Brandon Kolb
Encyclopedia
Brandon Charles Kolb is a former right-handed relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the San Diego Padres
and Milwaukee Brewers
in and . He attended Monte Vista High School
in Danville, California
. He later went to Chabot College
and then to Texas Tech
.
Standing at 6'1", 190 pounds, Kolb was originally drafted by the Oakland Athletics
1077th overall in the 1993 draft
. Deciding not to sign, he would have to wait until to be drafted again, when he was selected by the Padres in the fourth round. This time, he chose to sign.
Originally a starter in the minors, his best record was 16–9, which he achieved in 1996 with the Clinton Lumber Kings. Although he showed promise as a starter in the minor leagues, he was being used mostly as a reliever by 1998. He spent 1998 and 1999 entirely as a reliever.
He made his major league debut on May 12, 2000 against the Arizona Diamondbacks
at the age of 26. Although he struck out one batter in the single inning he pitched that game, he also gave up two hits and an earned run. He would improve down the stretch, lowering his season ERA to 4.50. Although he gave up 16 hits in 14 innings that year, not one of them was a home run. He walked 11 and struck out 12 that year.
During the 2000/2001 offseason, Kolb was sent to the Brewers with a player to be named later for Santiago Pérez
and a player to be named later. The players to be named would end up being Will Cunnane
for the Padres and minor leaguer Chad Green
of the Brewers.
His career took a major turn for the worse while with the Padres in 2001. He did not give up a single earned run until his fifth appearance of 2001, but he still posted a season ERA of 13.03. He gave up six home runs in 9 2/3 innings of work, including three in one inning—on June 20 against the Cincinnati Reds
, Kolb gave up home runs to Sean Casey, Michael Tucker, and Pokey Reese
. Since he had given up two home runs the game before, Kolb ended up allowing five home runs over a two-game span—he pitched a total of only 1 2/3 innings in that time.
His season ended on September 19, 2001. In his final career game, Kolb allowed two earned runs. He did strike out the final batter he faced in his career, though. It was pitcher Steve Kline.
After his big league career ended, Kolb spent time bouncing around the minors until 2004, even spending time in independent baseball
.
Overall in his major league career, Kolb was 0–1 with a 7.99 ERA in 21 games. In 23 2/3 innings of work, Kolb walked 19 and struck out 20. He went 0-for-2 as a batter, although he did score a run. His fielding percentage was .667.
He wore numbers 47 and 38 in his career.
He lives in Flower Mound, Texas
and is a private instructor.http://baseballtips.com/instructors/texas.html
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...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
and Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in and . He attended Monte Vista High School
Monte Vista High School (Danville, California)
Monte Vista High School is a comprehensive, National Blue Ribbon of the Blue Ribbon Schools Program, as well as a California Distinguished School and fully WASC-accredited 9-12 public school of more than 2000 students. The school is located in the Town of Danville, CA in the San Ramon Valley,...
in Danville, California
Danville, California
The Town of Danville is located in the San Ramon Valley in Contra Costa County, California. It is one of the incorporated municipalities in California that uses "town" in its name instead of "city". The population was 42,039 in 2010. Danville is one of the wealthiest suburbs of Oakland and San...
. He later went to Chabot College
Chabot College
Chabot College is a community college located in Hayward, California.-Campus:The campus has a 200-seat theatre, a 1,432-seat performing arts center, a full-size planetarium, four major athletic fields, an HD television studio, and an Olympic-class swimming pool.-History:Chabot College was the first...
and then to Texas Tech
Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball
The Texas Tech Red Raiders baseball team represents Texas Tech University in NCAA Division I college baseball. The team competes in the Big 12 Conference and plays at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.-Early years:...
.
Standing at 6'1", 190 pounds, Kolb was originally drafted by 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....
1077th overall in the 1993 draft
1993 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1993 Major League Baseball draft.-Compensation picks:-Other notable players:*Scott Rolen was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2nd round of the 1993 amateur draft....
. Deciding not to sign, he would have to wait until to be drafted again, when he was selected by the Padres in the fourth round. This time, he chose to sign.
Originally a starter in the minors, his best record was 16–9, which he achieved in 1996 with the Clinton Lumber Kings. Although he showed promise as a starter in the minor leagues, he was being used mostly as a reliever by 1998. He spent 1998 and 1999 entirely as a reliever.
He made his major league debut on May 12, 2000 against the 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...
at the age of 26. Although he struck out one batter in the single inning he pitched that game, he also gave up two hits and an earned run. He would improve down the stretch, lowering his season ERA to 4.50. Although he gave up 16 hits in 14 innings that year, not one of them was a home run. He walked 11 and struck out 12 that year.
During the 2000/2001 offseason, Kolb was sent to the Brewers with a player to be named later for Santiago Pérez
Santiago Pérez (baseball)
Santiago Alberto Pérez is a former utility player in Major League Baseball. Pérez was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed...
and a player to be named later. The players to be named would end up being Will Cunnane
Will Cunnane
William Joseph Cunnane is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. He graduated from Clarkstown High School North in New City, New York in 1992, where he played baseball and ran cross country...
for the Padres and minor leaguer Chad Green
Chad Green
Chad Elton Green is a former switch-hitting, right-handed minor league baseball player. An outfielder, he attended Mentor High School and then the University of Kentucky....
of the Brewers.
His career took a major turn for the worse while with the Padres in 2001. He did not give up a single earned run until his fifth appearance of 2001, but he still posted a season ERA of 13.03. He gave up six home runs in 9 2/3 innings of work, including three in one inning—on June 20 against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, Kolb gave up home runs to Sean Casey, Michael Tucker, and Pokey Reese
Pokey Reese
Calvin "Pokey" Reese, Jr. , is an American retired professional baseball infielder. Reese is a two-time National League Gold Glove Award winner and played with the Cincinnati Reds , Pittsburgh Pirates , and Boston Red Sox...
. Since he had given up two home runs the game before, Kolb ended up allowing five home runs over a two-game span—he pitched a total of only 1 2/3 innings in that time.
His season ended on September 19, 2001. In his final career game, Kolb allowed two earned runs. He did strike out the final batter he faced in his career, though. It was pitcher Steve Kline.
After his big league career ended, Kolb spent time bouncing around the minors until 2004, even spending time in independent baseball
Independent baseball
Independent baseball leagues are professional baseball organizations located in the United States and Canada. They are not operated in conjunction with either a Major League Baseball team or an affiliated minor league team. Being independent allows teams to be located close to major-league teams...
.
Overall in his major league career, Kolb was 0–1 with a 7.99 ERA in 21 games. In 23 2/3 innings of work, Kolb walked 19 and struck out 20. He went 0-for-2 as a batter, although he did score a run. His fielding percentage was .667.
He wore numbers 47 and 38 in his career.
He lives in Flower Mound, Texas
Flower Mound, Texas
Flower Mound is a town in Denton and Tarrant counties in the U.S. state of Texas, and a suburb of Fort Worth and Dallas. Its population was 50,702 at the U.S. Census Bureau's 2000 census, and 64,669 at the 2010 Census. The town derives its name from the prominent mound located in the southern...
and is a private instructor.http://baseballtips.com/instructors/texas.html