Doug Linton
Encyclopedia
Douglas Warren Linton is a former professional baseball
pitcher
. He played all or part of seven seasons in Major League Baseball
between 1992 and 2003 for the Toronto Blue Jays
, California Angels, New York Mets
, Kansas City Royals
, and Baltimore Orioles
, mostly as a relief pitcher
. He also played one season in the Korea Baseball Organization
for the LG Twins
in 2002. He is currently the pitching coach for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
.
in Anaheim, California
. He then played baseball at the University of California, Irvine
.
in the 43rd round of the 1986 Major League Baseball Draft
, signing with the Blue Jays on September 5, 1986. He made his professional baseball debut with the Myrtle Beach Blue Jays
of the South Atlantic League
in 1987, where he had a very impressive season, earning a 14-2 record and a 1.73 ERA in 21 games. He was promoted to the Knoxville Blue Jays of the Southern League
late in the year. He pitched in only one game for Knoxville, allowing three runs in three innings.
Linton spent the 1988 season with the Dunedin Blue Jays
of the Florida State League
. An injury cut his season short, and he appeared in just twelve games, all in relief. He had a 2-1 record with a 1.63 ERA in 27.2 innings. He split the 1989 season with Dunedin and Knoxville, where he posted a combined record of 6-6 with a 2.68 ERA in 23 games, 14 of them starts
.
Linton was promoted to the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League
for the 1990 season, where he had a 10-10 record with a 3.40 ERA in 26 starts. He returned to Syracuse in 1991, posting a 10-12 record with a 5.01 ERA in 30 games.
He began the season with the Chiefs once again in 1992, where he had a 12-10 record with a 3.74 ERA in 25 starts, earning a call-up from the Toronto Blue Jays
. Linton made his Blue Jays debut on August 3, 1992, where he pitched 3.2 innings out of the bullpen, allowing one run and striking out four as Toronto lost 7-1 to the Boston Red Sox
at Fenway Park
. He made his first major league start on August 13, as Linton pitched eight innings, allowing two runs and striking out four, as the Blue Jays defeated the Baltimore Orioles
4-2 at the SkyDome to earn his first major league victory. Linton struggled after that game, allowing 19 earned run
s in six innings over four appearances, and was sent back to the Chiefs at the end of August. Linton had a 1-3 record with an 8.62 ERA with Toronto.
Linton began the 1993 season with the Syracuse Chiefs, posting a 2-6 record with them with a 5.36 ERA, as well as playing in four games with Toronto, with a 0-1 record and a 6.55 ERA before being selected off waivers by the California Angels
on June 17.
defeated the Angels 11-6 at Anaheim Stadium. He earned his first Angels victory on July 7, pitching a scoreless ninth inning as California defeated the Boston Red Sox
7-6. The Angels released Linton on September 14, at which time Linton had a 2-0 record with a 7.71 ERA in 19 games, all out of the bullpen.
signed Linton on December 17, 1993. Linton made his Mets debut on April 8, 1994 in a 6-3 loss to the Houston Astros
at The Astrodome, working out of the bullpen. He made 32 appearances with New York, having a solid record of 6-2 with a 4.47 ERA. In July he was sent to the Norfolk Tides
of the International League
, where Linton had a 2-1 record with 2.00 ERA.
After the season, Linton became a free agent, and signed with the Kansas City Royals
on April 25, 1995.
at Kauffman Stadium
. He made his first Royals start on May 5 against the Chicago White Sox
, allowing only one run in eight innings with four strikeouts, however, he had to settle with a no-decision before the Royals won the game in extra innings. Linton was crushed in his next start, allowing ten runs in five innings in a 10-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians
. He was sent to the Omaha Royals
at the end of May, where he spent the rest of the season, compiling a 7-7 record with a 4.40 ERA in 18 starts. His numbers in Kansas City were 0-1 with a 7.25 ERA in seven games.
After re-signing with Kansas City for the 1996 season, he began the year in Omaha, where he started four games with a 2-1 record and a 4.76 ERA before earning a call-up to Kansas City. Linton set a career high in wins with Kansas City, as he had a 7-9 record with a 5.02 ERA in 21 games and a career high 104 innings pitched. The Royals released Linton on March 4, 1997.
on January 26, 1998, however, he was released during spring training
on March 14. Linton signed a contract with the Minnesota Twins
on May 26, and spent the season with the Twins AAA affiliate, the Salt Lake Buzz of the Pacific Coast League
. Linton played in 18 games, making 14 starts, as he had a 4-4 record with a 5.99 ERA with the Buzz. He became a free agent after the season.
and began the 1999 season with the club. He made his Orioles debut on April 11, 1999 at Camden Yards, starting against the Blue Jays. Linton allowed two runs in five innings as he received a no-decision in the Orioles 9-5 loss. He lost his next start, 7-4 to Toronto at SkyDome, and was demoted first to the Orioles bullpen, then to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
of the International League
. There, he pitched well, earning a 7-5 record with a 3.65 ERA, earning a promotion back to the major leagues. Linton finished the year in Baltimore as a full time starting pitcher, and pitched his best game on September 4, allowing one run in seven innings as Baltimore defeated the Cleveland Indians
3-1. He finished the year with a 1-4 record and a 5.95 ERA with the Orioles. He was released by Baltimore on December 7.
. He was sent to the Rockies AAA affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
of the Pacific Coast League
. He spent the season with the Sky Sox, posting a record of 10-13 with a 5.38 ERA in 28 starts.
on January 15, 2001, however, he was released by the team at the end of spring training on April 1. Linton came back for his second stint with the Mets organization, with which he signed as a free agent on May 9, 2001. He was assigned to the Norfolk Tides
of the International League
, where earned a 7-3 record with a 3.21 ERA in 12 starts before being sold to the LG Twins
of the Korean Baseball Organization
, where he finished the 2001 season.
. He would have another very solid season in AAA, where he played for the Richmond Braves
of the International League
. Despite a 9-11 record, Linton had a very solid ERA of 2.53, as well as 160 strikeouts in 174 innings pitched.
organization as he signed as a free agent on October 23, 2002. He won a job in the Blue Jays bullpen in spring training, and started the year in Toronto. Linton made his return in a Blue Jays uniform on March 31, 2003, when he pitched two scoreless innings in relief as Toronto lost 8-4 to the Yankees. He appeared in seven games with Toronto, having a 0-0 record and a 3.00 ERA in nine innings before being sent to the Syracuse SkyChiefs
. In Syracuse, Linton struggled badly, posting a record of 2-10 with a 5.28 ERA in 32 appearances.
on January 16, 2004, and after a start with the Wichita Wranglers
of the Texas League
in which Linton pitched 5.1 innings, allowing only one run, he was promoted to the Omaha Royals
of the Pacific Coast League
. In Omaha, Linton had a tough season, going 3-9 with a 7.59 ERA in 27 games. After the season, he announced his retirement from the game.
and Modesto Nuts
, and is currently the pitching coach for the Sky Sox.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
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...
. He played all or part of seven seasons in 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...
between 1992 and 2003 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 ....
, California Angels, New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
, and 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...
, mostly as 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...
. He also played one season in the Korea Baseball Organization
Korea Baseball Organization
The Korea Baseball Organization is the governing body for the professional leagues of baseball in South Korea. KBO should not be confused with the Korea Professional Baseball League. KBO was founded in 1981 and has been governing two leagues, Korea Professional Baseball and Futures League since...
for the LG Twins
LG Twins
LG Twins Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. The club was known as the MBC Blue Dragons owned by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation until , when they were taken over by the LG Group...
in 2002. He is currently the pitching coach for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
.
Early life
Linton attended Canyon High SchoolCanyon High School (Anaheim, California)
Canyon High School is a traditional four-year high school located in the Anaheim Hills community in the city of Anaheim, California and is an International Baccalaureate school. It is located on of land on Imperial Highway between the cross streets of Santa Ana Canyon Road and Nohl Ranch Road, and...
in Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
. He then played baseball at the University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
.
Toronto Blue Jays
Linton was drafted by the Toronto Blue JaysToronto 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 ....
in the 43rd round of the 1986 Major League Baseball Draft
1986 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1986 Major League Baseball Draft was the 22nd MLB draft that took place in 1986. During this draft, five all-stars were drafted in five different teams.-First round selections:...
, signing with the Blue Jays on September 5, 1986. He made his professional baseball debut with the Myrtle Beach Blue Jays
Myrtle Beach Blue Jays
The Myrtle Beach Blue Jays of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina began play in the South Atlantic League in 1986 after being relocated from Florence, South Carolina . They played at Coastal Carolina College's stadium and were a minor league club of the Toronto Blue Jays...
of 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...
in 1987, where he had a very impressive season, earning a 14-2 record and a 1.73 ERA in 21 games. He was promoted to the Knoxville Blue Jays of the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
late in the year. He pitched in only one game for Knoxville, allowing three runs in three innings.
Linton spent the 1988 season with the Dunedin Blue Jays
Dunedin Blue Jays
The Dunedin Blue Jays are a minor league baseball team based in Dunedin, Florida. They play in the Florida State League, and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays Major League Baseball club...
of the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
. An injury cut his season short, and he appeared in just twelve games, all in relief. He had a 2-1 record with a 1.63 ERA in 27.2 innings. He split the 1989 season with Dunedin and Knoxville, where he posted a combined record of 6-6 with a 2.68 ERA in 23 games, 14 of them starts
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....
.
Linton was promoted to the Syracuse Chiefs of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
for the 1990 season, where he had a 10-10 record with a 3.40 ERA in 26 starts. He returned to Syracuse in 1991, posting a 10-12 record with a 5.01 ERA in 30 games.
He began the season with the Chiefs once again in 1992, where he had a 12-10 record with a 3.74 ERA in 25 starts, earning a call-up from 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 ....
. Linton made his Blue Jays debut on August 3, 1992, where he pitched 3.2 innings out of the bullpen, allowing one run and striking out four as Toronto lost 7-1 to the Boston Red Sox
Boston 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"...
at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
. He made his first major league start on August 13, as Linton pitched eight innings, allowing two runs and striking out four, as the Blue Jays defeated 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...
4-2 at the SkyDome to earn his first major league victory. Linton struggled after that game, allowing 19 earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
s in six innings over four appearances, and was sent back to the Chiefs at the end of August. Linton had a 1-3 record with an 8.62 ERA with Toronto.
Linton began the 1993 season with the Syracuse Chiefs, posting a 2-6 record with them with a 5.36 ERA, as well as playing in four games with Toronto, with a 0-1 record and a 6.55 ERA before being selected off waivers by the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
on June 17.
California Angels
He made his Angels debut on June 20, 1993, allowing a run in 1.1 innings pitched as the Chicago White SoxChicago 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...
defeated the Angels 11-6 at Anaheim Stadium. He earned his first Angels victory on July 7, pitching a scoreless ninth inning as California defeated the Boston Red Sox
Boston 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"...
7-6. The Angels released Linton on September 14, at which time Linton had a 2-0 record with a 7.71 ERA in 19 games, all out of the bullpen.
New York Mets
The New York MetsNew York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
signed Linton on December 17, 1993. Linton made his Mets debut on April 8, 1994 in a 6-3 loss to 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...
at The Astrodome, working out of the bullpen. He made 32 appearances with New York, having a solid record of 6-2 with a 4.47 ERA. In July he was sent to the Norfolk Tides
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
, where Linton had a 2-1 record with 2.00 ERA.
After the season, Linton became a free agent, and signed with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
on April 25, 1995.
Kansas City Royals
Linton made his Royals debut working out of the bullpen on April 29, 1995, allowing 3 runs in 3.2 innings as Kansas City lost 10-3 to the New York YankeesNew 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...
at Kauffman Stadium
Kauffman Stadium
Ewing M. Kauffman Stadium is a Major League Baseball stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri, and home to the Kansas City Royals of the American League. Together with Arrowhead Stadium, home of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs, it is a part of the Truman Sports Complex...
. He made his first Royals start on May 5 against 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...
, allowing only one run in eight innings with four strikeouts, however, he had to settle with a no-decision before the Royals won the game in extra innings. Linton was crushed in his next start, allowing ten runs in five innings in a 10-0 loss to 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...
. He was sent to the Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
at the end of May, where he spent the rest of the season, compiling a 7-7 record with a 4.40 ERA in 18 starts. His numbers in Kansas City were 0-1 with a 7.25 ERA in seven games.
After re-signing with Kansas City for the 1996 season, he began the year in Omaha, where he started four games with a 2-1 record and a 4.76 ERA before earning a call-up to Kansas City. Linton set a career high in wins with Kansas City, as he had a 7-9 record with a 5.02 ERA in 21 games and a career high 104 innings pitched. The Royals released Linton on March 4, 1997.
Yankees and Twins
Linton sat out the 1997 season with an injury, and was signed by a contract with the New York YankeesNew 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...
on January 26, 1998, however, he was released during spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
on March 14. Linton signed a contract with 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...
on May 26, and spent the season with the Twins AAA affiliate, the Salt Lake Buzz of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. Linton played in 18 games, making 14 starts, as he had a 4-4 record with a 5.99 ERA with the Buzz. He became a free agent after the season.
Baltimore Orioles
On December 17, 1998, Linton signed with the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore 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...
and began the 1999 season with the club. He made his Orioles debut on April 11, 1999 at Camden Yards, starting against the Blue Jays. Linton allowed two runs in five innings as he received a no-decision in the Orioles 9-5 loss. He lost his next start, 7-4 to Toronto at SkyDome, and was demoted first to the Orioles bullpen, then to the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. There, he pitched well, earning a 7-5 record with a 3.65 ERA, earning a promotion back to the major leagues. Linton finished the year in Baltimore as a full time starting pitcher, and pitched his best game on September 4, allowing one run in seven innings as Baltimore defeated 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...
3-1. He finished the year with a 1-4 record and a 5.95 ERA with the Orioles. He was released by Baltimore on December 7.
Colorado Rockies
On February 21, 2000, Linton agreed to a contract with the Colorado RockiesColorado 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 was sent to the Rockies AAA affiliate, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. He spent the season with the Sky Sox, posting a record of 10-13 with a 5.38 ERA in 28 starts.
Dodgers, Mets, and Korea
Linton signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
on January 15, 2001, however, he was released by the team at the end of spring training on April 1. Linton came back for his second stint with the Mets organization, with which he signed as a free agent on May 9, 2001. He was assigned to the Norfolk Tides
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
, where earned a 7-3 record with a 3.21 ERA in 12 starts before being sold to the LG Twins
LG Twins
LG Twins Baseball Club is a Korea Professional Baseball team based in Seoul, South Korea. The club was known as the MBC Blue Dragons owned by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation until , when they were taken over by the LG Group...
of the Korean Baseball Organization
Korean Baseball Organization
Korea Professional Baseball is the highest level league of baseball in South Korea. The Korean romanization is Hanguk Peuro Yagu , a league title which mirrors Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. Korea Professional Baseball was originally founded with six teams in 1982 and currently has eight...
, where he finished the 2001 season.
Atlanta Braves
On January 16, 2002, Linton agreed to a deal with the Atlanta BravesAtlanta 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....
. He would have another very solid season in AAA, where he played for the 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,...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. Despite a 9-11 record, Linton had a very solid ERA of 2.53, as well as 160 strikeouts in 174 innings pitched.
Return to the Blue Jays
Linton returned to the Toronto Blue JaysToronto 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 ....
organization as he signed as a free agent on October 23, 2002. He won a job in the Blue Jays bullpen in spring training, and started the year in Toronto. Linton made his return in a Blue Jays uniform on March 31, 2003, when he pitched two scoreless innings in relief as Toronto lost 8-4 to the Yankees. He appeared in seven games with Toronto, having a 0-0 record and a 3.00 ERA in nine innings before being sent to the Syracuse SkyChiefs
Syracuse SkyChiefs
The Syracuse Chiefs are a minor league baseball team based in Syracuse, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals...
. In Syracuse, Linton struggled badly, posting a record of 2-10 with a 5.28 ERA in 32 appearances.
Return to the Royals
Linton would sign with the Kansas City RoyalsKansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
on January 16, 2004, and after a start with the Wichita Wranglers
Wichita Wranglers
The Wichita Wranglers were a minor league baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas. The team, which played in the Texas League, was the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major-league club from 1995 to 2007, and of the San Diego Padres from 1987 to 1994. The Wranglers played in...
of the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
in which Linton pitched 5.1 innings, allowing only one run, he was promoted to the Omaha Royals
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
of the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. In Omaha, Linton had a tough season, going 3-9 with a 7.59 ERA in 27 games. After the season, he announced his retirement from the game.
Coaching career
Linton was formerly the pitching coach for the Tri-City Dust DevilsTri-City Dust Devils
The Tri-City Dust Devils are a minor league baseball team in Pasco, Washington, United States. The Dust Devils are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Colorado Rockies since their inception in 2001. The Devils play home games at Gesa...
and Modesto Nuts
Modesto Nuts
The Modesto Nuts are a minor league baseball team in Modesto, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Colorado Rockies. The Modesto Nuts play home games at John Thurman Field. Opened in 1955 and renovated in 1997, the park seats 4,000 fans...
, and is currently the pitching coach for the Sky Sox.