Adam Ottavino

Adam Robert Ottavino (born November 22, 1985) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2010 and the Colorado Rockies from 2012 to 2018.

Adam Ottavino
Ottavino with the Yankees
New York Yankees – No. 0
Pitcher
Born: (1985-11-22) November 22, 1985
Brooklyn, New York
Bats: Switch Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 29, 2010, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
(through 2019 season)
Win–loss record23–25
Earned run average3.44
Strikeouts552
Teams

Amateur career

A native of New York City, Ottavino was born in Manhattan and moved to Brooklyn when he was 3. He attended elementary school at P.S. 39, The Henry Bristow School in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn[1], junior high school at I.S. 240 Andreas Hudde and graduated from the Berkeley Carroll School in Park Slope in 2003.[2] He attended one of the aforementioned schools with future and currently ex-teammate Dellin Betances, who was a couple of grades younger. They were also in the same baseball league as kids, and Ottavino described him as very tall and lanky, saying he matured into his well built 6'8" structure as he got older.[3] The Tampa Bay Rays selected Ottavino in the 30th round of the 2003 MLB draft, but he did not sign.[4]

Ottavino enrolled at Northeastern University, where he played college baseball for the Northeastern Huskies baseball team. Ottavino holds both the Northeastern career and single season records for strikeouts. In 2005, he was named America East Conference's Pitcher of the Year.[5] After the 2005 season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[6]

Professional career

St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals selected Ottavino out of Northeastern University in the first round, with the 30th overall selection, of the 2006 MLB draft.[4] That year, he pitched for the Swing of the Quad Cities of the Class A Midwest League.[7] He pitched for the Springfield Cardinals of the Class AA Texas League in 2008.[8] In 2009, Ottavino pitched for the Memphis Redbirds of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL). He had an 0–9 win-loss record in the first half of the season, but had a 7–3 record in the second half.[9]

After the 2009 season, the Cardinals added Ottavino to their 40-man roster.[8] He began the 2010 season with Memphis.[10] On May 29, 2010, Ottavino made his major league debut for the Cardinals as a starter. He appeared in five games for the Cardinals in 2010, three of them starts.[11] After the 2010 season, the Cardinals outrighted Ottavino off of their 40-man roster.[12] He pitched for Memphis in 2011, and the Cardinals readded him to their 40-man roster after the season.[13]

Colorado Rockies
Ottavino pitching for the Colorado Rockies

On April 3, 2012, the Colorado Rockies claimed Ottavino off of waivers.[14] The Rockies assigned him to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the PCL. They promoted him to the majors later that season, and developed him into a relief pitcher.[4]

In 2013, Ottavino switched his uniform number to 0.[15] Despite posting a 5–1 win-loss record, his earned run average (ERA) was close to 5 in 79 innings. In 2013, Ottavino appeared in 51 games, pitching in 78.1 innings and lowering his ERA from the previous season by 2 runs, registering an ERA of 2.64 for the Rockies. In 2014, Ottavino went 1–4 with a 3.60 ERA in a career high 75 games.

After closer LaTroy Hawkins struggled to open the 2015 season, Ottavino was named the new closer.[16] On May 4, 2015, it was revealed that Ottavino had a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow,[17] which required Tommy John surgery, ending his 2015 season.[18]

After the 2015 season, the Rockies and Ottavino agreed on a three year contract worth $10.4 million.[19] Ottavino began the 2016 season on the disabled list.[20] After returning, he completed 37 scoreless appearances, in 31 innings pitched, which set a Rockies' franchise record.[21] In 2018, he was 6–4 with a 2.34 ERA, and shared the major league lead in holds, with 34.[22]

New York Yankees

On January 24, 2019, the New York Yankees signed Ottavino to a three year contract worth $27 million.[23] Ottavino is the first Yankee in team history to wear number 0, the last single digit number available by the Yankees.[24]

Personal life

Adam Ottavino resides in his childhood neighborhood of Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York with his wife, Brette, and their two daughters.

References
  1. "Colorado Rockies reliever Adam Ottavino remains in a New York state of mind". Denver Post. May 6, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  2. PEARSON, JAKE. "Big leagues are in Cards for Brooklyn son: Local kid Adam Ottavino makes MLB debut with St. Louis - NY Daily News". nydailynews.com. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  3. Interview with Adam Ottavino, Hot Stove Baseball with John Stirling, Suzyn Waldman, and Joe Castiglione, WFAN Sports Radio, 101.9 FM and 660 AM
  4. "Former St. Louis Cardinals first-round pick Adam Ottavino took long road to big league success with Colorado Rockies – MiLB.com News – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  5. "Northeastern University Athletics". gonu.com. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  6. "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  7. Steve Batterson (August 31, 2006). "Ottavino, hot bats send Swing to sixth straight win | Sports". qctimes.com. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  8. "8 Springfield Cardinals added to 40-Man Roster". MiLB.com. November 20, 2009. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  9. DERRICK GOOLD • dgoold@post-dispatch.com > 314-340-8285 (March 22, 2010). "Cardinals consider putting Adam Ottavino in the bullpen | St. Louis Cardinals". stltoday.com. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  10. Goold, Derrick (May 18, 2010). "Ottavino sparkles at Memphis | St. Louis Cardinals". stltoday.com. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  11. "2010 St. Louis Cardinals Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. January 1, 1970. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  12. Joe Strauss (November 19, 2010). "Ottavino outrighted as Cards clean up 40-man roster | St. Louis Cardinals". stltoday.com. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  13. "Cardinals add three pitchers to 40-man roster | St. Louis Cardinals". Mlb.com. May 24, 2018. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  14. Martin, Andrew (April 3, 2012). "Colorado Rockies claim Adam Ottavino From Cardinals". Purple Row. SB Nation. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  15. "Colorado Rockies' Adam Ottavino to switch to No. 0 for MLB season". Denver Post. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
  16. "Adam Ottavino replaces LaTroy Hawkins as Colorado Rockies closer". Espn.com. April 15, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  17. Todd, Jeff. "Ottavino had partially torn UCL in right elbow". mlbtraderumors.com. MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  18. Gleeman, Aaron. "Ottavino needs Tommy John". hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved May 4, 2015.
  19. Wiley, Matt (December 21, 2015). "Ottavino and Rockies agree to $10.4M, 3-year contract | Sports Coverage". gazette.com. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  20. "Rockies claim catcher Tony Wolters from Indians". USA Today. February 18, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  21. Harding, Thomas (May 24, 2018). "Adam Ottavino's scoreless games streak ends | Colorado Rockies". Mlb.com. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  22. "Major League Leaderboards » 2018 » Pitchers » Standard Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball". Fangraphs.com. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  23. "Free-agent relief pitcher Adam Ottavino to sign with New York Yankees". Espn.com. January 18, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
  24. "Adam Ottavino will be first New York Yankees player to wear No. 0". NorthJersey.com. January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 25, 2019.
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