Jacob Odorizzi is an American 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...

 in 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...

 organization.

Amateur career

Odorizzi attended Highland High School

Highland High School (Highland, Illinois)

Highland High School is located in Highland, Illinois and is part of Highland Community Unit School District 5 and is far inferior to Triad High School.-Profile:Highland High School12760 Troxler AvenueHighland, Illinois 62249phone: 654-7131...

, where he led the Highland Bulldogs to the state championship.

Milwaukee Brewers

Odorizzi was selected by the Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...

 in the first round (32nd overall) of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft

2008 Major League Baseball Draft

The 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft continued Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 5 and 6, 2008.-First round selections:* Did not sign...

. He had a 9-9 record, a 3.68 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 197 strikeouts in the Milwaukee Brewers system. He played for the Arizona Brewers (2008), Helena Brewers

Helena Brewers

The Helena Brewers are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League and are the Advanced Rookie League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Helena, Montana...

 (2009) and the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are a minor league baseball team of the Midwest League, and the Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Grand Chute, Wisconsin, and are named for timber rattlesnakes. The team plays its home games at Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium...

 (2010).

Kansas City Royals

On December 17, 2010, the Brewers traded Odorizzi, Alcides Escobar

Alcides Escobar

Alcides Escobar is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Kansas City Royals. He was considered the best-fielding infielder in the Brewers' organization and was previously one of the top prospects in the organization...

, Jeremy Jeffress

Jeremy Jeffress

Jeremy Ross Jeffress is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball.-Milwaukee Brewers:...

 and Lorenzo Cain

Lorenzo Cain

Lorenzo Lamar Cain is an outfielder for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball.-Minor leagues:...

 to the Royals for Zack Greinke

Zack Greinke

Donald Zackary "Zack" Greinke is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. Greinke won the American League Cy Young Award in 2009 with the Kansas City Royals.-High school & minor leagues:Greinke was born in Orlando, Florida...

 and Yuniesky Betancourt

Yuniesky Betancourt

Yuniesky Betancourt is a Major League Baseball shortstop. He resides in Boca Raton, Florida.-Cuban leagues:...

. Baseball America

Baseball America

Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...

ranked Odorizzi as the 69th best prospect in baseball prior to the 2011 season and the 23rd best prospect at midseason. After the 2011 season, he was named the fifth best prospect in the Double-A 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...

.

External links