Jeremy Affeldt
Encyclopedia
Jeremy David Affeldt is an American baseball professional pitcher
for the San Francisco Giants
of Major League Baseball
. He throws and bats left-handed. Previously, he has played for the Kansas City Royals
, the Colorado Rockies
, and the Cincinnati Reds
.
Affeldt was a third-round draft pick by the Kansas City Royals
in 1997. He made the team in 2002, and he started part of the year for them. Affeldt almost was the first starter for the Royals in 2003, but he lost a coin toss by Royals' manager Tony Peña
. He did not remain in the starting rotation for the entire year, however. In 2004, Affeldt started the year in the rotation, but he was named the Royals closer in May. Affeldt started 2005 as the closer, but he was injured and Mike MacDougal
reclaimed the role. In 2006, Affeldt again made the Royals' starting rotation, but he was moved to the bullpen after he struggled as a starter. He was traded to the Colorado Rockies
at the trade deadline. In 2007, he was a member of the Rockies team that went to the World Series
, but they were swept by the Boston Red Sox
. Affeldt signed a one year deal with the Cincinnati Reds
following the season, and he spent the entire year in the bullpen. He then signed with the San Francisco Giants
for 2009, and he won the This Year in Baseball Setup Man of the Year Award
after he had a 1.73 ERA during the season. Affeldt struggled in 2010, but improved into the offseason and became an elite-performing member of the Giants team that won the 2010 World Series
.
Affeldt throws three pitches: a fastball, a curveball, and a sinker. He currently resides in Spokane, Washington
.
. Affeldt participated in three sports while there, but it was baseball that drove several major league scouts to the school to see him pitch. He graduated in 1997.
in the third round of the 1997 MLB Draft. He spent 1997 pitching for the rookie–league Gulf Coast League Royals
. While with them, he went 2–0 with a 4.50 ERA in ten games (nine starts).
Affeldt improved with the GCL Royals the next year, going 4–3 with a 2.89 ERA in twelve games (nine starts). His performance even earned him a promotion to the single-A Lansing Lugnuts
. Affeldt did not do well in his time with them, though, as he went 0–3 with a 9.53 ERA in six games (three starts).
In 1999, Affeldt spent the entire season with the Royals' single-A affiliate, which had changed to the Charleston Alley Cats during the offseason. Although he only went 7–7, he had a 3.83 ERA in twenty–seven games (twenty–four starts).
Affeldt pitched with the Wilmington Blue Rocks
of the single-A advanced Carolina League
in 2000. While with Wilmington, he led the entire Kansas City Royals' organization (and the Carolina League) with fifteen losses (to go with only five wins). He also threw seventeen wild pitches. However, his ERA was 4.09, and the Blue Rocks were only a half–game ahead of the worst team in the league (the Potomac Cannons).
2001 was a better season for Affeldt, as he went 10–6 with a 3.90 ERA in twenty–five starts for the double-A Wichita Wranglers
. He was selected to pitch in the Texas League
All-Star Game, and he was named to the postseason All–Star team.
' roster in 2002, but he was added to the bullpen after he had an 0.64 ERA and fourteen strikeouts (to go with just two walks) in fourteen innings in Spring Training
. His major league debut came on April 6 against the Chicago White Sox
. He pitched two innings, giving up three hits and a run in a 14–0 loss. On April 24, Affeldt picked up his first major league win by pitching 3.2 innings of relief in an 8–2 win over the Detroit Tigers
.
Affeldt's time in the bullpen did not last long, however. On May 3, he replaced Bryan Rekar
in the Royals' starting rotation. In his first start, he pitched four innings, gave up one run, and earned a no–decision in a 4–3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles
. Affeldt's time as a starter did not go well, though, as he was 0–4 with a 5.45 ERA in seven starts. In his last start, on June 8, Affeldt picked up the loss as the Royals fell 11–3 to the St. Louis Cardinals
. After getting pulled in the fourth inning due to an injury, Affeldt was placed on the disabled list
with fingernail and blister problems.
After making three rehab starts for Wichita, Affeldt returned to the Royals on August 2 and threw a perfect inning against the Minnesota Twins
. He remained in the bullpen for the remainder of the 2002 season. After the season, he pitched in a winter league in the Dominican Republic
.
for the first spot in the Royals' starting rotation during Spring Training. Because Tony Peña
, the Royals' manager, was unable to decide which one would be the ace, he flipped a coin to determine who would be number one. Hernández won the toss.
Affeldt was placed on the disabled list after only four games with blister problems again. His time on the DL did not last long, though, as he returned to the Royals on May 6. On May 28, he struck out a career high eight hitters in a win against the Minnesota Twins
. Later, on June 6, he notched his first hit.
Affeldt's final start of the year came on July 23, in a game he won against Minnesota. After the start, the Royals moved him to the bullpen to try to fix his blister problems. The move was originally thought to be temporary. While in the bullpen, on August 3, he got his first save in a 2–0 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
On August 21, the Royals announced that Affeldt would spend the rest of the year in the bullpen. Two days later, he got another save against Minnesota. He picked up two more saves before the end of the year and finished with a 7–6 record and a 3.93 ERA. After the season, to try to help with his blister problems, he had part of a fingernail on the middle finger of his left hand removed. Also, the Royals announced that if he developed blister problems again, he would be sent to the bullpen for good.
. Affeldt gave up five runs in four innings and received a no–decision in a 7–6 victory by the Royals. Afterwards, although his blister problems had not resurfaced, manager Tony Peña
named him the Royals closer on May 21 due to poor pitching and injury problems with the other Royals closers.
Affeldt blew his first save opportunity of 2004 against the Oakland Athletics
on May 22, but he converted in his next outing on May 25 against the Detroit Tigers
. He converted eight of ten save opportunities before he was placed on the disabled list on June 27 with a partially torn rib–cage muscle. He was out for almost eight weeks.
After making four appearances for triple-A Wichita, Affedlt returned to the Royals on August 21. He made his first appearance since returning from the DL on August 22, but he did not get another save until September 1 in a 1–0 victory over the Tigers. He picked up four more saves to finish the year with a career–high 13 saves and a 4.95 ERA.
had been closing well in his absence. Affeldt was not healthy for long, as he returned to the disabled list on June 20 after reaggravating the groin injury.
Affeldt returned to the Royals on July 7. Through July 27, he had a 2.18 ERA. He did not give up more than one earned run until August 5, when he got his first loss of the year against the Oakland Athletics
. However, Affeldt had a 12.71 ERA in his next eighteen appearances, which raised his ERA to 6.93. He held opposing batters scoreless for the final nine games of the season to bring it down to a season–ending 5.26.
was demoted to the fifth spot. Affeldt struggled as a starter with the Royals, however, as he went 2–5 with a 7.80 ERA in nine starts. His final major league start came on May 27 against the New York Yankees
. He gave up ten runs on eleven hits in a 15–4 loss. After the start, he was sent to the bullpen, and Bobby Keppel filled his place in the starting rotation. Affeldt improved in the bullpen, though, as he had a 2.91 ERA in it through July 31.
At the trade deadline on July 31, Affeldt was traded along with Denny Bautista
to the Colorado Rockies
for Ryan Shealy
and Scott Dohmann
. He got his only save of the season on September 19 in a 12–4 win over the San Francisco Giants
. Affeldt finished the 2006 season with a 6.20 ERA in fifty–nine games.
Affeldt spent the entire 2007 season in the bullpen. He was used as a lefty specialist during the year. Affeldt had a 2.15 ERA through his first fifty–six games of the year. He did not give up a home run until Pete LaForest
hit one off of him in an 11–9 loss to the San Diego Padres
on August 16. He struggled at the end of the year, however, as he had a 7.30 ERA in his final nineteen games. He still finished the year 4–3, with a 3.51 ERA
in seventy-five games, and the Rockies made the playoffs.
Affeldt made the playoffs for the first time as the Rockies won the Wild Card. He made his postseason debut on October 4 in the Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies
. Affeldt gave up one run (on a home run by Ryan Howard
) in one inning in a 10–5 win by Colorado. The Rockies swept the series to advance to the Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks
. In the first game, Affeldt entered with two outs and the bases loaded with the Rockies leading 5–1. He retired Stephen Drew
to help the Rockies win 5-1. The Rockies swept the Diamondbacks to meet the Boston Red Sox
in the World Series
. Affeldt pitched in all four games of the World Series without giving up a run, but the Rockies were swept by the Red Sox. Affeldt became a free agent after the season.
Affeldt was signed to a one–year deal by the Cincinnati Reds
on January 23, 2008, to compete for a spot in the starting rotation. He said of signing and competing to start, "My heart skipped a beat when they offered that deal. I went with my heart there." However, he was placed in the bullpen, where he stayed for the entire year. He won his first game as a Red when the Reds beat the Arizona Diamondbacks
6–5 on April 2. He made the three hundredth appearance of his career on May 2 in a 2–0 loss to the Atlanta Braves
. His only other decision of the year came on September 3 when he was the losing pitcher in a 6–5 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates
. He finished the season with a 3.33 ERA in seventy–four games. He was also one of only five NL relievers to pitch seventy-five innings and average one strikeout per inning, along with Joel Hanrahan
, Aaron Heilman
, Hong-Chih Kuo
, and Carlos Marmol
. Following the season, Affeldt again became a free agent.
. He said of signing with them, "With that starting rotation, the bullpen won't get burned out." Affeldt immediately began having a career year with the Giants. He was used on Opening Day against the Milwaukee Brewers
, and he pitched a scoreless inning in the Giants' 10–6 win. On April 12, he entered a game against the Padres with one out and the bases loaded in the sixth inning. Affeldt got Brian Giles
to ground into a double play to end the inning, but he gave up two runs (one earned) in the seventh as the Padres won 6–1. From May 8 through July 24, Affeldt had a twenty–eight inning scoreless streak. During the streak, on May 15, he struck out s season–high four batters in an 8–6 loss to the Mets. On May 31, he entered a game against St. Louis with runners on first and third and Albert Pujols
on deck in the eighth, and he struck out Joe Thurston
to end the inning and help the Giants win 5–3. The streak did not end until July 28, when Brandon Medders
allowed one of Affeldt's runners to score in a game against Pittsburgh. On August 2, with runners on first and second with one out in the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies
, he retired Chase Utley
and Ryan Howard
to help the Giants win 7–3. He won the final game of the season against San Diego by pitching two scoreless innings as the Giants won 4–3 in ten innings. Affeldt finished the season with a career best 1.73 ERA in seventy–four games. He was named tenth on one writer's ballot for MVP voting, placing him in a tie for twenty–eighth on the list. On December 17, he won the This Year in Baseball
Setup Man of the Year Award.
on April 11. He struggled for most of the season, though, and he was placed on the disabled list on July 24 with an oblique strain. After rehabbing in the minors, Affeldt returned to the Giants on August 18. He finished the season with four saves and a 4.14 ERA in fifty–three games.
Despite his struggles, Affeldt was named to the Giants' playoff roster. Affeldt made his first playoff appearance for the Giants in Game 2 of the 2010 NLCS
against Philadelphia. He struck out one batter and intentionally walked another one, but Santiago Casilla
allowed him to score as the Giants lost 6–1. Affeldt faced (and retired) one batter in Game 5, but the Phillies won that game 4–2. In Game 6, however, Affeldt entered the game in the third inning with runners on first and second and nobody out after starting pitcher
Jonathan Sánchez
was taken out early. He pitched two hitless, scoreless innings, and the Giants won the game 3–2 to advance to the World Series
. Affeldt pitched in two games in the World Series
, and the Giants won it in five games to give Affeldt his first World Series ring.
of 1.151. Left handed batters hit only .144 off of Affeldt in 2011. However, on September 8, 2011, Affeldt suffered a season-ending injury as he gashed his right hand trying to separate frozen hamburger patties and underwent surgery to address nerve damage.
, Affeldt told the students, "I try to make sure everybody, all the young people in the world, also have a chance to dream really big." In 2009, Affeldt donated five thousand dollars to the Not For Sale campaign for opening a medical clinic in Thailand
for former child slaves. He also became a prominent member of Not For Sale's Free2Play campaign, pledging a $100 donation for every strikeout and recruiting other professional athletes, including his teammate Matt Cain
and the St. Louis Cardinals
' Matt Holliday
. In 2009, Affeldt was recognized for his anti–slavery efforts by a nomination for the Jefferson Award for Public Service, and in 2010, he was the San Francisco Giants' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award
. Affeldt has also founded an organization known as Generation Alive that works to let people know of the world's social justice issues.
Affeldt, his wife Larisa, and their two sons currently live in Spokane, Washington
.
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 San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
of 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...
. He throws and bats left-handed. Previously, he has played for 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...
, the Colorado Rockies
Colorado 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...
, and the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.
Affeldt was a third-round draft pick by 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...
in 1997. He made the team in 2002, and he started part of the year for them. Affeldt almost was the first starter for the Royals in 2003, but he lost a coin toss by Royals' manager Tony Peña
Tony Peña
Antonio Francisco Peña Padilla is a former professional baseball player, manager and current coach. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Pirates, Cardinals, Red Sox, Indians, White Sox, and Astros. Peña was the manager of the Kansas City Royals between 2002 and 2005. He...
. He did not remain in the starting rotation for the entire year, however. In 2004, Affeldt started the year in the rotation, but he was named the Royals closer in May. Affeldt started 2005 as the closer, but he was injured and Mike MacDougal
Mike MacDougal
Robert Meiklejohn MacDougal is a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball, who is currently a free agent...
reclaimed the role. In 2006, Affeldt again made the Royals' starting rotation, but he was moved to the bullpen after he struggled as a starter. He was traded to the Colorado Rockies
Colorado 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...
at the trade deadline. In 2007, he was a member of the Rockies team that went to the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
, but they were swept by 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"...
. Affeldt signed a one year deal with the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
following the season, and he spent the entire year in the bullpen. He then signed with the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
for 2009, and he won the This Year in Baseball Setup Man of the Year Award
This Year in Baseball Awards
This Year in Baseball Awards, initiated by Major League Baseball in , are honors given annually to the most extraordinary baseball performances, players, and managers. Baseball fans select the nominees for and winners of the awards, via the online voting system on MLB.com, the official website of...
after he had a 1.73 ERA during the season. Affeldt struggled in 2010, but improved into the offseason and became an elite-performing member of the Giants team that won the 2010 World Series
2010 World Series
The 2010 World Series was the 106th occurrence of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff, played between the American League champion Texas Rangers and the National League champion San Francisco Giants, began on Wednesday, , and ended on Monday, , with the Giants...
.
Affeldt throws three pitches: a fastball, a curveball, and a sinker. He currently resides in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
.
High School
Affeldt attended Northwest Christian High School, a Division 2-B school in Colbert, WashingtonColbert, Washington
Colbert is an unincorporated community in Spokane County, Washington, United States. The town is on U.S. Route 2.The ZIP Code is 99005 and centered at .Colbert has one store....
. Affeldt participated in three sports while there, but it was baseball that drove several major league scouts to the school to see him pitch. He graduated in 1997.
Draft and minor league career
Affeldt was drafted by 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...
in the third round of the 1997 MLB Draft. He spent 1997 pitching for the rookie–league Gulf Coast League Royals
Arizona League Royals
The Arizona League Royals are a minor league baseball team in Surprise, Arizona, USA. They are a Class R team in the Arizona League and have been a farm team of the Kansas City Royals since 2003. The Royals play home games at Surprise Stadium. Opened in 2002, Surprise Stadium seats 10,500...
. While with them, he went 2–0 with a 4.50 ERA in ten games (nine starts).
Affeldt improved with the GCL Royals the next year, going 4–3 with a 2.89 ERA in twelve games (nine starts). His performance even earned him a promotion to the single-A Lansing Lugnuts
Lansing Lugnuts
The Lansing Lugnuts are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays, that plays in the Midwest League.The Midwest League came to Lansing, Michigan in 1996. The franchise began in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1955; after two seasons it moved to Waterloo, Iowa, where it...
. Affeldt did not do well in his time with them, though, as he went 0–3 with a 9.53 ERA in six games (three starts).
In 1999, Affeldt spent the entire season with the Royals' single-A affiliate, which had changed to the Charleston Alley Cats during the offseason. Although he only went 7–7, he had a 3.83 ERA in twenty–seven games (twenty–four starts).
Affeldt pitched with the Wilmington Blue Rocks
Wilmington Blue Rocks
The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a Minor League Baseball team located in Wilmington, Delaware. The Blue Rocks play in the Northern Division of the Carolina League.-Franchise history:...
of the single-A advanced Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
in 2000. While with Wilmington, he led the entire Kansas City Royals' organization (and the Carolina League) with fifteen losses (to go with only five wins). He also threw seventeen wild pitches. However, his ERA was 4.09, and the Blue Rocks were only a half–game ahead of the worst team in the league (the Potomac Cannons).
2001 was a better season for Affeldt, as he went 10–6 with a 3.90 ERA in twenty–five starts for the double-A 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...
. He was selected to pitch in 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...
All-Star Game, and he was named to the postseason All–Star team.
2002
Affeldt was not expected to make 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...
' roster in 2002, but he was added to the bullpen after he had an 0.64 ERA and fourteen strikeouts (to go with just two walks) in fourteen innings in 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...
. His major league debut came on April 6 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...
. He pitched two innings, giving up three hits and a run in a 14–0 loss. On April 24, Affeldt picked up his first major league win by pitching 3.2 innings of relief in an 8–2 win over the 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...
.
Affeldt's time in the bullpen did not last long, however. On May 3, he replaced Bryan Rekar
Bryan Rekar
Bryan Robert Rekar was a pitcher for the Major League Baseball Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Kansas City Royals.- External links :...
in the Royals' starting rotation. In his first start, he pitched four innings, gave up one run, and earned a no–decision in a 4–3 loss to 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...
. Affeldt's time as a starter did not go well, though, as he was 0–4 with a 5.45 ERA in seven starts. In his last start, on June 8, Affeldt picked up the loss as the Royals fell 11–3 to 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...
. After getting pulled in the fourth inning due to an injury, Affeldt was placed on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
with fingernail and blister problems.
After making three rehab starts for Wichita, Affeldt returned to the Royals on August 2 and threw a perfect inning against 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...
. He remained in the bullpen for the remainder of the 2002 season. After the season, he pitched in a winter league in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
.
2003
In 2003, Affeldt found himself competing with Runelvys HernándezRunelvys Hernández
Runelvys Antonio Hernandez is a former right-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher .Hernandez made his major league debut July 15, , with Kansas City Royals...
for the first spot in the Royals' starting rotation during Spring Training. Because Tony Peña
Tony Peña
Antonio Francisco Peña Padilla is a former professional baseball player, manager and current coach. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Pirates, Cardinals, Red Sox, Indians, White Sox, and Astros. Peña was the manager of the Kansas City Royals between 2002 and 2005. He...
, the Royals' manager, was unable to decide which one would be the ace, he flipped a coin to determine who would be number one. Hernández won the toss.
Affeldt was placed on the disabled list after only four games with blister problems again. His time on the DL did not last long, though, as he returned to the Royals on May 6. On May 28, he struck out a career high eight hitters in a win against 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...
. Later, on June 6, he notched his first hit.
Affeldt's final start of the year came on July 23, in a game he won against Minnesota. After the start, the Royals moved him to the bullpen to try to fix his blister problems. The move was originally thought to be temporary. While in the bullpen, on August 3, he got his first save in a 2–0 win over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
On August 21, the Royals announced that Affeldt would spend the rest of the year in the bullpen. Two days later, he got another save against Minnesota. He picked up two more saves before the end of the year and finished with a 7–6 record and a 3.93 ERA. After the season, to try to help with his blister problems, he had part of a fingernail on the middle finger of his left hand removed. Also, the Royals announced that if he developed blister problems again, he would be sent to the bullpen for good.
2004
In 2004, Affeldt was named the Royals' third starter out of Spring Training. He was only 0–3 with a 5.24 ERA in eight starts, however. His final start of came on May 18 against the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. Affeldt gave up five runs in four innings and received a no–decision in a 7–6 victory by the Royals. Afterwards, although his blister problems had not resurfaced, manager Tony Peña
Tony Peña
Antonio Francisco Peña Padilla is a former professional baseball player, manager and current coach. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Pirates, Cardinals, Red Sox, Indians, White Sox, and Astros. Peña was the manager of the Kansas City Royals between 2002 and 2005. He...
named him the Royals closer on May 21 due to poor pitching and injury problems with the other Royals closers.
Affeldt blew his first save opportunity of 2004 against the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
on May 22, but he converted in his next outing on May 25 against the 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...
. He converted eight of ten save opportunities before he was placed on the disabled list on June 27 with a partially torn rib–cage muscle. He was out for almost eight weeks.
After making four appearances for triple-A Wichita, Affedlt returned to the Royals on August 21. He made his first appearance since returning from the DL on August 22, but he did not get another save until September 1 in a 1–0 victory over the Tigers. He picked up four more saves to finish the year with a career–high 13 saves and a 4.95 ERA.
2005
In 2005, Affeldt was again expected to be the Royals' closer. However, he did not get a save opportunity until April 16 against Detroit, and he was unable to finish that game because of a groin injury that landed him on the disabled list again. After rehabbing in Omaha, Affeldt returned to the Royals on June 4. He was no longer the closer, however, because Mike MacDougalMike MacDougal
Robert Meiklejohn MacDougal is a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball, who is currently a free agent...
had been closing well in his absence. Affeldt was not healthy for long, as he returned to the disabled list on June 20 after reaggravating the groin injury.
Affeldt returned to the Royals on July 7. Through July 27, he had a 2.18 ERA. He did not give up more than one earned run until August 5, when he got his first loss of the year against the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
. However, Affeldt had a 12.71 ERA in his next eighteen appearances, which raised his ERA to 6.93. He held opposing batters scoreless for the final nine games of the season to bring it down to a season–ending 5.26.
2006
Affeldt returned to Kansas City's starting rotation in 2006 when he was named the fourth starter during Spring Training. However, he was moved up to the third spot before the season began when Runelvys HernándezRunelvys Hernández
Runelvys Antonio Hernandez is a former right-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher .Hernandez made his major league debut July 15, , with Kansas City Royals...
was demoted to the fifth spot. Affeldt struggled as a starter with the Royals, however, as he went 2–5 with a 7.80 ERA in nine starts. His final major league start came on May 27 against the New York Yankees
New 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...
. He gave up ten runs on eleven hits in a 15–4 loss. After the start, he was sent to the bullpen, and Bobby Keppel filled his place in the starting rotation. Affeldt improved in the bullpen, though, as he had a 2.91 ERA in it through July 31.
Colorado Rockies
Denny Bautista
Denny M. Bautista is Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the Hanwha Eagles of the Korean Baseball Organization. He also played in Major League Baseball for the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and San Francisco Giants.-Florida...
to the Colorado Rockies
Colorado 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...
for Ryan Shealy
Ryan Shealy
Ryan Nelson Shealy is an American professional baseball player who has played six seasons in Major League Baseball as a first baseman. Shealy played college baseball for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals and Boston Red...
and Scott Dohmann
Scott Dohmann
Christopher Scott Dohmann is an American baseball pitcher, who is currently a free agent. Dohmann graduated from St. Thomas More High School where he was a member of two district champion teams...
. He got his only save of the season on September 19 in a 12–4 win over the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. Affeldt finished the 2006 season with a 6.20 ERA in fifty–nine games.
Affeldt spent the entire 2007 season in the bullpen. He was used as a lefty specialist during the year. Affeldt had a 2.15 ERA through his first fifty–six games of the year. He did not give up a home run until Pete LaForest
Pete Laforest
Pierre-Luc "Pete" Laforest is a baseball catcher for the Quebec Capitales. He is a graduate of Fort Scott Community College. He was a draft pick of the Montreal Expos, but has also played for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the San Diego Padres, and the Philadelphia Phillies...
hit one off of him in an 11–9 loss to 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...
on August 16. He struggled at the end of the year, however, as he had a 7.30 ERA in his final nineteen games. He still finished the year 4–3, with a 3.51 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 seventy-five games, and the Rockies made the playoffs.
Affeldt made the playoffs for the first time as the Rockies won the Wild Card. He made his postseason debut on October 4 in the Division Series 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...
. Affeldt gave up one run (on a home run by Ryan Howard
Ryan Howard
Ryan James Howard is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. Nicknamed "The Big Piece", Howard stands and weighs . He bats and throws left-handed....
) in one inning in a 10–5 win by Colorado. The Rockies swept the series to advance to the Championship Series 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...
. In the first game, Affeldt entered with two outs and the bases loaded with the Rockies leading 5–1. He retired Stephen Drew
Stephen Drew
Stephen Oris Drew is a shortstop in Major League Baseball who plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is the younger brother of Boston Red Sox outfielder J.D. Drew and former major leaguer Tim Drew....
to help the Rockies win 5-1. The Rockies swept the Diamondbacks to meet 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"...
in the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
. Affeldt pitched in all four games of the World Series without giving up a run, but the Rockies were swept by the Red Sox. Affeldt became a free agent after the season.
Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
on January 23, 2008, to compete for a spot in the starting rotation. He said of signing and competing to start, "My heart skipped a beat when they offered that deal. I went with my heart there." However, he was placed in the bullpen, where he stayed for the entire year. He won his first game as a Red when the Reds beat 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...
6–5 on April 2. He made the three hundredth appearance of his career on May 2 in a 2–0 loss to the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta 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....
. His only other decision of the year came on September 3 when he was the losing pitcher in a 6–5 loss to 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 finished the season with a 3.33 ERA in seventy–four games. He was also one of only five NL relievers to pitch seventy-five innings and average one strikeout per inning, along with Joel Hanrahan
Joel Hanrahan
Joel Ryan Hanrahan , nicknamed The Hammer, is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Los Angeles Dodgers:...
, Aaron Heilman
Aaron Heilman
Aaron Michael Heilman is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. Heilman was drafted by the New York Mets out of Notre Dame in 2001. He came up through the Mets system as a starting pitcher but was converted to a relief pitcher in 2005...
, Hong-Chih Kuo
Hong-Chih Kuo
Hong-Chih Kuo is a Major League Baseball pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers. When Kuo made his debut in , he became the fourth MLB player from Taiwan ....
, and Carlos Marmol
Carlos Marmol
Carlos Agustín Mármol is a relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs.-Minor league career:Mármol started his career as a catcher/outfielder...
. Following the season, Affeldt again became a free agent.
2009
On November 17, 2008 Affeldt signed a two–year deal with the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. He said of signing with them, "With that starting rotation, the bullpen won't get burned out." Affeldt immediately began having a career year with the Giants. He was used on Opening Day against 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...
, and he pitched a scoreless inning in the Giants' 10–6 win. On April 12, he entered a game against the Padres with one out and the bases loaded in the sixth inning. Affeldt got Brian Giles
Brian Giles
Brian Stephen Giles is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. During his career he played for the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres...
to ground into a double play to end the inning, but he gave up two runs (one earned) in the seventh as the Padres won 6–1. From May 8 through July 24, Affeldt had a twenty–eight inning scoreless streak. During the streak, on May 15, he struck out s season–high four batters in an 8–6 loss to the Mets. On May 31, he entered a game against St. Louis with runners on first and third and Albert Pujols
Albert Pujols
José Alberto Pujols Alcántara , better known as Albert Pujols , is a Dominican-American professional baseball player, who is currently a free agent...
on deck in the eighth, and he struck out Joe Thurston
Joe Thurston
Joseph William Thurston is an American professional baseball utility player for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball. He has previously played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, St...
to end the inning and help the Giants win 5–3. The streak did not end until July 28, when Brandon Medders
Brandon Medders
Brandon Edward Medders is a professional relief pitcher who is currently a free agent. He throws a 4-seam fastball, curveball, slider, and a cutter....
allowed one of Affeldt's runners to score in a game against Pittsburgh. On August 2, with runners on first and second with one out in the eighth inning 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 retired Chase Utley
Chase Utley
Chase Cameron Utley is a second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. A native of the Greater Los Angeles area, he was raised in the city of Long Beach. He was a star baseball player at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, before moving on to UCLA...
and Ryan Howard
Ryan Howard
Ryan James Howard is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. Nicknamed "The Big Piece", Howard stands and weighs . He bats and throws left-handed....
to help the Giants win 7–3. He won the final game of the season against San Diego by pitching two scoreless innings as the Giants won 4–3 in ten innings. Affeldt finished the season with a career best 1.73 ERA in seventy–four games. He was named tenth on one writer's ballot for MVP voting, placing him in a tie for twenty–eighth on the list. On December 17, he won the This Year in Baseball
This Year in Baseball Awards
This Year in Baseball Awards, initiated by Major League Baseball in , are honors given annually to the most extraordinary baseball performances, players, and managers. Baseball fans select the nominees for and winners of the awards, via the online voting system on MLB.com, the official website of...
Setup Man of the Year Award.
2010
In 2010, Affeldt again spent the entire season in the bullpen for the Giants. On March 28, the Giants extended his contract through the 2011 season. Affeldt picked up his first save with the Giants in a 6-3 victory over 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....
on April 11. He struggled for most of the season, though, and he was placed on the disabled list on July 24 with an oblique strain. After rehabbing in the minors, Affeldt returned to the Giants on August 18. He finished the season with four saves and a 4.14 ERA in fifty–three games.
Despite his struggles, Affeldt was named to the Giants' playoff roster. Affeldt made his first playoff appearance for the Giants in Game 2 of the 2010 NLCS
2010 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 16, 2010 — 7:30 p.m. at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaIn one of the most touted postseason pitching matchups in recent history, two former Cy Young Award winners faced off: Roy Halladay for the Phillies and Tim Lincecum for the Giants...
against Philadelphia. He struck out one batter and intentionally walked another one, but Santiago Casilla
Santiago Casilla
Santiago Casilla is a right-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the San Francisco Giants.-Baseball career:...
allowed him to score as the Giants lost 6–1. Affeldt faced (and retired) one batter in Game 5, but the Phillies won that game 4–2. In Game 6, however, Affeldt entered the game in the third inning with runners on first and second and nobody out after starting pitcher
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....
Jonathan Sánchez
Jonathan Sanchez
Jonathan O. Sánchez is a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals....
was taken out early. He pitched two hitless, scoreless innings, and the Giants won the game 3–2 to advance to the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
. Affeldt pitched in two games in the World Series
2010 World Series
The 2010 World Series was the 106th occurrence of Major League Baseball's championship series. The best-of-seven playoff, played between the American League champion Texas Rangers and the National League champion San Francisco Giants, began on Wednesday, , and ended on Monday, , with the Giants...
, and the Giants won it in five games to give Affeldt his first World Series ring.
2011
Affeldt returned to the Giants in 2011 and posted a solid season, going 3-2 with a 2.63 ERA in 67 appearances, including 3 saves. In addition, he posted a career best WHIPWalks plus hits per inning pitched
In baseball statistics, walks plus hits per inning pitched is a sabermetric measurement of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. It is a measure of a pitcher's ability to prevent batters from reaching base...
of 1.151. Left handed batters hit only .144 off of Affeldt in 2011. However, on September 8, 2011, Affeldt suffered a season-ending injury as he gashed his right hand trying to separate frozen hamburger patties and underwent surgery to address nerve damage.
Pitching style
Affeldt has three different kinds of pitches: a fastball, a curveball, and a sinker. His fastball travels in the nineties, and while his curveball is not as fast, it is also an effective pitch. Affeldt strikes out batters pretty consistently, but he can get in trouble when he starts walking batters. He is not always consistent, and that, coupled with his injury problems early on, led to his failure as a starter.Personal
Affeldt is a devout Christian and a strong advocate for ending child poverty. He writes a weekly blog about his Christian faith and his desire to stir a movement in the cause of helping the suffering and marginalized. In October 2010, during a visit to a Bay Area elementary school alongside former Giants pitcher Juan MarichalJuan Marichal
Juan Antonio Marichal Sánchez is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. Playing for the San Francisco Giants most of his career, Marichal was known for his high leg kick, pinpoint control and intimidation tactics, which included aiming pitches directly at the opposing batters'...
, Affeldt told the students, "I try to make sure everybody, all the young people in the world, also have a chance to dream really big." In 2009, Affeldt donated five thousand dollars to the Not For Sale campaign for opening a medical clinic in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
for former child slaves. He also became a prominent member of Not For Sale's Free2Play campaign, pledging a $100 donation for every strikeout and recruiting other professional athletes, including his teammate Matt Cain
Matt Cain
Matthew Thomas Cain is an American Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants...
and 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...
' Matt Holliday
Matt Holliday
Matthew Thomas Holliday , nicknamed "Big Daddy", is an American Major League Baseball left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Holliday was originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the seventh round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft.Holliday is a five-time All-Star and Silver Slugger...
. In 2009, Affeldt was recognized for his anti–slavery efforts by a nomination for the Jefferson Award for Public Service, and in 2010, he was the San Francisco Giants' nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award
Roberto Clemente Award
The Roberto Clemente Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team", as voted on by baseball fans and members of the media. It is named for Hall of Fame...
. Affeldt has also founded an organization known as Generation Alive that works to let people know of the world's social justice issues.
Affeldt, his wife Larisa, and their two sons currently live in Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
.