Blaine Boyer
Encyclopedia
Blaine Thomas Boyer is an American
professional baseball
pitcher
who is a free agent. He has previously played for the Atlanta Braves
, Arizona Diamondbacks
, and New York Mets
.
in Marietta, Georgia
. His first season of pro baseball was with the rookie league team the Gulf Coast Braves
, where he went 1-3 with a 2.51 ERA
.
In his first season, playing for the Atlanta Braves as a midseason call-up, he went 4-2 with a 3.11 ERA
in 37.2 innings. Boyer went 4-5 with a 4.52 ERA and 57 strikeout
s with the Danville Braves
in 2001. The next year, he played with the Class A
team the Macon Braves
and led the bullpen with 73 strikeouts.
In 2003, Boyer stayed with the Macon Braves when they moved to Rome
. That year he finished 5th in the league in wins
with 12, and also led the team in wins. He finished the year with a 12-8 record and a 3.69 ERA. He also recorded a minor-league career-high 115 strikeouts.
In 2004, Boyer played with Class A Myrtle Beach
. He led the Carolina League
with 154 innings pitched
and was selected to the Carolina League All-Star team. He was elected the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for the week of May 3 by The Sports Network
.
On June 12, 2005, Blaine was called up to the major leagues directly from the AA Mississippi Braves
, and made his debut that day against the Oakland Athletics
. He went 4-1 with a 2.05 ERA in 23 games at Atlanta's home field, Turner Field
.
On May 14, 2008, Blaine Boyer pitched 1.1 innings to record his first Major League save against the Philadelphia Phillies
.http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080514&content_id=2699984&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
for Brian Barton
, after a few months with the organization, on June 4 Boyer was designated for assignment
. On June 8, Boyer was claimed by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
on January 21, 2011. The deal included an invitation to spring training. On April 10, 2011, Boyer was designated for assignment
.
on April 20, 2011. He was released on June 18.
on July 5, 2011. He was assigned to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds
. He was released on August 13, after allowing 26 runs in 16 innings for Memphis.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
who is a free agent. He has previously played for the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
, and New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
.
Baseball career
Boyer was drafted by the Braves on June 13, 2000 in the 3rd Round of the 2000 Draft, after attending George Walton Comprehensive High SchoolGeorge Walton Comprehensive High School
George Walton Comprehensive High School, usually referred to simply as "Walton High School," is public high school located in suburban Marietta, Georgia in the United States. It resides in eastern Cobb County and is a charter school in the Cobb County School District. It is a School of Excellence...
in Marietta, Georgia
Marietta, Georgia
Marietta is a city located in central Cobb County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat.As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 56,579, making it one of metro Atlanta's largest suburbs...
. His first season of pro baseball was with the rookie league team the Gulf Coast Braves
Orlando Braves
The Gulf Coast League Braves are the Rookie Level minor league baseball affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The team plays at the Walt Disney World Resort at Champion Stadium at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex....
, where he went 1-3 with a 2.51 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...
.
Atlanta Braves
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...
in 37.2 innings. Boyer went 4-5 with a 4.52 ERA and 57 strikeout
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....
s with the Danville Braves
Danville Braves
The Danville Braves are a minor league baseball team in Danville, Virginia, USA. They are an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League and have been a farm team of the Atlanta Braves since 1993. The Braves play home games at American Legion Post 325 Field...
in 2001. The next year, he played with the Class A
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...
team the Macon Braves
Rome Braves
The Rome Braves are a Class-A minor league affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. In 2003, the team, previously known as the Macon Braves, moved from Macon, Georgia, to Rome, Georgia, 60 miles northwest of Atlanta....
and led the bullpen with 73 strikeouts.
In 2003, Boyer stayed with the Macon Braves when they moved to Rome
Rome, Georgia
Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Rome is the largest city and the county seat of Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Floyd County...
. That year he finished 5th in the league in wins
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...
with 12, and also led the team in wins. He finished the year with a 12-8 record and a 3.69 ERA. He also recorded a minor-league career-high 115 strikeouts.
In 2004, Boyer played with Class A Myrtle Beach
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are a minor league baseball team in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They are a Class A Advanced team in the Carolina League and the franchise is currently the farm team of the Texas Rangers. From their inaugural season until 2010, the Pelicans were an affiliate of the...
. He led the Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. 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...
with 154 innings pitched
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...
and was selected to the Carolina League All-Star team. He was elected the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for the week of May 3 by The Sports Network
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
.
On June 12, 2005, Blaine was called up to the major leagues directly from the AA Mississippi Braves
Mississippi Braves
The Mississippi Braves, or M-Braves as they are referred to locally, are a minor league baseball team based in Pearl, Mississippi, a suburb of Jackson. The team is the Class AA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, and plays in the Southern League. The team is owned and operated by Liberty Media, which...
, and made his debut that day against the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. He went 4-1 with a 2.05 ERA in 23 games at Atlanta's home field, Turner Field
Turner Field
Turner Field is a stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, home to Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves since 1997. Turner Field was originally built as Centennial Olympic Stadium, it was completed in 1996 to serve as the centerpiece of the 1996 Summer Olympics...
.
On May 14, 2008, Blaine Boyer pitched 1.1 innings to record his first Major League save against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080514&content_id=2699984&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl
Arizona Diamondbacks
On April 20, 2009, Blaine was traded to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. 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...
for Brian Barton
Brian Barton
Brian Deon Barton is a Major League Baseball outfielder, who is currently with the Cincinnati Reds.-Early life:...
, after a few months with the organization, on June 4 Boyer was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
. On June 8, Boyer was claimed by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
New York Mets
Boyer signed a minor league contract with the New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
on January 21, 2011. The deal included an invitation to spring training. On April 10, 2011, Boyer was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Boyer signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
on April 20, 2011. He was released on June 18.
Return to St. Louis
He signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis CardinalsSt. 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...
on July 5, 2011. He was assigned to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds
Memphis Redbirds
The Memphis Redbirds are the Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They play their home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The stadium's capacity is 14,320. They entered the Pacific Coast League as an expansion team in 1998, and were owned as a...
. He was released on August 13, after allowing 26 runs in 16 innings for Memphis.