Jason Grilli

Jason Grilli
Pittsburgh Pirates – No. 39
Relief pitcher
Born: November 11, 1976 (1976-11-11) Royal Oak, Michigan
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 11, 2000 for the Florida Marlins
Career statistics (through 2011 Season)
Win–Loss	20–19
Earned run average	4.55
Strikeouts	299
Teams
Florida Marlins (2000–2001) Chicago White Sox (2004) Detroit Tigers (2005–2008) Colorado Rockies (2008–2009) Texas Rangers (2009) Pittsburgh Pirates (2011–present)

Jason Michael Grilli (born November 11, 1976, in Royal Oak, Michigan) is an Italian-American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. He has previously played for the Florida Marlins, Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, Colorado Rockies, and Texas Rangers.

Amateur career

Following his high school career at Baker High School in Baldwinsville, New York, Grilli was drafted in the 24th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft by the New York Yankees, but chose not to sign. Instead, he opted to played college baseball at Seton Hall University, which he attended from 1995–1997.

While at Seton Hall, Grilli once struck out 18 batters in a game to break Charles Nagy's Big East record. Grilli was drafted in the first round, fourth overall, of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft by the San Francisco Giants.

Professional career

Grilli began his professional career in 1998 with the Double-A Shreveport Captains of the Texas League and the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies of the Pacific Coast League. In 21 games for the Captains, Grilli went 7–10 with a 3.79 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 123⅓ innings pitched. With the Grizzlies Grilli went 2–3 with a 5.14 ERA in eight games, all starts.

In 1999, Grilli was a key component of a midseason trade that brought Liván Hernández to the San Francisco Giants, and sent Grilli and pitcher Nate Bump to the Florida Marlins.

Grilli pitched mostly all of 2003 with the Albuquerque Isotopes.

Grilli spent 2004 with the Chicago White Sox organization after being selected in the Rule 5 draft. In 2005, he signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers. After helping the Triple-A affiliate Toledo Mud Hens to a league championship (he clinched the championship game), he joined the parent club for a late-season audition.

Grilli pitched for Team Italy in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He also had a good spring training and earned a spot in the Tigers bullpen as a long reliever, leading to his first extended stint in the majors.

In 2007, Grilli posted career highs in almost every category, including games (57), innings (79⅔), strikeouts (62), wins (5), and holds (11). However, Grilli heard boos at Comerica Park during the season, mostly due to his home ERA of 7.96. He was much more effective away from home, posting a 1.91 ERA in road games. Tigers manager Jim Leyland defended Grilli: "I like Grilli because he's got a resilient arm...There's a lot to be said for that."

On April 30, 2008, Grilli was traded to the Colorado Rockies for reliever Zachary Simons. This move was made to clear a roster spot for incoming reliever Francisco Cruceta.

In January 2009, Grilli announced that he would again pitch for Team Italy in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.

On June 5, 2009, Grilli was designated for assignment by the Rockies.

Texas Rangers

On June 9, 2009, Grilli was acquired by the Texas Rangers for cash considerations. In October 2009, Grilli was granted free agency.

Cleveland Indians

On December 2, 2009, Grilli signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians with an invite to Spring Training. Grilli suffered a severe knee injury in spring training and would miss the entire 2010 season. Grilli filed for free agency on November 6, 2010.

Philadelphia Phillies

On January 30, 2011, Grilli signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He pitched for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, posting a 1.93 ERA in 32 1/3 innings, before being released on July 20.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Grilli signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on July 21, 2011.

On December 12, 2011, Grilli signed a one-year deal worth $1.1 million to return to Pittsburgh and to avoid arbitration.

Personal

He is the son of former major league pitcher Steve Grilli, who pitched for parts of four seasons in the late 1970s, including three with the Detroit Tigers. His dad is also known for being the losing pitcher for the Rochester Red Wings in the longest professional baseball game on June 23, 1981. He wears number 49 in honor of his father, and the two still talk after every game in which Jason makes an appearance. Grilli is also the cousin of James and Michael Marcou, hockey players for the UMass Minutemen.

Grilli and his wife, Danielle Hurt, welcomed their first child, in February, 2008. The couple reside in Orlando, Florida during the offseason.

Grilli runs a company called Perfect Pitch Marketing which sells videophones and other consumer telecommunications equipment through Rochester-based 5LINX. He discusses this business venture in an interview with Jimmy Scott.

See also

• List of second generation MLB players

External links

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