Jeff Bennett (baseball)
Encyclopedia
David Jeffrey "Jeff" Bennett (born on June 10, 1980 in Donelson
, Tennessee
) is an American
professional baseball
pitcher
who most recently pitched in Major League Baseball
for the Arizona Diamondbacks
.
acquired Bennett in the Rule 5 draft
from the Pittsburgh Pirates
. He made his Major League Debut on April 6 against the St. Louis Cardinals
at Busch Memorial Stadium
and he gave up 2 hits
in 1 1/3 innings. With the Brewers, Bennett went 1-5 with a 4.79 ERA
, in 60 appearances. Bennett was well known for keeping the brim of his cap
almost completely flat and wearing it so low that the bill was slightly above his eyes.
In , he successfully underwent Tommy John surgery
.
. Against the Milwaukee Brewers, Bennett went 5 2/3 innings while striking out
8, earning the win
. On September 25, Bennett earned a win in relief against the Philadelphia Phillies
. He finished the season 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA.
Bennett hit an RBI on his first at-bat with the Atlanta Braves, driving in Jeff Francoeur on May 20, 2009 against the Colorado Rockies.
In a relief appearance against the Arizona Diamondbacks
on May 24, 2008, Bennett recorded his first Major league hit in the fifth inning against pitcher Randy Johnson
.
The Braves suspended Bennett's pay on June 25, the day after he fractured his hand with an angry punch to a clubhouse wall. Bennett filed a grievance with the players association and continued his rehab. As a result, the Braves either had to give him the money they suspended earlier or release him. Jeff Bennett requested the Braves release him afterwards. Bennett was granted his request to be released on July 30, 2009.
. He was released on May 13, 2010.
.
On April 30, 2011 in his first outing after returning from a torn labrum, he struck out two batters in a scoreless inning for the Lancaster Barnstormers. On June 15, he was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks
and assigned to the Triple-A Reno Aces
.
He was released from Reno Aces on 08/30/2011 & is now pitching with Lancaster Barnstormers of The Atlantic League of Professional baseball for rest of 2011 season.
Donelson, Tennessee
Donelson is a neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee located east of downtown Nashville along U.S. Highway 70. It is named in honor of John Donelson, co-founder of Nashville and father-in-law of Andrew Jackson, Nashvillian and seventh President of the United States...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
) is an American
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...
who most recently pitched 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...
for the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
.
Milwaukee Brewers
In , the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee 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...
acquired Bennett in 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...
from the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. He made his Major League Debut on April 6 against the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
at Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium
Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005....
and he gave up 2 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....
in 1 1/3 innings. With the Brewers, Bennett went 1-5 with a 4.79 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...
, in 60 appearances. Bennett was well known for keeping the brim of his cap
Cap
A cap is a form of headgear. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head and have no brim or only a visor. They are typically designed for warmth and, when including a visor, blocking sunlight from the eyes...
almost completely flat and wearing it so low that the bill was slightly above his eyes.
In , he successfully underwent Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
.
Atlanta Braves
On September 20, , Bennett made his first career start and his first appearance 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....
. Against the Milwaukee Brewers, Bennett went 5 2/3 innings 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....
8, earning the win
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...
. On September 25, Bennett earned a win in relief against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. He finished the season 2-1 with a 3.46 ERA.
Bennett hit an RBI on his first at-bat with the Atlanta Braves, driving in Jeff Francoeur on May 20, 2009 against the Colorado Rockies.
In a relief appearance against the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
on May 24, 2008, Bennett recorded his first Major league hit in the fifth inning against pitcher Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 22-year career, he pitched for six different teams....
.
The Braves suspended Bennett's pay on June 25, the day after he fractured his hand with an angry punch to a clubhouse wall. Bennett filed a grievance with the players association and continued his rehab. As a result, the Braves either had to give him the money they suspended earlier or release him. Jeff Bennett requested the Braves release him afterwards. Bennett was granted his request to be released on July 30, 2009.
Tampa Bay Rays
On August 1, 2009, Bennett signed with 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...
. He was released on May 13, 2010.
Return to Milwaukee Brewers
On May 25, 2010, Bennett signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee 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...
.
2011
As of 2011, Bennett is attempting to make a comeback to the major leaguesOn April 30, 2011 in his first outing after returning from a torn labrum, he struck out two batters in a scoreless inning for the Lancaster Barnstormers. On June 15, he was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
and assigned to the Triple-A Reno Aces
Reno Aces
The Reno Aces are a minor league baseball franchise based in Reno, Nevada, in the United States. The team is a member of the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks....
.
He was released from Reno Aces on 08/30/2011 & is now pitching with Lancaster Barnstormers of The Atlantic League of Professional baseball for rest of 2011 season.