Tanyon Sturtze

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name= Tanyon Sturtze
position=Relief pitcher
team=Free Agent
number=37
bats=Right
throws=Right
debutdate=May 3
birthdate=birth date and age|1970|10|12
birthplace=city-state|Worcester|Massachusetts
debutyear=1995
debutteam=Chicago Cubs
statyear=2007
stat1label=Win-Loss
stat1value=40-44
stat2label=Earned run average
stat2value=5.21
stat3label=Strikeouts
stat3value=479
teams=
*Chicago Cubs (by|1995-by|1996)
*Texas Rangers (by|1997)
*Chicago White Sox (by|1999-by|2000)
*Tampa Bay Devil Rays (by|2000-by|2002)
*Toronto Blue Jays (by|2003)
*New York Yankees (by|2004-by|2006)
*Los Angeles Dodgers (by|2008)

Tanyon James Sturtze (born October 12, 1970 in city-state|Worcester|Massachusetts) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently serving as a bullpen catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He attended Quinsigamond Community College and was drafted by the Oakland A's in the by|1990 amateur baseball draft. In by|1994, he became a Chicago Cubs minor leaguer after rising through the Oakland farm system. He pitched two innings, allowing two runs, with the major league team that year. He spent the next two seasons alternating between the Class AAA Iowa Cubs and the Chicago Cubs, and in by|1997, he signed with the Texas Rangers, again alternating between the major and minor league squads. In by|1998, he did not play major league ball, and in by|1999, he became a member of the Chicago White Sox, becoming a permanent major league reliever. He was dealt to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in exchange for Tony Graffanino in the by|2000 season, and became a key starter for the perennially last-place Devil Rays. However, the by|2002 season was a dismal one for Sturtze; he had a 4-18 record and led the majors in losses (18), earned runs allowed (129), hits allowed (271), walks allowed (89) and batters faced (1008), leading to the nickname "Ten-Run Sturtze." He was also seventh in innings pitched (224) and games started (33), and third in home runs allowed (33).

In by|2003, he joined the Toronto Blue Jays, and in by|2004, he joined the New York Yankees, where he became a consistent reliever, helping the Yankees to win the AL East in 2004. He missed most of the by|2006 season after having season-ending surgery to repair a slight tear in his right rotator cuff. [http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060518&content_id=1460070&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy]

He was involved in the infamous Yankees - Red Sox brawl in the 2004 season. He was shown scuffling with Gabe Kapler, Trot Nixon and David Ortiz; he was later shown with a cut above his ear.

On December 3, 2006, Sturtze signed a one year $750,000 contract with the Atlanta Braves. The contract paid him an additional $350,000 if he spent one day on the active 25 man roster.

In March by|2007, Sturtze was placed on the 15-day DL, he was transferred to the 60-day DL in May 2007. He was given his unconditional release on August 21. Sturtze was signed to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training by the Dodgers on December 12, 2007. He was assigned to the Dodgers Double-A affiliate, the Jacksonville Suns and was later promoted to Triple-A Las Vegas. He was called up to the majors on August 14, mlby|2008, but was designated for assignment on August 28, and was sent outright to the minors a few days later. Sturtze requested to stay with the team in some capacity, so he was made a bullpen catcher for the remainder of the season. [ [http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080908&content_id=3437978&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la Dodgers.com Mailbag 9/8/08] ]

External links

*baseball-reference|id=s/sturtta01
* [http://www.sptimes.net/2002/03/24/news_pf/Rays/Rays_MVP_flourishes_a.shtml Rays MVP flourishes after long journey]
* [http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/289463p-247807c.html Sturtze Can't Go Home Again]
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/17/sports/baseball/17sturtze.html?ex=1146542400&en=dc44d139566e88e8&ei=5070= Yankees' Sturtze Is Back at Fenway Park, but This Time, He's Not Sneaking In]
* [http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060518&content_id=1460070&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy Notes: Sturtze headed for surgery]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2685240 ESPN.com - MLB - Braves bet on Sturtze, sign righty to one-year deal]