Ben Diggins
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Howard Diggins (born June 13, 1979 in Leoti, Kansas
) is a former Major League Baseball
pitcher
. He played for the Milwaukee Brewers
in the season.
He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals
in the first round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
, but did not sign. He was later drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers
in the first round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft
and signed on August 23, . He attended the University of Arizona
where he was a Baseball America
Freshman All-American in 1999 and a consensus All-American as a sophomore in 2000. As a starting pitcher Diggins was 10-4 with a 3.83 ERA and 127 strikeouts. Also hit for the Wildcats, batting .340 with 9 homeruns and 41 R.B.I's. Played for the U.S.A National Baseball team the summer of 1999 where he led the team in saves (3) and ERA (2.05)
of the South Atlantic League
in . He went 7-6 with a 3.58 ERA
and 79 strikeouts in 21 games, all starts.
In Diggins began the season with the Class-A Advanced Vero Beach Dodgers. He went 6-10 with a 3.63 ERA in 20 games, 19 starts.
to the Milwaukee Brewers for a player to be named later and Tyler Houston
. The player to be named would eventually be Brian Mallette
. He finished the season with the Double-A Huntsville Stars
of the Southern League
where he went 2-1 with a 1.91 ERA in seven games, all starts. Between the two organizations, Diggins went a combined 8-11 with a 3.20 ERA and 135 strikeouts in 151 innings pitched
. Diggins was promoted to the Major Leagues and made his debut on September 2, 2002 against the Chicago Cubs
. He started the game but only pitched 1, giving up eight runs
, seven earned
. In five games, all starts, Diggins went 0-4 with a 8.62 ERA in 24 innings pitched with his best start being against the St. Louis Cardinals where he pitched 7 innings allowing 3 runs and striking out 7 while only walking 2. Diggins had 2 quality starts of his 5 games pitched in the big leagues.
In Diggins began the season with the Double-A Huntsville Stars and made 8 starts before tearing the UCL ligament in his elbow. He went 3-2 with a 2.36 ERA in eight games, all starts. He returned to the Milwaukee Brewers spring training facility where rehabbing the injury failed resulting in season ending Tommy John surgery.
Diggins spent most of 2004 rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery before appearing in only four games in with the Rookie-Level Arizona League Brewers. He gave-up no earned runs in six innings pitched.
In Diggins began the season with the Class-A Advanced Brevard County Manatees
of the Florida State League
. Spent much of the season struggling with setbacks from Tommy John surgery and loss of command. He went 0-1 with a 5.27 ERA in 12 games, two starts.
in the Rule 5 Draft
but never made an appearance in their organization.
Diggins signed with the Independent Windy City Thunderbolts
of the Frontier League
as a first basemen. His transition soon lead to his retirement. After just 17 games Diggins batted
.209 with one home run
and 9 RBIs.
Leoti, Kansas
Leoti, pronounced "Lee-oh-TAH", is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,534.- History :...
) is a former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He played for the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in the season.
He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
in the first round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft
1998 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1998 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 2 and 3, 1998...
, but did not sign. He was later drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in the first round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft
2000 Major League Baseball Draft
-First Round Selections:-Compensation picks:- Background :The Florida Marlins made Adrian Gonzalez of Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, CA the first overall selection in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft...
and signed on August 23, . He attended the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
where he was a Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
Freshman All-American in 1999 and a consensus All-American as a sophomore in 2000. As a starting pitcher Diggins was 10-4 with a 3.83 ERA and 127 strikeouts. Also hit for the Wildcats, batting .340 with 9 homeruns and 41 R.B.I's. Played for the U.S.A National Baseball team the summer of 1999 where he led the team in saves (3) and ERA (2.05)
Los Angeles Dodgers
Diggins began his professional career with the Class-A Wilmington WavesWilmington Waves
The Wilmington Waves were a minor league baseball team in Wilmington, North Carolina. They were a Low-A class team that played in the South Atlantic League, and were a farm team of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the franchise’s only year in Wilmington. They played all of their home games at Brooks...
of the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
in . He went 7-6 with a 3.58 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and 79 strikeouts in 21 games, all starts.
In Diggins began the season with the Class-A Advanced Vero Beach Dodgers. He went 6-10 with a 3.63 ERA in 20 games, 19 starts.
Milwaukee Brewers
On July 23, Diggins was traded by the Dodgers along with Shane NanceShane Nance
Joseph Shane Nance is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played parts of three seasons in the majors, from to with the Milwaukee Brewers and in with the Arizona Diamondbacks.-Career:...
to the Milwaukee Brewers for a player to be named later and Tyler Houston
Tyler Houston
Tyler Sam Houston , is a former professional baseball player who played third base and catcher in the Major Leagues from 1996-2003....
. The player to be named would eventually be Brian Mallette
Brian Mallette
Brian Drew Mallette is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played part of one season in Major League Baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers in , and one season in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes....
. He finished the season with the Double-A Huntsville Stars
Huntsville Stars
The Huntsville Stars are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and are the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Huntsville, Alabama and are named for the space industry with which Huntsville is economically tied .The Stars play their home games at Joe W...
of the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
where he went 2-1 with a 1.91 ERA in seven games, all starts. Between the two organizations, Diggins went a combined 8-11 with a 3.20 ERA and 135 strikeouts in 151 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. Diggins was promoted to the Major Leagues and made his debut on September 2, 2002 against the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. He started the game but only pitched 1, giving up eight runs
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
, seven earned
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
. In five games, all starts, Diggins went 0-4 with a 8.62 ERA in 24 innings pitched with his best start being against the St. Louis Cardinals where he pitched 7 innings allowing 3 runs and striking out 7 while only walking 2. Diggins had 2 quality starts of his 5 games pitched in the big leagues.
In Diggins began the season with the Double-A Huntsville Stars and made 8 starts before tearing the UCL ligament in his elbow. He went 3-2 with a 2.36 ERA in eight games, all starts. He returned to the Milwaukee Brewers spring training facility where rehabbing the injury failed resulting in season ending Tommy John surgery.
Diggins spent most of 2004 rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery before appearing in only four games in with the Rookie-Level Arizona League Brewers. He gave-up no earned runs in six innings pitched.
In Diggins began the season with the Class-A Advanced Brevard County Manatees
Brevard County Manatees
The Brevard County Manatees are a minor league baseball team of the Florida State League, and are the A-Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers...
of the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
. Spent much of the season struggling with setbacks from Tommy John surgery and loss of command. He went 0-1 with a 5.27 ERA in 12 games, two starts.
Houston Astros
On December 8, Diggins was selected by the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
in the Rule 5 Draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
but never made an appearance in their organization.
Windy City Thunderbolts
After being released by the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
Diggins signed with the Independent Windy City Thunderbolts
Windy City ThunderBolts
The Windy City ThunderBolts are a professional baseball team based in the Chicago suburb of Crestwood, Illinois, in the United States. The ThunderBolts are a member of the East Division of the Frontier League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the Frontier League
Frontier League
The Frontier League, based in Sauget, Illinois, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the Midwestern United States, Western Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. It operates mostly in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either...
as a first basemen. His transition soon lead to his retirement. After just 17 games Diggins batted
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
.209 with one home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
and 9 RBIs.