Christian Friedrich (baseball)

Christian Louis Patrick Friedrich (born July 8, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Colorado Rockies in 2012 and also played with the San Diego Padres. Friedrich also pitched in the KBO League for the NC Dinos.

Christian Friedrich
Friedrich on June 19, 2012
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1987-07-08) July 8, 1987
Evanston, Illinois
Bats: Right Throws: Left
Professional debut
MLB: May 9, 2012, for the Colorado Rockies
KBO: July 12, 2019, for the NC Dinos
MLB statistics
(through 2016 season)
Win–loss record10–28
Earned run average5.37
Strikeouts246
KBO statistics
(through July 28, 2019)
Win–loss record3–0
Earned run average4.00
Strikeouts19
Teams

Career

Amateur

Friedrich attended Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois,[1] and Eastern Kentucky University, where he played for the Eastern Kentucky Colonels baseball team. He was named a Baseball America Freshman All-American in 2006.[2] In 2007, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Falmouth Commodores of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3] He was also named a second-team All-American in 2008.[4]

Colorado Rockies

Friedrich was drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the first round, with the 25th overall selection, of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft.[5] Baseball America ranked Friedrich as the #95 best prospect in baseball prior to the 2009 season[6] and the 33rd best prior to the 2010 season.[7]

The Rockies added Friedrich to their 40-man roster after the 2011 season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.[8] He was called up on May 7, 2012, to make his major league debut against the San Diego Padres on May 9, 2012. On August 3, it was announced that an MRI revealed a stress fracture in his lower back, ending his season. Friedrich was 5-8 with a 6.17 earned run average in 16 starts, and had 74 strikeouts in ​84 2⁄3 innings.[9]

Colorado designated Friedrich for assignment on January 28, 2016.[10] He was claimed by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on February 5. On February 19, the claim was reversed, and Friedrich was sent back to the Rockies.[11]

San Diego Padres

Friedrich signed with the San Diego Padres on March 3, 2016. The Padres promoted him to the major leagues on May 13.[12] In a debut game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, center fielder Chris Owings shot a fastball straight back up the middle, knocking off Friedrich's glove. The left-hander raced over to the ball and made the bare-handed toss to first for the out. [13]

In a game against his former team, the Colorado Rockies, on Saturday, September 10, 2016, Friedrich led the Padres to a 6-3 victory while striking out a career-high tying 10 batters. Friedrich shrugged off a 109-mph DJ LeMahieu line drive that drilled him in the left leg during the third inning to work seven shutout innings.

Friedrich became a free agent on October 30, 2017, after the team outrighted him due to sustained injuries.[14]

New Britain Bees

On March 26, 2019, Friedrich signed with the New Britain Bees of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

NC Dinos

On July 2, 2019, Friedrich's contract was purchased by the NC Dinos of the KBO League.[15] He became a free agent following the season.

On November 5, 2019, Friedrich re-signed with the New Britain Bees. However, following their move to the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, he was selected by the Somerset Patriots in the Bees dispersal draft.

Chicago White Sox

On February 25, 2020, Friedrich signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox. He was released on June 18, 2020.[16]

References
  1. "Christian Friedrich: Loyola Academy product to make first major league start". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  2. "Hankins earns Baseball America Freshman All-America honors » Clarksville, TN Online". Clarksvilleonline.com. July 6, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  3. "Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League" (PDF). capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  4. "EKU's Friedrich named 2nd-team All-American". Wkyt.com. May 29, 2008. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  5. "Rockies select LHP Christian Friedrich in first round of 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft | ColoradoRockies.com: Official Info" (Press release). Mlb.mlb.com. January 1, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  6. "Prospects: Rankings: Top 100 Prospects: Top 100 Prospects: No. 81-100". BaseballAmerica.com. February 24, 2009. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  7. "Prospects: Rankings: Top 100 Prospects: Top 100 Prospects: No. 21-40". BaseballAmerica.com. February 23, 2010. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  8. "Rockies add two to 40-man roster, outright Brown | ColoradoRockies.com: News" (Press release). Colorado.rockies.mlb.com. November 18, 2011. Retrieved November 18, 2011.
  9. Renck, Troy E. (August 3, 2012). "Rockies pitcher Christian Friedrich done for season". Denver Post.
  10. "Rays get OF Dickerson from Rockies for reliever McGee". ESPN.com. Associated Press. January 28, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  11. "Angels add LH reliever Christian Friedrich, DFA Taylor Featherston". The Orange County Register. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  12. http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/may/13/padres-dfa-jabari-blash-rule-5-player/
  13. "Padres pitcher Christian Friedrich makes play without glove". MLB.com. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  14. Todd, Jeff (October 30, 2017). "Jarred Cosart, Christian Friedrich Elect Free Agency After Clearing Outright Waivers". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  15. "Friedrich Has Contract Purchased". New Britain Bees. July 2, 2019.
  16. Hilburn-Trenkle, Chris (June 18, 2020). "Minor League Transactions: May 29-June 16". Baseball America. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
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