Homer Bailey

Infobox MLB player
name = Homer Bailey

---

width = 200
caption =
team = Cincinnati Reds
number = 34
position = Starting pitcher
birthdate = birth date and age|1986|5|3
birthplace = city-state|La Grange|Texas
bats = Right
throws = Right
debutdate = June 8
debutyear = 2007
debutteam = Cincinnati Reds
statyear = August 5, 2008
stat1label = Win-Loss
stat1value = 4-7
stat2label = Earned run average
stat2value = 6.48
stat3label = Strikeouts
stat3value = 42
teams =
* Cincinnati Reds (by|2007-present)

David Dewitt "Homer" Bailey, Jr. (born May 3, 1986 in La Grange, Texas) is an American Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds.

The Reds selected Bailey in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft. Prior to the by|2007 season, both Baseball America [cite web|title=Top 10 Prospects: Cincinnati Reds|publisher=Baseball America|author=Cooper, J.J.|date=2007-01-28|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/features/263234.html] and Baseball Prospectus [cite book|title=Baseball Prospectus|year=2007|pages=582|author=Goldstein, Kevin] named Bailey the top prospect in the Reds' farm system. Because of his success at the minor league level, Bailey's debut was highly anticipated when he was called up to the Major League level in June 2007. [cite web|title=Homer's odyssey|publisher=Cincinnati Enquirer|author=Erardi, John|date=2007-06-06|url=http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20070606/SPT04/706060377/] He made his Major League debut on June 8, 2007, against the Cleveland Indians. At the time of his debut, Bailey was the youngest player in the National League.

Early life

Bailey, nicknamed "Homer" after his great-grandfather, [cite web| title=Homer Bailey Info | work=mlb.com | url=http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070219&content_id=1808414&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin | accessdate=2007-06-09] attended La Grange High School. During La Grange's 2004 baseball season, Bailey won 15 games and lost none. Additionally, he had a 0.68 earned run average and 201 strikeouts in 92 2/3 innings pitched. That year, USA Today, named Bailey as a member of that year's USA Today All-USA high school baseball team and their High School National Player of the Year. [cite web| title=USA Today 2004 Baseball Awards | work=usatoday.com | url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/baseball/2004-06-29-all-usa_x.htm | accessdate=2007-06-09] Bailey completed his high school career with 41 wins, 4 losses, a 0.98 ERA, and 536 strikeouts in 298 innings pitched. In by|2004, the Cincinnati Reds selected Bailey with the seventh pick in the Major League Baseball amateur draft.

Minor League career

In 2004, Bailey made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast Reds, a Rookie Class franchise in the Gulf Coast League. That season, Bailey appeared in six games, started three, and lost his only decision for the GCL Reds.

In by|2005, the Reds promoted Bailey to the Dayton Dragons, the Reds' Class A franchise in the Midwest League. Bailey appeared in 28 games that season and compiled a record of 8-4. After the season, Baseball America named Bailey as the second-best prospect in the Midwest League. [cite web | title=2005 Top 20 Prospects: Midwest League | work=baseballamerica.com | url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/05league20s/mwl.html | accessdate=2007-06-09]

In by|2006, the Reds promoted Bailey to the Sarasota Reds, their Advanced Class-A franchise in the Florida State League. Although he won just three games and lost five, Baseball America named him as the best prospect in the Florida State League. [cite web | title=2005 Florida State League Top 20 Prospects List | work=baseballamerica.com | url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/features/262551.html | accessdate=2007-06-09] After he had appeared in 13 games, the Reds promoted Bailey to the Chattanooga Lookouts, their affiliate in the Double-A Southern League.

While at Chattanooga, Bailey put up the best statistics of his minor league career. He won seven games, lost just one, and had a 1.59 ERA in 13 games. Additionally, in 68 innings, he struck out 77 batters. As a result, Bailey averaged in excess of 10 strikeouts per nine innings while with each of his last three minor league teams.

In 2007, Bailey appeared in three spring training games for the Reds. He lost his only decision and had a 19.64 ERA when the Reds sent him to their minor league camp on March 16. He started the regular season with the Louisville Bats, the Reds' Triple-A affiliate in the International League. Bailey was touted as the best prospect in the Reds' farm system, and one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. In early June 2007, the Reds called up Bailey to make his debut against the Cleveland Indians.

Major League career

On June 8, 2007, Bailey made his Major League debut as the starting pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds in their home game at Great American Ball Park, an interleague game against the Cleveland Indians. In that game, Bailey pitched five innings, allowing two runs on five hits and four walks with three strikeouts, and qualifying for the win. On July 8, 2007, the Reds sent Bailey down to Triple-A Louisville. [cite web | title = "Notes: Bailey optioned to Triple-A" | publisher = MLB.com | date = 2007-07-08 | url = http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070708&content_id=2075167&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin] . On September 20, 2007, Bailey returned to the Reds to pitch 5.2 innings against the Giants. Bailey gave up one run on three hits and a walk while striking out three for his third win of the season.

On March 26, by|2008, the Reds optioned Bailey to Louisville to start the 2008 season. [ [http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080326&content_id=2459749&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin The Official Site of The Cincinnati Reds: News: Bailey cut from Reds camp ] ] On June 5, 2008, Bailey was called up to join the Reds rotation. On June 18, 2008, the Reds optioned Bailey back to Louisville after he went 0-3 with an 8.76 ERA in his three starts and called up Daryl Thompson [cite web | title ="The Official Site of The Cincinnati Reds: News: Reds option Bailey to Triple-A Louisville" | publisher = MLB.com | date = 2008-06-18 | url =http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080618&content_id=2956017&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin | accessdate=2008-06-19] On July 11, 2008, Bailey returned to the Reds, to pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers, replacing the injured Aaron Harang.

Philanthropy

In 2008, Homer Bailey released a charity wine called "Homer Bailey's Chardonnay" with 100% of his proceeds supporting Outdoors Without Limits, an organization committed to help reduce the barriers that prevent disabled people from enjoying the great outdoors.

References

External links

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