Jeremy Bonderman
Encyclopedia
Jeremy Allen Bonderman is a Major League Baseball
starting pitcher
who currently is a free agent. Bonderman is six feet and two inches tall and weighs 220 pounds. He bats and throws right-handed. He is known for throwing a slider
, split-finger fastball
as well as a four-seam fastball
.
in Pasco, Washington
. In his last year of high school baseball
, he went 5–2 and recorded a 3.60 ERA
. He is the only high school junior ever to be drafted
in baseball
history.
in his junior year of high school with the 26th pick in the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
.
, a player to be named later (who later became Bonderman), and Franklyn Germán
to the Detroit Tigers. The New York Yankees
sent Ted Lilly
, John-Ford Griffin
, and Jason Arnold to the Athletics. The Tigers sent Jeff Weaver
to the Yankees and cash to the Athletics.
, who scored six runs
in four innings. While many felt this was a bad move by the Tigers, Bonderman seemed ready and the Tigers did not have much to look forward to as they were in a rebuilding stage. Considering how well he worked out in the end, many feel the Tigers should have delayed his arbitration clock, thereby getting more of his prime years at a low price.
In his first season, he had a 6–19 record. He was benched for the final week of Detroit's 2003 season
to avoid becoming the first pitcher in 23 years to lose 20 or more games in a single season. However, the feat was accomplished by his teammate Mike Maroth
.
The next season, Bonderman went 11–13 with a 4.89 ERA. In 2005, Bonderman had a 14-13 record and a 4.57 ERA.
Bonderman was the Tigers Opening Day
starter for the 2005 season. At 22 years old, he was the youngest pitcher to start on Opening Day since Dwight Gooden
started for the New York Mets
at the age of 20 in the 1986 season.
In 2006 Bonderman finished with a 14-8 record, his career best and posted a 4.08 ERA. He started game four of the 2006 American League Division Series
against the Yankees. He pitched five perfect innings before giving up a hit
. He then pitched 3⅓ more innings, surrendering only one run. Bonderman was the winning
pitcher in the game that gave the Tigers the series. He pitched again in game four of the 2006 American League Championship Series
, pitching six innings and giving up three runs. The Tigers would go on to win the game and series for the American League Pennant. In the World Series
, he pitched six innings giving up two runs. He left the game with the Tigers in the lead. However, the Tigers would ultimately lose the game, as well as the series the following day.
In 2007, Bonderman had the best start of his career, 10-0, but after the all-star break he struggled only winning 4 games, finishing 11-9 with a 5.01 ERA. He finished second in the 2007 All-Star Game Final vote.
Bonderman missed most of the 2008 season because he had procedures done to remove a blood clot in his axillary vein
.
On June 13, 2009, five days after his only start of the season, Bonderman was placed on the disabled list indefinitely because of recurring pain in his pitching shoulder.
Bonderman started 29 games for the Tigers in 2010, going 8-10 with a 5.53 ERA. Following the season, he was granted free agency. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that the Indians had interest in Bonderman, but for only a minor league contract. Bonderman remained unsigned through the 2011 season.
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...
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....
who currently is a free agent. Bonderman is six feet and two inches tall and weighs 220 pounds. He bats and throws right-handed. He is known for throwing a slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
, split-finger fastball
Split-finger fastball
A split-finger fastball or splitter is a pitch in baseball. It is named after the technique of putting the index and middle finger on different sides of the ball, or "splitting" them. When thrown hard, it appears to be a fastball to the batter, but suddenly "drops off the table" towards home...
as well as a four-seam fastball
Four-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family...
.
High school
Bonderman attended Pasco High SchoolPasco High School
Pasco Senior High School, located at 1108 N. 10th Avenue in Pasco, Washington, is the largest high school in the Tri-Cities of Washington. Its mascot is the Bulldog and its colors are purple and white. Pasco High has a very diverse student body and a strong football program...
in Pasco, Washington
Pasco, Washington
Pasco is a city in and the county seat of Franklin County, Washington, United States.Pasco is one of three cities that make up the Tri-Cities region of the state of Washington...
. In his last year of high school 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...
, he went 5–2 and recorded a 3.60 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...
. He is the only high school junior ever to be drafted
MLB Draft
The First-Year Player Draft, also known as the Rule 4 Draft, is Major League Baseball's primary mechanism for assigning amateur baseball players, from high schools, colleges, and other amateur baseball clubs, to its teams. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, with...
in 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...
history.
Draft
Bonderman was drafted by the Oakland AthleticsOakland 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....
in his junior year of high school with the 26th pick in the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft
2001 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Selections:-Background:The Minnesota Twins selected St. Paul, MN native Joe Mauer with the number one pick in the 2001 draft. The 18-year-old Mauer, a catcher from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, became the seventh Minnesotan to be...
.
Traded from Oakland to Detroit
On July 6, 2002, Bonderman was involved in a three team deal. The Athletics had sent Carlos PeñaCarlos Peña
Carlos Felipe Peña is a Dominican professional baseball left-handed first baseman. He played previously with the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and Chicago Cubs.Although he was born in Santo Domingo and his family is from San Francisco de Macorís,...
, a player to be named later (who later became Bonderman), and Franklyn Germán
Franklyn Germán
Franklyn Miguel Germán Madé is a right-handed relief pitcher who is currently a Free Agent...
to the Detroit Tigers. 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...
sent Ted Lilly
Ted Lilly
Theodore Roosevelt "Ted" Lilly III , is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He bats and throws left-handed...
, John-Ford Griffin
John-Ford Griffin
John-Ford David Griffin is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early life:An All-State athlete at Sarasota High School, was part of a state championship team in 1996 for the Sailors. Griffin played college baseball under head coach Mike Martin for the Florida State University Seminoles from...
, and Jason Arnold to the Athletics. The Tigers sent Jeff Weaver
Jeff Weaver
Jeffrey Charles Weaver is a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has pitched in the majors for the Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, St. Louis Cardinals, and Seattle Mariners...
to the Yankees and cash to the Athletics.
Detroit Tigers
Bonderman debuted in the major leagues when he was 20 years old. His major league debut came against the Minnesota TwinsMinnesota 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...
, who scored six runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
in four innings. While many felt this was a bad move by the Tigers, Bonderman seemed ready and the Tigers did not have much to look forward to as they were in a rebuilding stage. Considering how well he worked out in the end, many feel the Tigers should have delayed his arbitration clock, thereby getting more of his prime years at a low price.
In his first season, he had a 6–19 record. He was benched for the final week of Detroit's 2003 season
2003 Detroit Tigers season
The 2003 Detroit Tigers lost more games than any other team in American League history and came within one loss of tying the 1962 New York Mets for the most losses in modern major league history. The team’s record was 43-119, giving them a .265 winning percentage...
to avoid becoming the first pitcher in 23 years to lose 20 or more games in a single season. However, the feat was accomplished by his teammate Mike Maroth
Mike Maroth
Michael Warren Maroth is a former American Major League Baseball starting pitcher. Born in Orlando, Florida, and after attending the University of Central Florida, the left-handed Maroth made his Major League debut in for the Detroit Tigers.-Early career:A third-round pick in the draft, Maroth...
.
The next season, Bonderman went 11–13 with a 4.89 ERA. In 2005, Bonderman had a 14-13 record and a 4.57 ERA.
Bonderman was the Tigers Opening Day
Opening Day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball and most of the minor leagues, this day falls during the first week of April. For baseball fans, Opening Day serves as a symbol of rebirth; writer Thomas Boswell once penned a book...
starter for the 2005 season. At 22 years old, he was the youngest pitcher to start on Opening Day since Dwight Gooden
Dwight Gooden
Dwight Eugene Gooden , nicknamed "Doc Gooden" or "Dr. K", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was one of the most dominant and feared pitchers in the National League in the middle and late 1980s.-Career:...
started for the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
at the age of 20 in the 1986 season.
In 2006 Bonderman finished with a 14-8 record, his career best and posted a 4.08 ERA. He started game four of the 2006 American League Division Series
2006 American League Division Series
-Game 1, October 3:Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkA five-run third inning by the Yankees put the game out of reach for the Tigers. Bobby Abreu doubled to score Johnny Damon and Derek Jeter . Gary Sheffield then singled in Abreu, and Jason Giambi launched a two-run home run for a commanding 5–0...
against the Yankees. He pitched five perfect innings before giving up a hit
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....
. He then pitched 3⅓ more innings, surrendering only one run. Bonderman was the winning
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...
pitcher in the game that gave the Tigers the series. He pitched again in game four of the 2006 American League Championship Series
2006 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 10, 2006 at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, CaliforniaOakland was 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position, while Detroit turned four double plays...
, pitching six innings and giving up three runs. The Tigers would go on to win the game and series for the American League Pennant. 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...
, he pitched six innings giving up two runs. He left the game with the Tigers in the lead. However, the Tigers would ultimately lose the game, as well as the series the following day.
In 2007, Bonderman had the best start of his career, 10-0, but after the all-star break he struggled only winning 4 games, finishing 11-9 with a 5.01 ERA. He finished second in the 2007 All-Star Game Final vote.
Bonderman missed most of the 2008 season because he had procedures done to remove a blood clot in his axillary vein
Axillary vein
In human anatomy, the axillary vein is a large blood vessel that conveys blood from the lateral aspect of the thorax, axilla and upper limb toward the heart...
.
On June 13, 2009, five days after his only start of the season, Bonderman was placed on the disabled list indefinitely because of recurring pain in his pitching shoulder.
Bonderman started 29 games for the Tigers in 2010, going 8-10 with a 5.53 ERA. Following the season, he was granted free agency. The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported that the Indians had interest in Bonderman, but for only a minor league contract. Bonderman remained unsigned through the 2011 season.