Jon Rauch

This article is about the baseball player. For the writer, see Jonathan Rauch. For the American football player and coach, see John Rauch.

Jon Rauch
Free agent
Relief pitcher
Born: (1978-09-27) September 27, 1978 Louisville, Kentucky
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 2, 2002 for the Chicago White Sox
Career statistics (through May 12, 2013)
Win-loss record	43-40
Earned run average	3.89
Strikeouts	474
Saves	62
Teams
Chicago White Sox (2002, 2004) Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals (2004–2008) Arizona Diamondbacks (2008–2009) Minnesota Twins (2009–2010) Toronto Blue Jays (2011) New York Mets (2012) Miami Marlins (2013)

Olympic medal record
Men’s Baseball
Gold	2000 Sydney	Team competition

Jon Erich Rauch (born September 27, 1978) is an American professional baseball pitcher. At 6 feet 11 inches (2.11 m), he is the tallest player in Major League Baseball history. Rauch has over 30 tattoos. He is also an Olympic Gold Medalist.

Early years

Rauch attended and graduated from Oldham County High School. He grew up in Westport, Kentucky. Rauch played college baseball at Morehead State University, where he double majored in physics and business. He was also a member of the social fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon, KY Zeta Chapter.

Professional career

Chicago White Sox

Rauch, weighing at 290-lbs, was drafted in the third round of the 1999 amateur draft by the Chicago White Sox. He debuted with the White Sox on April 2, 2002.

In 2002, Rauch's first stint in the big leagues resulted in a 6.59 ERA in eight games and six starts. He did not play in the majors in 2003, then returned to the majors in 2004 after a strong Triple-A campaign. However, against major league batters he again posted a high ERA of 6.23. In July 2004, Rauch was traded to the Montréal Expos along with Triple-A reliever Gary Majewski for Carl Everett.

Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals

On August 13, 2004, Rauch hit a home run against the Houston Astros off Roger Clemens, making him the tallest man ever to hit a home run in Major League Baseball. Despite a strong finish to the season in Montréal, Rauch was sent to the minors when the Expos moved to Washington. After putting up better numbers in the minors, Rauch finished the 2005 season with the Nationals, used mostly as a reliever, and going 2-4 with a 3.60 ERA.

Rauch pitching for the Washington Nationals in 2006.

In 2006, Rauch had his best season, posted a 4-5 record, a 3.35 ERA, and appearing in 85 games, second most in the NL.

In 2007, Rauch led the Major Leagues in appearances with 88. He finished the year with a 8-4 record, four saves, and a 3.61 ERA. His eight victories led the team in wins, a rarity in baseball for a relief pitcher.

On February 2, 2008, Rauch signed a two-year contract with the Nationals, worth a total of $3.2 million. Before being traded, Rauch spent most of the year as the closer in place of injured Chad Cordero.

Rauch won the first game in the history of Nationals Park.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On July 22, 2008, Rauch was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks for second base prospect Emilio Bonifacio.

Minnesota Twins

On August 28, 2009, Rauch was traded to the Minnesota Twins for RHP Kevin Mulvey. He appeared in 17 games for the Twins before the end of the season, posting a 5-1 record with a 1.72 ERA.

On April 2, 2010, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire named Rauch the team's closer, replacing the injured Joe Nathan. On April 6, 2010 Rauch earned his first save as a Twin with a perfect ninth with two strikeouts versus the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in a 5-3 win. Rauch served as the team's closer through August, when the Twins acquired Matt Capps. During his time as closer, he saved 21 games in 25 opportunities.

After the Twins acquired Capps, Rauch returned to his previous role as a set-up man and long reliever.

Toronto Blue Jays

On January 17, 2011 the Blue Jays signed Rauch to a one-year deal worth $3.5M that includes a club option for $3.75M in 2012.

After pitching in a game against the Seattle Mariners on August 15, 2011, Rauch was taken to a Seattle hospital for an emergency appendectomy. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on August 16, 2011. At the time of injury, Rauch led the Blue Jays in appearances (with 51), posting a 5-4 record with a 4.47 earned run average and 11 saves.

New York Mets

On December 6, 2011, Rauch agreed to a one-year 3.5 million contract with the New York Mets.

Miami Marlins

On February 5, 2013, Rauch agreed to a one-year deal with the Miami Marlins. Rauch was designated for assignment on May 18.

See also

• List of Major League Baseball pitchers who have struck out four batters in one inning

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Bio from Washington's Website
• 2007 spring training highlight video from The Washington Post
• Haber, Brett. "What I've Learned: Jon Rauch", Washingtonian, August 1, 2008.