Aaron Sele

Infobox MLB player
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textcolor1=
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name=Aaron Sele
caption=Sele in Spring Training with the New York Mets

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width=300
position=Relief Pitcher
team=Free Agent
number=
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1970|6|25
debutdate=June 23
debutyear=1993
debutteam=Boston Red Sox
statyear=May 9, 2007
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=146-110
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=1388
stat2label=Earned Run Average
stat2value=4.59
teams=
*Boston Red Sox (by|1993-by|1997)
*Texas Rangers (by|1998-by|1999)
*Seattle Mariners (by|2000-by|2001)
*Anaheim Angels (by|2002-by|2004)
*Seattle Mariners (by|2005)
*Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2006)
*New York Mets (by|2007)

Aaron Helmer Sele (born June 25, 1970 in Golden Valley, Minnesota) is a free agent MLB right-handed pitcher, who most recently played for the New York Mets.

His family moved to Poulsbo, Washington, a Scandinavian town on the Kitsap Peninsula, where Aaron pitched for North Kitsap High School.

Sele was drafted out of high school in the 37th round by the Minnesota Twins, but he chose to attend Washington State University where Bobo Brayton was the baseball coach. John Olerud was a pitcher in his last year at WSU when Sele was a freshman, and he gave Aaron some advice on pitching. Another incoming freshman was catcher Scott Hatteberg. During Sele and Hatteberg's three years at State, they won three conference titles. In Aaron's sophomore year, 1990, the Cougars ended a surprising season ranked 18th in the nation. Sele won his first seven decisions and finished at 12-3 with 2.22 ERA. He was named a third-team All-American by Baseball America. In the summer of 1990 Sele pitched for Team USA and shut out the powerful Cuba national baseball team on 3 hits and 8 strikeouts.

Listed at 6'5" and 205 pounds, Aaron was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the first-round (#23 overall) of the 1991 June free agent draft. He had a team-best 4 complete games at Winter Haven and also pitched in the Florida Instructional League. He was a co-winner of the Tony Latham Memorial Award for player with the most enthusiasm. Sele advanced quickly through the Red Sox farm system, with stops at Lynchburg and New Britain in 1992.

1993

Sele began his third pro season with Pawtucket and pitched a one-hit 7-inning shutout in 1st AAA start on April 10 at Columbus and was 4-0, 1.98 in final 6 starts. He was purchased from Pawtucket on June 22, 1993.

Sele defeated Minnesota, 3-1 in his Major league debut on June 23 at Fenway Park (7 ip, 5 h, 1 r, 0 er) and was 6-0, 2.72 (15 er/49.2 ip) in his 1st 8 MLB starts. He was the third Red Sox rookie to ever win as many as his first 6 decisions. This streak ended on Aug. 12 against the New York Yankees. He had 7 consecutive no decisions, Aug. 22-Sept. 22, despite a 2.38 ERA in that span, and fanned 11 on Sept. 28 vs. Detroit Tigers. He allowed 3 or fewer earned runs in all 18 starts and held opponents to a .237 batting average (.229 vs. left-handers). Despite making only 18 starts, he was selected as the AL Rookie Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News and the Red Sox Rookie of the Year. He finished 3rd in BBWAA AL Rookie of the Year voting and was named to Major League Rookie All-Star team by Baseball Digest and also named International League pitcher of the year and the starting pitcher on the IL's post-season all-star team by Baseball America.

Later in 1993, while pitching against the White Sox in Chicago, Sele was involved in one of baseball's more memorable brawls. After two consecutive inside pitches, George Bell charged the mound. Sele, seeming to have a plan, did not move until Bell was feet from him, about to throw a punch. At the last second, Sele slipped to his left as Bell threw the punch and the burly Mo Vaughn, having rushed to the mound from first base, crashed into Bell. Bell flipped backwards in the air, crashing to the ground as both of the benches emptied and the teams made their way to the mound [http://www.jokaroo.com/extremesports/baseball/baseballfight-georgebellaaronsele.html] .

1994

In 1994, Sele finished 2nd on the Red Sox staff in starts, complete games, innings, and strikeouts and tied for 2nd in wins. He went 5-1, 2.29 in 1st 8 starts through May 18 before going 3-6, 4.79 in final 14 outings despite allowing 3 or fewer earned runs in 8 of final 14 games. His complete games came in consecutive starts, May 11 vs. Milwaukee and May 18 in Baltimore.

1995

Sele was Opening Day starter in 1995, April 26 against Minnesota, and worked 5 scoreless innings in a 9-0 victory. He made just six starts, going 3-1, 3.06 and allowing right-handed batters to hit just .194 (13-67). He experienced soreness in his right arm after start on May 23 at Seattle and was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 2 (retroactive to May 24). He made 2 rehab starts each at Sarasota, Trenton, and Pawtucket from June 21-Aug. 22, going 0-1, 3.60 (20.0 IP, 8 ER) but continued to experience soreness and was moved to the 60-day disabled list for the remainder of the season on Aug. 31.

1996

In 1996, Sele ranked fourth on the Boston staff in starts, innings, strikeouts, and wins. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 16 (retroactive to Aug. 14) with a strained muscle in his left rib cage and made one start on rehab assignment on Aug. 26 for Pawtucket before being activated on Sept. 1.

1997

Sele led the Red Sox in 1997 in wins and starts while ranking third in innings and strikeouts. He was 4-1, 3.72 in his first 7 starts through May and 4-1, 3.93 in a span of 5 outings from June 12 to July 3. He held right-handed batters to a .224 average, 7th best among AL starters, and tied his then-career high with 11 strikeouts on July 12 against Toronto. He was among the league leaders in hit batters (2nd, 15), walks (10th), and runs allowed (T10th) and allowed the most baserunners per 9 innings among AL starters (14.8). He was traded to Texas with Mark Bradenburg and Bill Haselman on Nov. 6 for Damon Buford and Jim Leyritz.

1998

Sele tied for 4th in the AL with a career-high 19 wins in 1998, matching the 4th most in Rangers' history. He also tied for 5th in the league with 2 shutouts, set career highs for complete games, shutouts and innings pitched and led the Majors with 13 victories at home. His first 2 career complete game shutouts came in a span of 3 starts, a 3-hitter on April 9 in Chicago and a 4-hitter on April 21 against Tampa Bay, the 2 lowest-hit complete games of his big league career. He won his first 5 starts of the season, going 5-0, 2.00 (36.0 IP, 8 ER) through April 26. This streak ended with a loss in Boston on May 1, snapping an overall 6-game winning streak over 2 seasons. The streak matched his career high.

He was the Majors' first 8-game (May 23) and 11-game (June 23) winner, as well as the first pitcher in the AL with 9 (June 8), 10 (June 18), and 12 (July 4) victories. He was 12-5, 4.04 in 18 starts in the 1st half to earn his first selection to the AL All-Star team. However, he did not see action in the July 7 game at Colorado. Beginning Aug. 19, he was 6-1, 2.41 in his final 8 games and had a string of 13.2 straight scoreless innings over 2 starts on Sept. 9 and 14. He fanned 7.07 batters every 9 innings, the 8th best ratio among AL qualifiers, and did not issue a homer in his last 8 regular season starts and 54 innings overall after Chuck Knoblauch's 5th inning blast on Aug. 14 in New York.

2000

He became the first Mariners right-hander to make the All-Star team, earning his second All-Star appearance. He was among the AL leaders in wins, starts and innings pitched and won at least 17 games for the third consecutive season. He allowed just 2 hits, both singles, in 14-0 win May 15 vs. Minnesota, facing just 25 batters in 7.0 innings pitched. He allowed just 1 unearned run and no extra-base hits in 6-2 win vs. Colorado June 5. He earned win #10 on July 2 in Texas, becoming first Mariner right-hander with 10 wins before the All-Star break. He lost his first three starts of the second half, going 0-3, 7.50 (18.0 IP, 15 ER).He earned win #11 July 30 vs. Toronto, giving up six hits and four earned runs in 6 2/3 innings, snapping a three-game losing skid. He retired 12 of the first 15 batters faced for his 16th win Sept. 20 at Tampa Bay. Despite getting the no-decision, helped Seattle clinch the Wild Card, pitching 5.2 innings and scattering six hits for two earned runs Oct. 1 at Anaheim.

2003

Began 13th pro season and second with Angels on 15-day disabled list. Underwent surgery (Oct. 18, 2002) to repair partial tear of the supraspinatus muscle and labrum in his right rotator cuff (performed by Angels Medical Director Dr. Lewis Yocum). Was placed on disabled list March 26 due to recovery from surgery and activated May 9. Set career high in ERA and career low in starts and strikeouts (53). Seven wins equals fewest in ML career (1996; based on 25-or-more starts), Had more walks (58) than strikeouts for first time as professional, Tied for club lead with 12 hit batters (Ramon Ortiz), which tied for second in AL, Angels were 12-13 in his starts, Tied Angels' season high six hits allowed in an inning, Sept. 2 at Minnesota, Nine runs allowed in same game equaled career high (May 16, 1999 vs. Baltimore; 2.1 IP), Pitched into seventh inning in one of 25 starts, Won season-best three straight decisions, June 29-July 10, Lost three straight decisions twice, Longest outing was seven innings pitched, June 7 at Florida (9-2 win).

2004

Opened 2004 season in bullpen for first time in ML career. His appearance April 9 at Texas marked just second relief appearance of career (April 18, 2001 vs. Texas). After allowing five earned runs in 3.1 IP of first relief outing of season, allowed just one earned run over next three relief outings (7.0 IP). Returned to the starting rotation on May 1 and proceeded to go 4-0 with a 2.10 ERA (34.1 IP, 8 ER) in six starts. Became first Angel in club history to open a season with a 7-0 record (19 games, 15 starts). He left June 10 game vs. Milwaukee after six innings due to right shoulder fatigue. He was placed on 15-day disabled list June 11-June 26 with right shoulder fatigue.

2005

Made 21 starts in 2005 for Seattle and went 6-12 with a 5.66 ERA in 21 starts. He won back-to-back starts on May 22 and 28, allowing one earned run in 15.2 innings. He was signed to a minor league contract with Texas on Aug. 6 and made two starts for Triple-A Oklahoma, going 1-1.

2006

Playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sele logged 103.3 innings with an ERA of 4.53. Was the winning pitcher of the September 18th game in which the Dodgers hit 4 consecutive home runs and won in extra innings on Nomar Garciaparra's walk off home run. The Dodgers made the playoffs that year but Aaron was not on the playoff roster.

2007

On January 25, 2007, Aaron Sele signed a minor league contract from the New York Mets, and received a non-roster invite to Spring Training.

On March 29, 2007, the New York Mets purchased Sele's contract and placed him the 25-man roster. Sele served as the long man from the bullpen for the team.

Throughout the 2007 season, Sele, Guillermo Mota and Scott Schoeneweis were referred to by Met fans as the "three-headed monster" because of their constant ineffectiveness.

Highlights

*Member of 1995 AL Eastern Division Champion Boston Red Sox team.
*Member of 1998 and 1999 AL Western Division Champion Texas Rangers team.
*Member of 2001 AL Western Division Champion Seattle Mariners team.
*Member of 2002 World Series Champion Anaheim Angels team.
*Member of 2004 AL Western Division Champion Angels team.
*Named to 1998 and 2000 AL All-Star Teams.
*Finished 5th in voting for 1999 American League Cy Young Award.
*Led American League in Hit Batsmen (9) in 1994.
*Ranks 42nd on MLB All-Time Hit Batsmen List (108).

ee also

* List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
* MLB All-Time Hit Batsmen List

ources

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