David Aardsma
Encyclopedia
David Allan Aardsma (ˈɑrdzmə; born December 27, 1981) is an American
professional baseball
pitcher
with the Seattle Mariners
of Major League Baseball
. He is the first player alphabetically in the list of all-time Major League Baseball players, having displaced Hank Aaron upon his MLB debut.
, and attended Cherry Creek High School
in Colorado
, which was also the high school of Major Leaguers Josh Bard
, John Burke, Brad Lidge
, Darnell McDonald
, and Donzell McDonald
. He graduated from Cherry Creek High School in 2000.
in his freshman
year of college. He transferred to Rice University
in 2001, where he remained for the rest of his college tenure. At Rice, Aardsma became a dominant closer
, where he set school single-season and career saves records in -. In the 2003 College World Series
, Aardsma earned two wins
and a save as the Owls won their first national championship.
In 2002, Aardsma was a Summer League First-Team All-American.
by the San Francisco Giants
. He went to the San Jose Giants
(Single-A), and played brilliantly. He posted a 1.96 ERA
while striking out 28 in about 18 innings. He made the major-league roster in , skipping Double-A and Triple-A, and made his debut in the season's second game. In his major league debut, in front of friends and family at Minute Maid Park
, he pitched two innings, allowing three hits
and walking
one, to earn his first MLB win. In his first 6 appearances, he had a 1.80 ERA; unfortunately his success did not last as his ERA ballooned to 6.75 after 11 games. After giving up two runs
in one inning on April 20 - his final major-league appearance that year, he was sent down to Fresno
, the Giants Triple-A team, the next day.
Aardsma's route through professional baseball has been somewhat unique, given that after making the leap from Single-A to the Giants, he was demoted to Triple-A and then subsequently started the season in Double-A with the Norwich Navigators.
, Aardsma was traded to the Chicago Cubs
for veteran pitcher LaTroy Hawkins
on May 28, 2005. He spent the season in the minor leagues before returning to the big leagues with the Cubs in , posting a 3-0 record and 4.08 ERA in 45 relief appearances, finishing nine games. Aardsma was especially effective against left-handed
hitters, holding them to a .190 (12-for-63) batting average against.
, was sent across town to the Chicago White Sox
in exchange for reliever Neal Cotts
. Aardsma started the season strong. In April, he posted a 1.72 ERA while recording 23 strikeouts in only 15.2 innings pitched; he struck out at least one batter in each of his first 13 appearances of the season. On April 4, Aardsma matched a career high with five strikeouts against the Cleveland Indians
. On April 11, as the White Sox visited the Oakland Athletics
, he recorded his first American League
win. In May, however, troubles mounted and Aardsma finished the month with an ERA of 4.73 and an ERA of 9.00 for the month.
Following June 2, Aardsma was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte
. He was recalled on June 19, but continued to struggle in his last appearances with the team.
acquired Aardsma from the White Sox for pitching prospects Willy Mota and Miguel Socolovich.
on January 20, , for minor league pitcher Fabian Williamson.
On April 10, Aardsma recorded the first save of his career, pitching 2 innings of relief against the Oakland Athletics. This save also marked the first MLB win for Chris Jakubauskas
.
The Mariners gave Aardsma a chance to close game behind Brandon Morrow
. Afterward, he became the team's official closer.
Aardsma was a projected pick for the All-Star game, but failed to make the starting nor the reserve roster.
Aardsma followed an outstanding 2009 season with an excellent 2010. Converting 31 of 35 save opportunities, finished the year 19-for-20 in saves with a 1.80 ERA from June 13 to Sept. 19.
. Because of this, he was slated to play for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic, but was ruled ineligible and did not play. Of all baseball
players in history, 'Aardsma' ranks first alphabetically. Aardsma's sister is American actress and beauty pageant contestant Amanda Aardsma
.
During the 2007 season, Aardsma was affectionately given the nickname "Ol' Crazy Eyes" by White Sox fans and teammates.
David and his wife Andrea expected a baby boy in June 2010.
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...
with 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...
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...
. He is the first player alphabetically in the list of all-time Major League Baseball players, having displaced Hank Aaron upon his MLB debut.
High School
Aardsma was born in Denver, ColoradoDenver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
, and attended Cherry Creek High School
Cherry Creek High School
Cherry Creek High School is the oldest of six high schools in the Cherry Creek School District in suburban Denver, Colorado. It is one of the largest high schools in the Denver metro area, with an campus and more than 3,700 students. Cherry Creek High School has been designated a Blue Ribbon...
in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, which was also the high school of Major Leaguers Josh Bard
Josh Bard
Joshua David Bard is an American professional baseball catcher and designated hitter who is a free agent. Bard is a switch-hitter who throws right-handed....
, John Burke, Brad Lidge
Brad Lidge
Bradley Thomas "Brad" Lidge is a reliever who is currently a free agent. Nicknamed "Lights Out", he is the all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings among pitchers with at least 200 appearances in their career...
, Darnell McDonald
Darnell McDonald
Darnell Tyrone McDonald is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.-Professional career:...
, and Donzell McDonald
Donzell McDonald
Donzell McDonald is a professional baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He has played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball in 2001-02. Donzell is the older brother of Darnell McDonald, who currently plays for the Boston Red Sox.- Early life :McDonald grew up in Fort Collins,...
. He graduated from Cherry Creek High School in 2000.
College
He attended Penn StatePennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
in his freshman
Freshman
A freshman or fresher is a first-year student in secondary school, high school, or college. The term first year can also be used as a noun, to describe the students themselves A freshman (US) or fresher (UK, India) (or sometimes fish, freshie, fresher; slang plural frosh or freshmeat) is a...
year of college. He transferred to Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
in 2001, where he remained for the rest of his college tenure. At Rice, Aardsma became a dominant 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...
, where he set school single-season and career saves records in -. In the 2003 College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
, Aardsma earned two wins
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...
and a save as the Owls won their first national championship.
In 2002, Aardsma was a Summer League First-Team All-American.
San Francisco Giants
The right-hander was drafted in the 1st round (22nd overall) of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft2003 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2003 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 3 and 4. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.Source: -First round selections:...
by the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. He went to the San Jose Giants
San Jose Giants
The San Jose Giants are a minor league baseball team in San Jose, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the Northern Division of the California League, and have been a farm team of the San Francisco Giants since 1988. Home games are played at San Jose Municipal Stadium...
(Single-A), and played brilliantly. He posted a 1.96 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...
while striking out 28 in about 18 innings. He made the major-league roster in , skipping Double-A and Triple-A, and made his debut in the season's second game. In his major league debut, in front of friends and family at Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park
Minute Maid Park is a ballpark in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States that opened in 2000 to house the Major League Baseball Houston Astros....
, he pitched two innings, allowing three 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....
and walking
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
one, to earn his first MLB win. In his first 6 appearances, he had a 1.80 ERA; unfortunately his success did not last as his ERA ballooned to 6.75 after 11 games. After giving up two runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
in one inning on April 20 - his final major-league appearance that year, he was sent down to Fresno
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
, the Giants Triple-A team, the next day.
Aardsma's route through professional baseball has been somewhat unique, given that after making the leap from Single-A to the Giants, he was demoted to Triple-A and then subsequently started the season in Double-A with the Norwich Navigators.
Chicago Cubs
Along with pitcher Jerome WilliamsJerome Williams (baseball)
Jerome Lee Williams is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Major League Baseball...
, Aardsma was traded to 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...
for veteran pitcher LaTroy Hawkins
LaTroy Hawkins
LaTroy Hawkins is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Through 2011, he was third of all active pitchers in career games pitched.-Minnesota Twins:...
on May 28, 2005. He spent the season in the minor leagues before returning to the big leagues with the Cubs in , posting a 3-0 record and 4.08 ERA in 45 relief appearances, finishing nine games. Aardsma was especially effective against left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
hitters, holding them to a .190 (12-for-63) batting average against.
Chicago White Sox
After a solid 2006 season with the Cubs, Aardsma, along with minor leaguer Carlos VásquezCarlos Vásquez
Carlos Augusto Vásquez is a Minor League Baseball pitcher for the Florida Marlins organization.Vásquez was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chicago Cubs on February 21, 2000. Vásquez missed the season after undergoing Tommy John Surgery on November 2, 2000.In , Vásquez spent...
, was sent across town to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in exchange for reliever Neal Cotts
Neal Cotts
Neal James Cotts is a left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a Free Agent-College career:...
. Aardsma started the season strong. In April, he posted a 1.72 ERA while recording 23 strikeouts in only 15.2 innings pitched; he struck out at least one batter in each of his first 13 appearances of the season. On April 4, Aardsma matched a career high with five strikeouts against the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. On April 11, as the White Sox visited 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 recorded his first 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...
win. In May, however, troubles mounted and Aardsma finished the month with an ERA of 4.73 and an ERA of 9.00 for the month.
Following June 2, Aardsma was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
. He was recalled on June 19, but continued to struggle in his last appearances with the team.
Boston Red Sox
On January 28, , the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
acquired Aardsma from the White Sox for pitching prospects Willy Mota and Miguel Socolovich.
Seattle Mariners
Less than a year after joining the Red Sox, Aardsma was traded to the Seattle MarinersSeattle 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...
on January 20, , for minor league pitcher Fabian Williamson.
On April 10, Aardsma recorded the first save of his career, pitching 2 innings of relief against the Oakland Athletics. This save also marked the first MLB win for Chris Jakubauskas
Chris Jakubauskas
Christopher James "Chris" Jakubauskas is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball.-College career:...
.
The Mariners gave Aardsma a chance to close game behind Brandon Morrow
Brandon Morrow
Brandon John Morrow is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball....
. Afterward, he became the team's official closer.
Aardsma was a projected pick for the All-Star game, but failed to make the starting nor the reserve roster.
Aardsma followed an outstanding 2009 season with an excellent 2010. Converting 31 of 35 save opportunities, finished the year 19-for-20 in saves with a 1.80 ERA from June 13 to Sept. 19.
Personal life
Aardsma is of Dutch descent, and all of David's great grandparents came from the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. Because of this, he was slated to play for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic, but was ruled ineligible and did not play. Of all 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...
players in history, 'Aardsma' ranks first alphabetically. Aardsma's sister is American actress and beauty pageant contestant Amanda Aardsma
Amanda Aardsma
Amanda Aardsma is an American actress and former beauty pageant contestant who has competed in the Miss Teen USA pageant.Aardsma won the Miss Colorado Teen USA title, and competed in the Miss Teen USA pageant the following year...
.
During the 2007 season, Aardsma was affectionately given the nickname "Ol' Crazy Eyes" by White Sox fans and teammates.
David and his wife Andrea expected a baby boy in June 2010.