Aaron Laffey

Aaron Laffey
Toronto Blue Jays
Pitcher
Born: April 15, 1985 (1985-04-15) Cumberland, Maryland
Bats: Left	Throws: Left
MLB debut
August 4, 2007 for the Cleveland Indians
Career statistics (through 2011 season)
Win–loss record	21–23
Earned run average	4.34
Strikeouts	185
Teams
Cleveland Indians (2007–2010) Seattle Mariners (2011) New York Yankees (2011)

Laffey pitching for the Cleveland Indians in 2009

Aaron Steven Laffey (born April 15, 1985) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. He made his major league debut with the Cleveland Indians in 2007.

Professional career

Cleveland Indians

In Laffey's first pro season in 2003, he was with the Burlington Indians of the Rookie level and went 3-1 in 9 games (4 starts) while striking out 46 in 34 innings pitched. In 2004, while with the Single-A Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Laffey went 3-1 with a 1.24 ERA in 8 starts which earned him a promotion to the Single-A Lake County Captains 3-7 with a 6.53 ERA in 19 games. He started the 2005 season with Lake County and went 7-7 with a 3.22 ERA in 142.1 innings pitched and was called up to the Double-A Akron Aeros for one game in which he picked up the victory by going 5 innings and allowed 2 runs while striking out 6. Laffey started the 2006 year with the Singel-A Advanced Kinston Indians which he was 4-1 with a 2.18 ERA in 10 games (4 starts). His performance earned him a promotion to Double-A Akron where he went 8-3 with a 3.53 ERA in 19 games, all starts. In 2007, he pitched 6 games with Akron and he went 4-1 2.31 with a ERA in 6 starts. He was promoted to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons and went 7-3 with a 3.28 ERA before his call up to the majors.

On August 4, 2007, Laffey made his major league debut against the Minnesota Twins; he went 5.1 innings allowing 6 hits, 3 runs, 1 walk, and 3 strikeouts while losing the game. In his second start on August 9, against the Chicago White Sox, Laffey picked up his first major league victory. He went 5.2 innings allowed 6 hits, 4 runs, 3 walks, and struck out 4 in the Indians 7-5 victory. On August 10, a day after Laffey's first major league victory, he was demoted to Triple-A Buffalo. On August 25, Laffey was recalled to pitch against the Kansas City Royals. Laffey won again, going 6 innings, allowing 8 hits, only 2 runs, walked only 1, and struck out 4. Laffey went into spring training in 2008, competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, however Cliff Lee won the job and Laffey was sent back to Buffalo, but was brought back up following an injury to Jake Westbrook. Laffey was named American League Rookie of the Month for the month of May. Laffey had a 3-2 record and an 0.79 ERA for the month. Opponents batted .220 against him in May over a 34 inning span.

Seattle Mariners

On March 2, 2011, Laffey was traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for prospect Matt Lawson. He was designated for assignment on August 17, after recording a 4.01 ERA in 42 2/3 innings.

New York Yankees

Laffey was claimed off waivers by the New York Yankees on August 19, 2011. Laffey made his debut the next night against the Minnesota Twins. He was designated for assignment the next day to clear a roster spot for Alex Rodriguez, though he was placed on optional waivers.

Kansas City Royals

Laffey was claimed off of waivers by the Kansas City Royals on October 11, 2011. He was non-tendered by the Royals on December 12, 2011.

Toronto Blue Jays

On December 30, 2011, Laffey signed a split contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Scouting

His secondary pitches include an above-average slider and changeup. He primarily throws an 87-88 mph sinker which classifies him as a ground-ball pitcher.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)