Jason Grilli

Infobox MLB player


width = 250px
name = Jason Grilli
team = Colorado Rockies
number = 49
position = Relief pitcher
birthdate = birth date and age|1976|11|11
birthplace = city-state|Royal Oak|Michigan
bats = Right
throws = Right
debutdate = May 11
debutyear = 2000
debutteam = Florida Marlins
statyear = 2008
stat1label = Win-Loss
stat1value = 16-15
stat2label = Earned run average
stat2value = 4.66
stat3label = Strikeouts
stat3value = 213
teams =
*Florida Marlins (by|2000–by|2001)
*Chicago White Sox (by|2004)
*Detroit Tigers (by|2005–by|2008)
*Colorado Rockies (by|2008–present)

Jason Michael Grilli (born November 11, 1976 in Royal Oak, Michigan) is a right-handed pitcher who currently plays for the Colorado Rockies.

Pro career

Following his high school career at Baker High School in Baldwinsville, New York, Jason was drafted in the 24th round of the by|1994 Major League Baseball draft by the New York Yankees, but chose not to sign. Instead, he opted to played college baseball at Seton Hall University, which he attended from by|1995–by|1997. While at Seton Hall, Grilli once struck out 18 batters in a game to break Charles Nagy's Big East record. After a standout collegiate career, Jason was drafted in the 1st round (4th overall) of the 1997 Major League Baseball draft by the San Francisco Giants. In by|1999, Grilli was a key component of a mid-season trade that brought Liván Hernández to the Giants, and sent Grilli and pitcher Nate Bump to the Florida Marlins.

Grilli spent the by|2004 season with the Chicago White Sox organization after being selected in the Rule 5 draft. In by|2005, he signed a minor league contract with the Detroit Tigers. After helping the AAA affiliate Toledo Mud Hens to a league championship (he clinched the championship game), he joined the parent club for a late-season audition.

Grilli pitched for Team Italy in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. He also had a fine spring training and earned a spot in the Tigers bullpen as a long reliever, allowing for his first extended stint in the majors.

In by|2007, Grilli posted career highs in almost every category, including games (57), innings (79⅔), strikeouts (62), wins (5), and holds (11). However, Grilli heard boos at Comerica Park during the season, mostly due to his home ERA of 7.96. He was much more effective away from home, posting a 1.91 ERA in road games. Tigers manager Jim Leyland defended Grilli: "I like Grilli because he's got a resilient arm...There's a lot to be said for that." [cite news | title=Tigers Jason Grilli always ready to pitch in; Leyland likes his resilient arm | first=Jon Paul | last=Morosi | work=Detroit Free Press | date=February 29 | accessdate=2008-04-30] [cite news | title=Fans want to see Grilli put out fires; Reliever says numbers don't always tell story | work=Grand Rapids Press | page=D6 | date=March 15, 2008 | accessdate=2008-04-30]

On April 30, 2008, Grilli was traded to the Colorado Rockies for reliever Zach Simons. This move was made to a roster space for incoming reliever Francisco Cruceta. [cite news | url=http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080430/SPORTS02/80430077/1050 | title=Tigers trade Jason Grilli to Colorado | work=Detroit Free Press | date=April 30, 2008 | accessdate=2008-04-30]

Personal

Jason is the son of former major league pitcher Steve Grilli [ [http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/grillst01.shtml Steve Grilli Statistics - Baseball-Reference.com ] ] , who pitched for parts of four seasons in the late 1970s, including three with the Detroit Tigers. Jason wears number 49 in honor of his father, and the two still talk after every game Jason makes an appearance in [http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060614&content_id=1504835&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det] .

Jason was nicknamed "Cheese Man" by third base coach Gene Lamont.

Grilli and his wife, Danielle, welcomed their first child in February of 2008. The couple resides in Orlando, Florida during the off-season. [ [http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070707&content_id=2073668&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det The Official Site of The Detroit Tigers: News: Notes: Comerica packing them in ] ]

ee also

* List of second generation MLB players

References

External links

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