| Collin Balester | |
|---|---|
 Balester with the Washington Nationals | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1986-06-06)June 6, 1986 (age 39) Huntington Beach, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: July 1, 2008, for the Washington Nationals | |
| KBO: April 5, 2016, for the Samsung Lions[1] | |
| Last appearance | |
| MLB: October 2, 2015, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| KBO: April 15, 2016, for the Samsung Lions[1] | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 8–17 |
| Earned run average | 5.47 |
| Strikeouts | 157 |
| KBO statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 0–3 |
| Earned run average | 8.03 |
| Strikeouts | 5 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Collin Thomas Balester (born June 6, 1986) is an American former professionalbaseball player. Apitcher, he played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) from 2008 to 2015 for theWashington Nationals,Detroit Tigers, andCincinnati Reds. Balester also played in theKBO League for theSamsung Lions.
Balester grew up inHuntington Beach, California, the son of asurfboard maker. He was drafted by theMontreal Expos in 2004, making his professional debut that year. By 2007, he was considered a topprospect for the newly relocated Nationals, with him participating in that season'sAll-Star Futures Game. On July 1, 2008, he made his MLB debut with the Nationals. He won his debut as a starter, becoming the first Expo or National to do so since 1999. That season, he went on to make 14 starts for Washington, recording a 5.51earned run average (ERA). In 2009, Balester split the year between theTriple-ASyracuse Chiefs and Washington, making a combined 27 starts. Balester was converted into arelief pitcher in 2010, after struggling with Syracuse at the beginning of the year. In both 2010 and 2011, he would continue to split time between Syracuse and Washington. The Nationals traded Balester to Detroit on December 9, 2011, for pitcherRyan Perry.
In 2012, Balester started the season on a major league roster for the first time in his career but wasdesignated for assignment in May. Signed to a minor league deal by theTexas Rangers in 2013, he underwentTommy John surgery midway through the year. It was not until 2015 that he would pitch in the major leagues again, this time for the Reds, with whom he had a 7.47 ERA. He made three starts for the Lions in Korea in 2016 before elbow pain led to his release. After one final professional season in 2017, he and his wife started the Local Roots Juice Co. inPerrysburg, Ohio.
Collin Thomas Balester was born on June 6, 1986, inHuntington Beach, California, the son of Tom and Sally Balester.[2][3] He has two sisters, Lauren (older) and Jenna (younger).[3] His father runs asurfboard shop off of Slater Avenue in Huntington Beach and also makes "Balestar" surfboards, which are sold widely in surf shops. Collin surfed regularly growing up. PlayingLittle League Baseball for the Huntington Valley team, Balester threw a pitch that was recorded at 83 miles per hour (134 km/h), making his father realize that his son might be a major league prospect one day.[4][5]
AtHuntington Beach High School, his velocity had gone down during his senior year, andscouts were saying he might be better off going to college. Balester worked on throwing harder, responding with multipleshutouts towards the end of the season.[4] In his last year at Huntington Beach, he had a 6–4record and a 1.63earned run average (ERA),striking out 63 batters in 64innings pitched.Baseball America was only mildly impressed with his performance, stating that he "didn't dominate".[6]
Balester was drafted by theMontreal Expos in the fourth round of the2004 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft.[7] On July 10, Balester signed with the Expos and was assigned to theRookie-levelGCL Expos.[8] In five games, he had a 1–2 win–loss record, a 2.19 ERA and a 1.014walks plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP).[2]
Before the 2005 season, the Expos relocated toWashington, D.C., and became theWashington Nationals.Baseball America also named Balester the 10th best prospect in the Nationals organization and listed him as having the bestfastball of any minor leaguer in their system.[9] To begin the season, Balester joined theSingle-ASavannah Sand Gnats and made his debut for the club on April 11, giving up just three hits in six innings and being awarded with the win.[10] In a start against theGreensboro Grasshoppers on July 10, Balester allowed just one hit in eight innings of work, promptingGreensboro News & Record columnist Bill Hass to claim that, "The young right-hander [Balester] turned the Hoppers hitters into traffic cones."[11] On July 29, John Manuel ofBaseball America mentioned Balester as a breakout player, along withinfielderKory Casto.[12] In 24 games for Savannah, 23 of which were starts, he went 8–6 with a 3.67 ERA, and a 1.176 WHIP.[2] After the season,Baseball America listed Balester as the second-best prospect in the Nationals system, behindthird basemanRyan Zimmerman.[13]
Balester began the 2006 season with the High-APotomac Nationals, where he got off to a bad start, going 1–3 with a 6.91 in nine starts. On the bad start, Balester said, "It kind of has been hard. I did so well last year. I think it's going to be good for me that I am failing a little bit more so that I know how to fail. I know I can use this in the future." He also added that, "I get way too high expectations for myself and I've got to realize I am only 19 years old."[14] In late August, after going 4–5 with a 5.20 ERA and a 1.521 WHIP in 22 starts for Potomac,[2] Balester was called up toDouble-AHarrisburg. According toThe Washington Times, Balester had already booked a flight home to Huntington Beach, expecting not to receive a call-up to Double-A.[15] In three starts for Harrisburg, he went 1–0 with a 1.83 ERA.[2]
In 2007, he was named the top prospect in the entire Nationals organization.[16] Balester started the season with Harrisburg.[17] On July 7, Balester was named to the Team USA roster for theAll-Star Futures Game atAT&T Park.[18] The following week, he was called up to theTriple-AColumbus Clippers.[19] In his eagerness to join the Clippers, he got a speeding ticket while driving to Columbus from Harrisburg.[4] In 17 starts for Harrisburg, he went 2–7 with a 3.74 ERA, which theOrange County Register called "middling numbers".[4][19] In 10 starts for the Clippers, he went 2–3 with a 4.18 ERA.[2] After the season, there were rumors that the Nationals could trade him to theTampa Bay Devil Rays in exchange foroutfielderElijah Dukes.[20] The Nationals did trade for Dukes in December, but they sent Glenn Gibson to the Devil Rays instead of Balester.[21]
Balester began the 2008 season with Columbus, going 9–3 with a 4.00 ERA in 15 starts for the club.[2] He was called up by the Nationals on June 30,[22] and he made his MLB debut the following day against theFlorida Marlins. He pitched five innings, striking out three and allowing one hit in a 9–6 Nationals win. With the win, he became the first Nationals starter to win his debut sinceDan Smith did in 1999, when the team was still playing in Montreal.[23] He started 14 more games for the Nationals, going 3–7 with a 5.51 ERA.[24]
Inspring training 2009, Balester was part of a battle withJordan Zimmermann andShairon Martis for one of the final two spots in the Nationalsstarting rotation.[25] After going 1–1 with a 6.75 ERA during spring training, he was reassigned to the minors on March 28, but he remained a part of the organization's long-term plans. Over the offseason, the Nationals had switched minor league affiliations, and Balester joined their new Triple-A affiliate, theSyracuse Chiefs.[5][26] On July 23, after Zimmermann was placed on the 15-daydisabled list with elbow pain, Balester was called up to take his place in the rotation.[27] On August 25, the Nationals signedLiván Hernández fromfree agency and, to make room on the roster, optioned Balester to Triple-A. In seven starts for the Nationals in 2009, he went 1–4 with a 6.82 ERA.[28] After returning to Syracuse, Balester strained a muscle on his left side, ending his season.[29] In 20 total starts with the Chiefs, he went 7–10 with a 4.44 ERA.[2]
On March 15, 2010, Balester was sent to minor league training camp, ensuring that he would start the 2010 season in Syracuse.[30] Balester recorded an 11.65 ERA in his first five starts for the Chiefs, prompting the Nationals to send him to extended spring training to begin the process of converting him to a relief pitcher.[31] On July 24, Balester was called up by the Nationals to replaceLuis Atilano, who had been placed on the disabled list with floating bone chips in his elbow.[32] That day, Balester came into the game to replaceJ. D. Martin and hitMilwaukee Brewers second basemanRickie Weeks in the head with a fastball.[33] Nine days later, Balester again hit a batter in the head. This time, it wasArizona Diamondbacks third basemanMark Reynolds. Neither batter suffered a serious injury, but Balester still commented that, "You don't want to do that kind of stuff. It's the second time I did that, but it's one of those things you never want to have happen in your career. It's obviously unintentional. It's not a good situation to be in."[34] On August 8, Balester was optioned back to Syracuse,[35] only to be recalled on August 24, whenStephen Strasburg was placed on the disabled list.[36] However, a day later, he was sent back down to Triple-A.[37] Balester was recalled again for a third time on September 5.[38] In 35 total games for Syracuse, he went 3–3 with a 5.87 ERA,[2] while in 17 games for Washington, he went 0–1 with a 2.57 ERA.[24]
In 2011, Balester was optioned again to Triple-A Syracuse to begin the season.[39] On April 17, after throwing five scoreless innings in his first outing of the year, he was called up to replaceTodd Coffey, who had been placed on the disabled list.[40] He was optioned back to Syracuse on April 24, after making two appearances, allowing three runs.[41] AfterTom Gorzelanny was placed on the disabled list on May 28, Balester was recalled by the Nationals.[42] At the time of his call-up, he had made 13 appearances with a 3.71 ERA and struck out 18 batters for Syracuse.[2] He spent just one day with Washington as he was optioned back to Triple-A the next day without making an appearance,[43] however, he was recalled again on June 15. He wasdesignated for assignment on July 5. In eight games with the Nationals, he had a 4.61 ERA and a 1.683 WHIP.[44] He was re-added to the 40-man roster on July 7, after the Nationals secured optionalwaivers for him, meaning they could take him off waivers, should a team try to claim him.[45] On August 2, he was recalled by the Nationals, replacingAtahualpa Severino on the 25-man roster.[46] He spent the rest of the season in the bullpen for the Nationals.[47][48] In 23 games, he had a 1–4 record, a 4.54 ERA, and 34 strikeouts in35+2⁄3 innings.[24] On December 9, Washington traded Balester to theDetroit Tigers forRyan Perry.[49]
In 2012, Balester made the Tigers'Opening Day roster as a relief pitcher, marking the first time in his career that he started a season in the major leagues.[50] He picked up wins on April 12 and May 15, both times relieving a starting pitcher who had failed to make it through five innings.[51] However, he was designated for assignment by Detroit on May 23 to make room forQuintin Berry on the roster.[52] In 11 games with the Tigers, he had posted a 2–0 record, a 6.50 ERA, 12 strikeouts, and 11 walks in 18 innings.[24] Balester spent the rest of the season with the Triple-AToledo Mud Hens, posting a 1–1 record, a 3.64 ERA, 45 strikeouts, and 47 innings pitched in 31 relief outings.[2][51] He was granted free agency on November 2.[24]
Balester signed with theTexas Rangers on November 28, 2012.[24] He was assigned to the Triple-ARound Rock Express to begin the 2013 season.[2] He began the year in Round Rock's rotation, but after allowing six runs in3+2⁄3 innings in a start against theIowa Cubs on April 30, he was placed on the disabled list.[53] On June 6, Balester underwentTommy John surgery, ending his season.[54] In six games (five starts), he had posted a 1–4 record, a 7.33 ERA, and 22 strikeouts in 27 innings.[2] On November 5, he became a free agent.[24]
Balester signed a minor league contract with thePittsburgh Pirates on November 20, 2013.[24] Although he was initially assigned to the Triple-AIndianapolis Indians, Balester opened the season on the disabled list and did not start pitching until he underwent a rookie-level rehab assignment. On July 31, he joined the Double-AAltoona Curve.[47] In 10 relief appearances, he had a 1–4 record, a 6.55 ERA, and 10 strikeouts in 11 innings pitched.[2] After the season, he pitched in three games for theVenados de Mazatlán of theMexican Pacific League.[2]
In 2015, Balester split the first part of the season between Altoona and Indianapolis.[47] In 13 games with Altoona, he had a 1–0 record, 4 saves, a 1.77 ERA, and 14 strikeouts in20+1⁄3 innings pitched. With Indianapolis in 8 games, he had no record, a 3.07 ERA, and 8 strikeouts in14+2⁄3 innings pitched.[2] On June 19, Balester was traded to theCincinnati Reds for cash.[24]
Balester began his Reds tenure with the Triple-ALouisville Bats. He had no record, seven saves, a 2.05 ERA, and 13 strikeouts in 21 games for the Bats.[2] On August 23, the Reds purchased Balester's contract whenManny Parra went on the disabled list with shoulder trouble and biceps tendinitis. "The last two (years), I've thought: 'Man, am I going to get back?' ... To get back today was a big thing for me," Balester said.[55] He pitched in his first MLB game in three years that same day, then got his first win in three years on August 24, pitching two scoreless innings as the Reds scored 10 runs in the sixth inning to come from behind and beat the Tigers, 12–5. "It was unbelievable – it was the best inning I'd ever seen," Balester said of the offensive outburst.[56][57] He remained with the Reds for the rest of the season.[56] In his final outing of the year, against the Pirates atPNC Field on October 2, Balester entered a tied game in the 11th and took the loss in the 12th when he gave up a two-run,walk-off home run toStarling Marte.[56][58] Balester posted a 1–1 record, a 7.47 ERA, 13 strikeouts, and 13 walks in 15 appearances (15+2⁄3 innings pitched).[24] He was sent outright to Triple-A on October 30. He elected free agency on November 4.[24]
For the 2016 season, Balester was signed by theSamsung Lions of theKBO League. He did not pitch much for them, experiencing a sore right elbow early in the season.[59] He lost all three of his starts for the Lions, recording an 8.03 ERA in the process.[2] The Lions released him on May 18, and Balester considered retirement.[60][59]
After moving toPerrysburg, Ohio, Balester starting throwing a baseball again in November. The elbow pain which had plagued him earlier in 2016 was gone, so he decided to make a comeback.[59] On December 20, 2016, he signed a minor league contract with the Tigers.[61] Failing to make the team, he was released on March 29, 2017.[24] On April 19, he signed with theWichita Wingnuts of the independentAmerican Association.[62] He was released on May 4, before the start of the Wingnuts' spring training, when the Wingnuts signed Danny Moskovits.[62][63]
On May 6, 2017, Balester signed a minor league contract with theSan Francisco Giants.[64] He was assigned to the Double-ARichmond Flying Squirrels on May 22.[47] In 12 games (1 start), he had a 1–4 record, a 2.75 ERA, 21 strikeouts, and 3 walks in19+2⁄3 innings.[2] On July 18, he was temporarily assigned to the Single-ASalem-Keizer Volcanoes, but he did not make any appearances with them before getting assigned to the Triple-ASacramento River Cats on July 22.[47] In 14 games, he had a 1–0 record, a 5.79 ERA, 25 strikeouts, and 7 walks in23+1⁄3 innings.[2] The Giants did not call him up at the end of the year. He became a free agent on November 6 and has not pitched professionally since.[47][65]
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Balester threw three pitches: afastball, acurveball, and acutter. His fastball was his primary pitch, which he threw over 60 percent of the time. It averaged 93 miles per hour (150 km/h) in the major leagues, topping out at 95 miles per hour (153 km/h).[66] He tended to throw his curveball anywhere from 20 to 30 percent of the time, though in 2010 he threw it 35.5 percent of the time. It averaged 78 miles per hour (126 km/h). Though he resorted to the changeup 14.8 percent of the time in 2008, Balester usually threw it less than three percent of the time with the Nationals. It averaged 84.9 miles per hour (136.6 km/h).[67] His back leg tended to drop too low while he was throwing pitches.[59]
Earlier in his professional career, Balester used to yell at umpires when he did not like a call, but he had become more docile by 2007. "I think I’ve made some progress, especially on the emotional side. When they make a bad call now I just sort of turn my back and walk to the other side of the mound. It’s the type of thing that got me in trouble before," he said that year.[4]
Balester married Ashley Sterling in 2009.[3][68] They have multiple children.[69] Ashley was from Ohio originally, and in 2016, the Balesters moved toPerrysburg, Ohio. They started Local Roots Juice Co., which sells healthy smoothies, cold-pressed juices, and snacks.[59][69] Balester's sister, Jenna, won several surfing competitions growing up.[4] At various times with the Nationals, he had a mustache. He re-grew it in November 2010 forMovember, as part of an effort to educate people about cancers affecting men. None of his family had been affected by such cancer, yet Balester wanted to be part of the cause.[68]
· Baseball Almanac
