Terry Adams

Infobox MLB retired


name=Terry Adams
position=Pitcher
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1973|3|6
Mobile, Alabama
debutdate=August 10
debutyear=by|1995
debutteam=Chicago Cubs
finaldate=May 23
finalyear=by|2005
finalteam=Philadelphia Phillies
stat1label=Win-Loss record
stat1value=51-62
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=4.17
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=691
teams=
* Chicago Cubs (by|1995–by|1999)
* Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2000–by|2001)
* Philadelphia Phillies (by|2002–by|2003)
* Toronto Blue Jays (by|2004)
* Boston Red Sox (by|2004)
* Philadelphia Phillies (by|2005)

Terry Wayne Adams (born March 6, 1973 in Mobile, Alabama) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He bats and throws right-handed.

High school career

At Mary G. Montgomery High School, he went 12-2 with a 1.75 ERA his senior season and was the 1991 Alabama High School Player of the Year.

Minor league baseball

He was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 4th round of the by|1991 baseball draft and began his professional career by recording a 0-9 record in 13 starts with the Huntington Cubs in the rookie leagues. He rose through the Cubs farm system with stops in Peoria, Daytona, Orlando and Iowa. His best minor league season was in by|1995, when he was the closer for the Orlando team and saved 19 games with a 1.43 ERA.

Adams' professional career came to a close with the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Indianapolis Indians of the International League, in by|2006. Adams made 48 relief appearances for Indianapolis and posted a 4.29 ERA.

Chicago Cubs

Adams made his Major League debut on August 10, 1995] , for the Cubs against the San Diego Padres in the first game of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field. Adams pitched a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in relief of starting pitcher Frank Castillo. Adams returned to the mound in the second game of the doubleheader, pitching a scoreless eighth inning in relief of starting pitcher Steve Trachsel.

He remained in the Cubs' bullpen through by|1999, primarily as a setup reliever, though he did save 18 games in by|1997.

Los Angeles Dodgers

After the 1999 season, the Cubs traded Adams to the Los Angeles Dodgers (along with two minor leaguers Chad Ricketts and Brian Stephenson) in return for Eric Young and Ismael Valdes.

He worked out of the bullpen for the Dodgers in by|2000, posting a 6-9 record with two saves and a 3.52 ERA in 66 appearances. In by|2001, Adams spent part of the season in the bullpen and part of the season in the Dodgers starting rotation. It was the first time he had started regularly since pitching with the Single-A Daytona Cubs of the Florida State League. Adams went 12-8 with a 4.33 ERA in 43 games, 22 of which were starts, for the Dodgers that season.

Philadelphia Phillies

Adams signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies for the by|2002 season as a starting pitcher before ultimately being returned full time to the bullpen. In 46 appearances, 19 of which were starts, he posted a 7-9 record with a 4.35 ERA in 2002.

He re-signed with the Phillies prior to the by|2003 season and enjoyed one of his finest seasons, posting a 1-4 record with a 2.65 ERA in 66 relief appearances.

Toronto Blue Jays

Adams signed with the Toronto Blue Jays on January 7, by|2004, and was a key contributor to their bullpen. He appeared in 42 games, posting a 4-4 record with three saves and a 3.98 ERA before being traded to the Boston Red Sox shortly before baseball's trade deadline.

Boston Red Sox

On July 24, 2004, Adams was traded to the Boston Red Sox for third baseman John Hattig. The move was one of several attempts by the Red Sox front office to bolster the Boston bullpen for the pennant push. Adams did not perform well down the stretch for the Red Sox, going 2-0 with a 6.00 ERA in 19 appearances. He did not appear in any of the team's playoff games en route to the club's first World Series championship since by|1918.

Philadelphia Phillies - Second Stint

A free agent after the 2004 season, Adams once again signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on January 11, by|2005. He struggled mightily in 16 appearances out of the bullpen, going 0-2 with a 12.83 ERA, walking 10 batters in 13 1/3 innings.

On May 23, in what would prove to be his final big league appearance, Adams yielded one run on two hits with a strikeout in one-third of an inning of work for the Phillies in a 5-2 loss to the Florida Marlins. He was released the next day.

Career, Achievements and Trivia

*In 1997, while with the Chicago Cubs, Adams finished ninth in the National League in pitching appearances with 74.

*Adams is notable for being the pitcher who gave up Barry Bonds 500th home run.

External links