Chad Qualls
Encyclopedia
Chadford Michael Qualls (born August 17, 1978, in Lomita, California
) is a relief pitcher
.
by the Houston Astros
. He began his career as a starting pitcher
with the Michigan Battle Cats
in . He was converted to relief in while with the New Orleans Zephyrs
, and made his major league debut with Astros on July 22. As of the end of the 2010 season, Qualls has not started a game in the major leagues.
Qualls pitched the next three seasons for the Astros. On December 14, 2007, Qualls was dealt to the Arizona Diamondbacks
along with Chris Burke and Juan Gutiérrez
for José Valverde
.
as the closer
for the Diamondbacks in mid-September 2008 after Lyon struggled in the second half of the season.
He is one of four pitchers who have pitched in at least 70 games each of the four seasons from 2004–08, the others being Scott Schoeneweis
, Bob Howry
, and Dan Wheeler
.
for the 2009 season. On August 30, 2009, he suffered a patellar dislocation on the final play of a winning effort against the Houston Astros. He required surgery and missed the rest of the 2009 season.
for a player to be named later.
Lomita, California
Lomita is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 20,256 at the 2010 census, up from 20,046 at the 2000 census...
) is a 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...
.
Astros
Qualls was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft2000 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Compensation picks:- Background :The Florida Marlins made Adrian Gonzalez of Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, CA the first overall selection in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft...
by the Houston Astros
Houston 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...
. He began his career as a starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
with the Michigan Battle Cats
Michigan Battle Cats
The Michigan Battle Cats was a minor league baseball team which began playing in the Midwest League in 1995 and called C.O. Brown Stadium in Battle Creek, Michigan home. The franchise had previously been located in Madison, Wisconsin in 1994 where they were called the Madison Hatters. Prior to that...
in . He was converted to relief in while with the New Orleans Zephyrs
New Orleans Zephyrs
The New Orleans Zephyrs are a minor league baseball team based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The Zephyrs play in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Zephyrs play their home games at Zephyr Field....
, and made his major league debut with Astros on July 22. As of the end of the 2010 season, Qualls has not started a game in the major leagues.
Qualls pitched the next three seasons for the Astros. On December 14, 2007, Qualls was dealt to 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...
along with Chris Burke and Juan Gutiérrez
Juan Gutiérrez (baseball)
Juan Carlos Gutiérrez nicknamed the goot is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Baseball career:...
for José Valverde
José Valverde
José Rafael Valverde is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. His nickname is Papa Grande...
.
2008
Qualls replaced Brandon LyonBrandon Lyon
Brandon James Lyon is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Houston Astros. He throws a 4-seam fastball, 12-6 curveball, slider, and changeup.-Toronto Blue Jays:...
as the 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...
for the Diamondbacks in mid-September 2008 after Lyon struggled in the second half of the season.
He is one of four pitchers who have pitched in at least 70 games each of the four seasons from 2004–08, the others being Scott Schoeneweis
Scott Schoeneweis
Scott David Schoeneweis is an American Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher who is currently a free agent.In the five seasons from 2003–07, Schoeneweis allowed only one home run to left-handed batters...
, Bob Howry
Bob Howry
Bobby Dean Howry is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher.-Early life:Howry attended Deer Valley High School in Arizona,then he attended McNeese State University and was drafted by the San Francisco Giants...
, and Dan Wheeler
Dan Wheeler
Daniel Michael Wheeler is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.-Baseball career:...
.
2009
Qualls was called in to be the closer for the Arizona DiamondbacksArizona 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...
for the 2009 season. On August 30, 2009, he suffered a patellar dislocation on the final play of a winning effort against the Houston Astros. He required surgery and missed the rest of the 2009 season.
2010
On July 31, 2010, Qualls was traded to the Tampa Bay 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...
for a player to be named later.