Kyle Drabek

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Kyle Drabek
Drabek pic.jpg
Toronto Blue Jays – No. 4
Pitcher
Born: (1987-12-08) December 8, 1987 (age 25)
Victoria, Texas
Bats: Right Throws: Right 
MLB debut
September 15, 2010 for the Toronto Blue Jays
Career statistics
(through 2012 season)
Win–loss record     8–15
Earned run average     5.34
Strikeouts     110
WHIP     1.67
Teams

Kyle Jordan Drabek (born December 8, 1987) is an American Major League Baseball pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays. He made his first major league start on September 15, 2010 against the Baltimore Orioles.

He is the son of former major-league pitcher and 1990 National League Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek.[1] He also wears a single-digit uniform number (4), a rarity amongst pitchers.[2]

Contents

High school [edit]

Drabek attended The Woodlands High School.[3] While there he was an Aflac, USA Today, and Louisville Slugger high-school All-American at pitcher and shortstop.[4] Drabek was paired up on a Houston summer team with fellow Texas prospect and current Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce. While in high school, Drabek was named 2005 and 2006 Texas 5-A player of the year. During the 2006 spring season, the Highlanders won the Texas 5-A State Championship.[5] During his high-school career, Drabek compiled a record of 30-1 on the mound while belting 27 home runs. In the 2006 Texas regional semifinal, he set The Woodlands High School record for most strikeouts in a game by a pitcher (19), recording a no-hitter.[6]

He first wore his MLB number (4) as a wide receiver on The Woodlands varsity football team. He wore number 1 for baseball.[2]

Minor League Baseball [edit]

In the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft, Drabek was selected in the first round by the Philadelphia Phillies as the 18th overall pick.[6] He had been ranked as the twelfth-best prospect in the draft by Baseball America, but was drafted in a lower position because, at the time of the draft, there were concerns about personal incidents.[6] Marti Wolever, director of scouting for the Phillies, stated of the issues that the Phillies "feel very good about this selection. We think everything is behind him and we're moving on."[6] The Phillies opted to develop Drabek as a pitcher in their farm system.[6]

Drabek learned from the experiences of his father.[7] He also described his father's involvement to be "like having a pitching coach who lives with you ... He taught me so much, not only about the physical part of the game but the mental part too."[8]

"What kind of things I should expect. I think it's going to give me a little bit more of an advantage because he's been through everything. I know what to look out for because of him."
—Kyle Drabek, Houston Chronicle[7]

He made four pitching appearances in the Gulf Coast League (for rookies) since his comeback from Tommy John surgery. He was then promoted to the Short-Season A Williamsport Crosscutters. After a dominant start to the season with the Class A–Advanced Clearwater Threshers, Drabek was promoted to the Class AA Reading Phillies on June 1, 2009.[9] He was invited to the 2009 All-Star Futures Game, in which he pitched one inning.[10]

Drabek received the Paul Owens Award from the Phillies in a pre-game ceremony at Citizens Bank Park on September 15, 2009. [11] The annual award is presented to the top pitcher and the top position player in the Phillies' minor-league system.[12]

Drabek was one of the key players involved in "The Doc Deal", the trade which sent Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay to the Phillies in exchange for Drabek, Travis d'Arnaud, and Michael Taylor in early December. He was officially announced as a member of the Blue Jays on December 16, 2009.[13] Drabek threw the second no-hitter in New Hampshire Fisher Cats history on Independence Day, 2010. The final score was 5-0 over the New Britain Rock Cats, as he walked two and struck out three.[14][15]

Drabek was voted the 2010 Eastern League pitcher of the year.[16] Drabek attributed some of his success to a more consistent delivery, for which the point of release for different pitches appeared the same to batters. “In the beginning, it was like I had different movements for different pitches. Now, everything comes the same and everything stays the same.”[17]

Major League Baseball [edit]

2011 [edit]

The Blue Jays announced on September 12, 2010 that Drabek would be promoted to make his major league debut on September 15.[18] At the time, he was considered the Blue Jays top pitching prospect[19][20] and amongst the top prospects in baseball.[21] On April 2, Drabek earned his first Major League win against the Minnesota Twins, throwing 101 pitches through 7 innings, with 7 strikeouts, giving up only 1 hit and 1 earned run.[22] His father, Doug Drabek, also earned his first career win against the Minnesota Twins in 1986.

His worst career outing occurred on June 1, 2011, when he lasted only 0.2 innings versus the Cleveland Indians. He would use 38 pitches, allowing 4 earned runs on 3 hits, 3 walks and 1 strikeout.[23]

On June 14, the Blue Jays announced that Drabek had been optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas. Zach Stewart took his place in the rotation.[24] Drabek was recalled from the minors on September 7.[25]

2012-2013 [edit]

On June 8, 2012, Drabek took his first Major League at bat. He struck out against Atlanta Braves pitcher Brandon Beachy. He finished the game 0-2.

In the fifth inning of his June 13 start against the visiting Washington Nationals, Drabek "felt a pop in his elbow" during the fifth inning while pitching to Michael Morse. With a one-ball, one-strike count on Morse, Drabek exited the game and was replaced by Aaron Laffey. Drabek was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 15 with a right elbow sprain.[26] On June 18, it was announced that Drabek would undergo Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career, ending his 2012 season.[27] On May 7, 2013, it was reported that Drabek was on track to return in mid-June, one year since undergoing surgery.[28]

Pitching style [edit]

Drabek throws a four-seam fastball clocked between 90-96 mph, a curveball in the 79-83 mph range, a cutter with a velocity between 89-94 mph, and a changeup in the 83-86 mph range. Drabek is known for his extremely poor control at times and leading the league in walks.[29]

See also [edit]

Portal icon Biography portal
Portal icon Baseball portal

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Kyle Drabek". Basebal-Reference.com. Retrieved December 10, 2012. 
  2. ^ a b Kepner, Tyler. "For Kyle Drabek, It's No. 4, the One and Only," Bats (The New York Times baseball blog), Saturday, May 28, 2011.
  3. ^ "Kyle Drabek Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 10, 2012. 
  4. ^ "Kyle Drabek". 2005 Aflac All-American Baseball Classic. Aflac Inc. Archived from the original on 2008-06-25. 
  5. ^ Joel, Weckerly (2006-06-10). "Highlanders win 5A state championship". The Woodlands High School. Retrieved 2010-09-14. "The Woodlands won the championship on the backs of three senior stars, Kyle Drabek, Steven Maxwell and [Paul] Goldschmidt." 
  6. ^ a b c d e Mandel, Ken (2006-06-06). "Phils select righty Drabek at No. 18". MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved 2010-09-14. 
  7. ^ a b Davis, Emily (2006-06-07). "Kyle Drabek follows in father's footsteps to pro baseball". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2010-09-15. 
  8. ^ Kerzel, Pete (2010-09-13). "Right-hander slated to face Baltimore on Wednesday". MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved 2010-09-15. 
  9. ^ http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/Drabek_promoted_to_Reading.html
  10. ^ Zolecki, Todd (2009-07-12). "Phillies top pitching prospect tosses perfect second frame". MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved 2010-09-14. 
  11. ^ "Drabek, Taylor named Phils minor leaguers of year". Philly.com. Retrieved December 10, 2012. 
  12. ^ Hagen, Paul, "Phillies minor leaguers Drabek, Taylor receive awards", Philadelphia Daily News, Sept. 16, 2009. Philly.com; Philadelphia Newspapers' Reorganization. Retrieved 2009-09-18. See List of Philadelphia Phillies award winners and league leaders#Paul Owens Award.
  13. ^ "Blue Jays complete Halladay trade". MLB Advanced Media, L.P. 2009-12-16. Retrieved 2010-08-07. 
  14. ^ Lott, John (2010-07-04). "Kyle Drabek hurls no-hitter for Jays’ Double-A club". National Post. Retrieved 2010-08-07. 
  15. ^ "Fisher Cats’ Kyle Drabek No-Hits New Britain Rock Cats On Fourth Of July". Manchester: NHReporter.com. 2010-07-05. Retrieved 2010-09-10. 
  16. ^ Lott, John (2010-09-10). "Jays send playoff reinforcements to farm club". National Post. Retrieved 2010-09-14. "Drabek was voted the Eastern League’s pitcher of the year after posting a 14-9 record and 2.94 ERA. Stewart was 8-3, 3.63 in his first full season as a starter." 
  17. ^ Blair, Jeff (2010-09-14). "Drabek buzz grows louder". The Globe and Mail (Baltimore). Retrieved 2010-09-15. 
  18. ^ "Kyle Drabek, crown jewel of Jays system, to start Wednesday". The Sports Network. The Canadian Press. September 12, 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2010. "Sunday's announcement by general manager Alex Anthopoulos comes just two days after Drabek's double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats were eliminated from the Eastern League playoffs." 
  19. ^ "Blue Jays hope to avoid sweep by Orioles in Drabek's debut". The Sports Network. September 15, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2010. "Considered the top arm in the Blue Jays system, Drabek was one of the key pieces obtained by Toronto in the blockbuster offseason trade that sent former staff ace Roy Halladay to Philadelphia." 
  20. ^ Harrison, Doug (September 15, 2010). "Baseball preview: Blue Jays vs. Orioles". CBC Sports. Retrieved September 15, 2010. "All eyes will be on the Blue Jays' top pitching prospect as he makes his major-league debut." 
  21. ^ "Blue Jays-Orioles Preview". ESPN.com. STATS, Inc. September 15, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2010. 
  22. ^ http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_04_02_minmlb_tormlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=tor
  23. ^ http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_06_01_clemlb_tormlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=tor
  24. ^ http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110614&content_id=20466456&vkey=news_tor&c_id=tor
  25. ^ Drabek to join Blue Jays' bullpen Wednesday
  26. ^ Elbow sprain forces Drabek to disabled list
  27. ^ Drabek to have second Tommy John surgery
  28. ^ Chisholm, Gregor (May 7, 2013). "Drabek, Hutchison on schedule in recovery". MLB.com. Retrieved May 7, 2013. 
  29. ^ 60ft6in - Pitcher Scouting Reports - Toronto Blue Jays

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kyle Drabek


Toronto Blue Jays current roster
Active roster
Inactive roster
Disabled list
Coaching staff
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kyle_Drabek&oldid=554067997"