Sam McConnell #28

Full name JOHN SAMUEL McCONNELL...Attended Ball State University ... Was conference player of the year in baseball in high school...Also lettered in golf and basketball...Grew up watching and aspiring to be a Brave.

1997

Professional career began with Erie of the New York-Penn League...Held opponents to a .243 average.

1998

Tied for 1st in the Pirates' organization in wins (12), while ranking 2nd in ERA (3.08) pitching for Augusta, Lynchburg, and Carolina...Opened season with Single-A Augusta...Assigned to Single-A Lynchburg May 16...Tossed three shutouts with Hillcats, ranking 5th in the Carolina League...Also ranked 7th on the circuit in ERA (2.90) and 5th in BB/9 IP (1.49)...Made two appearances with Double-A Carolina.

1999

Split season between Lynchburg and Altoona...Opened season with Double-A Altoona...Assigned to Single-A Lynchurg May 14...Won first two outings with the Hillcats May 19 and 24...Struck out 10 in a CG shutout at Potomac (9 IP, 5H, 0R, BB)...Went 5-0 with a 2.51 ERA June 3-July 16...Led Carolina League in complete games (4), and shutouts (2), while ranking 4th in BB/9 IP (2.3) and 5th in average against (.232)... Assigned to Altoona August 8.

2000

Named to Eastern League All-Star Team for Altoona...Opened season in the bullpen, going 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA through April 15 (3G, 6.0 IP, 4H, 0R, 3 K)...Made two starts April 19 and 23 before returning to bullpen April 28...Went 8-0 with a 1.29 ERA April 23-July 4 (15 G, 91.0 IP, 13 ER)...Earned win in five consecutive starts May 27-June 18 (3 CG, 42.1 IP, 29H, 8R, 6 ER, 6 BB, 28K)...Assigned to Triple-A Nashville July 16...Made eight starts for Sounds, recording lone win July 26 at Omaha (8.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K).

2001

Spent season with Nashville...Went 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA over three relief appearances...Did not allow an earned run over consecutive starts May 4 and 10, going 1-0 over that period (12 IP, 9H, BB, 6K)...Won consecutive starts August 10 and 16 (11 IP, 10 H, 3R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 9 K).

2002

Went to spring training with Pittsburgh and was released by the Pirates March 28...Signed by the Phillies the next day...Assigned to Double-A Reading... Picked up win in 11-0 shutout at Altoona in first start April 8 (5.1 IP, 6H, 2 BB, 4K)...Went 2-3 with a 3.92 ERA in seven starts before moving into the bullpen May 21...Recorded first professional save in 7-3 win at Harrisburg May 29 (3 IP, 2H, R, ER, BB, K)...Assigned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre July 31...Did not factor into the decision during first three starts with Red Barons July 31-August 13 (15.1 IP, 18 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 9 BB, 11 K).

2003

Opened season with AAA Richmond, going 0-0 with a 2.89 ERA (9.1 IP, 9H, 4R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7K) in 4 relief appearances before assignment to AA Greenville April 17...Did not allow a run during first 8 appearances with G-Braves April 18-May 15 (7.1 IP, 6H, 0R, 2 BB, 5K)...Assigned to Richmond June 13...Went 8-4 with a 2.68 ERA during second stint with R-Braves (18 G, 13 GS, 84.0 IP, 85 H, 27 R, 25 ER, 14 BB, 57 K)...Moved into rotation full-time July 2 in 3-2 loss at Louisville (5 IP, 6H, 2R, 2 ER, BB, 0K)...Won 4 consecutive starts July 7-25, posting a 1.54 ERA during that stretch (23.1 IP, 22 H, 4R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 24 K)...Named Richmond's pitcher of the month for July after posting a 4-1 record and 2.43 ERA (6 G, 33.1 IP, 33 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 5 BB, 26 K)...Allowed 2 or fewer runs over each of his final 5 starts August 10-September 1, going 2-2 with a 1.72 ERA (31.1 IP, 24 H, 7R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 20 K)...Made 13 starts for Richmond, going 7-3 with a 2.68 ERA (74.0 IP, 71H, 24 R, 22 ER, 10 BB, 52 K).