Eric Stults

Eric Stults
Stults during his tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010 spring training.
San Diego Padres – No. 53
Pitcher
Born: (1979-12-09) December 9, 1979 Plymouth, Indiana
Bats: Left	Throws: Left
MLB debut
September 5, 2006 for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Career statistics (through May 12, 2013)
Win–loss record	19–16
Earned run average	4.21
Strikeouts	191
Teams
Los Angeles Dodgers (2006–2009) Hiroshima Toyo Carp (2010) (NPB) Colorado Rockies (2011) Chicago White Sox (2012) San Diego Padres (2012–present)

Eric William Stults (born December 9, 1979) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. He played in college for NAIA Bethel College (Indiana). Stults pitched and played center field for Bethel, which won the 2002 National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association Division I championship, posting a 10–1 record that season and also played basketball at Bethel.

Professional career

Los Angeles Dodgers

Stults was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 15th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft.

In 2002, he pitched for the Vero Beach Dodgers and had a record of 3-1 with an ERA of 3.00 in 13 appearances (6 starts). In 2003, he was 3–4 with a 4.97 ERA in 7 starts for the Jacksonville Suns. In 2004, he pitched for the Columbus Catfish of the South Atlantic League and had a record of 1–2, ERA of 2.49 in 12 appearances. He also pitched in 7 games for Vero Beach that year. In 2005, he alternated between Jacksonville and the Las Vegas 51s, he was 4–3, 3.31 in 12 starts for Jacksonville and 3–7, 6.58 in 14 starts for Las Vegas. In 2006, with Las Vegas he was 10–11 with a 4.23 ERA in 26 starts.

Stults made his Major League Baseball debut with the Dodgers on September 5, 2006, against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He pitched three innings and gave up three earned runs. He earned his first Major League victory on September 10 at Shea Stadium as he held the New York Mets to just one run and two hits over 6.0 innings and 86 pitches, walking two and struck out three in the Dodgers' 9–1 win.

In 2007, he returned to the starting rotation with the Las Vegas 51s. He was called up by the Dodgers to start the game against the Colorado Rockies on August 17, and struck out 9 batters en route to his first victory in 2007 after having thrown 7 innings and giving up only 2 runs, 2 hits, and a walk.

After an inconsistent stay in the majors in 2007, Stults was a long shot to make the Dodgers in spring training 2008 and was sent to Triple-A Las Vegas. He was called up and made his first start with the Dodgers on June 19, 2008, replacing injured Dodger ace Brad Penny in the starting rotation after Penny was placed on the disabled list.

On June 25, 2008, Stults pitched his first Major League shutout, as well as complete game — as the Dodgers blanked the visiting Chicago White Sox 5-0.

Early in the 2009 season, Stults replaced injured starting pitcher Hiroki Kuroda. He made the best start of his career against the San Francisco Giants on May 9, 2009. At Dodger Stadium Stults threw a complete game shutout, throwing 123 pitches. He struck out 5, walked none, and allowed only four hits.

On May 15, 2009, Stults injured his thumb while making a toss on a bunt attempt by the Florida Marlins' Hanley Ramírez. Stults would make 2 more starts before going on the disabled list. On July 1, Stults was optioned to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes. He pitched well with the Isotopes, before getting called up to make a spot start on August 9 against the Atlanta Braves. Stults was optioned back to Albuquerque on August 13 and finished the season there.

Hiroshima Toyo Carp

On March 30, 2010 Stults was sold to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of the Japanese league. He was 6-10 with a 5.07 ERA in 21 starts in Japan.

Colorado Rockies

On November 30, 2010 Stults signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies. He had his contract purchased on July 3, 2011. He appeared in six games for Colorado, recording a 6.00 ERA in 12 innings, before being designated for assignment on July 25.

Chicago White Sox

On December 11, 2011, he signed a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. On May 7, 2012, he was called up to start the second game of a double-header against the Cleveland Indians. Stults was credited with a no-decision pitching six innings giving up two runs on four hits, walking four and striking out four. He was designated for assignment later that month.

San Diego Padres

Stults was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres on May 17, 2012, and he made his first start on May 19. Stults went on the disabled list on June 6 with a strained left lat after compiling a 3.19 ERA in four starts, and he returned to the Padres on July 22 after making rehab starts with the Tucson Padres. After pitching out of the bullpen, he rejoined the starting rotation on August 6. He finished the season with a 8-3 record and 2.91 ERA in 20 games and 15 starts.

On April 15, 2013, in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Stults hit his first career home run, a three-run home run.

Pitching style

Stults throws three pitches regularly and two infrequently. His most common pitch is a four-seam fastball averaging about 85 mph, followed by a changeup (79–81) and slider (80–84). Less commonly, he throws a slow curveball (average about 70 mph), and rarely, a two-seam fastball. The good majority of his pitches to right-handers are fastballs and changeups, with only occasional sliders, while he substitutes the slider for the changeup to left-handers.

Personal

He and his wife Stephanie have a daughter, Madeline, and a son, Luke.

External links

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