| Aaron Laffey | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Laffey with the Toronto Blue Jays | |||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | |||||||||||||||
| Born: (1985-04-15)April 15, 1985 (age 40) Cumberland, Maryland, U.S. | |||||||||||||||
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |||||||||||||||
| MLB debut | |||||||||||||||
| August 4, 2007, for the Cleveland Indians | |||||||||||||||
| Last MLB appearance | |||||||||||||||
| July 31, 2015, for the Colorado Rockies | |||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics | |||||||||||||||
| Win–loss record | 26–29 | ||||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 4.44 | ||||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 245 | ||||||||||||||
| Stats atBaseball Reference | |||||||||||||||
| Teams | |||||||||||||||
Medals
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Aaron Steven Laffey (born April 15, 1985) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He made hisMajor League Baseball (MLB) debut with theCleveland Indians in 2007. Also, he played in MLB with theSeattle Mariners,New York Yankees,Toronto Blue Jays,New York Mets, andColorado Rockies.
Laffey was drafted out of high school by theCleveland Indians in the 16th round (468th overall) of the2003 Major League Baseball draft.[1][2] He had committed to play college baseball atVirginia Tech, but signed with the Indians on July 1, 2003.[3] He was assigned to begin his professional career with the Rookie-levelBurlington Indians, and went 3–1 in nine games (four starts) whilestriking out 46 in 34 innings pitched.[4] In 2004, while with the Single-AMahoning Valley Scrappers, Laffey went 3–1 with a 1.24ERA in eight starts, which earned him a promotion to the Single-ALake County Captains. With the Captains, he was 3–7 with a 6.53 ERA in 19 games (15 starts).[4] Laffey started the 2005 season with Lake County and went 7–7 with a 3.22 ERA in 25 games (23 starts). He was later called up to the Double-AAkron Aeros for one game in which he picked up thevictory by going five innings and allowing tworuns while striking out six.[4] Laffey started the 2006 season with the Single-A AdvancedKinston Indians, where he posted a 4–1 record with a 2.18 ERA in 10 games (four starts).[4] His performance earned him a promotion to Double-A Akron, where he went 8–3 with a 3.53 ERA in 19 starts.[4] In 2007, Laffey was 4–1 with a 2.31 ERA in six starts with Akron before being promoted to the Triple-ABuffalo Bisons.[4] Before his call up to the majors, he was 7–3 with a 3.28 ERA in 14 games (13 starts) for Buffalo.[5]
On August 4, 2007, Laffey made his major league debut against theMinnesota Twins; he went5+1⁄3 innings while allowing sixhits, three runs, awalk, and three strikeouts in alosing effort.[6] In his second start on August 9, against theChicago White Sox, Laffey picked up his first MLB victory. He went5+2⁄3 innings, allowed six hits, four runs, three walks, and struck out four in the Indians' 7–5 victory.[7][8] On August 10, a day after Laffey's first MLB victory, he was demoted to Triple-A Buffalo.[9] On August 25, Laffey was recalled to pitch against theKansas City Royals.[10] Laffey won again, going six innings and allowing eight hits, two runs, and one walk while striking out four.[11] He made nine total starts with Cleveland in 2007, going 4–2 with a 4.56 ERA.[3]
Laffey went intospring training in 2008 competing for the fifth spot in the rotation. However,Cliff Lee won the job, and Laffey was sent back to Buffalo.[12] He was recalled on April 24 following an injury toJake Westbrook.[13] Laffey was namedAmerican LeagueRookie of the Month for May. Laffey had a 3–2 record and an 0.79 ERA for the month. Opponentsbatted .220 against him in May over a 34-inning span.[14]
On March 2, 2011, Laffey was traded to theSeattle Mariners in exchange for prospect Matt Lawson.[15][16] He was designated for assignment on August 17, after going 1–1 with a 4.01 ERA in42+2⁄3 innings, spanning 36 appearances.[3][17]
Laffey was claimed off waivers by theNew York Yankees on August 19, 2011.[18] Laffey made his debut the next night against theMinnesota Twins. He was designated for assignment the next day to clear a roster spot forAlex Rodriguez,[19][20] though he was placed on optional waivers.[21] Laffey cleared waivers and was sent to the Triple-AScranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.[22] He was called back up to the majors when the rosters expanded in September, and pitched regularly as a reliever through the final weeks of the season. Laffey compiled a 2–1 record and a 3.38 ERA in 11 relief appearances for the Yankees.[3]
Laffey was claimed off waivers by theKansas City Royals on October 11, 2011.[23] He was non-tendered by the Royals on December 12, 2011.[24]
On December 30, 2011, Laffey signed a minor league contract with theToronto Blue Jays.[25] After failing to make the team out of spring training, Laffey had his contract purchased by Toronto on April 8, 2012.[26] However, Laffey was sent back down to the Triple-ALas Vegas 51s on April 14 without having pitched for the Jays.[27]
After pitching for six weeks in Las Vegas (compiling a 2–5 record, and a 4.88 ERA in nine starts), Laffey was again called up to the majors on May 28,[28] but was again sent back down just three days later without having thrown a pitch for the Blue Jays.[29] Laffey made two more starts for Las Vegas (in which he went 1–0) before being called up to the Jays for the third time on June 11.[30] He finally pitched his first game as a Blue Jay on June 13, giving up two runs in three innings of relief work against theWashington Nationals.[31] After several Blue Jays starters were shut down due to injuries, Laffey was added to the Blue Jays' starting rotation in late June.[32] He finished the season with a 4–6 record and a 4.56 ERA in 22 games (16 starts).[3]
On October 4, 2012, Laffey was outrighted to the Blue Jays' Triple-A affiliate, theBuffalo Bisons.[33] He elected free agency that same day.
On December 27, 2012, Laffey signed a minor league contract with theNew York Mets. The deal included an invitation to Major League spring training.[34][35]
Laffey made his first start for the Mets on April 7, going4+1⁄3 innings and giving up threeearned runs, striking out five, and walking one in a 4–3 victory over theMiami Marlins. Laffey received a no-decision for the game.[36] Laffey wasdesignated for assignment on April 21, 2013.[37] He had pitched four games (two starts) for the Mets, earning no decisions and finishing with a 7.20 ERA.[3]
On April 23, 2013, the Blue Jays announced that they had claimed Laffey on waivers.[38] He made his first start for the 2013 Blue Jays on April 26 against the New York Yankees, filling in forJosh Johnson, who was scratched due to a sore right triceps.[39] Laffey pitched2+2⁄3 innings, giving up two earned runs on two hits and walking five batters. He was designated for assignment following the game.[40] The Blue Jays announced on April 29 that Laffey had refused an assignment to theBuffalo Bisons, and had become a free agent.[41]
On April 30, 2013, Laffey signed a minor league contract with theLos Angeles Dodgers.[42] He was assigned to the Triple-AAlbuquerque Isotopes on May 2. In 12 games (11 starts) for the Isotopes, he was 4–3 with a 5.61 ERA.[4] He was released on July 1, 2013.[43]
Laffey signed a minor league contract with theMilwaukee Brewers on July 11, 2013.[44][45] He became a free agent following the season on November 4.[3]
On January 23, 2014, Laffey signed a minor league contract with theBaltimore Orioles.[46] He was released on March 24.[47][48]
Laffey signed a minor league contract withWashington Nationals on March 30, 2014,[49] and spent the entire season with the Triple–ASyracuse Chiefs, compiling a 12–6 record and a 3.67 ERA in 25 games (21 starts).[4] He became a free agent following the season.
Laffey signed a minor league deal with theColorado Rockies on November 22, 2014.[43] He was promoted to the major leagues in 2015, pitching in three games for the team (1–0, 3.68 ERA),[3] and was designated for assignment on July 11, 2015.[50] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-AAlbuquerque Isotopes on July 13. He had his contract selected again on July 28. He was once again designated for assignment on August 1,[51] and cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-AAlbuquerque Isotopes on August 4. He elected free agency following the season on October 14.
On December 19, 2015, Laffey signed a minor league contract to return to theWashington Nationals organization.[52] He spent the 2016 season with the Triple–ASyracuse Nationals, going 6–6 with a 3.82 ERA and 68 strikeouts across 29 games (14 starts).[4] Laffey elected free agency following the season on November 7.[53]
On April 3, 2017, Laffey signed with theSomerset Patriots of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball.[54] In four starts for the Patriots, he went 1–1 while registering a 2.82 ERA with 19 strikeouts in22+1⁄3 innings pitched.[4]
On May 15, 2017, Laffey signed a minor league contract with theArizona Diamondbacks organization.[3] In 21 games (13 starts) with the Triple-A Reno Aces, he recorded a 5.42 ERA with 44 strikeouts across79+2⁄3 innings of work.[4] Laffey elected free agency following the season on November 6.[55]
On April 11, 2018, Laffey signed with theSomerset Patriots of theAtlantic League of Professional Baseball.[56] He made four starts, throwing20+1⁄3 innings and going 2–0 with a 3.10 ERA and 13 strikeouts.[4]
On May 22, 2018, Laffey's contract was purchased by theNew York Mets.[57] On June 6, 2018, following a start for theLas Vegas 51s where he allowed 14 runs (12 earned), Laffey announced his retirement.[58]
Laffey married Jackie Laffey on December 1, 2007, after a three-year engagement.[59][60] They have two sons and a daughter together, Braeden Parker (June 27, 2010),[61][62] Ashton Ryker (November 10, 2011) and Peyton Grace (February 27, 2015).[63]
His secondary pitches include an above-average slider and changeup. He primarily throws an 87-88 mph sinker which classifies him as a ground-ball pitcher.[64]
