Dylan Axelrod
Encyclopedia
Dylan Axelrod is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Chicago White Sox
.
, where he was named team MVP. He was undrafted out of high school, and went on to Santa Barbara City College
. He played there from 04-05, had a school record 117 strikeouts in 2004, and was named an Outstanding Pitcher. After two years at SBCC, he transferred to UC Irvine
. He was used as a reliever with UC Irvine, and was second on the team in appearances with 28 and had a 3-3 record with a 4.59 ERA. He recorded 34 appearances, and went 6-4 with a 3.96 ERA. He was drafted in the 30th round, 927th overall, of the 2007 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres
.
, going 2-1 as a reliever in 32 games with a 5.29 ERA before being demoted back to Fort Wayne, where he finished the year. He started 2009 with Lake Elsinore, but after 11 games with a 4.50 ERA, he was cut. He signed with Independent Windy City
of the Frontier League
, where, after he had a 2.21 ERA in 22 games with 6 saves, he drew attention of the South Siders, signing a deal on August 2, 2009. He played with Single-A Kannapolis
where, after 2 games, was promoted to Winston-Salem, where he played 5 games. He started 2010 with Winston-Salem before being promoted to Double-A Birmingham
, where he played 2 games before going back to Winston-Salem. He started 2011 with Birmingham, going 3-2 with a 3.34 ERA and was a Southern League
All-Star before being promoted to Triple-A Charlotte
, by then a full-time starter, going 6-1 with a 2.27 ERA in 15 starts before being promoted again.
was transferred to the 60-day DL to make room on the 40-man roster. He made his MLB debut on September 7th, 2011, pitching 2 scoreless innings in relief of starter John Danks
in a game the White Sox lost 5-4 to the Minnesota Twins
. Axelrod made his first Major League start a week later on September 14th vs. the first-place Detroit Tigers
, who were on an 11-game win streak. He exited after six innings with a 5-2 lead, striking out eight Tigers. Unfortunately for Axelrod, the White Sox bullpen blew the lead in the 9th inning and he did not pick up the win. It was announced prior to his start that Axelrod would assume Jake Peavy
's place in the White Sox rotation for the remainder of the 2011 season.
Axelrod started two more games for the 2011 season: September 20 against Cleveland, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing seven hits and four runs; but was back on form September 26 against Toronto, pitching six shutout innings, allowing three hits while striking out six, and recording his first major league win.
Axelrod is reported to rely on a "dirty slider" in addition to his fastball and changeup.
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 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...
.
Amateur career
He had a 13-1 record his senior year at Santa Barbara High SchoolSanta Barbara High School
Santa Barbara High School, "Home of the Dons," is situated on a beautiful campus in, Santa Barbara, California and is part of the Santa Barbara School Districts. One of the oldest high schools in California, it was established in 1875, and moved to its current site in 1924...
, where he was named team MVP. He was undrafted out of high school, and went on to Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara City College is a two-year community college founded in 1909. It is located on a campus right over the beach in the city of Santa Barbara, California, USA. SBCC offers associate degrees in English, Social Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, and occupational and...
. He played there from 04-05, had a school record 117 strikeouts in 2004, and was named an Outstanding Pitcher. After two years at SBCC, he transferred to UC 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...
. He was used as a reliever with UC Irvine, and was second on the team in appearances with 28 and had a 3-3 record with a 4.59 ERA. He recorded 34 appearances, and went 6-4 with a 3.96 ERA. He was drafted in the 30th round, 927th overall, of the 2007 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
.
Minor league career
Axelrod debuted with the Rookie-level Arizona League Padres, going 0-2 in 11 games as a reliever exclusively with a 5.40 ERA before earning a promotion to Single-A Fort Wayne, then the Wizards, where in 10 games out of the pen he had a 1.27 ERA. He started 2008 with High-A Lake ElsinoreLake Elsinore Storm
The Lake Elsinore Storm is a minor league baseball team in Lake Elsinore, California, USA. It is a Class A - Advanced team in the California League, and is a farm team of the San Diego Padres. The Storm plays its home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond...
, going 2-1 as a reliever in 32 games with a 5.29 ERA before being demoted back to Fort Wayne, where he finished the year. He started 2009 with Lake Elsinore, but after 11 games with a 4.50 ERA, he was cut. He signed with Independent Windy City
Windy City ThunderBolts
The Windy City ThunderBolts are a professional baseball team based in the Chicago suburb of Crestwood, Illinois, in the United States. The ThunderBolts are a member of the East Division of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the Frontier League
Frontier League
The Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either...
, where, after he had a 2.21 ERA in 22 games with 6 saves, he drew attention of the South Siders, signing a deal on August 2, 2009. He played with Single-A Kannapolis
Kannapolis Intimidators
The Kannapolis Intimidators are a minor league baseball team in Kannapolis, North Carolina. The team is a Class Low-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and has played in the South Atlantic League under various names and team affiliations since its inception in 1995.-Team history:The Intimidators...
where, after 2 games, was promoted to Winston-Salem, where he played 5 games. He started 2010 with Winston-Salem before being promoted to Double-A Birmingham
Birmingham Barons
The Birmingham Barons are a minor league baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox major-league club....
, where he played 2 games before going back to Winston-Salem. He started 2011 with Birmingham, going 3-2 with a 3.34 ERA and was a 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...
All-Star before being promoted 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...
, by then a full-time starter, going 6-1 with a 2.27 ERA in 15 starts before being promoted again.
Major league career
On September 5, 2011, Axelrod was promoted to Chicago. Tony PeñaTony Peña (pitcher)
Ramon Antonio "Tony" Peña , is a Major League Baseball pitcher.He throws a 4-seam and 2-seam fastball, slider, and a changeup...
was transferred to the 60-day DL to make room on the 40-man roster. He made his MLB debut on September 7th, 2011, pitching 2 scoreless innings in relief of starter John Danks
John Danks
John William Danks is a left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball currently playing with the Chicago White Sox....
in a game the White Sox lost 5-4 to 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...
. Axelrod made his first Major League start a week later on September 14th vs. the first-place Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
, who were on an 11-game win streak. He exited after six innings with a 5-2 lead, striking out eight Tigers. Unfortunately for Axelrod, the White Sox bullpen blew the lead in the 9th inning and he did not pick up the win. It was announced prior to his start that Axelrod would assume Jake Peavy
Jake Peavy
Jacob Edward Peavy is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Chicago White Sox. He bats and throws right-handed...
's place in the White Sox rotation for the remainder of the 2011 season.
Axelrod started two more games for the 2011 season: September 20 against Cleveland, pitching 4.2 innings and allowing seven hits and four runs; but was back on form September 26 against Toronto, pitching six shutout innings, allowing three hits while striking out six, and recording his first major league win.
Axelrod is reported to rely on a "dirty slider" in addition to his fastball and changeup.