TheHouston Astros selected Foltynewicz in the first round of the2010 MLB draft. He played in the minor leagues until he was called up to the Astros in August 2014. The Astros traded Foltynewicz to the Braves before the 2015 season. He appeared in theAll-Star Game in 2018. He wasdesignated for assignment by the Braves in 2020.
Foltynewicz grew up in Illinois and wanted to be a major league player from an early age. He grew up aSt. Louis Cardinals fan.[2] He says that his parents, Gary and Cindy Foltynewicz, both developed elbow problems one summer due to throwing him so many pitches during batting practice.[3] He graduated in 2010 fromMinooka High School inMinooka, Illinois.[4]
In 2012, Foltynewicz was the Astros Minor League Pitcher of the Year after going 14–4 with a 3.14earned run average (ERA) and 125strikeouts in 152innings pitched.[9][10] The next season, Foltynewicz pitched seven games (five starts) for the Class A AdvancedLancaster JetHawks and earned a 1–0 record with a 3.81 ERA. He finished the season with the Class AACorpus Christi Hooks, starting 16 of 23 games on the way to a 5–3 record, a 2.87 ERA and three saves.[11]
Foltynewicz was called up to the Astros on August 1, 2014. His first appearance was against theToronto Blue Jays on August 2. At the time of his promotion, Foltynewicz had a 7–7 record with a 5.08 ERA at Class AAA Oklahoma City, where he registered 100 strikeouts in102+2⁄3 innings.[12] He was listed by bothESPN andBaseball America as the fourth-best prospect in the Houston system.[3] Though he was a starting pitcher in Oklahoma City, Astros general managerJeff Luhnow said that the team would use Foltynewicz out of the bullpen for the rest of the 2014 season.[12] In 2014 for the Astros he was 0–1with an ERA of 5.30 in 16 relief appearances.[11]
The Astros traded Foltynewicz,Andrew Thurman, andRio Ruiz to theAtlanta Braves in exchange forEvan Gattis andJames Hoyt on January 14, 2015.[1][13] He was invited to spring training and sent down to the Triple–AGwinnett Braves on April 4.[14] Through his first four starts with Gwinnett, Foltynewicz posted a 2.08 ERA over 21.2 innings with 30 strikeouts and 10 walks. On April 30, third basemanChris Johnson was moved to the 15-daydisabled list, allowing room for the Braves to call up Foltynewicz to replace strugglingTrevor Cahill in the starting rotation.[15][16] Foltynewicz made his Braves debut on May 1 against theCincinnati Reds, earning his first career win over five innings pitched, allowing two earned runs. On the same night, Folynewicz also recorded his first career hit, a double that scored two runs.[17] Foltynewicz was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on June 17 after seeing his ERA rise to 5.19 in his previous three starts.[18][19] He was recalled on July 7, after utility playerJoey Terdoslavich was optioned to Gwinnett.[20] He served as an extra reliever in Atlanta's bullpen during the final games before the All Star break. On July 12, after the final game of the first half, he was optioned back to Gwinnett.[21] Foltynewicz was recalled on July 30 to make a spot start forManny Banuelos.[22] He began to fall ill on August 18,[23] and was first diagnosed withcostochondritis in September,[24] which soon developed into pneumonia.[25][26] On September 19, Foltynewicz suffered a further setback, and was diagnosed withblood clots in his pitching arm.[27] Two days later, Foltynewicz underwent arib resection to remove the anterior half of hisfirst rib to deal with the clots.[28] As a result of the surgery, he lost approximately 20 pounds (9.1 kg).[29] In 2015 for Atlanta he was 4–6 with an ERA of 5.71.[30]
Foltynewicz contended for a rotation spot in spring training in 2016. The Braves eventually assigned him to Gwinnett at the end of March to give him more time to recover from surgery.[31] Foltynewicz was recalled on May 1 to replaceBud Norris in the rotation.[32] Foltynewicz made his season debut the next day, taking a loss against theNew York Mets.[33] He returned to the disabled list on June 4 with abone spur in his elbow.[34] Foltynewicz was reactivated on June 29, as the Braves' rotation was beset by injuries to other pitchers.[35]
On June 30, 2017, against theOakland Athletics, Foltynewicz took ano hitter into the ninth inning; however, he allowed a home run to the leadoff man and was pulled after the home run. He finished having allowed one run on one hit with four walks and eight strikeouts over eight plus innings.[36][37] In 2017 for Atlanta he was 10–13 with an ERA of 4.79.[38]
Foltynewicz pitching for the Braves during his all-star season in 2018
Foltynewicz was eligible for arbitration prior to the start of the 2018 season. He was awarded a $2.2 million salary.[38] During spring training, Foltynewicz pitched primarily from a modifiedset position, to help mitigate struggles he had faced in previous seasons.[39] On June 1, 2018, Foltynewicz pitched his first career complete game and shutout against theWashington Nationals. He struck out eleven batters and walked two.[40] He was named to the2018 MLB All-Star Game after owning a 6–5 record and a 2.37 ERA over his first 17 starts of the season.[41] Foltynewicz made his final start of the 2018 season against the Philadelphia Phillies on September 28. He pitched five innings and struck out nine batters, becoming the first Braves pitcher sinceJavier Vázquez in 2009 to strike out 200 batters in a season.[42] Foltynewicz started game one of the2018 National League Division Series against theLos Angeles Dodgers. He pitched two innings, yielding four runs on three hits and striking out five batters while walking three.[43] He returned to start the fourth game of the series, allowing one run in four innings pitched.[44]
Foltynewicz and the Braves agreed to a one-year contract worth $5.475 million for 2019 without going to arbitration.[45] Due to his marked improvement in 2018,[46] Foltynewicz was regarded as the Braves' ace to start the 2019 season.[47][48] After a single start in spring training,[49] Foltynewicz reported elbow discomfort.[50] Foltynewicz's recovery took place slowly throughout March, without setbacks.[51][52] Due to the elbow injury, Foltynewicz was unable to make the Braves' Opening Day start in 2019,[52] which instead went toJulio Teherán.[53] Foltynewicz was sent to Triple-A for rehabilitation,[54] where he started theGwinnett Stripers' first game of 2019, pitching five no-hit innings.[55][56] Foltynewicz returned from the injured list on April 27, 2019, and made his season debut against theColorado Rockies.[57] He was optioned to theGwinnett Stripers on June 23 after pitching to a 2–5 record with a 6.37 ERA over 11 starts.[58][59] On August 6, Foltynewicz replacedKevin Gausman in the starting rotation and faced theMinnesota Twins.[60][61] He pitched into the sixth inning, and the Braves won the game 12–7.[62] From his return in August to the end of the regular season, Foltynewicz made ten starts, with a 2.65 ERA.[63] He pitched in two games against theSt. Louis Cardinals in the2019 National League Division Series, winning game two,[64] and losing game five.[65]
Prior to the 2020 season, Foltynewicz and the Braves agreed to a one-year contract worth $6.425 million, without utilizing the salary arbitration process.[66] Foltynewicz struggled in his first start of 2020 against theTampa Bay Rays, giving up six runs, including back-to-back home runs toHunter Renfroe andJoey Wendle, in three innings of work. Following the game, the Braves designated Foltynewicz for assignment, as he was out of minor league options.[67][68] Subsequently, on July 30, Foltynewicz was outrighted.[69] He became a free agent on November 2, 2020.[70][71]
On February 10, 2021, Foltynewicz agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with theTexas Rangers.[72][73] With Texas in 2021, he posted a 2–12 record with a 5.44 ERA and 97 strikeouts over 139 innings pitched.[74] On October 9, Foltynewicz elected free agency.[75]
During the 2017 season, Foltynewicz began holding Folty's Fridays, a community outreach initiative meant to engage children.[76]
He is married to Brittany Wortmann.[76][77] The couple's first child, a son, was born in February 2018.[78] In 2022, Wortmann accused Foltynewicz ofdomestic abuse andadultery and said that she and Foltynewicz were separating.[79]
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