Andy Ashby

Infobox MLB retired
name=Andy Ashby


position=Pitcher
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1967|7|11
Kansas City, Missouri
debutdate=June 10
debutyear=by|1991
debutteam=Philadelphia Phillies
finaldate=September 14
finalyear=by|2004
finalteam=San Diego Padres
stat1label=Win-Loss record
stat1value=98-110
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=4.12
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=1,173
teams =
* Philadelphia Phillies (by|1991-by|1992)
* Colorado Rockies (by|1993)
* San Diego Padres (by|1993-by|1999)
* Philadelphia Phillies (by|2000)
* Atlanta Braves (by|2000)
* Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2001-by|2003)
* San Diego Padres (by|2004)
highlights =
* 2x All-Star selection (1998, 1999)

Andrew Jason Ashby (born July 11, 1967 in Kansas City, Missouri) is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Phillies (by|1991-by|1992, by|2000), Colorado Rockies (by|1993), San Diego Padres (1993-by|1999, by|2004), Atlanta Braves (2000) and Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2001-by|2003). He batted and threw right-handed.

Ashby attended Crowder College and played baseball there. He was signed as an undrafted free agent in by|1986 by the Philadelphia Phillies and made his major league debut with them in 1991. On June 15, 1991, Ashby struck out three batters on nine pitches in the fourth inning of a 3-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds; Ashby became the 15th National League pitcher and the 24th pitcher in Major League history to accomplish the nine-strike/three-strikeout half-inning. Then, he was acquired by the Colorado Rockies in the 1993 expansion draft, but after going 0-4 with an 8.50 ERA, he was dealt to the San Diego Padres at the end of the season.

Plagued by injuries to his shoulder, elbow, and back, Ashby was a combined 36-37 with a 3.43 ERA during his first four years with San Diego. His most productive season in by|1998, when he helped the Padres win the National League Division Series with a 17-9 record and a 3.34 ERA. He also made the National League All-Star team in 1998 and 1999. Although he was signed through the 2000 season, the Padres dealt him back to the Phillies prior to that season. However, he pitched poorly, going 4-7 with a 5.68 ERA. Ashby had been touted as a potential ace for the struggling Phillies pitching staff. His ultimate downfall would be a poor performance and an early exit featuring a walk off the mound and an angry "Kiss my ass!" directed to the booing Philadelphia crowd. He was sent to the Atlanta Braves in the midseason.

Ashby spent the next three years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, going 14-23 while posting a 4.31 ERA. At the end of 2003, he underwent Tommy John surgery. He made a brief two game return stint as a reliever with San Diego in 2004 and was signed by the team before the by|2006 season, but he was released during spring training and retired.

In a 14-season career, Ashby posted a 98-110 record with 1173 strikeouts and a 4.12 ERA in 1810-2/3 innings pitched.

ee also

* Pitchers who have struck out three batters on nine pitches
*Park Hill High School

External links

* [http://www.baseball-reference.com/a/ashbyan01.shtml Baseball Reference] - career statistics and analysis
* [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/A/Ashby_Andy.stm Baseball Library] - biography and chronology