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David Price (baseball)

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David Price
Price with the Tampa Bay Rays
Atlanta Braves
Starting pitcher
Born: (1985-08-26) August 26, 1985 (age 38)
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
debut
September 14, 2008, for the Tampa Bay Rays
Career statistics
(through July 30, 2014)
Win–loss record82–46
Earned run average3.18
Strikeouts1,059
Teams
Career highlights and awards
David Price
Medal record
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
World University Championship
Gold medal – first place 2006 Havana National team
Price in 2009.

David Taylor Price (born August 26, 1985) is an American Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays. Price was selected first overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft by the Rays and made his major league debut in September 2008.

Price pitched out of the bullpen during the Rays' run through the 2008 playoffs. Just weeks after his first appearance in the big leagues, he earned a memorable save in Game 7 of the ALCS, helping his club reach their first World Series. Price became a full-time starter in 2009. In his second full season, he was named the American League starter for the 2010 All-Star Game and finished second in the voting for the 2010 Cy Young Award. He won his first Cy Young Award in 2012 after a tight race.[1]

Biography

Early life

Price began playing baseball in his early childhood. He grew up as an Atlanta Braves fan and idolized outfielder David Justice.[2] He attended Cooperstown Dreams Park when he was a teenager. As a teenager, he was a standout on the Blackman High School baseball and basketball teams.[3] In his high school career, he compiled a 0.43 earned run average (ERA) and 151 strikeouts. He was the recipient of the Rutherford County MVP Pitcher (2003 and 2004), the Co-District 7AAA Pitcher of the Year with Michael Alcorn his senior season, and the Rutherford County Male Athlete of the Year in 2002, 2003 and 2004. He played in the 2004 High School All-America Game in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[4]

College career

Though Price was drafted by the New York Yankees out of high school, he did not sign, and instead chose to attend Vanderbilt University on an academic scholarship. He pitched for the baseball team for three seasons.

In his freshman season in 2005, Price was honored as a Freshman All-American by both Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball. That year he went 2–4 with a 2.86 ERA in 19 games, compiling 92 strikeouts in 69.1 innings pitched.[4] Still, frustrated with his college workload, Price almost quit baseball to work at a McDonald's in his hometown but was talked out of it by his coach, Tim Corbin.[5]

In 2006, Price posted a 9–5 record with a 4.16 ERA in 110⅓ innings pitched. He set a school single-season record in strikeouts with 155 while walking only 43 batters. Over a span of six starts early in the season, he recorded 10 or more strikeouts each game, including a 17-strikeout performance in a game against Arkansas.[4] That year, he was one of five finalists for the Golden Spikes Award and a semifinalist for the Roger Clemens Award. He was also named to the third-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, first-team All-South Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association and second-team All-SEC by the coaches in that conference.[4]

As a junior he tallied an 11–1 record with a 2.63 ERA. He was the nation's top strikeout pitcher, striking out 194 batters over 133⅓ innings, breaking his own school record. His last start against SEC competition came against Mississippi St in Hoover, AL in the SEC Baseball Tournament. Price pitched a complete game, going nine innings while giving up five hits, two runs, and striking out 11 batters with no walks. His last start at the college level came against Austin Peay in Vanderbilt's first game in the 2007 Nashville Regional. Against Austin Peay, Price retired 17 batters via the strikeout in nine innings of work while yielding just five hits, one run, and two walks. Price won several major national awards, including college baseball's top honor, the 2007 Dick Howser Trophy,[4] and the 2007 Brooks Wallace Award. David Price was the first player to have a clean sweep of all the college baseball awards. [6] [7]

United States National Team

In the summer of 2005, Price pitched for the United States National Team. He went 2–0 with a 1.26 ERA in five games, tallying 39 strikeouts and 13 walks over 28⅔ innings. On August 2, 2005, he pitched a complete game shutout over Nicaragua, only allowing 5 hits. In the summer of 2006, Price helped the United States take home the gold medal in the World University Baseball Championship held in Cuba. In eight starts for the United States, Price was 5–1 with a 0.20 ERA.[4]

Professional career

Draft and minor league career

Price signed his first professional contract on August 15, 2007. The six-year contract was worth $8.5 million, including a $5.6 million signing bonus. After the contract was approved by the MLB, he was added to the Devil Rays 40-man roster before being optioned to the minor leagues to begin his career.[8]

At the time, Price’s bonus was the second-largest in draft history, behind only the $6.1 million Justin Upton received from the Arizona Diamondbacks as the top overall pick in the 2005 MLB Draft. The guaranteed value was the third-highest in draft history, trailing only Mark Prior ($10.5 million) and Mark Teixeira ($9.5 million) from the 2001 draft. Price made his spring training debut against the Yankees, hitting the first batter and striking out the next three in one inning of work. His fastball averaged 98 mph.[citation needed]

Price was first assigned to pitch for the Rays Single-A Vero Beach affiliate. He started six games for Vero Beach, compiling a record of 4–0. He had an ERA of 1.82 with 37 strikeouts in 342⁄3 innings pitched.

In his second start in Vero Beach, Price pitched against Pedro Martínez. After the game, Martínez said of Price:

He's amazing, that kid. He's amazing.... that kid is very mature for his time in [the pros], and very talented. Oh my God. God bless him and keep him healthy. That kid did a hell of a job of throwing first-pitch strikes and pounding the strike zone and jamming hitters. I was watching that. He did it like a big leaguer. He had such a command. Right there, I'm challenging you. I'm going to do what I gotta do without any fear. That's the kind of talent you love to see.[8]

After moving up through the Rays' minor league system to the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits in July, Price was promoted to the Triple-A Durham Bulls on August 9, 2008. After compiling an 11–0 combined record at Single-A and Double-A, Price received his first professional loss in his first start at Triple-A Durham.

Tampa Bay Rays (2008-present)

2008

Price made his major league debut with the Tampa Bay Rays on September 14, 2008, against the Yankees. The first MLB hit he allowed was a home run by Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter; Jeter would later record his 3,000th hit by again homering off Price in 2011. Price pitched 5⅓ innings of relief; he made his first major league start with the Rays on September 22, 2008, against the Baltimore Orioles. He was the winning pitcher in Game 2 of the 2008 ALCS against the Boston Red Sox, earning a post-season victory before winning a regular season game. Price recorded the final four outs in Game 7 of the 2008 ALCS, earning his first career save (regular season or postseason; postseason statistics are recorded separately.) and eliminating the defending champion Red Sox. Price then pitched 2⅓ innings in Game 2 of the 2008 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies; he gave up two earned runs but nevertheless earned his second postseason save. The next day, Price introduced Barack Obama at a campaign rally in Tampa.[9]

2009

On May 30, 2009, Price collected his first major league regular season win in a 5–2 victory over the Minnesota Twins in which he struck out 11 in under 6 innings. He finished the season with a 10–7 record, a 4.42 ERA, 102 strikeouts, and 54 walks in 23 starts.

2010

In the 2010 season, Price was the first American League pitcher to reach 10 wins, on June 15. On that date, he was 10–2 and led the league with a 2.31 ERA. Price was selected as the American League starting pitcher for the 2010 All-Star Game in Anaheim, California.[10]

He finished the 2010 season tied for second in the American League (with Jon Lester) in wins (19) and in third place in ERA (2.72). He was 8th in the league in strikeouts with 188.

He lost Games 1 and 5 of the 2010 American League Division Series against Cliff Lee and the Texas Rangers.

2011

During a game against the Yankees on July 9, 2011, Price allowed a home run to Derek Jeter, which was Jeter's 3,000th career hit. Price finished 2011 with a 12-13 record, 218 strikeouts, and a 3.49 ERA in 34 games started.

2012: Cy Young Award season

The 2012 season for Price was one of his best. He went 20-5 on the season (tying for the league lead in wins) with a league-leading 2.54 ERA, two main reasons why he won the AL Cy Young Award. Price pitched a complete game shutout against the Los Angeles Angels on April 24, 2012, with the final score 5-0.[11] Price pitched in the 2012 MLB All-Star Game. Price got his 20th win against the Chicago White Sox on September 30, making him the first 20-win pitcher in Rays franchise history. In recording the win, he became the youngest American League pitcher (aged 27) to earn 20 wins in a season since 2004.[12]

Scouting report

Price uses a wide variety of pitches and complements them with excellent velocity. Price throws two fastballs in the 94–97 mph range (tops out at 100 mph), a four-seamer and a two-seamer. His two-seamer is his lead pitch against right-handed and left-handed hitters, although he uses it more often against lefties. Price also throws a cutter that averages 90 mph, used mainly against right-handed hitters (especially in 2-strike counts). He rounds out his repertoire with a changeup he uses against right-handed hitters exclusively (83–86) and a spike curveball at 78–81.[13][14]

Price tends to set the pace early in the games, taking 5–7 seconds to pitch the ball once it is returned by the catcher.[2][15]

Select awards and honors

References

  1. ^ David Price wins AL Cy Young in tight race
  2. ^ a b Davidson, Art (July 7, 2007). "On Baseball: Paying the Price". Metrowest Daily News. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  3. ^ Passan, Jeff (June 4, 2007). "Price is right for Rays". Yahoo! Sports News. Retrieved June 12, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Player Bio: Vanderbilt University". Vanderbilt University. Retrieved July 14, 2007.
  5. ^ "Young, Gifted And Black". Sports Illustrated. August 4, 2008. Retrieved May 1, 2010.
  6. ^ [1],
  7. ^ Brooks Wallace Award, College Baseball Foundation. Retrieved October 5, 2009.
  8. ^ a b "Price Wows Pedro in Class A Game". Major League Baseball. May 28, 2008. Retrieved October 10, 2008.
  9. ^ Schwarz, Alan (October 2, 2008). "No Experience Needed for a Tampa Bay Rookie". The New York Times. Retrieved October 29, 2008.
  10. ^ Fabrizio, Tony (June 16, 2010). "Price wins 10th". Tampa Tribune. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
  11. ^ http://tampabay.sbnation.com/tampa-bay-rays/2012/4/25/2973487/david-price-complete-game-shut-out
  12. ^ Chastain, Bill (September 30, 2012). "Price's 20th win keeps Rays in AL Wild Card hunt". Mlb.com. Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  13. ^ "Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool - Player Card: David Price". Brooks Baseball. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
  14. ^ Long, Stacy (May 11, 2009). "Price has new pitch, searching for past success". Biscuit Crumbs. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  15. ^ "2007 Draft Report". MinorLeagueBaseball.com. Retrieved June 12, 2007.
  16. ^ "Price Takes Fourth Roger Clemens Award". Vucommodores.cstv.com. July 11, 2007. Retrieved April 19, 2011.
  17. ^ Graham, Chris (June 30, 2007). "Vanderbilt's Price wins baseball's 'Heisman'". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 30, 2007.
  18. ^ Patton, Maurice (June 14, 2007). "Vanderbilt's Price wins Howser Award". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 30, 2007.
  19. ^ a b Fitt, Aaron (June 15, 2007). "Price's excellence almost defies words". Baseball America. Retrieved June 30, 2007.
  20. ^ a b "Price named ABCA Player of the Year". Vanderbilt University. June 18, 2007. Retrieved June 30, 2007.
  21. ^ "Price Receives Brooks Wallace Award". vucommodores.com. July 4, 2007. Retrieved July 24, 2007.
  22. ^ Fitt, Aaron (June 15, 2007). "College All-America First Team". Baseball America. Retrieved June 30, 2007.
  23. ^ Patton, Maurice (May 31, 2007). "Price named national co-player of the year". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 12, 2007. [dead link]
  24. ^ "NCBWA Announces 2007 Pro-Line Cap All-America Team". National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. June 13, 2007. Retrieved June 30, 2007.
  25. ^ "NCBWA Names 2007 Division I District Players of the Year". National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. June 8, 2007. Retrieved June 30, 2007.
  26. ^ a b c "Price, Abbott Named SEC Athletes of the Year". Southeastern Conference. June 20, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved June 30, 2007.
  27. ^ "Five finalists announced for Golden Spikes Award". ESPN.com. June 1, 2006. Retrieved June 30, 2007.
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