Billy Sadler
Encyclopedia
William Henry "Billy" Sadler IV (born September 21, 1981 in Pensacola
, Florida
) is a right-handed relief pitcher
who is currently a free agent
. He is a 2000 graduate of Pensacola (Florida) Catholic High School
and was named Florida Class 3A Player of the Year his senior year
He attended Pensacola Junior College in 2001 and 2002 and transferred to Louisiana State University
in 2003.
He led LSU with four saves, but took the loss when the Tigers were eliminated from the 2003 College World Series
by the University of South Carolina
.
in the 37th round (1106th overall pick) of the amateur draft and in the 30th round (909th overall pick) of the draft, but opted not to sign with the Mariners. He signed with the Giants after they made him their sixth round selection (183rd overall pick) in the draft.
In his first four seasons in the Giants minor league
system, Sadler played for the Hagerstown Suns
of the Single-A South Atlantic League
(2003); the San Jose Giants
of the advanced Single-A California League
; the Norwich Navigators (2004–) and the Connecticut Defenders
of the Double-A Eastern League; and the Fresno Grizzlies
of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League
(2006). Pitching almost exclusively out of the bullpen
, he compiled a 14-13 win
-loss record with 27 saves and a 3.06 ERA
through the end of the 2006 season. In 2006, he posted 20 saves as the Defenders' closer
. Between Connecticut and Fresno, he struck out
78 batters in 54⅔ innings
while holding opponents to a .148 batting average
.
Sadler's minor league success in 2006 earned him a spot on the Giants' September expanded roster when Armando Benitez
was placed on the 60-day disabled list
.
He made his major league debut the following night against St. Louis
. After surrendering a walk
to Scott Spiezio
and a 3-run double
to Scott Rolen
, he settled down to retire the next four consecutive hitters, including his first big-league strike out.
Sadler was with the Giants in spring training
in , but struggled with his control and was optioned to Fresno March 18.
He was called up to the majors in to replace struggling pitcher Brad Hennessey
. On August 10, 2009 Sadler Was Released By The San Francisco Giants
.
.
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
) is a right-handed 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...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He is a 2000 graduate of Pensacola (Florida) Catholic High School
Pensacola Catholic High School
Pensacola Catholic High School is a Roman Catholic diocesan high school in Pensacola, Florida, under the jurisdiction of the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. It is co-educational, organized on the 9-12 plan with an enrollment of over 600 students...
and was named Florida Class 3A Player of the Year his senior year
He attended Pensacola Junior College in 2001 and 2002 and transferred to Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
in 2003.
He led LSU with four saves, but took the loss when the Tigers were eliminated from the 2003 College World Series
2003 College World Series
The 2003 College World Series was held June 13 through June 23, 2003 in Omaha, Nebraska. Eight NCAA Division I college baseball teams met after having played their way through a 64-team bracket to play at historic Rosenblatt Stadium. In the first best-of-three championship series since 1948, Rice...
by the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
.
San Francisco Giants
Sadler was selected by SeattleSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
in the 37th round (1106th overall pick) of the amateur draft and in the 30th round (909th overall pick) of the draft, but opted not to sign with the Mariners. He signed with the Giants after they made him their sixth round selection (183rd overall pick) in the draft.
In his first four seasons in the Giants minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
system, Sadler played for the Hagerstown Suns
Hagerstown Suns
The Hagerstown Suns are a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. They play in Municipal Stadium, which was opened in 1930 and seats 4,600 fans....
of the Single-A South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
(2003); the San Jose Giants
San Jose Giants
The San Jose Giants are a minor league baseball team in San Jose, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the Northern Division of the California League, and have been a farm team of the San Francisco Giants since 1988. Home games are played at San Jose Municipal Stadium...
of the advanced Single-A California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
; the Norwich Navigators (2004–) and the Connecticut Defenders
Connecticut Defenders
The Connecticut Defenders were a minor league baseball team based in Norwich, Connecticut. The team, which played in the Eastern League, was the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major-league club from 2003 until following the 2009 season, when the Defenders relocated to Richmond,...
of the Double-A Eastern League; and the Fresno Grizzlies
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
(2006). Pitching almost exclusively out of the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
, he compiled a 14-13 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...
-loss record with 27 saves and a 3.06 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...
through the end of the 2006 season. In 2006, he posted 20 saves as the Defenders' closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
. Between Connecticut and Fresno, 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....
78 batters in 54⅔ innings
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
while holding opponents to a .148 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.
Sadler's minor league success in 2006 earned him a spot on the Giants' September expanded roster when Armando Benitez
Armando Benítez
Armando Germán Benítez is a relief pitcher who is currently a free agent.-Baltimore Orioles:...
was placed on the 60-day disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
.
He made his major league debut the following night against St. Louis
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. After surrendering a walk
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...
to Scott Spiezio
Scott Spiezio
Scott Edward Spiezio is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He is currently an infielder for the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League . He is well known for his time as a member of the Anaheim Angels, when he hit a 3-run home run in Game Six of the 2002 World Series against the...
and a 3-run double
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
to Scott Rolen
Scott Rolen
Scott Bruce Rolen is a Major League Baseball third baseman for the Cincinnati Reds. He is an eight-time Gold Glove winner and seven-time All-Star.-Philadelphia Phillies:...
, he settled down to retire the next four consecutive hitters, including his first big-league strike out.
Sadler was with the Giants in spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
in , but struggled with his control and was optioned to Fresno March 18.
He was called up to the majors in to replace struggling pitcher Brad Hennessey
Brad Hennessey
Brad Martin Hennessey is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He attended Whitmer High School.-Professional career:...
. On August 10, 2009 Sadler Was Released By The San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
.
Houston Astros
On August 18, 2009, Sadler signed a minor league contract with the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.