Andy Sonnanstine
Encyclopedia
Andrew Michael Sonnanstine (born March 18, 1983, in Barberton
, Ohio
) is a relief pitcher
for the Tampa Bay Rays
. Sonnanstine is a graduate of Wadsworth High School
in Wadsworth
, Ohio, and attended Kent State University
. He also pitched for the Sanford Mainers of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
, receiving a no-decision. He picked up his first major league win
on June 10, , in a game against the Florida Marlins
.
Sonnanstine demonstrated strikeout potential in 2007 when, through seven innings of work against the Marlins, he struck out
ten batters, including a franchise-record seven in a row, while allowing two runs
on seven hits
. He also went 2-for-3 as a batter, scored his first run and drove in his first career run
.
Sonnanstine has impressed many by his mental approach to the game, as he is a fierce competitor who takes a mental approach similar to that of Greg Maddux
.
One of Sonnanstine's best starts came on August 31, 2007, against the New York Yankees
at Yankee Stadium
, where he pitched 8 innings, allowing 2 hits and no earned run
s (1 unearned run) with 5 strikeouts and no walks
. He ended his rookie
campaign with a 6-10 record, pitching 130 2/3 innings with an ERA
of 5.85.
In another career night, on April 19, , Sonnanstine pitched a complete game
shutout
against the Chicago White Sox
. He allowed just 3 hits and struck out 4 batters while walking only one.
On October 6, 2008, Sonnanstine pitched 5 2/3 innings of 2-run baseball against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago
. The Rays prevailed putting up six runs of their own and clinching the American League Division Series.
Sonnanstine allowed two stolen bases in two years ('07-'08).
On May 17, 2009, in a game against the Cleveland Indians
, Sonnanstine was included in the starting lineup due to a mistake when Rays manager Joe Maddon
entered the wrong lineup card, which had both Evan Longoria
and Ben Zobrist
playing third base, omitting the DH spot. The last time a pitcher was in the initial batting order in a game between two AL teams was September 23, 1976, when the White Sox batted Ken Brett
eighth against the Twins. Sonnanstine went 1 for 3 with an RBI double and ended up winning the game despite the lineup error and giving up five runs.
In 2009, through July 1 Sonnanstine had the highest ERA of any major league pitcher (6.61).
After the Rays traded Scott Kazmir
to the Los Angeles Angels, Sonnanstine was recalled from Triple-A Durham to fill the hole in the starting rotation. In his first game since the beginning of the season against the rival Boston Red Sox
, he posted a loss, giving up 3 earned runs, 2 home runs, 8 hits and 5 total runs in 4 innings with a pitch count of 91 (55s-36b). http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/individual_player_gamebygamelog.jsp?c_id=tb&playerID=458567&statType=2
On August 19, 2010, Sonnastine was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. Jeremy Hellickson
was called up to make his MLB debut that day against the Minnesota Twins
. http://www.seattlepi.com/scorecard/mlbnews.asp?articleID=284988
Barberton, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,899 people, 11,523 households, and 7,443 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,095.2 people per square mile . There were 12,163 housing units at an average density of 1,349.4 per square mile...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
) is a relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
. Sonnanstine is a graduate of Wadsworth High School
Wadsworth High School
Wadsworth High School is a public high school in Wadsworth, Ohio, USA It is the only high school in the Wadsworth City Schools District.- Details :...
in Wadsworth
Wadsworth, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,437 people, 7,276 households, and 5,144 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,940.5 people per square mile . There were 7,613 housing units at an average density of 801.3/sq mi...
, Ohio, and attended Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
. He also pitched for the Sanford Mainers of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
Baseball career
Sonnanstine made his first major league start against the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
, receiving a no-decision. He picked up his first major league win
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
on June 10, , in a game against the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
.
Sonnanstine demonstrated strikeout potential in 2007 when, through seven innings of work against the Marlins, he struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
ten batters, including a franchise-record seven in a row, while allowing two runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
on seven hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
. He also went 2-for-3 as a batter, scored his first run and drove in his first career run
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
.
Sonnanstine has impressed many by his mental approach to the game, as he is a fierce competitor who takes a mental approach similar to that of Greg Maddux
Greg Maddux
Gregory Alan Maddux , nicknamed "Mad Dog" and "The Professor", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the first pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years , a feat matched only by Randy Johnson...
.
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
at Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
, where he pitched 8 innings, allowing 2 hits and no earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
s (1 unearned run) with 5 strikeouts and no walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
. He ended his rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
campaign with a 6-10 record, pitching 130 2/3 innings with an ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 5.85.
In another career night, on April 19, , Sonnanstine pitched a complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
against the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. He allowed just 3 hits and struck out 4 batters while walking only one.
On October 6, 2008, Sonnanstine pitched 5 2/3 innings of 2-run baseball against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The Rays prevailed putting up six runs of their own and clinching the American League Division Series.
Sonnanstine allowed two stolen bases in two years ('07-'08).
On May 17, 2009, in a game against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, Sonnanstine was included in the starting lineup due to a mistake when Rays manager Joe Maddon
Joe Maddon
Joseph John Maddon is the Major League Baseball manager for the Tampa Bay Rays.He previously served as interim manager of the Anaheim Angels in both 1996 and 1999. He was also a long-time bench coach for the team.-Early life and career:Maddon attended Lafayette College, where he played baseball...
entered the wrong lineup card, which had both Evan Longoria
Evan Longoria
Evan Michael Longoria is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays. Formerly, Longoria was a star infielder for the Long Beach State University baseball team, the Cape Cod League MVP, and the Big West Co-Player of the Year.He made his major league debut for the Rays in , and...
and Ben Zobrist
Ben Zobrist
Benjamin Thomas "Ben" Zobrist is an American baseball player currently with Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays. A switch-hitter who throws right-handed, he has exhibited a versatility to play most positions with the exception of pitcher and catcher. He has been the Rays' starting second...
playing third base, omitting the DH spot. The last time a pitcher was in the initial batting order in a game between two AL teams was September 23, 1976, when the White Sox batted Ken Brett
Ken Brett
Kenneth Alven Brett was a Major League Baseball pitcher and the second of four Brett brothers who played professional baseball, the most notable being the youngest, George Brett.Ken played for 10 teams in his 14-year MLB career.Born in Brooklyn, Ken Brett grew up in southern California and was an...
eighth against the Twins. Sonnanstine went 1 for 3 with an RBI double and ended up winning the game despite the lineup error and giving up five runs.
In 2009, through July 1 Sonnanstine had the highest ERA of any major league pitcher (6.61).
After the Rays traded Scott Kazmir
Scott Kazmir
Scott Edward Kazmir is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Kazmir made his Major League debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2004 when he was only 20 years old and at one time held many of the franchise's career pitching records...
to the Los Angeles Angels, Sonnanstine was recalled from Triple-A Durham to fill the hole in the starting rotation. In his first game since the beginning of the season against the rival Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
, he posted a loss, giving up 3 earned runs, 2 home runs, 8 hits and 5 total runs in 4 innings with a pitch count of 91 (55s-36b). http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/individual_player_gamebygamelog.jsp?c_id=tb&playerID=458567&statType=2
On August 19, 2010, Sonnastine was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. Jeremy Hellickson
Jeremy Hellickson
Jeremy Robert Hellickson is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa and attended Hoover High School...
was called up to make his MLB debut that day against the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. http://www.seattlepi.com/scorecard/mlbnews.asp?articleID=284988