Chuck James
Encyclopedia
Charles Hamilton "Chuck" James (born November 9, 1981 in Atlanta, Georgia
) is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Minnesota Twins
.
. In , he was named the Danville Braves
' Pitcher of the Year, with a 1.25 earned run average
and 68 strikeout
s.
In , he was named the South Atlantic League
Pitcher of the Year, while playing for the Rome Braves
, and was also named the April Player of the Month. He led the Braves minor league organization in wins. James also had the lowest ERA in his league. During May of , opponents only hit .109 against him.
James began the season with the Class A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
. Later in the season, he went 9-1 with a 2.01 ERA with the AA Mississippi Braves
. On September 28, 2005, he was called up to the majors and made his debut against the Colorado Rockies
.
He started the season in the Atlanta bullpen, and also spent some time playing for the AAA Richmond Braves
.
On June 25, 2006 James made his debut as a starter for the Atlanta Braves against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays going eight innings and allowing only one run with eight strike outs. He proceeded to win eleven of his eighteen starts with a 3.78 ERA.
James went a disappointing 11-10 while leading the league in home runs allowed with 32 in the 2007 season which also included his first disabled list stint.
As of May 18, 2008, James has spent the season up and down from Triple-A and has had 5 major league starts going 2-3 with an ERA of 8.22.He was again optioned down to Triple-A Richmond on May 16, 2008, following a rocky start against Philadelphia.
James was non-tendered by the Atlanta Braves
on December 12, 2008, making him a free agent.
.
. He had his contract purchased on May 28, 2011.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
) is a 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...
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 Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
.
Atlanta Braves
He was signed by the Braves on July 29, , after he was selected in the 20th Round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
. In , he was named 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...
' Pitcher of the Year, with a 1.25 earned run average
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...
and 68 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.
In , he was named the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
Pitcher of the Year, while playing for the Rome 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 was also named the April Player of the Month. He led the Braves minor league organization in wins. James also had the lowest ERA in his league. During May of , opponents only hit .109 against him.
James began the season with the Class A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
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...
. Later in the season, he went 9-1 with a 2.01 ERA with 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...
. On September 28, 2005, he was called up to the majors and made his debut 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...
.
He started the season in the Atlanta bullpen, and also spent some time playing for the AAA Richmond Braves
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
.
On June 25, 2006 James made his debut as a starter for the Atlanta Braves against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays going eight innings and allowing only one run with eight strike outs. He proceeded to win eleven of his eighteen starts with a 3.78 ERA.
James went a disappointing 11-10 while leading the league in home runs allowed with 32 in the 2007 season which also included his first disabled list stint.
As of May 18, 2008, James has spent the season up and down from Triple-A and has had 5 major league starts going 2-3 with an ERA of 8.22.He was again optioned down to Triple-A Richmond on May 16, 2008, following a rocky start against Philadelphia.
James was non-tendered by 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....
on December 12, 2008, making him a free agent.
Washington Nationals
On January 25, 2010, James signed a minor league contract with the Washington NationalsWashington 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...
.
Minnesota Twins
On December 20, 2010, James signed a free agent contract with the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. He had his contract purchased on May 28, 2011.
Trivia
- During previous offseasons, he has worked as a home installation technician for Lowe'sLowe'sLowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
hardware stores. However, at the end of the 2007 season, James said he would not continue to work in the offseason. - Shortly before the 2002 draft, he broke both of his wrists while attempting to dive off of a roof and into a swimming pool.
- While in college, James was bitten by a copperheadAgkistrodon contortrixAgkistrodon contortrix is a species of venomous snake found in North America, a member of the Crotalinae subfamily. The more common name for the species is "copperhead". The behavior of Agkistrodon contortrix may lead to accidental encounters with humans...
, a venomous snake, and never sought medical treatment. - He went to Clay Elementary, Lindley Middle and Pebblebrook schools in Mableton Ga.