Philip Humber

Infobox MLB player
name=Philip Humber

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width=300
position=Starting pitcher
team=Minnesota Twins
number=38
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1982|12|21
birthplace=city-state|Nacogdoches|Texas
debutdate=September 24
debutyear=2006
debutteam=New York Mets
statyear=2008
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=0-0
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=5.23
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=10
teams=
*New York Mets (by|2006-by|2007)
*Minnesota Twins (by|2008-present)

Philip Gregory Humber (born December 21, by|1982 in city-state|Nacogdoches|Texas) is a Major League baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. He was the New York Mets' first-round draft pick out of Rice University in by|2004. The third overall pick in that draft, he received a $3.7 million signing bonus in January by|2005 after a long holdout. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 29th round of the by|2001 Major League Baseball Draft, but he did not sign.

Humber was a dominant pitcher during his three college seasons, stepping into the nationally-ranked Owls' starting rotation as a freshman. Humber finished his freshman season in by|2002 with an 11-1 record, a 2.78 earned run average and a Western Athletic Conference leading 130 strikeouts, earning National Freshman Player of the Year honors from "Collegiate Baseball" and All-America honors from several publications. His sophomore season in by|2003 saw the development of Rice's "Big Three" rotation, featuring Humber and classmates Wade Townsend and Jeff Niemann. Humber put together another strong showing in 2003, posting an 11-3 record with a 3.30 ERA as Rice won its first national championship. He pitched a complete game in the decisive third game of the 2003 College World Series, a 14-2 win over Stanford University. He was honored with 'Philip Humber Day' in his hometown of city-state|Carthage|Texas. In his junior season of 2004, Humber compiled a 13-4 record and 2.27 ERA. He also set the Rice single-game record for strikeouts when he fanned 17 Hawaii hitters March 20, 2004. After being upset in the Houston Regional by Texas A&M, Humber looked forward to the Major League Baseball Draft. Humber, Niemann, and Townsend were all selected in the first eight picks of the 2004 draft - the first time three teammates had ever gone so early in the same draft.

He entered spring training 2005 with the Mets, and after a brief stint there, he was sent to Single-A St. Lucie, where, in fourteen starts, he posted a 2-6 record and a 4.99 ERA. Humber was then promoted to Double-A Binghamton, where Humber, in one start gave up three earned runs in four innings. This start, however, was fateful for the young righty, as elbow pain led him to exit early. Later, the worst was confirmed, as the top prospect would need to undergo Tommy John Surgery. He resumed pitching with the St. Lucie Mets, posting a 2.37 ERA in 7 starts.

On July 31, by|2006, 377 days after his surgery, Humber was once again promoted to Double-A Binghamton, where he was 2-2 with a 2.88 ERA. He made his major league debut on September 24, mlby|2006. He made his first Major League start on September 26, mlby|2007, against the Washington Nationals. He allowed five runs in four plus innings, receiving a no decision.

On February 2, by|2008, Humber was included in a trade to the Minnesota Twins along with Kevin Mulvey, Deolis Guerra, and Carlos Gomez for Johan Santana. Though he spent most of the 2008 season assigned to the Twins' triple A affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings, he did appear in five games for the Twins, pitching 11.2 innings, and posting a 4.63 ERA and six strikeouts.

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