Scott Atchison
Encyclopedia
Scott Barham Atchison (born March 29, 1976 in Denton, Texas
) is an American
professional baseball
pitcher
with the Boston Red Sox
of Major League Baseball
. He graduated from McCullough High School in The Woodlands, TX and received his degree in general studies
from Texas Christian University
.
in the 36th round of the amateur draft, but chose to attend college. He was drafted again by the Mariners in the 49th round of the amateur draft, and signed with the team in May . He spent five years playing for minor league affiliates of the Mariners and made his debut in the Majors on July 31, 2004. He spent the 2004 and seasons splitting his time between the Mariners and the Mariners' minor league affiliates, appearing in 31 games over two years. In , he played the entire season in the minors.
In , he signed with the San Francisco Giants
and appeared in 22 games. At the end of the season, he refused an assignment from the Giants to the Fresno Grizzlies
, and became a free agent
. He signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox
to come to spring training
as a non-roster invitee, but one week later signed with the Hanshin Tigers
in Japan. On January 4, 2008, it was announced that the Red Sox had sold Atchison's contract to the Hanshin Tigers.
On December 7, 2009, Atchison signed a one-year, incentive laden contract with the Boston Red Sox.. Atchison was recalled by the Red Sox to Fenway Park on May 5, 2011.
between 90-93 mph range, and cutter
at high 80's. He also throws curveball
at high 70's.
Denton, Texas
The city of Denton is the county seat of Denton County, Texas in the United States. Its population was 119,454 according to the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the eleventh largest city in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
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...
with 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"...
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...
. He graduated from McCullough High School in The Woodlands, TX and received his degree in general studies
Bachelor of General Studies
A Bachelor of General Studies degree is an undergraduate degree, offered by many universities in the Western World. It is very similar to a Bachelor of Arts or Liberal Arts degree, although there are often fewer requirements for studies in humanities and social sciences...
from Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
.
College baseball
While playing for Texas Christian University, Atchison earned four letters and was named All-Southwest Conference twice and All-Western Athletic Conference once.Professional career
Atchison was originally drafted by the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
in the 36th round of the amateur draft, but chose to attend college. He was drafted again by the Mariners in the 49th round of the amateur draft, and signed with the team in May . He spent five years playing for minor league affiliates of the Mariners and made his debut in the Majors on July 31, 2004. He spent the 2004 and seasons splitting his time between the Mariners and the Mariners' minor league affiliates, appearing in 31 games over two years. In , he played the entire season in the minors.
In , he signed 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....
and appeared in 22 games. At the end of the season, he refused an assignment from the Giants to the 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...
, and 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....
. He signed a minor league contract with 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"...
to come to 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...
as a non-roster invitee, but one week later signed with the Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
in Japan. On January 4, 2008, it was announced that the Red Sox had sold Atchison's contract to the Hanshin Tigers.
On December 7, 2009, Atchison signed a one-year, incentive laden contract with the Boston Red Sox.. Atchison was recalled by the Red Sox to Fenway Park on May 5, 2011.
Pitching Style
Atchison throws normal 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...
between 90-93 mph range, and cutter
Cutter (baseball)
In baseball, a cutter, or cut fastball, is a type of fastball which breaks slightly toward the pitcher's glove side as it reaches home plate. This pitch is somewhere between a slider and a fastball, as it is usually thrown faster than a slider but with more motion than a typical fastball. Some...
at high 80's. He also throws 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...
at high 70's.