Clay Hensley
| Clay Hensley | |
|---|---|
| San Francisco Giants | |
| Starting Pitcher | |
| Born: August 31, 1979 Tomball, Texas |
|
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| July 20, 2005 for the San Diego Padres | |
| Career statistics (through 2011) |
|
| Win-Loss | 24-29 |
| Earned run average | 3.94 |
| Strikeouts | 329 |
| Teams | |
Clayton Allen Hensley (born August 31, 1979 in Tomball, Texas) is a Major League Baseball pitcher, who is currently with the San Francisco Giants.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Hensley attended Lamar University in Beaumont, where he set a single season record with 127 strikeouts in 100 innings.
[edit] Professional career
Hensley was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 8th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft. On July 13, 2003, he was traded to the San Diego Padres for Matt Herges.
On April 5, 2005, he was suspended 15 games for testing positive for steroids while pitching in the minor leagues.[1] Later that season, he was called up from the Triple-A Portland Beavers. He emerged as a vital figure in middle relief, not allowing a home run in 47.2 innings.
In 2006, Hensley made 29 starts for the San Diego Padres, with an ERA of 3.71.
Hensley began the 2007 season as the Padres' #5 starter, but was placed on the disabled list in May. After struggling in his minor league rehab starts, Hensley was optioned to the Triple-A Portland Beavers.
On August 4, 2007, Hensley gave up Barry Bonds' 755th career home run, which tied Bonds with Hank Aaron for most all-time. The next day, Hensley was optioned to the minor leagues.
Hensley was non-tendered by the Padres following the 2008 season, making him a free agent.[2]
Hensley was signed by the Houston Astros on December 23, 2008, to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training worth $550,000. In May 2009, Hensley was released by the Astros[3] and signed by the Florida Marlins.[4]
In 2010, Hensley took over the closer role from Leo Núñez.[5] For the start 2011 season, Hensley was once again being used as a setup man. However, after injury problems to both himself and Marlins ace Josh Johnson, the Marlins promoted him to the starting rotation.
On January 26, 2012, he signed a non-guaranteed contract with the San Francisco Giants that included an invitation to Spring Training.
[edit] References
- ^ Center, Bill (2005-04-05). "Steroids violators in minors". SignOnSanDiego.com. http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/padres/20050405-9999-1s5padside.html. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
- ^ By Corey Brock / MLB.com (2008-12-12). "Padres non-tender Hensley, Haeger". Sandiego.padres.mlb.com. http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081212&content_id=3715829&vkey=news_sd&fext=.jsp&c_id=sd. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
- ^ By Alyson Footer / MLB.com (2008-12-23). "Astros sign Hensley". Astros.mlb.com. http://astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081223&content_id=3727373&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
- ^ "Florida Marlins: Former Padres RHP Clay Hensley joins AAA staff". Blogs.sun-sentinel.com. 2009-05-26. http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_baseball_marlins/2009/05/florida-marlins-former-padres-rhp-clay-hensley-joins-aaa-staff.html. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
- ^ "Clay Hensley will be Florida Marlins closer for now; Leo Nunez out". Blogs.palmbeachpost.com. 2010-09-03. http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/marlins/2010/09/03/clay-hensley-will-be-florida-marlins-closer-for-now-leo-nunez-out/. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
- Clay Hensley at SI.com
- 1979 births
- Living people
- Baseball players from Texas
- San Diego Padres players
- Florida Marlins players
- Major League Baseball pitchers
- Baseball players suspended for drug offenses
- American sportspeople in doping cases
- Salem-Keizer Volcanoes players
- Hagerstown Suns players
- San Jose Giants players
- Lake Elsinore Storm players
- Mobile BayBears players
- Portland Beavers players
- Round Rock Express players
- Las Vegas 51s players
- Lamar Cardinals baseball players