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Jay Witasick

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Jay Witasick
Pitcher
Born: (1972-08-28) August 28, 1972 (age 52)
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 7, 1996, for the Oakland Athletics
Last MLB appearance
September 26, 2007, for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
MLB statistics
Win–loss record32–41
Earned run average4.64
Strikeouts645
Teams

Gerald Alphonse "Jay" Witasick Jr. (/wɪˈtɑːsɪk/; born August 28, 1972) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched all or parts of 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1996 to 2007, primarily as a relief pitcher.

High school and college

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Witasick attended C. Milton Wright High School (Bel Air, Maryland) and Brevard Community College (Melbourne, Florida) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.[1][2][3] He also played in the Maryland Semi-Professional Baseball League All-Star Game in 1991.[4]

Professional career

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Witasick was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2nd round of the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft.[5] He made his MLB debut on July 7, 1996 as a member of the Oakland Athletics against the California Angels. In 1997 and 1998, he spent time with the Athletics in spring training.[6][7][8] In his first three seasons with Oakland, he made a combined 27 appearances.

In 1999, Witasick was traded to the Kansas City Royals for a player to be named, Scott Chiasson, and was mainly used as a starter.[9][10] In 32 appearances, 28 starts, Witasick was 9–12 with a 5.57 ERA in 158+1⁄3 innings. He struck out 102 and walked 83 batters. He began the following season with the Royals before being traded to the San Diego Padres for Brian Meadows.[11][12][13] Overall between the two teams, Witasick was 6–10 with a 5.82 ERA in 150 innings. In 2001, he was converted into a reliever full time, and was traded midseason by the Padres to the New York Yankees for D'Angelo Jiménez.[14] In a career high 63 appearances between both teams, he was 8–2 with 106 strikeouts in 79 innings. During the 2001 World Series, he appeared in one game, Game 6, in which he tied Grover Cleveland Alexander for the most earned runs allowed in a game in the Fall Classic—8 ER, in just 1+1⁄3 innings.[15] In December 2001, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for John Vander Wal.[16][17] In 44 appearances for the Giants, he was 0–1 with a 2.37 ERA. In 68+1⁄3 innings, he struck out 54. In December 2002, he signed a two-year deal to return to the San Diego Padres.[18][19]

He missed most of the 2003 season with a strained tendon in his elbow,[20][21][22] appearing in only 46 games. He was 3–7 with a 4.53 ERA. In his second season, he rebounded with a 3.21 ERA in 44 games. He was a free agent after the season and signed a one-year deal with the Colorado Rockies.[23] In 32 games with the Rockies, he was 0–4 with a 2.52 ERA before being traded to the Oakland A's in a deal that sent Eric Byrnes to the Rockies.[24] After the deal, he was 1–1 in 27+2⁄3 innings. After the 2005 season ended, Witasick signed a two-year contract to remain with the Athletics.[25][26]

He spent the majority of the 2006 season on the disabled list with a left ankle injury.[27][28] On June 2, 2007, Witasick was designated for assignment by the A's and released on June 7.[29][30][31] On June 12, he was signed to a one-year deal by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.[32][33] On October 25, 2007, the Devil Rays released him,[34][35][36] ending his professional playing career.

Post-playing career

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Witasick joined the Harford Community College baseball team as an assistant coach for the 2008 season.[37] He remained with Hartford as pitching coach through at least the 2011 season.[38] While coaching, Witasick also worked for TWC Sports Management,[39] and later became a sports agent and represented Terrance Gore.[40]

References

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  1. ^ McMullen, Paul (May 21, 1992). "UMBC's tournament run is staff by fewer walks". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  2. ^ Zizzo, Mike (February 4, 1991). "TITANS HAVE WEALTH OF TALENT ON HAND TO USE". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  3. ^ Dunn, Katherine (June 20, 1992). "With visions of big leagues". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  4. ^ Amoss, Craig (July 6, 1991). "EVERYONE PITCHES IN TO LEAD NORTH SEMI-PROS TO WIN". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  5. ^ Rocca, Lawrence (June 5, 1993). "THREE AREA PLAYERS DRAFTED". Washington Post. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  6. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. March 22, 1997. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  7. ^ Bush, Dave (March 3, 1998). "A's NOTEBOOK / Witasick Makes Strong Pitch". SFGate. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  8. ^ Blackman, Frank (March 5, 1998). "Witasick enters the picture". Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  9. ^ Blackman, Frank (June 10, 1999). "Fast start proves good enough". SFGate. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  10. ^ Chapin, Dwight (September 18, 1999). "A's night of the living dread". SFGate. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  11. ^ "Meadows hurls Royals 9-3- victory over Twins". Brainerd Dispatch. Associated Press. August 16, 2000. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  12. ^ "Padres swap Meadows for Witasick". United Press International. July 31, 2000. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  13. ^ Freeman, Rick (August 1, 2000). "Trade Now, Reap Harvest In the Fall". Washington Post. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  14. ^ "Padres send Witasick to Yanks". Deseret News. Associated Press. June 24, 2001. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  15. ^ "Revisiting Jay Witasick's meltdown in Game 6 of the 2001 World Series". Yardbarker. May 3, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
  16. ^ "Yankees unload Witasick to Giants". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 13, 2001. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  17. ^ Schulman, Henry (December 14, 2001). "Giants deal for Witasick / Vander Wal sent to Yanks in return". SFGate. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  18. ^ "Padres welcome back Witasick". CBC. December 24, 2002. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  19. ^ Lynch, Frank (February 22, 2003). "Witasick on deck for fresh start with Padres". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  20. ^ Fream, Jim (April 13, 2003). "Home Runs Are Up In First Week". The Ledger. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  21. ^ "Padres Release Cordova, Claim Matthews". Huron Daily Tribune. March 25, 2003. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  22. ^ Britt, Steve (April 4, 2003). "Coping with bullpens in crisis". South Coast Today. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  23. ^ Hunt, David (April 27, 2005). "Rockies call up Mohr and Witasick and send two down to minors". KUSA (TV). Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  24. ^ Renck, Troy E. (July 13, 2005). "Rockies play trading game". Denver Post. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  25. ^ Renck, Troy E. (November 1, 2005). "Rox miss out on Witasick". Denver Post. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  26. ^ "A's decline Hatteberg's option, sign Witasick, hire hitting coach". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 1, 2005. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  27. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. April 15, 2006. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  28. ^ "Diamond Notes: Bonds' conviction difficult?". Milford Daily News. April 15, 2006. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  29. ^ Slusser, Susan (June 4, 2007). "Team gives Witasick release he requested". SFGate. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  30. ^ "Witasick is taken off roster". East Bay Times. June 4, 2007. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  31. ^ "Tampa Bay signs relief pitcher Witasick". Ocala Star Banner. Associated Press. June 13, 2007. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  32. ^ "Rays Sign Reliever For 7th-Inning Role". The Ledger. July 13, 2007. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  33. ^ "Devil Rays sign Witasick". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 17, 2007. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  34. ^ "BASEBALL NOTEBOOK: Phillies hire ex-Rays GM LaMar". Herald-Tribune. October 26, 2007. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  35. ^ "World Series result, schedule; transactions". Columbus Dispatch. October 26, 2007. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  36. ^ Jackson, Tony (October 27, 2007). "MLB NOTEBOOK Girardi unlikely to replace Little; around the leagues". Daily Breeze. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  37. ^ "Harford Community College Profile". Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2009.
  38. ^ Alvanitakis, John (August 6, 2011). "Harford Community College signs four county baseball stars". Perry County Times. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  39. ^ "Mind Over Matter – Jay Witasick '93". University of Maryland Baltimore County. August 6, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  40. ^ Lee, Joon (October 1, 2022). "'I'm trying to catch Tom Brady': How Terrance Gore's unusual career got him three rings ... and counting". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
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