| Mike MacDougal | |
|---|---|
 MacDougal with the Washington Nationals | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1977-03-05)March 5, 1977 (age 48) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | |
Batted: Switch Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 22, 2001, for the Kansas City Royals | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| April 30, 2012, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 18–23 |
| Earned run average | 4.00 |
| Strikeouts | 325 |
| Saves | 71 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Robert Meiklejohn MacDougal (born March 5, 1977) is an American former professionalbaseball player who was arelief pitcher. He is aswitch hitter and throws right-handed. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theKansas City Royals,Chicago White Sox,Washington Nationals,St. Louis Cardinals andLos Angeles Dodgers.
His pitch selection include a fastball in the 95-98 mph range, aslider,curve, and achangeup used only occasionally.[1]
Born inLas Vegas, Nevada, MacDougal graduated fromMesa High School inMesa, Arizona,[2] and attendedWake Forest University, where he pitched for theWake Forest Demon Deacons baseball team. In 1997, he playedcollegiate summer baseball for theCotuit Kettleers of theCape Cod Baseball League, was named a league all-star,[3] and returned to the league in 1998 to play with theChatham A's.[4]
He was selected in the 22nd round (651st overall) of the1996 Major League Baseball draft and the 17th round of the1998 Major League Baseball draft by theBaltimore Orioles, but did not sign on either occasion.[5][6]
Following his senior season at Wake Forest, MacDougal was drafted by theKansas City Royals in the first round (25th overall) of the1999 Major League Baseball draft, as a compensation pick from theBoston Red Sox for the signing ofJosé Offerman.[7] He signed on July 1, 1999.
MacDougal made his major league debut as astarting pitcher, but suffered a fractured skull late in the2001 season when he was struck in the head by a bat that had escaped from the hand ofCarlos Beltrán. He lost feeling in his right arm and was unable to pitch for three months.[8] In2003, the Royals turned him into acloser. That season, he was 3–5 with 27saves and a 4.08 ERA in 68 relief appearances.[9] He also made theAmerican League All-Star team for the only time in his career.[9]
MacDougal struggled withflu-like symptoms inspring training in2004, causing him to lose weight and, as a result, to lose velocity off hisfastball, which had been clocked as high as 103 miles per hour. He lost his job as the Royals' closer toJeremy Affeldt and spent much of the 2004 season in theminor leagues.[10] However, early in2005, he was reinstalled as the closer after Affeldt himself was injured.[11]
MacDougal battled injuries again in2006, starting the season on theDL and not returning to the field until mid-July.[12] After only about a week after his first appearance of the year, he was traded to theChicago White Sox for minor-league pitchersTyler Lumsden andDan Cortes on July 24, 2006.[13]
The addition of MacDougal was to be a move to bolster the White Sox bullpen as they vied for playoff contention, and while the team ended up missing the playoffs, MacDougal was quite effective in his 25 appearances, going 1–1 with an ERA of 1.80.[9] Combining his appearances with both teams, he finished the year with a 1.55ERA.[9]
MacDougal's 2006 performance earned him a new three-year, $6.45 million deal with the White Sox on December 8, 2006.[14] However, he was not able to carry his success from the end of the 2006 season into2007. MacDougal finished the season 2–5 with a 6.80 ERA in 54 relief appearances.[9] He also spent more time on the DL with right-shoulder inflammation,[15] and was also optioned to the Triple-ACharlotte Knights in June due to his struggles.[16]
On April 21, 2009, MacDougal was designated for assignment by the White Sox,[17] and was released on April 29.[18]
MacDougal signed a minor league deal with theWashington Nationals on May 3, 2009.[19] On December 12, 2009, MacDougal was non-tendered by the Nationals, making him a free agent.[20]
On February 18, 2010, MacDougal signed a minor league contract with theFlorida Marlins with an invite to spring training.[21] He was released on March 23.[22] The next day, MacDougal signed a minor league deal to return to the Nationals.[23] On July 1, 2010, he decided to opt out of his contract to become afree agent.[24]
On July 7, 2010, MacDougal signed a minor league deal with theSt. Louis Cardinals,[25] making his debut for Triple-AMemphis that night, giving up two runs on two hits in one inning pitched. MacDougal made his Cardinals debut on July 28, 2010, earning the win in a 7–6 victory over theNew York Mets.[26] In 17 games with the Cardinals, he was 1–1 with a 7.23 ERA.[9]
On January 28, 2011, he signed a minor league contract with theLos Angeles Dodgers,[27] and made the Major League club to start the season.[28] MacDougal pitched in 69 games with the Dodgers, working 57 innings and had a record of 3–1 and a team-leading 2.05 ERA.[9] He re-signed with the Dodgers after the season for a one-year, $1 million contract that included a 2013 option.[29] He pitched in seven games for the Dodgers in 2012, recording a 7.94 ERA.[9] MacDougal was designated for assignment on May 3, removing him from the 40-man roster.[30] He was released on May 11.[31]
On May 15, 2012, theChicago Cubs signed MacDougal to a minor league contract.[32] He pitched in 19 games for the AAAIowa Cubs, going 1–2 with one save and a 7.85 ERA.[33] On July 11, he was released by the Cubs.[34] On July 29, the Washington Nationals re-signed MacDougal to a minor-league deal.[35] He joined the AAASyracuse Chiefs, where he had a 1–1 record an ERA of 4.22 in 12 games.[33]
In April 2013, theCincinnati Reds signed MacDougal to a minor-league deal.[36] He joined the AAALouisville Bats. He was released by the Reds on June 8,[37] going 0–1 in 17 appearances with the Bats, striking out 20 in19+2⁄3 innings with a 5.49 ERA.[33] On June 25, MacDougal signed a deal with thePhiladelphia Phillies and reported to Triple-ALehigh Valley.[38]
TheSeattle Mariners signed MacDougal on a minor-league deal on May 10, 2014. He had been pitching for the independentCamden Riversharks.[39]
· Baseball Almanac