Bruce Billings
Encyclopedia
Bruce Billings is an American
professional baseball
pitcher
for the Oakland Athletics
of Major League Baseball
.
and San Diego State University
who played for the SDSU baseball team as a short reliever in 2004 and a starter in 2005 and 2006. Billings was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies
in the 2006 MLB June Amateur Draft in the 31st round, but decided to stay one more year at San Diego State. Billings was again drafted by the Colorado Rockies
in the 30th round in the 2007 MLB June Amateur Draft, 912th overall, and he accepted the deal.
where he went 4-2 in 15 starts. In 2008 with the Asheville Tourists
, Billings threw a no-hitter against the Lakewood BlueClaws
. Billings started to convert to a reliever in 2010 with Tulsa
with more than half of his appearances being in relief. Billings was also a mid-season All Star with Tulsa. Billings did not pitch one start in 2011 with Colorado Springs
before being promoted.
being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.
On May 27, Billings made his major league debut in relief of Matt Daley
. Billings pitched the 8th and the 9th innings in a 10-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals
, giving up 5 hits and 1 run, while recording no strikeouts.
for Mark Ellis
on June 30, 2011.
and Curt Schilling
. He majored in Public Administration.
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...
for 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....
of 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...
.
Early life and college
Billings is the son of Bruce and Emily. Billings attended Samuel F. B. Morse High SchoolSamuel F. B. Morse High School
Samuel F. B. Morse High School, also called Morse High School or simply Morse, is an urban public high school located in southeastern San Diego in the neighborhood of Skyline Hills serving grades 9-12 in the American K-12 education system. Named after inventor Samuel Finley Breese Morse, it first...
and San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
who played for the SDSU baseball team as a short reliever in 2004 and a starter in 2005 and 2006. Billings was drafted by 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...
in the 2006 MLB June Amateur Draft in the 31st round, but decided to stay one more year at San Diego State. Billings was again drafted by the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
in the 30th round in the 2007 MLB June Amateur Draft, 912th overall, and he accepted the deal.
Minor leagues
Billings started his minor league career with the Tri-City Dust DevilsTri-City Dust Devils
The Tri-City Dust Devils are a minor league baseball team in Pasco, Washington, United States. The Dust Devils are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Colorado Rockies since their inception in 2001. The Devils play home games at Gesa...
where he went 4-2 in 15 starts. In 2008 with the Asheville Tourists
Asheville Tourists
The Asheville Tourists are a minor league baseball team based in Asheville, North Carolina, USA. They play in the Class A South Atlantic League and have been a farm team of the Colorado Rockies since 1994....
, Billings threw a no-hitter against the Lakewood BlueClaws
Lakewood BlueClaws
The Lakewood BlueClaws are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the South Atlantic League, a Class Single-A baseball league. The team plays their home games at FirstEnergy Park located in Lakewood Township, New Jersey...
. Billings started to convert to a reliever in 2010 with Tulsa
Tulsa Drillers
The Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies major-league club.-Stadium:...
with more than half of his appearances being in relief. Billings was also a mid-season All Star with Tulsa. Billings did not pitch one start in 2011 with Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
before being promoted.
Colorado Rockies
On May 25, 2011, Billings was recalled to the majors when Jorge de la RosaJorge de la Rosa
Jorge Alberto de la Rosa Gonzalez is a starting pitcher for the Colorado Rockies.-Minor leagues:...
being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.
On May 27, Billings made his major league debut in relief of Matt Daley
Matt Daley
Matthew Thomas "Matt" Daley is an American Major League Baseball player. He is currently a free agent.-Early life:Daley was born in Queens, New York and raised in Garden City, New York where he graduated from Garden City High School in 2000 after helping GCHS win the New York State Class B...
. Billings pitched the 8th and the 9th innings in a 10-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals
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...
, giving up 5 hits and 1 run, while recording no strikeouts.
Oakland Athletics
Billings and a player to be named later were traded to the Oakland AthleticsOakland 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....
for Mark Ellis
Mark Ellis (baseball)
Mark William Ellis is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. He has played for the Oakland Athletics and Colorado Rockies.-Early career:...
on June 30, 2011.
Personal
He enjoys watching movies, listening to music an dancing. His favorite athletes include Chipper JonesChipper Jones
Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr. is a Major League baseball player for the National League's Atlanta Braves. Although initially a shortstop, he has spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Braves...
and Curt Schilling
Curt Schilling
Curtis Montague "Curt" Schilling is a former American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in and won World Series championships in with the Arizona Diamondbacks and in and with the Boston Red Sox. Schilling retired with a...
. He majored in Public Administration.