| Todd Van Poppel | |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1971-12-09)December 9, 1971 (age 53) Hinsdale, Illinois, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 11, 1991, for the Oakland Athletics | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| October 2, 2004, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 40–52 |
| Earned run average | 5.58 |
| Strikeouts | 711 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Todd Matthew Van Poppel (born December 9, 1971) is an American formerMajor League Baseballpitcher who played for theOakland Athletics (1991,1993–1996),Detroit Tigers (1996),Texas Rangers (1998,2002–2003),Pittsburgh Pirates (1998),Chicago Cubs (2000–2001), andCincinnati Reds (2003–2004). He retired duringspring training with theNew York Mets in2005.
Van Poppel was 11–3 with a 0.97earned run average (ERA) and 170strikeouts as a senior atMartin High School inArlington, Texas. He was drafted in the first round, 14th overall, by the Athletics directly out of high school in the1990 Major League Baseball Draft. TheAtlanta Braves had seriously considered using the first overall selection on Van Poppel. However, when Van Poppel explicitly told the Braves he would not sign with them, the team opted instead to take future Hall of Fame playerChipper Jones.[1]
Van Poppel was the first of fourstarting pitchers selected by the A's in the first 36 picks of the1990 draft, referred to at the time as "The Four Aces". The other three draftees were Don Peters, Dave Zancanaro andKirk Dressendorfer. All four struggled with injuries after being drafted, and only Van Poppel and Dressendorfer ever reached the major leagues.[2]
Because Van Poppel was signed to a major league contract rather than the standard minor league contract, the A's only had a limited number of minor league options they could use on him. By all accounts, his lack of seasoning in the minors cost both the A's and Van Poppel. He pitched just 37.2 innings in Single-A in 1990, spent 1991 at Double-AHuntsville, and was hurt for much of 1992 at Triple-ATacoma before splitting time between Oakland and Tacoma in 1993. In all, he made only 32 minor league starts.[3][4]
Armed with a blazingfastball that had little movement, Van Poppel struggled with the A's. His best season in Oakland was probably 1995, when he went 4–8 with a 4.88 ERA, splitting time as a starter and areliever. He also notched 122 strikeouts (and 56walks) in 138.1 innings that year.
In 1996, his numbers dropped sharply, and he was released by the A's mid-season. After unremarkable stops in Detroit, Texas and Pittsburgh, Van Poppel did have two successful years (2000 and 2001) as a middle reliever with the Cubs, before his effectiveness declined.
Van Poppel's career record was 40–52. He never won more than seven games in a season.
Shortly after his retirement from baseball in 2005, Van Poppel announced he was investing in theDenton Outlaws, aTexas Collegiate League team. The Outlaws went on to win the league championship that year.[5]
Van Poppel's son, Riley Van Poppel, is a defensive lineman for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers football team.[6]
Van Poppel's daughter, Halee, has played volleyball forDallas Baptist University and his son, Tate, has played baseball forMidland College.[6]