Richard Bleier #48

Graduated from South Plantation (FL) H.S. in 2005 where he played in the state All-Star Game his senior year…Attended Florida Gulf Coast University…As a junior, went 7-1 with a 2.09 ERA (21 ER/90.1 IP) in 12 starts…Ranked among Atlantic Sun Conference leaders in ERA (first), wins (tied for first), innings pitched (third), complete games (first, four) and strikeouts (fourth, 76)…Unanimously selected as 2008 Atlantic Sun Conference "Pitcher of the Year" and First-Team All-Sun Conference…Selected by Texas in the sixth round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft and was the highest draft choice in the history of Florida Gulf Coast University at the time of his selection (No. 183 overall)…Married, wife's name is Brett.

2017

Acquired by the Orioles from the New York Yankees on 2/21 in exchange for a player to be named later...A member of Team Israel's provisional roster for the 2017 World Baseball Classic...Spent almost the entire season with the Major League club, posting a 1.99 ERA (14 ER/63.1 IP) in 57 relief appearances...Began the season with Triple-A Norfolk and appeared in five games before being recalled by the Orioles on 4/30... Sent back to the minors on 5/4 and recalled again on 5/14…Spent remainder of the season on the Major League roster... Overall, posted a 0.61 ERA (1 ER/14.2 IP) in eight relief appearances for the Tides...Posted a 2.10 ERA (7 ER/30.0 IP) in 30 home games and a 1.89 ERA (7 ER/33.1 IP) in 27 road games...His 57 appearances ranked fourth among Orioles relievers and were the most by an O's left-hander...Worked multiple innings in 18 of his 57 appearances…Tossed 2.0-plus innings in 11 outings...Made double digit appearances in three of the five months he pitched in (June-12, August-15, & September-12), while appearing in nine games the other months (May and July)... Earned his first career win on 5/16 at DET after working 1.2 frames in the bottom of the 12th and 13th innings...Tossed a career-high tying 4.0 innings in relief on 5/3, matching his previous career-high set on 9/12/16 vs. LAD (with NYY).

2016

Posted a 1.96 ERA (23.0IP, 5ER) without recording a decision in 23 relief appearances over two stints with the Yankees (5/26-8/9 and 9/9-10/2)…retired 17-of-23 first batters faced (73.9%)…allowed 6-of-10 inherited runners to score (60.0%). Tossed 14.1 scoreless innings (6H, 2BB, 9K, 1HP) in 13 appearances at Yankee Stadium…marks the most consecutive scoreless appearances at the current Yankee Stadium to begin a career. Was signed to a Major League contract and selected to the Yankees' 25-man roster from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on 5/26…became the first Yankees pitcher since at least 1913 to not record a walk or strikeout in each of his first five Major League appearances (5/30-6/14). Made his Major League debut in 5/30 loss at Toronto and needed only three pitches to retire both batters faced in finishing the eighth inning…at 29 years, 44 days old, became the 12th Yankees pitcher since 1913 to make his Major League debut after turning 29 years old and the first since Amauri Sanit (31 years, 312 days) on 5/12/11 vs. Kansas City. Recorded his first career strikeout (Tony Wolters) in the seventh inning of 6/21 loss vs. Colorado (1.2IP, 2H, 2K). Did not allow a run over his final 13 games (all following the All-Star break), tossing 12.1 scoreless innings over the span (7H, 3BB, 8K, 1HP). Tossed 4.0 scoreless innings in 9/12 loss vs. Los Angeles-NL (1BB, 3K, 1HP), setting a career high in innings pitched and pitches thrown (61, previous: 36 in 1.2IP on 7/8 at Cleveland)…did not allow a ball to be hit out of the infield. In 12 games (10 starts) with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, was 2-3 with one save, a 3.72 ERA (58.0IP, 24ER) and 25K. Attended spring training with the Yankees as a non-roster invitee, posting a 2.25 ERA (4.0IP, 1ER) and 4K in four relief appearances.