Vinnie Chulk
Encyclopedia
Charles Vincent "Vinnie" Chulk (born December 19, 1978 in Miami, Florida
) is a former Major League Baseball
relief pitcher
who currently plays in the Oakland Athletics
organization. He is of Cuban
heritage.
, he played for the Toronto Blue Jays
of the American League
from 2003 to 2006. On July 21, 2006, he was traded by Toronto to San Francisco with Shea Hillenbrand
in exchange for reliever Jeremy Accardo
. He was designated for assignment by the Giants on June 24, 2008. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
Chulk signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians
on January 15, 2009. The Indians purchased his contract and added him to the roster on April 11. On May 15, Chulk cleared waivers and accepted a minor league assignment to Triple-A
affiliate Columbus Clippers
. In October 2009 Chulk was granted free agency.
He was signed to a minor league contract by the Pittsburgh Pirates
on December 7, 2009.
On July 22, 2010, Chulk's rights were sold to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
in Japan
.
He signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics
on December 15, 2010 and has spent the 2011 season pitching for the Sacramento River Cats
.
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
) is a former 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...
relief pitcher
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...
who currently plays in the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
organization. He is of Cuban
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
heritage.
Early life
Chulk played baseball at the Perrine Khoury League throughout much of his childhood, and graduated in 1996 from Miami Palmetto Senior High School. That year, he was named MVP and received Best Pitcher Award. He defeated the Southridge Spartans during the playoffs in 1996, the team that had cut him the year prior. He attended St. Thomas University in Miami, where he graduated in 2000, majoring in Sports Management. Chulk played college baseball and received Best Pitcher Award of the Sun Conference in , , and the Regional Pitcher of the Year Award in his senior year.Professional career
Before Chulk was traded to the San Francisco Giants in the National LeagueNational 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...
, he played for 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 ....
of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
from 2003 to 2006. On July 21, 2006, he was traded by Toronto to San Francisco with Shea Hillenbrand
Shea Hillenbrand
Shea Matthew Hillenbrand is a professional baseball player who last played for the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League....
in exchange for reliever Jeremy Accardo
Jeremy Accardo
Jeremy Lee Accardo is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-San Francisco Giants:...
. He was designated for assignment by the Giants on June 24, 2008. He became a free agent at the end of the season.
Chulk signed a minor league contract with 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 January 15, 2009. The Indians purchased his contract and added him to the roster on April 11. On May 15, Chulk cleared waivers and accepted a minor league assignment to Triple-A
AAA (baseball)
Triple-A refers to the highest level of play in minor league baseball in the United States and Mexico.-Purpose:Triple-A teams' main purpose is to prepare players for the Major Leagues:...
affiliate Columbus Clippers
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
. In October 2009 Chulk was granted free agency.
He was signed to a minor league contract by the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
on December 7, 2009.
On July 22, 2010, Chulk's rights were sold to the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League. The team is primarily owned by the Matsuda family, led by , who is a descendant of Mazda founder Jujiro Matsuda. Mazda is the largest single shareholder , which is less than the portion owned by the Matsuda family . Because of that,...
in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
He signed a minor league contract with the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
on December 15, 2010 and has spent the 2011 season pitching for the Sacramento River Cats
Sacramento River Cats
The Sacramento River Cats is a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics....
.