Josh Collmenter
Encyclopedia
Joshua Michael Collmenter (born February 7, 1986, in Homer, Michigan
, USA) is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Arizona Diamondbacks
.
, with whom he played from 2005 to 2007. In his first season with Central Michigan University, Collmenter went 7–1 with a 2.70 ERA in 16 games (10 starts). The following season, Collmenter went 8–5 with a 3.41 ERA in 15 games (14 starts). He went 9–4 with a 1.93 ERA in 15 starts in 2007. He was named the 2007 Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year.
Collmenter played for the Yakima Bears
in 2007, going 6–3 with a 2.71 ERA in 14 games (12 starts). In 2008, he pitched for the South Bend Silver Hawks
, going 12–8 with a 3.41 ERA in 27 starts. He was a well known figure that season for growing a mustache in the hope of turning the Silver Hawks fortunes around. The following season, Collmenter went 8–10 with a 4.15 ERA in 27 starts for the Visalia Rawhide. As well, he struck out 152 batters in 145 1/3 innings that season. He split the 2010 season between the Rawhide, Mobile Bay Bears and Reno Aces
, going a combined 14–8 with a 3.38 ERA in 25 starts.
. Collmenter entered the game in the 11th inning of a 5–5 game. He pitched two perfect innings with two strikeouts. The Diamondbacks would go on to win the game in the bottom of the 12th when Stephen Drew
drove in Justin Upton
for the game's winning run, cementing Collmenter's first big league win.
Collmenter has caught the eye of some observers due to his unusual over the top delivery. It is thought that the deceptiveness of the delivery has attributed to much of his success thus far. He is the first pitcher since earned runs were recorded in 1912 to have given up four or fewer total earned runs and 20 or fewer total hits in his first six starts.
In 2011
, Collmenter got his first chance to pitch in the playoffs when he faced the Milwaukee Brewers
in Game 3 of the Division Series. The D-Backs won the game 8–1 and Collmenter got the win. However, the Brewers would go on to win the best-of-five series, 3–2.
Homer, Michigan
Homer is a village in Calhoun County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,851 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, USA) 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 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...
.
High School
Collmenter attended Homer High School where he was a star high school pitcher for the Homer Trojans. Collmenter was a 4 year letter winner in baseball and one of the top pitchers in Michigan High School baseball history. In 2004 Collmenter led the Trojans to a perfect 38–0 record and a State Championship. That season propelled the Trojans to a national-record 75 game win streak and another State Championship for the school. Collmenter won 18 games in the 2004 season, the third highest total in state history. He recorded a state-record 13 shutouts that season while striking out 223 batters and notching a 0.13 ERA. Collmenter finished his High School career with 49 wins, 23 shutouts, 546 strikeouts and a 0.99 ERA, all of which rank in the top six in state history. Homer compiled a record of 110–18 while Collmenter was with the team.College
Prior to playing professionally, Collmenter attended Central Michigan UniversityCentral Michigan University
Central Michigan University is a public research university located in Mount Pleasant in the U.S. state of Michigan...
, with whom he played from 2005 to 2007. In his first season with Central Michigan University, Collmenter went 7–1 with a 2.70 ERA in 16 games (10 starts). The following season, Collmenter went 8–5 with a 3.41 ERA in 15 games (14 starts). He went 9–4 with a 1.93 ERA in 15 starts in 2007. He was named the 2007 Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year.
Minor Leagues
In 2007 Collmenter was drafted in the 15th round of the amateur draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He would start his professional career that year.Collmenter played for the Yakima Bears
Yakima Bears
The Yakima Bears are a minor league baseball team in Yakima, Washington. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Arizona Diamondbacks since 2001, formerly with the Los Angeles Dodgers from the team's creation in 1990 when the Salem...
in 2007, going 6–3 with a 2.71 ERA in 14 games (12 starts). In 2008, he pitched for the South Bend Silver Hawks
South Bend Silver Hawks
The South Bend Silver Hawks are a U.S. Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks, that plays in the Midwest League....
, going 12–8 with a 3.41 ERA in 27 starts. He was a well known figure that season for growing a mustache in the hope of turning the Silver Hawks fortunes around. The following season, Collmenter went 8–10 with a 4.15 ERA in 27 starts for the Visalia Rawhide. As well, he struck out 152 batters in 145 1/3 innings that season. He split the 2010 season between the Rawhide, Mobile Bay Bears and 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....
, going a combined 14–8 with a 3.38 ERA in 25 starts.
Major leagues
Collmenter made his major league debut on April 17, 2011, against 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....
. Collmenter entered the game in the 11th inning of a 5–5 game. He pitched two perfect innings with two strikeouts. The Diamondbacks would go on to win the game in the bottom of the 12th when 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....
drove in Justin Upton
Justin Upton
Justin Irvin Upton is a National Major League Baseball right fielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks....
for the game's winning run, cementing Collmenter's first big league win.
Collmenter has caught the eye of some observers due to his unusual over the top delivery. It is thought that the deceptiveness of the delivery has attributed to much of his success thus far. He is the first pitcher since earned runs were recorded in 1912 to have given up four or fewer total earned runs and 20 or fewer total hits in his first six starts.
In 2011
2011 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:December*December 5: Last time to outright a player prior to the Rule 5 Draft – 5 p.m. ET.*December 7: Last date for player who declared free agency to accept an arbitration offer from former club...
, Collmenter got his first chance to pitch in the playoffs when he faced the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in Game 3 of the Division Series. The D-Backs won the game 8–1 and Collmenter got the win. However, the Brewers would go on to win the best-of-five series, 3–2.