Kyle McClellan
Encyclopedia
Kyle William McClellan is a Major League Baseball
starting pitcher
for the St. Louis Cardinals
. He attended Hazelwood West High School. After graduating from high school, McClellan was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 25th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
.
McClellan signed with the Cardinals and made his professional debut with St. Louis' rookie franchise in Johnson City. He started out as a relief pitcher but in and pitched exclusively as a starting pitcher
. In , McClellan made appearances out of the bullpen
again, and as he advanced through the Cardinals Single-A and Double-A farm teams, he returned to full-time relief pitching.
In , after a strong spring training
, McClellan made the Cardinals' major league roster. McClellan is only the second player from St. Louis' 2002 draft to make the big leagues. He was the major league leader in holds
through August with 29 and finished the season tied for second in the majors with 30.
In , McClellan earned a spot in the starting rotation after Adam Wainwright
was forced to miss the entire season for Tommy John surgery.
McClellan and his wife, Bridget, make their home in Maryland Heights, Missouri
.
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....
for 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...
. He attended Hazelwood West High School. After graduating from high school, McClellan was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 25th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
.
McClellan signed with the Cardinals and made his professional debut with St. Louis' rookie franchise in Johnson City. He started out as a relief pitcher but in and pitched exclusively as a 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....
. In , McClellan made appearances out of the bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
again, and as he advanced through the Cardinals Single-A and Double-A farm teams, he returned to full-time relief pitching.
In , after a strong 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...
, McClellan made the Cardinals' major league roster. McClellan is only the second player from St. Louis' 2002 draft to make the big leagues. He was the major league leader in holds
Hold (baseball)
A hold is awarded to a relief pitcher who meets the following three conditions:Unlike saves, wins, and losses, more than one pitcher per team can earn a hold for a game, though it is not possible for a pitcher to receive more than one hold in a given game...
through August with 29 and finished the season tied for second in the majors with 30.
In , McClellan earned a spot in the starting rotation after Adam Wainwright
Adam Wainwright
Adam Parrish Wainwright is a right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals. He was drafted 29th overall by the Atlanta Braves in the 2000 amateur draft. He made his major league debut for the St...
was forced to miss the entire season for Tommy John surgery.
McClellan and his wife, Bridget, make their home in Maryland Heights, Missouri
Maryland Heights, Missouri
Maryland Heights is a second-ring west-central suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 27,472 at the 2010 census. The city was incorporated in 1985. Edwin L. Dirck was elected the city's first mayor. Mark M. Levin has been City Administrator...
.