| Mike Minor | |
|---|---|
 Minor with the Atlanta Braves in 2014 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1987-12-26)December 26, 1987 (age 37) Chapel Hill, Tennessee, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 9, 2010, for the Atlanta Braves | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 17, 2022, for the Cincinnati Reds | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 83–90 |
| Earned run average | 4.25 |
| Strikeouts | 1,273 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Michael David Minor (born December 26, 1987) is an American former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theAtlanta Braves,Kansas City Royals,Texas Rangers,Oakland Athletics, andCincinnati Reds. Minor playedcollege baseball atVanderbilt University and was selected by the Braves with the seventh overall pick in the2009 MLB draft.
Minor had an outstanding high school career atForrest School inChapel Hill, Tennessee and was drafted in the 13th round of the2006 Major League Baseball Draft by theTampa Bay Devil Rays after his senior season. However, he did not sign, choosing to attendVanderbilt University.[1]
Minor played atVanderbilt University with fellow futurefirst round draft picksPedro Alvarez andDavid Price.
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Minor pitched for theUnited States National Team (Collegiate) in 2007 and 2008.
One highlight of the 2008 season was his earning the 4–1 win over Cuba in the championship game of theHaarlem Baseball Week tournament inThe Netherlands. This victory marked the first time in recorded history that a United States Collegiate National Team has defeated the Cuba Olympic Team in a tournament title game. In the2008 World University Baseball Championship held inBrno,Czech Republic, Minor led Team USA to its third gold medal alongsideStephen Strasburg. In the tournament, he was 1–0 with a 1.15 ERA and 16 strikeouts, allowing eight hits in 152⁄3 innings for Team USA. In 2008, he was namedBaseball America's Summer Player of the Year.[citation needed]
Minor was drafted by theAtlanta Braves in the first round (seventh overall) in the2009 Major League Baseball draft[5] and represented the United States in the 2010All-Star Futures Game.
Minor made his major-league debut on August 9, 2010, against theHouston Astros. He recorded his firststrikeout againstChris Johnson. On the night, he went six innings giving up five hits and four runs (three earned) while walking one and striking out five batters; he got a no-decision. In his next start, on August 17, Minor went six innings, giving up five hits and two earned runs, and earned his first major league victory. In his third career start, against theChicago Cubs, Minor went six innings, giving up three earned runs while striking out 12, picking up his second career victory. Those 12strikeouts set anAtlanta Braves rookie strikeout record in a single game; surpassingTommy Hanson's 11 strikeouts in2009. On August 18, 2011, in a game against theSan Francisco Giants, Minor pitched six scoreless innings, including facing the minimum number of batters over the last four innings. This victory was the first time in 17 major league starts that Minor did not give up a run.[6]
On May 25, 2013, Minor hit his first career home run offDillon Gee of theNew York Mets in a 6–0 Braves win.[7]
On August 22, 2014, Minor pitched7+2⁄3 no-hit innings, before giving up an RBI single to the Reds'Billy Hamilton. The Braves eventually won the game in the 12th inning onJustin Upton's two-run home run.[8] Minor finished the 2014 season with a 6–12 record and 4.77 ERA, pitching most of the year with a sore shoulder.[9][10]
In 2015, Minor became the first Brave sinceJohn Rocker in 2001 to challenge the team in an arbitration hearing. He won, and was awarded $5.6 million.[11] On March 3, 2015, Minor again began feeling tightness in his shoulder[12] and was diagnosed with rotator cuff inflammation.[13] As a result, he was placed on the disabled list on March 10.[14] Minor attempted to start throwing programs in mid-March[15] and early April,[16] but felt discomfort both times. He was moved to the 60-day disabled list on May 2.[17] Eleven days later, Minor underwent surgery for a torn labrum, and missed the rest of the season.[18]
Minor became a free agent on December 2, 2015, when the Braves opted not to tender him a contract.[19]
On February 19, 2016, Minor signed a two-year contract with theKansas City Royals. It contained a base salary of $7.25 million, with a club option worth $10 million for the 2018 season.[20] Minor started the 2016 season on the disabled list.[21] The Royals planned for Minor to return in the second half of the season, but persistent fatigue and discomfort in his shoulder forced Minor to stay on the disabled list for the rest of the season.[22]
Because of his troubles staying healthy, the Royals announced that Minor would pitch out of the bullpen in 2017.[23] A move to relief brought tremendous results for Minor, who saw his average fastball velocity climb to nearly 95 miles per hour, compared to 91 miles per hour as a starter. Minor would emerge as one of the Royals best relievers, finishing with a 2.55 ERA and six saves, with 88 strikeouts in 772⁄3 innings.
After the season was over Minor announced his intention to return to starting in 2018, despite his 2017 success as a reliever.[24]
On December 4, 2017, Minor signed with theTexas Rangers to a three-year, $28 million deal.[25] In 2018, Minor went 12–8 with a 4.18 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 157 innings.
In 2019, after posting an MLB-leading 2.40 ERA in his first 17 starts, Minor was selected as anAmerican League pitcher for the2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.[26] However, because he was scheduled to start the Sunday before the All-Star Game, he did not play.[27] Minor finished the 2019 season with a record of 14–10, a 3.59 ERA, and 200 strikeouts, over208+2⁄3 innings.[28] Minor finished 8th in the 2019 ALCy Young Award voting.[29]
On August 31, 2020, Minor was traded to theOakland Athletics in exchange forDustin Harris and Marcus Smith.[30]
On December 1, 2020, Minor signed a two-year, $18 million contract to return to the Kansas City Royals, with a $13 million club option for the 2023 season and a $1 million buyout.[31]
In 2021, Minor posted an 8–12 record with a 5.05 ERA and 149 strikeouts over158+2⁄3 innings in 28 starts.
On March 16, 2022, Minor was traded to theCincinnati Reds in exchange for LHPAmir Garrett.[32] In 19 starts for Cincinnati, he struggled to a 4-12 record and 6.06 ERA with 76 strikeouts across 98 innings pitched. On November 8, the Reds declined Minor's mutual option for the 2023 season, and he became a free agent.[33]
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Minor leads with afour-seam fastball at 89–93 mph, a pitch he throws more than half the time. In relatively equal amounts he throws aslider (83–86), acircle change (82–84), and aknuckle curve (77–80).[34] Left-handed hitters rarely see the changeup, especially with two strikes. The curve has awhiff rate of 39% over Minor's career.[35] He has produced one of the league's lowestground ball/fly ball ratios since he debuted.[36][37]
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