Randy Wolf
Encyclopedia
Randall Christopher Wolf (born August 22, 1976, in Canoga Park
, California
) is a left-handed pitcher
for the Milwaukee Brewers
of Major League Baseball
. Randy's older brother Jim
is a Major League umpire
. Unlike his brother Jim and Houston Astros relief pitcher Ross Wolf, Randy is a boss. To avoid a potential conflict of interests, Jim does not work behind the plate on games his brother pitches. More recently, Jim has not officiated games that includes his brother's team. If his crew is involved in games that include Randy's team, he is removed from those games and switches with another umpire.
in Woodland Hills, California, where he was named High School "Pitcher of the Year" by the Los Angeles Times
in 1993, and "Player of the Year" in 1994. Wolf continued his amateur career at Pepperdine University
where he was a freshman first-team All-America, West Coast Conference
Pitcher of the Year, second-team college All-American, and a West Coast Conference
All-Star.
in the 25th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft
, but did not sign. He was then drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies
in the second round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft
. He rose through the minor leagues quickly, including stops with Single-A Batavia
(1997, 4–0, 1.58, 7 starts), Double-A Reading
, and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (1998, 9–7, 4.62, 23 starts & 1999, 4–5, 3.61, 12 starts).
debut on June 11, , against the Toronto Blue Jays
, pitching 5 innings, giving up one run
, and recording his first career victory
in the Phillies 8–4 win over Toronto.
In , Wolf was selected to the National League
All-Star
team and finished the year with a career-high 16 wins.
On August 11, , Wolf hit two home run
s while pitching the Phillies to a 15–4 win against the Colorado Rockies
.
On July 1, , Wolf underwent Tommy John surgery
, missing the remainder of the season and the first half of the season. He made his return to the Phillies' rotation on July 30, 2006. He finished the 2006 season with a 4–0 record, pitching only 55 innings.
Phillies fans created a fan club known as The Wolf Pack, whose members came to games sporting wolf masks. This prompted the Phillies promotional team to have a Randy Wolf Mask giveaway night. When one member of The Wolf Pack died, Wolf attended the funeral.
After the 2006 season Wolf's contract with the Phillies expired and he became a free agent
.
due to left shoulder soreness. He underwent shoulder surgery and missed the rest of the season. On November 1, the Dodgers bought out his option and allowed Wolf to become a free agent.
. On April 15, , Wolf had a no-hitter
through 6 innings against the Colorado Rockies
at Petco Park
before Brad Hawpe
hit a single
.
On July 22, 2008, Wolf was traded to the Houston Astros for Chad Reineke
.
In 2011, he started 33 games (4th in the National League) and was 13-10, with a 3.69 ERA. Through 2011, his 9 career shutouts were 6th-most of all active pitchers.
On October 13th in the NLCS against the St. Louis Cardinals
, Randy Wolf won his first career postseason start. With this victory, Wolf is no longer the active leader in career games started without a postseason win.
clocked at 87–90 mph. He also regularly throws a late breaking slider
in the upper 70s, a big sweeping curveball
in the upper 60's to lower 70's, however it has been clocked at under 60 miles per hour, and occasionally mixes in a change up in the mid to upper 70's. Wolf primarily pitches to contact for fly balls, though he is capable of racking up strikeouts in his starts. His pitching repertoire closely resembles his lefty teammate's, Chris Narveson
.
from rocker Slash
. Wolf is good friends with teammate John Axford
, and both consider themselves movie buffs.
Wolf's entrance music is "Jambi" by Tool
.
Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California
Canoga Park is a district in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, United States about 25 miles northwest of Downtown Los Angeles....
, California
California
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...
) is a left-handed 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 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...
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...
. Randy's older brother Jim
Jim Wolf
James Michael Wolf is a Major League Baseball umpire. He joined the major league staff in 1999 after working in the Arizona Rookie League, the South Atlantic League, the California League, the Texas League and the Pacific Coast League. He wears uniform number 28...
is a Major League umpire
Umpire (baseball)
In baseball, the umpire is the person charged with officiating the game, including beginning and ending the game, enforcing the rules of the game and the grounds, making judgment calls on plays, and handling the disciplinary actions. The term is often shortened to the colloquial form ump...
. Unlike his brother Jim and Houston Astros relief pitcher Ross Wolf, Randy is a boss. To avoid a potential conflict of interests, Jim does not work behind the plate on games his brother pitches. More recently, Jim has not officiated games that includes his brother's team. If his crew is involved in games that include Randy's team, he is removed from those games and switches with another umpire.
Amateur career
Wolf played PONY League Baseball in West Hills, California. He played high school baseball at El Camino RealEl Camino Real High School
El Camino Real Charter High School is a public secondary school located in the Woodland Hills district of the San Fernando Valley region of the city of Los Angeles, California...
in Woodland Hills, California, where he was named High School "Pitcher of the Year" by the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
in 1993, and "Player of the Year" in 1994. Wolf continued his amateur career at Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University is an independent, private, medium-sized university affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The university's campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean in unincorporated Los Angeles County, California, United States, near Malibu, is the location for Seaver College, the School of...
where he was a freshman first-team All-America, West Coast Conference
West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference is an NCAA collegiate athletics conference consisting of nine member schools across the states of California, Oregon, Utah and Washington....
Pitcher of the Year, second-team college All-American, and a West Coast Conference
West Coast Conference
The West Coast Conference is an NCAA collegiate athletics conference consisting of nine member schools across the states of California, Oregon, Utah and Washington....
All-Star.
Draft and minor leagues
Wolf was originally drafted by the Los Angeles DodgersLos 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...
in the 25th round of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft
1994 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1994 Major League Baseball draft.-Compensation picks:-Other notable players:*A.J. Pierzynski , Minnesota Twins, 3rd round*Bobby Howry , San Francisco Giants, 5th round...
, but did not sign. He was then drafted by 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...
in the second round of the 1997 Major League Baseball Draft
1997 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1997 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1997...
. He rose through the minor leagues quickly, including stops with Single-A Batavia
Batavia Muckdogs
The Batavia Muckdogs are a minor league baseball team based in Batavia, a city in Genesee County, New York, United States. The Muckdogs are the current Short-Season A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals...
(1997, 4–0, 1.58, 7 starts), Double-A Reading
Reading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
, and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (1998, 9–7, 4.62, 23 starts & 1999, 4–5, 3.61, 12 starts).
Major league career
Philadelphia Phillies
Wolf made his major-leagueMajor 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...
debut on June 11, , against the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
, pitching 5 innings, giving up one run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, and recording his first career victory
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...
in the Phillies 8–4 win over Toronto.
In , Wolf was selected to the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
All-Star
All-star
All-star is a term designating an individual as having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry...
team and finished the year with a career-high 16 wins.
On August 11, , Wolf hit two home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s while pitching the Phillies to a 15–4 win against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
.
On July 1, , Wolf underwent 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...
, missing the remainder of the season and the first half of the season. He made his return to the Phillies' rotation on July 30, 2006. He finished the 2006 season with a 4–0 record, pitching only 55 innings.
Phillies fans created a fan club known as The Wolf Pack, whose members came to games sporting wolf masks. This prompted the Phillies promotional team to have a Randy Wolf Mask giveaway night. When one member of The Wolf Pack died, Wolf attended the funeral.
After the 2006 season Wolf's contract with the Phillies expired and he became 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....
.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Wolf signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers. On July 4, 2007, Wolf went on the 15-day disabled listDisabled 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:...
due to left shoulder soreness. He underwent shoulder surgery and missed the rest of the season. On November 1, the Dodgers bought out his option and allowed Wolf to become a free agent.
San Diego Padres, Houston Astros
On December 1, 2007, Wolf signed a one-year contract with 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...
. On April 15, , Wolf had a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
through 6 innings against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
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...
before Brad Hawpe
Brad Hawpe
Bradley Bonte Hawpe is an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman.-High school and college:...
hit a single
Single (baseball)
In baseball, a single is the most common type of base hit, accomplished through the act of a batter safely reaching first base by hitting a fair ball and getting to first base before a fielder puts him out...
.
On July 22, 2008, Wolf was traded to the Houston Astros for Chad Reineke
Chad Reineke
Chad Karl Reineke is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball.-Personal life:...
.
Return to Los Angeles
On February 6, , Wolf signed a one-year, $5 million contract to return to the Dodgers. He turned in one of his best seasons, finishing 11–7 with a 3.23 ERA in 34 starts for the team.Milwaukee Brewers
On December 14, 2009, Wolf agreed to a three-year, $29.75 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.In 2011, he started 33 games (4th in the National League) and was 13-10, with a 3.69 ERA. Through 2011, his 9 career shutouts were 6th-most of all active pitchers.
On October 13th in the NLCS against 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...
, Randy Wolf won his first career postseason start. With this victory, Wolf is no longer the active leader in career games started without a postseason win.
Scouting Report
Wolf has a Four-seam fastballFour-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family...
clocked at 87–90 mph. He also regularly throws a late breaking 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....
in the upper 70s, a big sweeping 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...
in the upper 60's to lower 70's, however it has been clocked at under 60 miles per hour, and occasionally mixes in a change up in the mid to upper 70's. Wolf primarily pitches to contact for fly balls, though he is capable of racking up strikeouts in his starts. His pitching repertoire closely resembles his lefty teammate's, Chris Narveson
Chris Narveson
Christopher Gregg Narveson is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. He won a World Series Championship in his rookie year as a brief member of the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals...
.
Personal Life
In 2007, Wolf purchased a house in Los Angeles' Hollywood HillsHollywood Hills
The Hollywood Hills is an affluent and exclusive neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, in the southeastern Santa Monica Mountains. It is bound by Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west, Vermont Avenue to the east, Mulholland Drive to the north, and Sunset Boulevard to the south.-Hollywood Hills...
from rocker Slash
Slash (musician)
Saul Hudson , known by his stage name Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the former lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. During his later years with Guns N'...
. Wolf is good friends with teammate John Axford
John Axford
John Berton "The Ax Man" Axford is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers.-Path to the majors:...
, and both consider themselves movie buffs.
Wolf's entrance music is "Jambi" by Tool
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
.