 strikeouts between Frederick, Bowie and Rochester was 4th among Orioles' minor leaguers and only 8 shy of co-leaders Steve Bechler and Matt Achilles, despite missing at least 3 starts following his call-up. Minor league hitters batted only .211 off him (112-for-531), including only .195 by right-handed hitters (58-for-298).

1999

Spent season at Frederick and led the Keys in starts (26)...Retired first 15 batters of the game on 5/20, but did not receive the decision in the Keysb extra-inning win at Kinston...Allowed 14 home runs, tied for 4th most in the Carolina League.

1998

Led Orioles farmhands and finished 8th in South Atlantic League with a 2.64 ERA...Tied Josh McNatt and Matt Snyder for most wins in organization with 11...In 14 home games for Delmarva, went 7-1 with a 2.27 ERA (79.1IP, 20ER)...Was 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA in June...Went 6-0 over his final 8 starts beginning 7/15.

1997

Joined Bluefield in late July after signing...Went 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA in 5 starts in August, including 3-game stretch 8/5-16 in which he allowed one run in 17.0IP.