| Jeremy Bonderman | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bonderman with the Detroit Tigers | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1982-10-28)October 28, 1982 (age 43) Kennewick, Washington, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 2, 2003, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 21, 2013, for the Detroit Tigers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 69–81 |
| Earned run average | 4.91 |
| Strikeouts | 961 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Jeremy Allen Bonderman (born October 28, 1982) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. Bonderman played inMajor League Baseball for theDetroit Tigers andSeattle Mariners from 2003 to 2010 and in 2013.
Bonderman attendedPasco High School inPasco, Washington.[1][2] In his last year of high schoolbaseball, he went 5–2 and recorded a 3.60earned run average (ERA). He is the only high school junior ever to bedrafted with a first round pick in baseball history.[3] He had passed hisGED tests and successfully petitionedMajor League Baseball (MLB) to become draft-eligible.[4]
TheOakland Athletics selected Bonderman out of high school with the 26th pick in the2001 Major League Baseball draft, a selection that, according to Michael Lewis'sMoneyball, caused Athletics general managerBilly Beane to throw a chair through a wall in fury.[5]
On July 6, 2002, Bonderman was involved in a three-team deal. The Athletics had sentCarlos Peña, aplayer to be named later (who later became Bonderman), andFranklyn Germán to the Detroit Tigers. TheNew York Yankees sentTed Lilly,John-Ford Griffin, and Jason Arnold to the Athletics. The Tigers sentJeff Weaver to the Yankees and cash to the Athletics.
Bonderman debuted in the major leagues when he was 20 years old. His major league debut came against theMinnesota Twins, who scored sixruns in four innings. In his rookie campaign of2003, the Tigers finished with the second-worst record in MLB history at 43–119 and came close to being the first team with two pitchers who each lost 20 games in a season sinceWilbur Wood andStan Bahnsen with the1973 Chicago White Sox.[6][7] With a 6–18 record, he was removed from the starting rotation by managerAlan Trammell on September 3.[8] One night afterMike Maroth lost his 21st of the year,[9] Bonderman was reinstated into the rotation but cemented a 6–19 record as the losing pitcher in his last decision of the season in a 6–2 defeat to the Twins at theMetrodome on September 19.[7] The next season, Bonderman went 11–13 with a 4.89 ERA. In 2005, he had a 14–13 record and a 4.57 ERA. Bonderman was the TigersOpening Day starter for the 2005 season.
In 2006 Bonderman finished with a 14–8 record, his career best and posted a 4.08 ERA. He started game four of the2006 American League Division Series against the Yankees. He pitched five perfect innings before giving up ahit. He then pitched 31⁄3 more innings, surrendering only one run. Bonderman was thewinning pitcher in the game that gave the Tigers the series. He pitched again in game four of the2006 American League Championship Series, pitching six innings and giving up three runs. The Tigers would go on to win the game and series for theAmerican League Pennant. In theWorld Series, he pitched six innings giving up two runs. He left the game with the Tigers in the lead. However, the Tigers would ultimately lose the game, as well as the series the following day.
In 2007, Bonderman had the best start of his career, but after the all-star break he struggled only winning four games, finishing 11–9 with a 5.01 ERA. He finished second in the 2007 All-Star Game Final vote.[10]
Bonderman missed most of the 2008 season because he had procedures done to remove ablood clot in hisaxillary vein.[11]
On June 13, 2009, five days after his only start of the season, Bonderman was placed on the disabled list indefinitely because of recurring pain in his pitching shoulder.[12]
Bonderman started 29 games for the Tigers in 2010, going 8–10 with a league-worst 5.53 ERA. Following the season, he was granted free agency. Bonderman remained unsigned through the 2011 season.
On December 21, 2012, Bonderman signed a minor league contract with theSeattle Mariners. The deal included an invitation to spring training. He made his first start for the major league club on June 2, and took the loss in a 10–0 win by theMinnesota Twins. On June 7, in his second start, he pitched three-hit ball for six innings to beat theNew York Yankees and earn his first win since 2010.[13] He wasdesignated for assignment on July 8, 2013, following consecutive poor starts.[14] He elected free agency on July 11.
On July 14, 2013, Bonderman was signed to a minor league deal bringing him back to Detroit, playing for theTriple-AToledo Mud Hens.[15] On August 5, Bonderman was recalled from the Mud Hens, to join the Tigers bullpen.[16] In his first appearance back with Detroit, Bonderman pitched three innings of scoreless relief in the Tigers 6–5 victory over theCleveland Indians, to earn his first career victory in relief. He became a free agent following the season.
Bonderman threw four pitches, relying primarily on atwo-seam fastball at 89–93 mph. His other pitches included aslider at 80–82 mph, afour-seam fastball at 89–92 mph, achangeup at 85–88 mph, and rarely acutter at 86 mph.[17]
Bonderman resides inPasco, Washington with his wife Amber and their two children.
