Gavin Floyd

Gavin Floyd
Chicago White Sox – No. 34
Starting pitcher
Born: (1983-01-27) January 27, 1983 Annapolis, Maryland
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 3, 2004 for the Philadelphia Phillies
Career statistics (through April 15, 2013)
Win–loss record	70–69
Earned run average	4.49
Strikeouts	896
Teams
Philadelphia Phillies (2004–2006) Chicago White Sox (2007–present)

Gavin Christopher Floyd (born January 27, 1983) is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Chicago White Sox. He stands 6' 5" tall, weighs 220 pounds, and throws and bats right-handed.

Career

Philadelphia Phillies

In 2001, Floyd was selected fourth by the Phillies in the MLB amateur draft, immediately before fellow Mount Saint Joseph High School graduate Mark Teixeira.Both are from Severna Park, MD

In his first professional season (2002), Floyd pitched for the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws of the South Atlantic League (SAL). A highlight of his impressive first year (2.77 ERA, .200 BAA) was pitching the first nine-inning no-hitter in BlueClaws history on July 24 against the Lexington Legends. However, Floyd actually lost the game, 1–0, due to a pair of sixth-inning errors, making him the first SAL pitcher since 1966 to lose a no-hitter.^{[citation needed]}

In 2004, Floyd was a non-roster invitee to spring training. He began the season with the Reading Phillies (AA) and did not allow any runs in his first 4 starts, allowing only 1 runner to make it past 2nd base. He was named the Phillies farm system Minor League Pitcher of the Week, as well as Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April (2–0, 0.00 ERA). He was promoted to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons (AAA) in July and made 5 starts before having his contract purchased by Phillies as a September callup.

Floyd made his Major League debut September 3, 2004, against the division rival New York Mets and earned the win pitching seven innings and allowing only one run on four hits, striking out five.

In 2005, Floyd made the team out of spring training and pitched strongly against the St. Louis Cardinals lineup, but struggled thereafter and was demoted to the minors, where he continued to struggle for the 2005 season. He came to 2006 spring training with barely a consideration and pitched his way into the Phillies rotation as the #4 pitcher, pushing Ryan Franklin to the bullpen. However, once again Floyd struggled, with a 4–3 record and a 7.29 ERA, and on June 2, was demoted to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for the second straight year.^{[citation needed]}

His career statistics through the 2005 season include a 6.63 earned run average (40 ER in 54.1 IP), a 3–2 record (8 starts in 13 appearances), 32 walks and 41 strikeouts.

Chicago White Sox

On December 6, 2006, Floyd was traded with Gio Gonzalez to the Chicago White Sox for Freddy Garcia. Floyd was expected to be handed the spot vacated by Garcia. However, since he pitched poorly during spring training, Floyd lost the spot and was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte.^{[citation needed]}

On July 5, 2007, Floyd was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte by the White Sox. A day later, he pitched his first start as a South Sider in the second game of a doubleheader against Matt Garza of the Minnesota Twins, earning the loss and yielding 6 runs in 6 innings of work; the White Sox would eventually be blown out of the game, losing 12–0 to the rival Minnesota Twins.

In 2008, Floyd emerged as a legitimate and solid starting pitcher at the back end of the White Sox rotation. Showing flashes of brilliance, he carried near-no-hitters against visiting Detroit (April 12) and Minnesota (May 6) into the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, and also retired 12 consecutive Baltimore Orioles to start an eventual 6–5 extra inning loss in Baltimore on April 17. He finished the regular season with a 17–8 record, with his final win coming in a game in which the White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers to force a one-game playoff with the Twins to determine the Central's winner. During 2008 he led the majors in stolen bases allowed, with 37 — 9 more than the next closest pitcher.[1]

Floyd re-signed with the White Sox on March 22, 2009; his 4-year contract is worth $15.5 million. Floyd only started 5 games with a 0-4 record and an ERA of 5.18 during the 2013 baseball year. On April 28, 2013, Floyd was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to elbow soreness. After an MRI revealed that the elbow had a torn flexor muscle and UCL, Floyd will undergo Tommy John surgery. Expected recovery time is 14-19 months after the surgery possibly eliminating him for all of the 2014 season. Floyd is due to become a free agent at the end of the 2013 season.

Pitching style

Floyd throws five pitches, leading with a four-seam fastball at 90–93 mph. He also throws a two-seam fastball (90–93), a slider (85–87), a curveball (79–81), and a changeup to left-handed hitters (mid 80s). His curve is a favored option with 2 strikes.

External links

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