Chad Gaudin
Encyclopedia
Chad Edward Gaudin is an American
professional baseball
pitcher
for the Toronto Blue Jays
of Major League Baseball
.
. He earned All-State and district MVP in his junior and senior years.
out of high school in the 34th round (1009th overall pick) of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
. He signed on August 23, 2001, and did not play professionally until . He played in Single-A in 2002 and recorded a 2.26 ERA
which ranked him 10th in all of minor league baseball.
On July 15, 2003, in his first start after getting called up from the Single-A California League
, Gaudin took the mound in the first game of a doubleheader
for the Double-A Orlando Rays on the road against the Jacksonville Suns
and threw a 7-inning perfect game
, retiring all 21 batters he faced. (Two 7-inning games is the standard for a doubleheader in most minor leagues; Major League Baseball would later amend a rule recognizing only efforts of at least nine innings as official perfect games.) Gaudin made only two more starts and posted an 0.47 ERA for Orlando before Devil Rays' Manager
Lou Piniella
summoned him to the big league club.
.
On December 12, 2004, Gaudin was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays
for backup catcher
Kevin Cash
. Although he pitched well as a starter at Triple-A Syracuse, he was just 1-3 with a 13.15 ERA in 5 appearances (3 starts) with the Blue Jays. Opponents had batted
.470 against him in just 13 innings (31 hits
). On December 5, , he was traded to the Oakland Athletics
for a player to be named later
, who later turned out to be outfielder
Dustin Majewski.
Gaudin began the season for the Sacramento River Cats
, the Athletics Triple-A team. He was recalled by the Athletics after posting an 0.36 ERA in 4 starts for the River Cats and pitched in relief
for the rest of the season for the big league club. In his first season as an Athletic, he posted various career highs and his ERA (3.08) and opponents batting average were the lowest of his career. His inherited runners to score was 20 percent which ranked fourth lowest in the American League
.
In , Gaudin was converted into a starter again when veteran Esteban Loaiza
was on the disabled list
to begin the season. His excellent performance as a starter in the 2007 season made him part of the new 'Big Three' that included Dan Haren
and Joe Blanton
.
In December 2007, Gaudin successfully had his sesamoid bone
removed from the base of his big toe in a procedure called a sesamoidectomy. He was back on the mound pitching again within three months.
On May 7, , Gaudin was moved back into the bullpen.
On July 8, 2008, Gaudin was dealt along with Rich Harden
to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Sean Gallagher
, Matt Murton
, Eric Patterson
, and minor league catcher Josh Donaldson
.
Gaudin was released by the Cubs on April 5, after a disappointing second half. The San Diego Padres
signed him to a minor league contract on April 12, 2009 and assigned him to their Triple-A team, the Portland Beavers
on April 14 He made his first start for the Padres against the Colorado Rockies
on April 28. He gave up zero runs on 3 hits and received a no decision in a 4-3 Padres win.
On August 6, , Gaudin was traded to the New York Yankees
for a player to be named later, but instead the Padres took $100,000. With the Yankees, Gaudin filled a valuable role as a spot starter and relief pitcher, making six starts (all of which the Yankees won) and five relief appearances, recording a 3.43 ERA.
Gaudin was released by the Yankees on March 25, 2010. On March 28, 2010, Gaudin signed a major league deal with the Oakland Athletics
. He was designated for assignment
on May 17. On May 21, 2010, he was released.
On May 26, 2010 Gaudin was re-signed by the Yankees. On November 2, 2010 Gaudin was outrighted to the minor leagues. He elected free agency.
On December 17, Gaudin signed a minor-league contract with the Washington Nationals
. He made 10 appearances for the Nationals, recording 6.48 ERA in 8.1 innings before being designated for assignment on July 19, 2011. He was released on July 21. Gaudin signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays
on August 5.
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 Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto 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 ....
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...
.
High school
Gaudin attended Crescent City Baptist High School in Metairie, LouisianaMetairie, Louisiana
Metairie is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States and is a major part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish. It is an unincorporated area that would be larger than most of the state's cities if it were...
. He earned All-State and district MVP in his junior and senior years.
Minor league career
Gaudin was selected by the Tampa Bay Devil RaysTampa 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...
out of high school in the 34th round (1009th overall pick) of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
2001 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Background:The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be...
. He signed on August 23, 2001, and did not play professionally until . He played in Single-A in 2002 and recorded a 2.26 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...
which ranked him 10th in all of minor league baseball.
On July 15, 2003, in his first start after getting called up from the 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...
, Gaudin took the mound in the first game of a doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
for the Double-A Orlando Rays on the road against the Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
and threw a 7-inning perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
, retiring all 21 batters he faced. (Two 7-inning games is the standard for a doubleheader in most minor leagues; Major League Baseball would later amend a rule recognizing only efforts of at least nine innings as official perfect games.) Gaudin made only two more starts and posted an 0.47 ERA for Orlando before Devil Rays' Manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Lou Piniella
Lou Piniella
Louis Victor Piniella is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He has been nicknamed "Sweet Lou," both for his swing as a major league hitter and, facetiously, to describe his demeanor as a player and manager...
summoned him to the big league club.
Major league career
When Gaudin made his major league debut, he became the youngest Devil Ray in club history at 20 years and 4 months and was the 4th youngest player in the majors. After posting a very respectable 2-0 record and 3.60 ERA in 15 appearances (including 3 starts) in for the Devil Rays, he went 1-2 with a 4.85 ERA in 26 appearances (4 starts) in while splitting time with the Triple-A Durham BullsDurham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the International League. The Bulls play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park located in the downtown area of Durham, North Carolina. Durham Bulls Athletic Park is often called the "DBAP" or "D-Bap". The Bulls are...
.
On December 12, 2004, Gaudin was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto 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 ....
for backup catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Kevin Cash
Kevin Cash
Kevin Forrest Cash is an American professional baseball catcher who is in the Texas Rangers organization. He has played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Houston Astros.-Early life:Cash played for Northside Little League in Florida when they made...
. Although he pitched well as a starter at Triple-A Syracuse, he was just 1-3 with a 13.15 ERA in 5 appearances (3 starts) with the Blue Jays. Opponents had batted
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 :...
.470 against him in just 13 innings (31 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....
). On December 5, , he was traded to 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....
for a player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
, who later turned out to be outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Dustin Majewski.
Gaudin began the season for the Sacramento River Cats
Sacramento River Cats
The Sacramento River Cats is a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics....
, the Athletics Triple-A team. He was recalled by the Athletics after posting an 0.36 ERA in 4 starts for the River Cats and pitched in relief
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 rest of the season for the big league club. In his first season as an Athletic, he posted various career highs and his ERA (3.08) and opponents batting average were the lowest of his career. His inherited runners to score was 20 percent which ranked fourth lowest in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
.
In , Gaudin was converted into a starter again when veteran Esteban Loaiza
Esteban Loaiza
Esteban Antonio Loaiza Veyna [lo-EYE-sa] is a former Major League Baseball pitcher...
was on the 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:...
to begin the season. His excellent performance as a starter in the 2007 season made him part of the new 'Big Three' that included Dan Haren
Dan Haren
Daniel John Haren is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.- High-school and college career :...
and Joe Blanton
Joe Blanton
Joseph Matthew Blanton is a starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball.-College career:...
.
In December 2007, Gaudin successfully had his sesamoid bone
Sesamoid bone
In anatomy, a sesamoid bone is a bone embedded within a tendon.Sesamoids are found in locations where a tendon passes over a joint, such as the hand, knee, and foot. Functionally, they act to protect the tendon and to increase its mechanical effect. The presence of the sesamoid bone holds the...
removed from the base of his big toe in a procedure called a sesamoidectomy. He was back on the mound pitching again within three months.
On May 7, , Gaudin was moved back into the bullpen.
On July 8, 2008, Gaudin was dealt along with Rich Harden
Rich Harden
James Richard Harden is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher.-Early years:Harden attended Claremont Secondary School in Victoria, British Columbia. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 38th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft...
to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Sean Gallagher
Sean Gallagher (baseball)
Sean Patrick Gallagher is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Chicago Cubs:...
, Matt Murton
Matt Murton
Matthew Henry Murton is an outfielder for the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan...
, Eric Patterson
Eric Patterson
Eric Scott Patterson is an American professional baseball outfielder for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. He has also played second base in the majors, which he predominantly played in the minor leagues...
, and minor league catcher Josh Donaldson
Josh Donaldson
Joshua Adam Donaldson is a Major League Baseball catcher and first baseman for the Oakland Athletics.-Professional career:...
.
Gaudin was released by the Cubs on April 5, after a disappointing second half. 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...
signed him to a minor league contract on April 12, 2009 and assigned him to their Triple-A team, the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
on April 14 He made his first start for the Padres against 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...
on April 28. He gave up zero runs on 3 hits and received a no decision in a 4-3 Padres win.
On August 6, , Gaudin was traded to the New York Yankees
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...
for a player to be named later, but instead the Padres took $100,000. With the Yankees, Gaudin filled a valuable role as a spot starter and relief pitcher, making six starts (all of which the Yankees won) and five relief appearances, recording a 3.43 ERA.
Gaudin was released by the Yankees on March 25, 2010. On March 28, 2010, Gaudin signed a major league deal with 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 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 May 17. On May 21, 2010, he was released.
On May 26, 2010 Gaudin was re-signed by the Yankees. On November 2, 2010 Gaudin was outrighted to the minor leagues. He elected free agency.
On December 17, Gaudin signed a minor-league contract with the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. He made 10 appearances for the Nationals, recording 6.48 ERA in 8.1 innings before being designated for assignment on July 19, 2011. He was released on July 21. Gaudin signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto 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 ....
on August 5.