Clay Rapada
Encyclopedia
Clayton Anthony Rapada is an American
professional baseball
pitcher
for the Baltimore Orioles
of Major League Baseball
.
organization pitching for the Single-A Boise Hawks
from –. At the beginning of 2003, he was promoted to the Single-A Lansing Lugnuts
, where he posted a 5.63 ERA
and recorded 24 strikeout
s over 24 innings pitched, primarily in relief. During a game that year, Rapada was ejected along with six other players following a brawl with the West Michigan Whitecaps
, a Detroit Tigers affiliate. Rapada showed improvement in for the Lugnuts, going 6–6 with an ERA of 2.33 in 57 appearances.
In , the Cubs moved Rapada up to the Single-A Daytona Cubs
, where he went 1–3 with an ERA 3.83 in 27 appearances. saw Rapada progressing through the Cubs' minor league organization, and he pitched for both the Double-A West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx and the Triple-A Iowa Cubs
. Between the two teams, he appeared in 61 games and posted an ERA of 1.59.
Rapada made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs
on June 14, , against the Seattle Mariners
. He faced only one batter, Raúl Ibáñez
, who lined out to Cubs right fielder
Cliff Floyd
. Rapada was sent back to the Iowa Cubs on June 19, 2007, without making another appearance.
On August 30, 2007, Rapada was announced as the player to be named later
in the trade between the Tigers and Cubs involving outfielder
Craig Monroe
.
Rapada made his Tigers debut on September 9, 2007. In a coincidence, he faced Ibáñez again, giving up a 3-run home run
. He was pulled immediately after, giving him the distinction of facing the same batter (and only that batter) twice in his first two major league appearances; one while pitching for a National League
club and the other with an American League
club. He earned his first major league victory
on April 15, as the Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins
6–5.
Rapada did not make the Tigers 25-man roster and began the 2009 season playing for the Toledo Mud Hens
.
On December 7, 2009, Rapada was traded to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later or cash considerations. On December 16, Rapada was outrighted off the 40 man roster to Triple-A.
Rapada played most of the 2010 season with the minor league
Oklahoma City RedHawks. On September 3, 2010, Texas called up Rapada to the major league roster.
On January 14, 2011, Rapada was placed on release waivers by the Rangers. On January 25, 2011, Rapada was signed by the Baltimore Orioles and invited to spring training to compete for a roster spot. After being sent to the minors after spring training, Rapada was called up by Baltimore on April 17. He made his Orioles' debut on April 18 with two outs in the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins
. He was designated for assignment on June 29. In 12 1/3 games with Baltimore, Rapada had a 7.38 ERA.
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 Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major 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...
.
Career
Rapada started in the Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
organization pitching for the Single-A Boise Hawks
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks are a minor league baseball team, located in Boise, Idaho. The team is currently a farm team for the Chicago Cubs and play in the Short-Season Class A Northwest League.-History:...
from –. At the beginning of 2003, he was promoted to the Single-A Lansing Lugnuts
Lansing Lugnuts
The Lansing Lugnuts are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays, that plays in the Midwest League.The Midwest League came to Lansing, Michigan in 1996. The franchise began in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1955; after two seasons it moved to Waterloo, Iowa, where it...
, where he posted a 5.63 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...
and recorded 24 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 over 24 innings pitched, primarily in relief. During a game that year, Rapada was ejected along with six other players following a brawl with the West Michigan Whitecaps
West Michigan Whitecaps
The West Michigan Whitecaps are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Detroit Tigers, that plays in the Midwest League. Their home games are played in Comstock Park, Michigan, a suburb of Grand Rapids.-Franchise history:...
, a Detroit Tigers affiliate. Rapada showed improvement in for the Lugnuts, going 6–6 with an ERA of 2.33 in 57 appearances.
In , the Cubs moved Rapada up to the Single-A Daytona Cubs
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs are a minor league baseball team based in Daytona Beach, Florida. The team plays in the Florida State League , and is the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs major league club. The Cubs play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark; opened in 1914, the park seats 5,100 fans.The...
, where he went 1–3 with an ERA 3.83 in 27 appearances. saw Rapada progressing through the Cubs' minor league organization, and he pitched for both the Double-A West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx and the Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
. Between the two teams, he appeared in 61 games and posted an ERA of 1.59.
Rapada made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
on June 14, , against the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. He faced only one batter, Raúl Ibáñez
Raúl Ibáñez
Raúl Javier Ibáñez is an American Major League Baseball outfielder.Over his career, Ibáñez, who did not make 500 plate appearances until the age of thirty, has batted .280 with 377 doubles, 252 home runs and 1054 runs batted in over sixteen Major League seasons...
, who lined out to Cubs right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
Cliff Floyd
Cliff Floyd
Cornelius Clifford Floyd, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early years:Floyd was born to parents Cornelius Clifford Floyd, Sr. and Olivia Floyd. After spending 13 years as an only child, Floyd was joined by brother Julius...
. Rapada was sent back to the Iowa Cubs on June 19, 2007, without making another appearance.
On August 30, 2007, Rapada was announced as the 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:...
in the trade between the Tigers and Cubs involving 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...
Craig Monroe
Craig Monroe
Craig Keystone Monroe , nicknamed "C-Mo," is a Major League Baseball outfielder who most recently played for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Professional career:...
.
Rapada made his Tigers debut on September 9, 2007. In a coincidence, he faced Ibáñez again, giving up a 3-run home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
. He was pulled immediately after, giving him the distinction of facing the same batter (and only that batter) twice in his first two major league appearances; one while pitching for a National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
club and the other with an 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...
club. He earned his first major league victory
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
on April 15, as the Tigers beat 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...
6–5.
Rapada did not make the Tigers 25-man roster and began the 2009 season playing for the Toledo Mud Hens
Toledo Mud Hens
The Toledo Mud Hens are a minor league baseball team located in Toledo, Ohio. The Mud Hens play in the International League, and are affiliated with the major league baseball team the Detroit Tigers, based approximately 50 miles to the north of Toledo. The current team is one of several...
.
On December 7, 2009, Rapada was traded to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later or cash considerations. On December 16, Rapada was outrighted off the 40 man roster to Triple-A.
Rapada played most of the 2010 season with the minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
Oklahoma City RedHawks. On September 3, 2010, Texas called up Rapada to the major league roster.
On January 14, 2011, Rapada was placed on release waivers by the Rangers. On January 25, 2011, Rapada was signed by the Baltimore Orioles and invited to spring training to compete for a roster spot. After being sent to the minors after spring training, Rapada was called up by Baltimore on April 17. He made his Orioles' debut on April 18 with two outs in the seventh inning against 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...
. He was designated for assignment on June 29. In 12 1/3 games with Baltimore, Rapada had a 7.38 ERA.