Jay Buente
Encyclopedia
Jay Phillip Buente (born September 28, 1983 in Evansville, Indiana
) is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Tampa Bay Rays
. He was drafted in the 14th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft
.
while striking out
87 batters in 68 innings
. On the academic side of school, Buente was a member of the National Honor Society. He also participated in wrestling
and cross country
.
where in his freshman
campaign he appeared in 13 games, all in relief
. He did not record a decision while posting a 4.22 ERA in 21 innings pitched. On February 28, he made his collegiate debut in the season-opener against the University of Pittsburgh
, tossing three innings of no run ball while striking out three.
campaign, Buente appeared in 19 games, making three starts. He had a 1-2 record with a 7.12 ERA pitching 43 innings and striking out 36 batters. He was 0-1 in eight Big Ten appearances. He struck out a career-high nine batters in 4 innings against Western Michigan University
on March 26. Buente pitched five innings of scoreless baseball in a start against Indiana State University
on April 21 to earn his first collegiate victory.
He played for the Wisconsin Woodchucks
of the Northwoods League
in the summer of , after his sophomore season. Buente was named to the mid-season all-star team for the league's South Division. He posted a 5-3 record with a 3.07 ERA in 15 appearances, 13 of which were starts. He also struck out 77 batters in 85 innings of work and limited opposing hitters to a .239 batting average
.
.
In the summer of Buente was named a Summer League All-American by Baseball America
, playing for the Wisconsin Woodchucks of the Northwoods League for the second straight summer. He was also a post-season all-star. Among accomplishments, Buente established franchise records for strikeouts in a season with 100, and career strikeouts with 177. He posted a 7-2 record in 13 starts with a 1.43 ERA, pitching 94 innings while limiting opponents to a .219 batting average. He also tossed three complete games, with one shutout
and two combined shutouts.
year at Purdue, Buente pitched in 13 games all starts. Unlike seasons past when he as used as a reliever, he was used as a starter
for the entire season. He went 6-4 with 70 strikeouts and a 3.40 ERA. He would set career highs in almost every category including strikeouts, earned run average, wins
, games started
, complete games and hits per nine innings.
of the New York-Penn League in . He went 2-3 with a 3.09 ERA with one save in 43 innings over 22 appearances. He also made three starts and allowed only two home runs while striking out 41 batters and walking
13.
In Buente played for the Class-A Greensboro Grasshoppers
of the South Atlantic League
. He earned his first win on April 12 against the Lake County Captains
. He threw a season-high four innings and struck out five in a win over West Virginia Power
on May 12. He finished the season 5-2 with 71 strikeouts with one save and a 3.75 ERA in 42 games, all in relief.
He spent the seasons with the Class-A Advanced Jupiter Hammerheads
. Buente picked up his first win of season by striking out five over 2 hitless innings on May 25 against the Lakeland Flying Tigers. He finished the season 5-1 with 63 strikeouts, one save and 3.00 ERA in 40 games, all in relief. He also held Florida State League
hitters to a .220 batting average.
In Buente split the season between the Double-A Jacksonville Suns
and the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs
. With Jacksonville and went 0-1 with 23 strikeouts, one save and a 2.45 ERA in 16 games. During his time with New Orleans where he went 5-1 with 56 strikeouts, one save and a 3.39 ERA in 35 games. He would go a combined 5-2 with a career high 79 strikeouts, two saves and a 3.19 ERA in 83 innings pitched. After the season Buente joined the Arizona Fall League
playing for the Mesa Solar Sox
. He hopes his time in the AFL will help him join the Marlins' bullpen in .
Buente was added to the 40-man roster on November 20, 2009 to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft
.
On May 21, 2011, he had his contract purchased by the Marlins after Josh Johnson was placed on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation. However, he was designated for assignment on May 24, after just one start.
on May 25, 2011. He was sent to the Durham Bulls
, Triple-A affiliate of the Rays.
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
) is a 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...
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 Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
. He was drafted in the 14th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft
2006 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 6 and 7. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.-First Round Selections:...
.
High school
Buente attended Reitz High School where he was a two-year letterwinner at and earned academic all-city honors as a junior and senior. He was also named first-team all-metro as a senior, posting a 1.82 ERAEarned 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
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....
87 batters in 68 innings
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. On the academic side of school, Buente was a member of the National Honor Society. He also participated in wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
and cross country
Cross country running
Cross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
.
Freshman
Buente attended Purdue UniversityPurdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
where 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...
campaign he appeared in 13 games, all in relief
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 did not record a decision while posting a 4.22 ERA in 21 innings pitched. On February 28, he made his collegiate debut in the season-opener against the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, tossing three innings of no run ball while striking out three.
Sophomore
In his sophomoreSophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
campaign, Buente appeared in 19 games, making three starts. He had a 1-2 record with a 7.12 ERA pitching 43 innings and striking out 36 batters. He was 0-1 in eight Big Ten appearances. He struck out a career-high nine batters in 4 innings against Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University
Western Michigan University is a public university located in Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1903 by Dwight B. Waldo, and as of the Fall 2010 semester, its enrollment is 25,045....
on March 26. Buente pitched five innings of scoreless baseball in a start against Indiana State University
Indiana State University
Indiana State University is a public university located in Terre Haute, Indiana, United States.The Princeton Review has named Indiana State as one of the "Best in the Midwest" seven years running, and the College of Education's Graduate Program was recently named as a 'Top 100' by U.S...
on April 21 to earn his first collegiate victory.
He played for the Wisconsin Woodchucks
Wisconsin Woodchucks
The Wisconsin Woodchucks are an American baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. They play their home games at Athletic Park in Wausau, Wisconsin...
of the Northwoods League
Northwoods League
The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball league comprising teams of the top college players from North America and beyond. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate...
in the summer of , after his sophomore season. Buente was named to the mid-season all-star team for the league's South Division. He posted a 5-3 record with a 3.07 ERA in 15 appearances, 13 of which were starts. He also struck out 77 batters in 85 innings of work and limited opposing hitters to a .239 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.
Junior
Buente posted a 3-2 record in 14 appearances with three starts and pitched 38 innings, striking out 24 batters while allowing a .284 opponent batting average. He was 1-0 in Big Ten games, making five appearances on the mound and striking out eight in 12 innings. On March 16, Buente struck out a season-best seven batters against Lamar UniversityLamar University
Lamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
.
In the summer of Buente was named a Summer League All-American by 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...
, playing for the Wisconsin Woodchucks of the Northwoods League for the second straight summer. He was also a post-season all-star. Among accomplishments, Buente established franchise records for strikeouts in a season with 100, and career strikeouts with 177. He posted a 7-2 record in 13 starts with a 1.43 ERA, pitching 94 innings while limiting opponents to a .219 batting average. He also tossed three complete games, with one shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
and two combined shutouts.
Senior
In his seniorSenior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
year at Purdue, Buente pitched in 13 games all starts. Unlike seasons past when he as used as a reliever, he was used as a starter
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....
for the entire season. He went 6-4 with 70 strikeouts and a 3.40 ERA. He would set career highs in almost every category including strikeouts, earned run average, 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...
, games started
Games started
In baseball statistics, games started indicates the number of games that a pitcher has started for his team. A pitcher is credited with starting the game if he faces the first opposing batter...
, complete games and hits per nine innings.
Florida Marlins
Buente began his professional career with the Short-Season Jamestown JammersJamestown Jammers
The Jamestown Jammers are a minor league baseball team in Jamestown, New York, United States. The team is the Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Miami Marlins and plays in the New York - Penn League...
of the New York-Penn League in . He went 2-3 with a 3.09 ERA with one save in 43 innings over 22 appearances. He also made three starts and allowed only two home runs while striking out 41 batters 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...
13.
In Buente played for the Class-A Greensboro Grasshoppers
Greensboro Grasshoppers
The Greensboro Grasshoppers are a minor league baseball team in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA...
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...
. He earned his first win on April 12 against the Lake County Captains
Lake County Captains
The Lake County Captains are a minor league baseball team in Eastlake, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. The team, a Class A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, plays in the Midwest League....
. He threw a season-high four innings and struck out five in a win over West Virginia Power
West Virginia Power
This article is about the baseball team, for the electric utility serving southeast West Virginia from 1986-99, see Allegheny Energy.The West Virginia Power is a minor league baseball team of the South Atlantic League, and is the Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They are located in...
on May 12. He finished the season 5-2 with 71 strikeouts with one save and a 3.75 ERA in 42 games, all in relief.
He spent the seasons with the Class-A Advanced Jupiter Hammerheads
Jupiter Hammerheads
The Jupiter Hammerheads are a minor league baseball team based in Jupiter, Florida, named for the hammerhead shark.The team, which plays in the Florida State League, is the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Miami Marlins major-league club....
. Buente picked up his first win of season by striking out five over 2 hitless innings on May 25 against the Lakeland Flying Tigers. He finished the season 5-1 with 63 strikeouts, one save and 3.00 ERA in 40 games, all in relief. He also held 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...
hitters to a .220 batting average.
In Buente split the season between the Double-A Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
and the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs
New Orleans Zephyrs
The New Orleans Zephyrs are a minor league baseball team based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The Zephyrs play in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Zephyrs play their home games at Zephyr Field....
. With Jacksonville and went 0-1 with 23 strikeouts, one save and a 2.45 ERA in 16 games. During his time with New Orleans where he went 5-1 with 56 strikeouts, one save and a 3.39 ERA in 35 games. He would go a combined 5-2 with a career high 79 strikeouts, two saves and a 3.19 ERA in 83 innings pitched. After the season Buente joined the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
playing for the Mesa Solar Sox
Mesa Solar Sox
The Mesa Solar Sox are a baseball team that plays in the East Division of the Arizona Fall League. They play their home games in Mesa, Arizona at HoHoKam Stadium, which is also the spring training facility of the Chicago Cubs....
. He hopes his time in the AFL will help him join the Marlins' bullpen in .
Buente was added to the 40-man roster on November 20, 2009 to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
.
On May 21, 2011, he had his contract purchased by the Marlins after Josh Johnson was placed on the 15-day disabled list with shoulder inflammation. However, he was designated for assignment on May 24, after just one start.
Tampa Bay Rays
Buente was claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay RaysTampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
on May 25, 2011. He was sent to the Durham Bulls
Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the International League. The Bulls play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park located in the downtown area of Durham, North Carolina. Durham Bulls Athletic Park is often called the "DBAP" or "D-Bap". The Bulls are...
, Triple-A affiliate of the Rays.