Buddy Carlyle

Buddy Carlyle
Pitching for the Braves in 2007
Toronto Blue Jays
Relief pitcher
Born: (1977-12-21) December 21, 1977 Omaha, Nebraska
Bats: Left	Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 29, 1999 for the San Diego Padres
Career statistics (through 2011 season)
Win-loss record	11-11
Earned run average	5.61
Strikeouts	189
Teams
San Diego Padres (1999–2000) Hanshin Tigers (2001–2002) (NPB) Los Angeles Dodgers (2005) LG Twins (2006) (KBO) Atlanta Braves (2007–2009) Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters (2010) (NPB) New York Yankees (2011)

Earl Lester "Buddy" Carlyle (born December 21, 1977) is a professional baseball player, a major league pitcher in the Toronto Blue Jays organization. His previous teams include the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, and New York Yankees. He also played for the LG Twins of the Korean Baseball Organization, and the Hanshin Tigers and Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball.

Early years

Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Carlyle attended Bellevue East High School in Bellevue. In addition to baseball, he also lettered in basketball for the Chieftains and graduated in 1996.

Professional career

Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres

Originally selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the second round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft, Carlyle spent two years in the Reds organization before being traded to the San Diego Padres for Marc Kroon on April 8, 1998. He played for the Mobile BayBears and Las Vegas Stars before making his major league debut on August 29, 1999. In his first year, he appeared in 7 games, recording a 1-3 record and a 5.97 ERA while striking out 17 batters.

Hanshin Tigers

On November 3, 2000, the Padres sold Carlyle's contract to the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. In two seasons with Hanshin, Carlyle went 7-12 with a 4.29 ERA and 124 strikeouts.

Kansas City Royals

He was picked up by the Kansas City Royals as a free agent after the 2002 season. He split the 2003 season between the Double-A Wichita Wranglers and Triple-A Omaha Royals.

New York Yankees

He was granted free agency after the season and signed with the New York Yankees on December 23. Playing for Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Columbus, Carlyle compiled a 12-5 record with a 3.19 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 27 games played.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Carlyle for the 2005 season. He began the season on the Dodgers roster, making his first big league appearance since 2000 on April 6. However, he was sent back down to the minors on May 6 and was briefly recalled at the end of May. An appendectomy in June derailed his comeback attempt, shelving him until the end of July, and he spent the rest of the season rehabbing in the minor leagues.

Florida Marlins

The Florida Marlins signed him on November 10, 2005. Carlyle began 2006 with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, going 1-3 with a 1.93 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 13 games. He pitched well in April of that year, winning two games and losing none. He won his third game of the season on May 14, but, 4 days later on May 18, he was sold to the LG Twins in Seoul, Korea.

Atlanta Braves

On December 14, 2006, the Atlanta Braves invited Carlyle to spring training. He was reassigned to minor league camp on March 30, 2007, but after going 5-2 with a 2.59 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 9 games for the Richmond Braves, he was called up to the big leagues on May 25. Carlyle made his Braves debut on May 26, 2007, in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, a game in which he went 4 innings, surrendering five earned runs on six hits and allowing two walks. It was his first start in the major leagues since 1999. Carlyle earned his first win of the season and his first since 1999 on June 5, surrendering one hit, a solo home run to Aaron Boone of the Florida Marlins, while going 7 innings in arguably the best outing of his career. On July 6, 2007, against the Padres, Carlyle tied his career-high with 7 strikeouts, set a new career-high with 8 innings pitched, and collected his first major league RBI which gave the Braves a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish. In the fourth inning of that game, Carlyle struck out the side on the minimum nine pitches. It was the 40th time in major league history this feat had been accomplished. Carlyle's return to the majors has been considered an inspiration to many Braves fans. He finished his best season with an 8-7 record and a 5.21 ERA.

Carlyle started the 2008 season for the Triple-A Richmond Braves, but was promoted to Atlanta on April 15 with an injury to Peter Moylan. Carlyle ended the season with an ERA of 3.59 with 59 strikeouts in 45 games.

On October 9, 2009 Carlyle was outrighted to the Gwinnett Braves and he elected free agency.

Return to Japan

Carlyle pitched with the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball in 2010.

Return to the Yankees

Prior to the 2011 season, Carlyle signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the New York Yankees. He was promoted to the majors on April 22. He was designated for assignment on June 29, after pitching 7 ²⁄₃ innings for New York, recording a 4.70 ERA. He was outrighted to the AAA Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees on July 5. On August 18, he was released by the Yankees to make room for Raul Valdez on AAA Scranton/Wiles Barre's Roster.

Return the Atlanta Braves

Before the 2012 season, Carlyle signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves, but it did not include a Spring Training invitation.

Toronto Blue Jays

On December 11, 2012, the Toronto Blue Jays announced that Carlyle had been signed to a minor league contract. Carlyle started the 2013 season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.

See also

• Pitchers who have struck out three batters on nine pitches

External links

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