Steven Wright (baseball)

Steven Wright
Wright with the Boston Red Sox in 2015
Boston Red Sox – No. 35
Starting pitcher
Born: (1984-08-30) August 30, 1984
Torrance, California
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 23, 2013, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
(through September 20, 2018)
Win–loss record 24–15
Earned run average 3.78
Strikeouts 261
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Steven Richard Wright (born August 30, 1984) is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). Listed at 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) and 215 pounds (98 kg), he both bats and throws right-handed. He is known as MLB's only active knuckleball user.

Amateur baseball career

Born in Torrance, California, Wright attended Valley View High School in Moreno Valley, California and the University of Hawaii before being drafted by the Cleveland Indians. While at Hawaii, Wright was named a second team All-American as a junior in 2006. He had an 11–2 record with a 2.30 ERA in 110 innings.[1] In 2005, he won a Cape Cod Baseball League championship with the Orleans Cardinals under first-year manager Kelly Nicholson.

Professional career

Minor leagues

From 2007 to 2012, Wright played minor league baseball with the Lake County Captains, Kinston Indians, Akron Aeros, and Columbus Clippers, all affiliates of the Cleveland Indians. With the 2008 Akron Aeros, he pitched a career-high 75​1⁄3 innings.

Wright has a 90-mph fastball, but he turned to the knuckleball as his primary pitch in the 2011 season as a collective decision among Wright and the Indians.[2]

Boston Red Sox

On July 31, 2012, the Indians traded Wright to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for Lars Anderson at the trade deadline.[3]

After an injury to Boston relief pitcher Joel Hanrahan in April 2013, the Red Sox called Wright up to the major leagues.[4] Wright's first major league experience was against the Indians, the team that traded him in 2012, but he saw no action in the three-game series.

2013

On April 23, 2013, Wright was called into a game versus the Oakland Athletics to relieve Alfredo Aceves. The first batter he faced, Brandon Moss, hit into a double play.[5] Wright allowed five runs in ​3 2⁄3 innings, and was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket after the game.

On July 11, Wright earned his first major league win, against the Seattle Mariners. Wright pitched ​5 2⁄3 shutout innings in relief of Ryan Dempster. Koji Uehara picked up the save, and presented Wright with the ball following the victory. On August 1, Wright picked up his second win, also against the Mariners and again in relief of Dempster; Boston trailed 7–2 entering the ninth inning, but staged a comeback to walk off with an 8–7 victory, making Wright the winner. On August 6, while pitching in his first major league start, Wright's knuckleball caused catcher Ryan Lavarnway to tie a major league record with four passed balls in one inning.[6] The record was originally set by Ray Katt of the New York Giants in 1954, catching knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm, and tied by Gino Petralli of the Texas Rangers in 1987, catching knuckleballer Charlie Hough.[6]

Wright made four MLB appearances with one start during the season, accumulating a 5.40 ERA and a 2–0 record. The Red Sox finished the season with a 97–65 record and eventually won the World Series. Wright did not play in the postseason, but nonetheless was on a World Series championship team for the first time in his career.

2014

Wright began the 2014 season with Triple-A Pawtucket, going 5–3 with a 2.76 ERA before being recalled to Boston on August 17.[7] In six major league games with the Red Sox, Wright made one start, going 0–1 with a 2.57 ERA in 21 innings pitched.

2015

During a game started on April 10, 2015, against the Yankees, after a home run by Chase Headley in the bottom of the ninth pushed the game into extra innings, Wright, the intended starter for the next day, entered in the bottom of the 15th. Although yielding a tying run in both the 16th and 18th innings, Wright became the winning pitcher after five innings of relief. It was the longest game then played at the new Yankee Stadium, ending at 2:13 am with a 6–5 score after six hours and 49 minutes (with an additional 16-minute delay due to a series of faulty stadium lights going out during the 12th inning).[8] Later that morning, Wright was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket to make room for the returning Joe Kelly. Wright finished his MLB season with a 5–4 record, a 4.09 ERA, and ​72 2⁄3 innings pitched.

2016

On May 8, 2016, Wright pitched a complete game for the first time in his MLB career as the Red Sox won 5–1 over the Yankees. Wright gave up only three hits, struck out seven, and the lone run came on a solo home run by Brett Gardner with two outs in the ninth inning. Wright earned his first All-Star game nod, going 9–5 before the game, recording the lowest ERA of any AL starting pitcher before the break. On August 14, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with bursitis in his right shoulder. He ended the 2016 season with a 13–6 record and 3.33 ERA after pitching ​156 2⁄3 innings in 24 starts.

2017

On May 4, 2017, it was announced that Wright would undergo left knee surgery for a cartilage restoration, therefore ending his season.[9] He had made five appearances (all starts) with a 1–3 record and 8.25 ERA in 24 innings pitched.

2018

On March 23, 2018, MLB announced that Wright would be suspended for 15 games for violating the league's personal conduct policy.[10] The suspension took effect on April 28, when Wright completed a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket.[11] On May 14, Wright was activated by Boston, his suspension having been completed.[12][13] After 10 appearances (including four starts), he was placed on the disabled list with a left knee injury on June 26;[14] he received a PRP injection in the knee on July 2.[15] Wright was sent on a rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Pawtucket on August 28,[16] and returned from the disabled list on September 1.[17] Overall with the 2018 Red Sox, Wright made 20 appearances (four starts) compiling a 3–1 record and 2.68 ERA with 42 strikeouts in ​53 2⁄3 innnings. Initially included on Boston's postseason roster,[18] Wright was replaced by Heath Hembree for the ALDS due to a left knee injury.[19]

Personal life

Wright and his wife Shannon have two children, daughter Ella and son Lucas. In December 2017, Wright was arrested for domestic assault,[20] although the court case was "retired" and would be dismissed in December 2018 if no further incidents occur.[21]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Fitt, Aaron (June 13, 2006). "2006 College All-America Team". Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  2. ↑ Cleveland.com – Knuckleball allows Akron Aeros' Steven Wright to hold on to his baseball dream with his fingertips
  3. ↑ Minihane, Kirk (2012-07-31). "Sox trade Lars Anderson to Indians". Weei.com. Retrieved 2013-02-25.
  4. ↑ Drellich, Evan (April 16, 2013). "Red Sox call up Steven Wright to replace Joel Hanrahan". The Republican. Retrieved April 16, 2013.
  5. ↑ "MLB.com Gameday – oaklandathletics.com: Gameday". oakland.athletics.mlb.com. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Red Sox catcher Ryan Lavarnway ties big league record with four passed balls". mlb.com. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
  7. ↑ Twitter / ESPNJoeyMac: Corey Brown has been designated for assignment and Steven Wright has been recalled.
  8. ↑ "Boston's 19-inning win had a bit of everything". espn.go.com. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  9. ↑ Trezza, Joe. "Steven Wright to miss rest of '17 season". MLB. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  10. ↑ Jennings, Chad (March 23, 2018). "Steven Wright suspended 15 games by MLB for domestic violence violation". Boston Herald. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. April 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  12. ↑ Bowers, Rachel G. (May 14, 2018). "Steven Wright added to Red Sox roster; Hector Velazquez sent to DL". The Boston Globe. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. May 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Red Sox put knuckleballer Wright on DL with left knee inflammation". ESPN. June 26, 2018. Retrieved June 26, 2018.
  15. ↑ Cotillo, Chris (July 2, 2018). "Boston Red Sox injuries: Steven Wright has PRP injection, could return before All-Star break". masslive.com. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. August 2018. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. September 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  18. ↑ Miller, Randy (October 5, 2018). "MLB playoffs 2018: Boston Red Sox set 25-man roster for ALDS vs. New York Yankees". NJ.com. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  19. ↑ Randall, Dakota (October 6, 2018). "Red Sox Replace Injured Steven Wright With Heath Hembree On ALDS Roster". NESN. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  20. ↑ Drellich, Evan (December 10, 2017). "Red Sox pitcher Steven Wright arrested on domestic assault charge". NBC Sports.
  21. ↑ Mastrodonato, Jason (December 21, 2017). "Steven Wright has domestic assault case retired, but MLB still investigating". Boston Herald.

Further reading

  • Abraham, Peter (February 14, 2018). "Red Sox pitcher Steven Wright tells his side of domestic incident". The Boston Globe. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
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