Buddy Carlyle

Infobox MLB player
name = Buddy Carlyle


width = 196
caption = Carlyle, pitching for the Braves in June 2007
team = Atlanta Braves
number = 38
position = Relief pitcher
birthdate = birth date and age|1977|12|21
birthplace = city-state|Omaha|Nebraska
bats = Left
throws = Right
debutdate = August 29
debutyear = 1999
debutteam = San Diego Padres
statyear = 2008 season
stat1label = Win-Loss
stat1value = 11-10
stat2label = Earned run average
stat2value = 5.30
stat3label = Strikeouts
stat3value = 177
teams =
*San Diego Padres (by|1999-by|2000)
*Hanshin Tigers (by|2001-by|2002)
*Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2005)
*Atlanta Braves (by|2007-present)

Earl L. "Buddy" Carlyle (born December 21, 1977 in Omaha, Nebraska) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who plays for the Atlanta Braves.

High School Years

Carlyle attended Bellevue East High School in Bellevue, Nebraska and was a student and a letterman in football.

Professional career

Originally drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2nd round of the by|1996 Major League Baseball Draft, Buddy spent three years in the Reds organization before being traded to the San Diego Padres for Marc Kroon on April 8, by|1998. He played for the Mobile BayBears and Las Vegas Stars before making his major league debut on August 29, by|1999. In his first year, Buddy appeared in 7 games, recording a 1-3 record and a 5.97 ERA while striking out 17 batters. On November 3, by|2000, the Padres sold Carlyle's contract to the Hanshin Tigers of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. In two seasons with Hanshin, Carlyle went 7-12 with a 4.29 ERA and 124 strikeouts. He was picked up by the Kansas City Royals as a free agent after the by|2002 season.

Buddy split the by|2003 season between the Double-A Wichita Wranglers and Triple-A Omaha Royals. He was granted free agency after the season and signed with the New York Yankees on December 23. Playing for Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Columbus, Carlyle compiled a 12-5 win-loss record with a 3.19 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 27 games played.

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Carlyle for the by|2005 season. He began the season on the Dodgers roster, making his first big league appearance since 2000 on April 6. However, he was sent back down to the minors on May 6 and was briefly recalled at the end of May. An appendectomy in June derailed his comeback attempt, shelving him until the end of July, and he spent the rest of the season rehabbing in the minor leagues. The Florida Marlins signed him on November 10, 2005.

Carlyle began by|2006 with the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes, going 1-3 with a 1.93 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 13 games. He pitched well in April of that year, winning two games and losing none. He won his third game of the season on May 14, but, 4 days later on May 18, he was sold to the LG Twins in Seoul, Korea.

2007 season

On December 14, 2006, the Atlanta Braves invited Carlyle to spring training. He was reassigned to minor league camp on March 30, by|2007, but after going 5-2 with a 2.59 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 9 games for the Richmond Braves, he was called up to the big leagues on May 25. Carlyle made his Braves debut on May 26, 2007, in a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, a game in which he went 4 innings, surrendering five earned runs on six hits and allowing two walks. It was his first start in the Major Leagues since 1999. Carlyle earned his first win of the season and his first since 1999 on June 5, surrendering one hit, a solo home run to Aaron Boone of the Florida Marlins, while going 7 innings in arguably the best outing of his career. On July 6, 2007, against the Padres, Carlyle tied his career-high with 7 strikeouts, set a new career-high with 8 innings pitched, and collected his first Major League RBI which gave the Braves a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish. [cite web | title = "Notes: Ledezma placed on restricted list" | date = 2007-07-13 | publisher = MLB.com | url = http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070713&content_id=2084305&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl] In the fourth inning of that game, Carlyle struck out the side on the minimum nine pitches. It was the 40th time in major league history this feat had been accomplished. Carlyle's return to the Majors has been considered an inspiration to many Braves fans. He finished his best season with an 8-7 record and a 5.21 ERA.

2008 season

Carlyle started the by|2008 season for the Triple-A Richmond Braves, but was promoted to Atlanta on April 15 with an injury to Peter Moylan. As of July 5, Carlyle has a 2008 ERA of 1.57 with 23 strikeouts in 17 games.

ee also

* Pitchers who have struck out three batters on nine pitches

References