Mike Adams (baseball pitcher)
Encyclopedia
Jon Michael Adams is a right-handed relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
for the Texas Rangers
. Adams throws hard, his fastball routinely reaching the mid-90s.
, population of less than 6,000, and graduated from Sinton High School where he was an All-State selection in baseball and basketball. He attended Texas A&M University–Kingsville
where he continued to play both sports. The Milwaukee Brewers
signed Adams as an undrafted free agent
in .
. In his first two Major League seasons, he compiled an earned run average
of 3.26 in 59 games. On May 26, , he was traded to the New York Mets
for pitcher Geremi Gonzalez
. Soon after, he was claimed by the Cleveland Indians
. On July 18, 2006, the Indians traded Adams to the Padres for right-handed pitcher Brian Sikorski
. Adams played for four minor league teams in 2006: Nashville Sounds
, Norfolk Tides
, Buffalo Bisons
, and Portland Beavers
.
Adams battled injuries, missing the 2007 season after undergoing three knee surgeries. He missed the first two months of 2009 after shoulder surgery. Afterward through 2010, he was on the 15-day disabled list
twice, once for a fatigued shoulder and another time for a strained oblique.
He pitched extraordinarily well from 2009–10, throwing 107 innings and allowing 62 hits with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 118/31 and an earned run average
(ERA) of 1.35. As the eighth-inning specialist, he appeared in a career-high 70 games in 2010
, including eight of the final 11 games which consisted of a stretch of five consecutive games. Adams signed a one-year, $2,535,000 contract for 2011, avoiding salary arbitration. The earliest he could become a free agent
is after the 2012 season.
to the Texas Rangers
for Double-A pitchers Robbie Erlin and Joe Wieland.
In 2011, he was a combined 5–4, with a 1.47 ERA, in 73.2 innings.
in the mid-90s mph. He is not afraid to pitch inside. He is effective against both right and left-handed batters. "He’s got the fastball inside. He’s got the cutter/slider inside. And he commands the outside of the plate (against right-handed and left-handed batters). The command is good, the stuff is good and the head’s good," said Padres manager Bud Black
. Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley
attributed Adams’ success against lefties to a hard, inside slider
. "It neutralizes them a little bit," Balsley said. "They’re not able to dive out over the plate."
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 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...
for 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...
. Adams throws hard, his fastball routinely reaching the mid-90s.
Early years
Adams grew up in Sinton, TexasSinton, Texas
Sinton is a city in San Patricio County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,676 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of San Patricio County...
, population of less than 6,000, and graduated from Sinton High School where he was an All-State selection in baseball and basketball. He attended Texas A&M University–Kingsville
Texas A&M University–Kingsville
Texas A&M University–Kingsville is a U.S. national university with a multicultural student body that is 62 percent Hispanic and includes students from 35 states and 43 foreign countries...
where he continued to play both sports. 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...
signed Adams as an undrafted free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
in .
Professional career
Adams made his Major League debut on May 18, , in a 3–2 loss to the Montreal ExposMontreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
. In his first two Major League seasons, he compiled 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 3.26 in 59 games. On May 26, , he was traded to 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...
for pitcher Geremi Gonzalez
Geremi González
Geremis Segundo González Acosta was a Venezuelan right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs , Tampa Bay Devil Rays , Boston Red Sox , New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers . In his rookie season he led the Cubs with 11 wins, but he was unable to continue that...
. Soon after, he was claimed by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. On July 18, 2006, the Indians traded Adams to the Padres for right-handed pitcher Brian Sikorski
Brian Sikorski
Brian Patrick Sikorski is a baseball relief pitcher who plays for the Saitama Seibu Lions franchise in Japan.Although Sikorski made his MLB debut in , he didn't play another game in the big leagues until...
. Adams played for four minor league teams in 2006: Nashville Sounds
Nashville Sounds
The Nashville Sounds are a minor league baseball team of the Pacific Coast League , and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry...
, Norfolk Tides
Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a minor league baseball team in the Triple-A International League. They play at Harbor Park in Norfolk, Virginia. Since 2007 they have been a farm team of the Baltimore Orioles; prior to that, they had a 38-year affiliation with the New York Mets.-Franchise history:The...
, Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
, and Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
.
Adams battled injuries, missing the 2007 season after undergoing three knee surgeries. He missed the first two months of 2009 after shoulder surgery. Afterward through 2010, he was on the 15-day disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
twice, once for a fatigued shoulder and another time for a strained oblique.
He pitched extraordinarily well from 2009–10, throwing 107 innings and allowing 62 hits with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 118/31 and 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...
(ERA) of 1.35. As the eighth-inning specialist, he appeared in a career-high 70 games in 2010
2010 San Diego Padres season
The San Diego Padres' 2010 season is their 42nd season in MLB. On August 27, the Padres had a 6.5 game lead over 2nd-place San Francisco, and wound up missing the playoffs as the Giants passed them in September.-Regular season:...
, including eight of the final 11 games which consisted of a stretch of five consecutive games. Adams signed a one-year, $2,535,000 contract for 2011, avoiding salary arbitration. The earliest he could become a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
is after the 2012 season.
Texas Rangers (2011–present)
At the non-waiver trade deadline on July 31, 2011, Adams was traded from the San Diego PadresSan 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...
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...
for Double-A pitchers Robbie Erlin and Joe Wieland.
In 2011, he was a combined 5–4, with a 1.47 ERA, in 73.2 innings.
Player profile
Adams throws hard with a fastballFastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
in the mid-90s mph. He is not afraid to pitch inside. He is effective against both right and left-handed batters. "He’s got the fastball inside. He’s got the cutter/slider inside. And he commands the outside of the plate (against right-handed and left-handed batters). The command is good, the stuff is good and the head’s good," said Padres manager Bud Black
Bud Black
Harry Ralston "Bud" Black is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher and current manager of the San Diego Padres.-College:Black played two years at Lower Columbia College in Longview...
. Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley
Darren Balsley
Darren Balsley is the current pitching coach at Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres franchise. He was a minor-league pitcher before he decided to go into coaching. He went to Mount Carmel High School in San Diego and attended Palomar College. He has been in his current role since May 17, 2003...
attributed Adams’ success against lefties to a hard, inside 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....
. "It neutralizes them a little bit," Balsley said. "They’re not able to dive out over the plate."