Mike Ballard
Encyclopedia
Michael Aaron "Mike" Ballard (born February 6, 1984 in Norfolk
, Virginia
) is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Baltimore Orioles
.
, where he lead the team to a second place finish in the 2001 Virginia AAA State Tournament, where he set a school record in ERA with a 0.69 ERA. He was drafted in the 50th round, 1474th overall, in the 2002 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins
, but he decided to go to the University of Virginia
.
His 2003 season was cut short due to injury, where, in his seven starts, he had a 1.93 ERA in 7 starts. He missed all of 2004 due to injury. He was solid in 2005, where he went 8-3 with a 3.54 ERA over 15 starts. He was drafted again by the Minnesota Twins, in the 47th round, 1415th overall, of the 2005 Draft, but decided to stay for his senior year. His senior year was less impressive, with a 4.09 ERA, despite having a 9-3 record and two complete games. He was drafted in the 14th round, 418th overall, by the Texas Rangers
in the 2006 MLB Draft, and decided to sign.
, where he went 2-7 with a 5.68 ERA. He started 2007 with Single-A Clinton
, where he went 9-4 before earning a promotion to High-A Bakersfield
. He started 2008 with Double-A Frisco
, where he went 8-3 before earning a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma. He split 2009 with Frisco and newly re-named Oklahoma City. He spent all of 2010 with Oklahoma City after earning a spring training visit. In the offseason, he signed with the Baltimore Orioles
as a minor league free agent. He started the season with Triple-A Norfolk
, but was demoted to Double-A Bowie
after a 4.91 ERA.
On July 31, 2011, Ballard was called up to replace the struggling Jason Berken
.
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
) 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 Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore 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...
.
Amateur career
Ballard went to Ocean Lakes High SchoolOcean Lakes High School
Ocean Lakes High School is a public high school in Virginia Beach, Virginia and is located in the city's southeastern section.-Math and Science Academy:...
, where he lead the team to a second place finish in the 2001 Virginia AAA State Tournament, where he set a school record in ERA with a 0.69 ERA. He was drafted in the 50th round, 1474th overall, in the 2002 MLB Draft by the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, but he decided to go to the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.
His 2003 season was cut short due to injury, where, in his seven starts, he had a 1.93 ERA in 7 starts. He missed all of 2004 due to injury. He was solid in 2005, where he went 8-3 with a 3.54 ERA over 15 starts. He was drafted again by the Minnesota Twins, in the 47th round, 1415th overall, of the 2005 Draft, but decided to stay for his senior year. His senior year was less impressive, with a 4.09 ERA, despite having a 9-3 record and two complete games. He was drafted in the 14th round, 418th overall, by 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...
in the 2006 MLB Draft, and decided to sign.
Professional career
He started 2006 with Short-Season SpokaneSpokane Indians
The Spokane Indians are a minor league baseball team located in Spokane, Washington, United States. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Texas Rangers since 2003. The Indians play home games at Avista Stadium...
, where he went 2-7 with a 5.68 ERA. He started 2007 with Single-A Clinton
Clinton LumberKings
The Clinton LumberKings are a Midwest League Class A minor league baseball team based in Clinton, Iowa, USA, affiliated with the Seattle Mariners.-History:Clinton joined the Midwest League in 1954 and is the oldest franchise in the league...
, where he went 9-4 before earning a promotion to High-A Bakersfield
Bakersfield Blaze
The Bakersfield Blaze are a minor league baseball team in Bakersfield, California, USA. They are a Class A – Advanced team in the California League and are a farm team of the Cincinnati Reds. The Bakersfield Blaze play their home games at Historic Sam Lynn Ballpark...
. He started 2008 with Double-A Frisco
Frisco RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are currently the Class AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers major league baseball club. The team plays in the Texas League, assigned to the South Division. Prior to 2003, the franchise was based in Shreveport, Louisiana, and were known as the Shreveport Captains...
, where he went 8-3 before earning a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma. He split 2009 with Frisco and newly re-named Oklahoma City. He spent all of 2010 with Oklahoma City after earning a spring training visit. In the offseason, he signed with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore 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...
as a minor league free agent. He started the season with Triple-A Norfolk
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...
, but was demoted to Double-A Bowie
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...
after a 4.91 ERA.
On July 31, 2011, Ballard was called up to replace the struggling Jason Berken
Jason Berken
Jason Thomas Berken is a Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles.-Baseball career:Berken graduated from West De Pere High School. He played for Clemson's baseball team...
.