Brandon Kolb

Infobox MLB retired
name=Brandon Kolb
position=Relief pitcher
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date and age|1973|11|20|
debutdate=May 12
debutyear=by|2000
debutteam=San Diego Padres
finaldate=September 19
finalyear=by|2001
finalteam=Milwaukee Brewers
stat1label=ERA
stat1value=7.99
stat2label=Record
stat2value=0-1
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=20
teams=
*San Diego Padres (2000)
*Milwaukee Brewers (2001)
highlights=
*Gave up three home runs in one inning in 2001.

Brandon Charles Kolb (born November 20 1973 in Oakland, California) is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers in by|2000 and by|2001. He attended Monte Vista High School in Danville, California. He later went to Chabot College and then to Texas Tech.

Standing at 6'1", 190 pounds, Kolb was originally drafted by the Oakland Athletics 1077th overall in the by|1993 draft. Deciding not to sign, he would have to wait until by|1995 to be drafted again, when he was selected by the Padres in the fourth round. This time, he chose to sign.

Originally a starter in the minors, his best record was 16-9, which he achieved in 1996 with the Clinton Lumber Kings. Although he showed promise as a starter in the minor leagues, he was being used mostly as a reliever by 1998. He spent 1998 and 1999 entirely as a reliever.

He made his major league debut on May 12, by|2000 against the Arizona Diamondbacks at the age of 26. Although he struck out one batter in the single inning he pitched that game, he also gave up two hits and an earned run. He would improve down the stretch, lowering his season ERA to 4.50. Although he gave up 16 hits in 14 innings that year, surprisingly not one of them was a home run. He walked 11 and struck out 12 that year.

During the 2000/2001 offseason, Kolb was sent to the Brewers with a player to be named later for Santiago Pérez and a player to be named later. The players to be named would end up being Will Cunnane for the Padres and minor leaguer Chad Green of the Brewers.

His career took a major turn for the worst while with the Padres in 2001. He did not give up a single earned run until his fifth appearance of 2001, but he still posted a season ERA of 13.03. He gave up six home runs in 9 2/3 innings of work, including three in one inning—on June 20 against the Cincinnati Reds, Kolb gave up home runs to Sean Casey, Michael Tucker, and Pokey Reese. Since he had given up two home runs the game before, Kolb ended up allowing five home runs over a two game span-he pitched a total of only 1 2/3 innings in that time.

His season ended on September 19, by|2001. In his final career game, Kolb allowed two earned runs. He did strike out the final batter he faced in his career, though. It was pitcher Steve Kline.

After his big league career ended, Kolb spent time bouncing around the minors until 2004, even spending time in independent baseball.

Overall in his major league career, Kolb was 0-1 with a 7.99 ERA in 21 games. In 23 2/3 innings of work, Kolb walked 19 and struck out 20. He went 0-for-2 as a batter, although he did score a run. His fielding percentage was .667.

He wore numbers 47 and 38 in his career.

At last check, he lived in Danville, California.

External links

*baseball-reference|id=k/kolbbr01