Madison Bumgarner
Encyclopedia
Madison Bumgarner is an American baseball pitcher
with the San Francisco Giants
of Major League Baseball
. Bumgarner is listed 6'5" (1.93m) and 225 pounds (97 kg) and has a 90–95 MPH fastball. He was drafted by the San Francisco Giants
in the 1st round (10th overall) in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft
.
in Hudson
, North Carolina
where he led his team to a 4A State Championship in 2007. He committed to play for the University of North Carolina but decided to enter the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft
. Bumgarner was selected tenth overall by the Giants. Going into the draft, "Baseball America
" had ranked him as the fourteenth best prospect overall. He was the first high school pitcher to be selected by the Giants with their first pick since Matt Cain
in 2002, the first left-handed pitcher selected in the first round by the organization since Noah Lowry
in 2001, the first left-handed pitcher taken as the first pick by the organization since Mike Remlinger
in 1987, and the first high-school left-hander the Giants drafted in the first round since Frank Riccelli
in 1971.
ranked him the third best prospect in the Giants organization.
Bumgarner pitched for the Augusta Greenjackets
, the Giants' Low-A minor league affiliate, in . He began the season with the Giants' high-A affiliate, the San Jose Giants
, then was called up to the Giants AA affiliate the Connecticut Defenders
. Bumgarner has played with other top Giants' prospects Buster Posey
, Angel Villalona
, and Nick Noonan.
Before the start of the 2009 season, Baseball America ranked Bumgarner as the 9th best prospect in baseball.
Before the start of the 2010 season, Baseball America ranked Bumgarner as the 14th best prospect in baseball.
who was scratched with back spasms. At the age of 20, he became the second youngest pitcher ever to start a game for the Giants since the franchise moved west in 1958, older only than Mike McCormick
, who made his debut for San Francisco as a 19-year-old when the team was still the New York Giants. Bumgarner made four appearances with the Giants in 2009, accruing an ERA
of 1.80 and ten strikeouts, pitching ten innings without recording a decision
.
2010
Bumgarner attended Giants' spring training before the 2010 season, competing for the position of fifth starter, but was sent down to the AAA Fresno Grizzlies
due to a drop in his velocity. On June 26, 2010, Bumgarner was called up again to join the club, facing the Boston Red Sox
the next day. On July 6, 2010, against the Milwaukee Brewers
in Milwaukee, Bumgarner earned his first major league victory, 6–1, going eight innings without yielding a run.
In five September starts during the Giants' successful run to the National League West Division championship, Bumgarner posted an ERA of 1.13. At the end of the wonderful September, Bumgarner earned his first win at home, making him 7–6 on the season. Despite a ten-day layoff, Bumgarner became the youngest pitcher in Giants
franchise history to pitch in and win a postseason game, which he did against the Braves in the NLDS clinching-game on October 11, 2010. In addition to his clinching performance in the NLDS, he pitched two shutout innings in relief
in the NLCS clinching game versus the Philadelphia Phillies
. On October 31, 2010, Bumgarner pitched 8 shutout innings in Game 4 of the 2010 World Series
, becoming the fourth youngest pitcher to start and win a World Series game. This win gave the Giants a 3–1 lead in the series, en route to the Giants winning their first World Series championship in 56 years.
He was named a starting pitcher on Baseball America
s 2010 All-Rookie Team.
Madison struggled in his first two games beginning the 2011 season, but soon after regained his post-season form. However, he was the victim of poor run support and bad luck, a treatment the San Francisco media called his "Caining," a reference to fellow teammate Matt Cain
's often dominant performances that featured little to no run support as well. Despite pitching at least six innings and giving up more than one earned run only once in his five starts from April 27 through May 19 it wasn't until the 19th that he got his first win, collecting an ERA of 3.71 for the season at that point. As of June 9, Bumgarner had a 1.93 ERA over his last nine starts, yet had two wins and five losses to show for it. In 7 of his 8 losses at that point the Giants either only scored once or scored no times at all. On September 5, 2011, Bumgarner struck out a career high 13 batters while yielding 2 earned runs, 7 hits and 1 walk over 8.1 innings while earning the win against the San Diego Padres
at Petco Park
. It was his second consecutive double digit strikeout game having struck out 11 batters in his previous start against the Chicago Cubs
. As of September 16, 2011, Bumgarner has won 5 consecutive starts and is 12-12 on the season with a 3.21 ERA and 181 strikeouts. Bumgarner is 12 and 1 with The Giants if they score 3 or more runs for him.
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...
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....
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...
. Bumgarner is listed 6'5" (1.93m) and 225 pounds (97 kg) and has a 90–95 MPH fastball. He was drafted by 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....
in the 1st round (10th overall) in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft
2007 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 7 and June 8, 2007...
.
High school
Bumgarner was drafted from South Caldwell High SchoolSouth Caldwell High School
South Caldwell High School is a high school located in Hudson, North Carolina, United States.-History:The construction South Caldwell High School was completed on August 15, 1977. SCHS is located on a site in southern Caldwell County, North Carolina between Hudson and Granite Falls. South...
in Hudson
Hudson, North Carolina
Hudson is a town in Caldwell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 3,078 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hickory–Lenoir–Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
where he led his team to a 4A State Championship in 2007. He committed to play for the University of North Carolina but decided to enter the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft
2007 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 7 and June 8, 2007...
. Bumgarner was selected tenth overall by the Giants. Going into the draft, "Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
" had ranked him as the fourteenth best prospect overall. He was the first high school pitcher to be selected by the Giants with their first pick since Matt Cain
Matt Cain
Matthew Thomas Cain is an American Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants...
in 2002, the first left-handed pitcher selected in the first round by the organization since Noah Lowry
Noah Lowry
Noah Ryan Lowry is a free agent left-handed starting pitcher formerly of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball.-College and the MLB Draft:...
in 2001, the first left-handed pitcher taken as the first pick by the organization since Mike Remlinger
Mike Remlinger
Michael John Remlinger is a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. Remlinger has played with the San Francisco Giants , New York Mets , Cincinnati Reds , Atlanta Braves , Chicago Cubs , and the Boston Red Sox...
in 1987, and the first high-school left-hander the Giants drafted in the first round since Frank Riccelli
Frank Riccelli
Frank Joseph Riccelli is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of three seasons in the majors, for the San Francisco Giants, and and for the Houston Astros. He later pitched in the Senior Professional Baseball Association.-Sources:...
in 1971.
Minor Leagues
In 2008, Baseball AmericaBaseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
ranked him the third best prospect in the Giants organization.
Bumgarner pitched for the Augusta Greenjackets
Augusta GreenJackets
The Augusta GreenJackets are a minor league baseball team that plays in Augusta, Georgia, as a Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Lake Olmstead Stadium has been the home of the GreenJackets since the 1995 season, although Augusta has fielded a team in the South Atlantic League since 1988...
, the Giants' Low-A minor league affiliate, in . He began the season with the Giants' high-A affiliate, the San Jose Giants
San Jose Giants
The San Jose Giants are a minor league baseball team in San Jose, California, USA. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the Northern Division of the California League, and have been a farm team of the San Francisco Giants since 1988. Home games are played at San Jose Municipal Stadium...
, then was called up to the Giants AA affiliate the Connecticut Defenders
Connecticut Defenders
The Connecticut Defenders were a minor league baseball team based in Norwich, Connecticut. The team, which played in the Eastern League, was the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major-league club from 2003 until following the 2009 season, when the Defenders relocated to Richmond,...
. Bumgarner has played with other top Giants' prospects Buster Posey
Buster Posey
Gerald Dempsey "Buster" Posey III is a catcher for the San Francisco Giants. He was drafted by the Giants fifth overall in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft....
, Angel Villalona
Angel Villalona
Angel Miguel Villalona is a first baseman in the San Francisco Giants organization.He had been rated by many baseball websites as the Giants #1 prospect...
, and Nick Noonan.
Before the start of the 2009 season, Baseball America ranked Bumgarner as the 9th best prospect in baseball.
Before the start of the 2010 season, Baseball America ranked Bumgarner as the 14th best prospect in baseball.
Major Leagues
He was called up to the majors on September 8, 2009, to make his first major league start and debut for Tim LincecumTim Lincecum
Timothy Leroy Lincecum is an American professional baseball starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He was nicknamed "The Freak" and "Big Time Timmy Jim" and "The Franchise." He throws right-handed and bats left-handed....
who was scratched with back spasms. At the age of 20, he became the second youngest pitcher ever to start a game for the Giants since the franchise moved west in 1958, older only than Mike McCormick
Mike McCormick (pitcher)
Michael Francis McCormick is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the New York Giants from 1956 to 1958, then the San Francisco Giants from 1958 to 1970...
, who made his debut for San Francisco as a 19-year-old when the team was still the New York Giants. Bumgarner made four appearances with the Giants in 2009, accruing an 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...
of 1.80 and ten strikeouts, pitching ten innings without recording a decision
Decision (baseball)
A decision is a statistical credit given to a baseball pitcher.There are two types of decisions: win and loss.In order to receive a win, the starting pitcher must complete at least five innings and leave with the lead. If the pitcher's lead is preserved by the bullpen, he is credited with a win...
.
2010
Bumgarner attended Giants' spring training before the 2010 season, competing for the position of fifth starter, but was sent down to the AAA Fresno Grizzlies
Fresno Grizzlies
The Fresno Grizzlies are a minor league baseball team based in Fresno, California. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League , is the Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club. The Grizzlies play in Chukchansi Park , located in downtown Fresno and built in 2002...
due to a drop in his velocity. On June 26, 2010, Bumgarner was called up again to join the club, facing 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"...
the next day. On July 6, 2010, 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...
in Milwaukee, Bumgarner earned his first major league victory, 6–1, going eight innings without yielding a run.
In five September starts during the Giants' successful run to the National League West Division championship, Bumgarner posted an ERA of 1.13. At the end of the wonderful September, Bumgarner earned his first win at home, making him 7–6 on the season. Despite a ten-day layoff, Bumgarner became the youngest pitcher in 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....
franchise history to pitch in and win a postseason game, which he did against the Braves in the NLDS clinching-game on October 11, 2010. In addition to his clinching performance in the NLDS, he pitched two shutout innings in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in the NLCS clinching game versus 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...
. On October 31, 2010, Bumgarner pitched 8 shutout innings in Game 4 of 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...
, becoming the fourth youngest pitcher to start and win a World Series game. This win gave the Giants a 3–1 lead in the series, en route to the Giants winning their first World Series championship in 56 years.
He was named a starting pitcher on Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
s 2010 All-Rookie Team.
2011
In spring training in 2011, Bumgarner led the major leagues in strikeouts, with 31 in 27.1 innings. As of May 13, 2011 Bumgarner was 0–5 with a 4.58 ERA in 7 starts.Madison struggled in his first two games beginning the 2011 season, but soon after regained his post-season form. However, he was the victim of poor run support and bad luck, a treatment the San Francisco media called his "Caining," a reference to fellow teammate Matt Cain
Matt Cain
Matthew Thomas Cain is an American Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants...
's often dominant performances that featured little to no run support as well. Despite pitching at least six innings and giving up more than one earned run only once in his five starts from April 27 through May 19 it wasn't until the 19th that he got his first win, collecting an ERA of 3.71 for the season at that point. As of June 9, Bumgarner had a 1.93 ERA over his last nine starts, yet had two wins and five losses to show for it. In 7 of his 8 losses at that point the Giants either only scored once or scored no times at all. On September 5, 2011, Bumgarner struck out a career high 13 batters while yielding 2 earned runs, 7 hits and 1 walk over 8.1 innings while earning the win against 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...
at Petco Park
PETCO Park
Petco Park is an open-air ballpark in downtown San Diego, California, USA. It opened in 2004, replacing Qualcomm Stadium as the home park of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres. Before then, the Padres shared Qualcomm Stadium with the NFL's San Diego Chargers...
. It was his second consecutive double digit strikeout game having struck out 11 batters in his previous start against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. As of September 16, 2011, Bumgarner has won 5 consecutive starts and is 12-12 on the season with a 3.21 ERA and 181 strikeouts. Bumgarner is 12 and 1 with The Giants if they score 3 or more runs for him.
Family
Bumgarner married Ali Saunders (his high school sweetheart) on February 14, 2010, and lives on a farm in North Carolina.Records
- Youngest left-handed pitcher to throw 8 scoreless innings in a World Series Start at 21 years and 91 days