Matt Riley
Encyclopedia
Matthew Paul Riley is on the York Revolution
. He went to Sacramento City College
.
in the third round of the draft. He dominated for the Delmarva Shorebirds
of the South Atlantic League
at age 18, having an earned run average
of 1.19 and 136 strikeout
s in 83 innings pitched. It was there that his curveball
started becoming known as one of the best in the Orioles' organization at the time. He had similar success with the Frederick Keys
of the Carolina League
and the Bowie Baysox
of the Double-A Eastern League
in . He earned a callup to the Orioles in 1999, and though his ERA in three starts there was 7.36, he was still highly regarded by the Orioles due to his minor-league achievements that year. Baseball America
listed him as the Orioles' top prospect in both 1999 and . However, in 2000, he made only two starts for the Rochester Red Wings
(then the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate), giving up 11 earned run
s in 7 innings. He spent the rest of that season and the season recovering from his first Tommy John surgery
.
He returned to playing in , but with little success. He went 4-10 at Bowie, with an ERA of 6.34. He showed signs of improvement in , going a combined 9-4 for Bowie and the Orioles' new Triple-A team in Ottawa
and earning another callup to the major leagues, where he earned his first career win
and had a 1.80 ERA in two starts. The season was the first season that he began in the majors, but he struggled there. In 14 appearances (13 starts), he logged a 3-4 record and a 5.62 ERA, and he was also sent back to Ottawa for ten starts.
Finally, in , the Orioles traded him to the Texas Rangers
during spring training
for Ramon Nivar
. He was able to play briefly in the major leagues for Texas, but as a one-out middle reliever rather than a starter. He accumulated an ERA of 9.95 over seven games and was then sent down to the Triple-A Oklahoma RedHawks
. In July 2005, he had his second Tommy John surgery and missed the rest of the 2005 season. While attempting to come back from that surgery, he retore his ulnar collateral ligament and had to have a third Tommy John surgery on his left elbow. http://www.kffl.com/player/8735/MLB http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&cid=238
In , Riley played for the Las Vegas 51s
and Jacksonville Suns
in the Los Angeles Dodgers
minor league system. Riley was released by the Dodgers on July 24, .
Riley has signed with the York Revolution
of the Atlantic League
for 2010.
.
York Revolution
The York Revolution is an American professional baseball team based in York, Pennsylvania. It is a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent league not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
. He went to Sacramento City College
Sacramento City College
Sacramento City College is a two-year community college located in Sacramento, California. SCC is part of the Los Rios Community College District and had an enrollment of 25,307 in 2009. Sacramento City College is officially accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges , offering...
.
Baseball career
Riley was drafted by the Baltimore OriolesBaltimore 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...
in the third round of the draft. He dominated for the Delmarva Shorebirds
Delmarva Shorebirds
The Delmarva Shorebirds are a minor league baseball team based in Salisbury, Maryland. They are one of three Single-A affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles and a member of the South Atlantic League. The Shorebirds play at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.The "Shorebirds" name refers to the marine waterfowl...
of the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
at age 18, having an earned run average
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 1.19 and 136 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 83 innings pitched. It was there that his curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
started becoming known as one of the best in the Orioles' organization at the time. He had similar success with the Frederick Keys
Frederick Keys
The Frederick Keys minor league baseball team is the "High-A" class A baseball affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The Keys are based in Frederick, Maryland. The franchise is named for Star Spangled Banner poet Francis Scott Key, a native of Frederick County. The team mascot is a coyote known as...
of the 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...
and the Bowie Baysox
Bowie Baysox
The Bowie Baysox are a minor league baseball team located in Bowie, Maryland. They are the class-AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play in the Eastern League...
of the Double-A Eastern League
Eastern League (U.S. baseball)
The Eastern League is a minor league baseball league which operates primarily in the northeastern United States, although it has had a team in Ohio since 1989. The Eastern League has played at the AA level since 1963. The league was founded in 1923 as the New York-Pennsylvania League...
in . He earned a callup to the Orioles in 1999, and though his ERA in three starts there was 7.36, he was still highly regarded by the Orioles due to his minor-league achievements that year. 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...
listed him as the Orioles' top prospect in both 1999 and . However, in 2000, he made only two starts for the Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
(then the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate), giving up 11 earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
s in 7 innings. He spent the rest of that season and the season recovering from his first Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
.
He returned to playing in , but with little success. He went 4-10 at Bowie, with an ERA of 6.34. He showed signs of improvement in , going a combined 9-4 for Bowie and the Orioles' new Triple-A team in Ottawa
Ottawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
and earning another callup to the major leagues, where he earned his first career win
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...
and had a 1.80 ERA in two starts. The season was the first season that he began in the majors, but he struggled there. In 14 appearances (13 starts), he logged a 3-4 record and a 5.62 ERA, and he was also sent back to Ottawa for ten starts.
Finally, in , the Orioles traded him to the Texas Rangers
Texas 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...
during 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...
for Ramon Nivar
Ramon Nivar
Ramón A. Nivar Martínez is a Major League Baseball utility player who is currently a free agent.Nivar was original signed as an undrafted free agent by the Texas Rangers in 1998...
. He was able to play briefly in the major leagues for Texas, but as a one-out middle reliever rather than a starter. He accumulated an ERA of 9.95 over seven games and was then sent down to the Triple-A Oklahoma RedHawks
Oklahoma RedHawks
The Oklahoma City RedHawks are a minor league baseball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros...
. In July 2005, he had his second Tommy John surgery and missed the rest of the 2005 season. While attempting to come back from that surgery, he retore his ulnar collateral ligament and had to have a third Tommy John surgery on his left elbow. http://www.kffl.com/player/8735/MLB http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&cid=238
In , Riley played for the Las Vegas 51s
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
and Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
in the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
minor league system. Riley was released by the Dodgers on July 24, .
Riley has signed with the York Revolution
York Revolution
The York Revolution is an American professional baseball team based in York, Pennsylvania. It is a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent league not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the Atlantic League
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
for 2010.
Personal life
Matt married Tiffany Hayward on January 14, 2006. They have 2 daughters together and reside in CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
External links
- The Baseball Cube - career major- and minor-league statistics