Brad Halsey
Encyclopedia
Bradford Alexander Halsey (born February 14, 1981 in Houston, Texas
) is currently a pitcher in the New York Yankees
organization.
, where he was the No. 1 starter on the Longhorns
' College World Series
championship team in 2002.
by the New York Yankees
/ Halsey spent most of at Triple-A
Columbus
, going 11-4 with a 2.63 ERA
in 144 innings
. He posted a 2.95 strikeout-to-walk ratio (109-to-37), while opponents batted
.237 against him with eight home run
s. The Yankees gave him a spot in their pitching rotation on June 19, 2004. In seven starts and a relief
appearance, Halsey finished with a 1-3 record, 25 strikeout
s, and a 6.47 ERA in 32 innings.
traded pitcher
Randy Johnson
to the Yankees in a three-team deal that included the Los Angeles Dodgers
. Arizona received Halsey, pitcher Javier Vázquez
, and catcher
Dioner Navarro
from New York, then sent Navarro and three minor league
prospects to the Dodgers for outfielder
Shawn Green
.
. Halsey made the Athletics' opening-day roster as a middle reliever, then was pressed into starting duty in May with injuries to starters Esteban Loaiza
and Rich Harden
. Halsey pitched in six starts, with a record of 1-2, ERA of 5.63, and opponents batting .305 against him. He was the pitcher
who threw the pitch on May 20, 2006, that Barry Bonds
hit out of the park for his 714th home run, tying Babe Ruth
for second place all-time.
When Loaiza returned, Halsey returned to middle relief duty in mid-June. His statistics through mid-August were 3-3, 4.50 ERA. On August 10, Halsey was optioned to Oakland's Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento
when the Athletics activated reliever Jay Witasick
from the disabled list
only to be recalled on August 22 with the A's needing a fifth starter in a string of consecutive games. He finished the year in middle relief. His statistics for the year were 5-4, 4.67 ERA.
Halsey did not make the playoff roster for Oakland's division series against the Minnesota Twins
. Oakland already had a left-hander in Joe Kennedy
Halsey entered the season as a candidate for the fifth starter slot, but did not pitch well in spring training
, going 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA, and lost out to favorite Joe Kennedy. On April 1, Halsey was again optioned, this time to Sacramento.
On April 21, 2007, Halsey was held out of his start at Triple-A Sacramento, in case he was called to start for Rich Harden 3 days later. Harden could not go, but instead of Halsey, the A's went with left-hander Dallas Braden
. Halsey made inflammatory comments that he was bypassed because the A's found out that Halsey was scheduled for an MRI exam.
Halsey eventually did have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder on July 12, 2007, and was placed on the 60-day disabled list. Halsey had a grievance filed against the A's over the misdiagnosis of his injury and won.
of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
. In 2010, he pitched for the Gary SouthShore RailCats
of the independent Northern League.
in the 87-90 MPH range, but his best pitches are a fine slider
and a deceptive changeup
.
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
) is currently a pitcher in the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
organization.
Amateur career
Halsey attended the University of Texas at AustinUniversity of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, where he was the No. 1 starter on the Longhorns
Texas Longhorn Athletics
Texas Longhorns athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports teams of The University of Texas at Austin. These teams are referred to as the Texas Longhorns , taking their name from the Longhorn cattle that were an important part of the development of Texas, and are now the...
' College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
championship team in 2002.
New York Yankees (2002-2004)
Halsey was an eighth-round pick in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
by the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
/ Halsey spent most of at Triple-A
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
Columbus
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
, going 11-4 with a 2.63 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...
in 144 innings
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...
. He posted a 2.95 strikeout-to-walk ratio (109-to-37), while opponents 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 :...
.237 against him with eight 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...
s. The Yankees gave him a spot in their pitching rotation on June 19, 2004. In seven starts and a relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
appearance, Halsey finished with a 1-3 record, 25 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s, and a 6.47 ERA in 32 innings.
Arizona Diamondbacks (2005)
Before the season, the Arizona DiamondbacksArizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
traded 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...
Randy Johnson
Randy Johnson
Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 22-year career, he pitched for six different teams....
to the Yankees in a three-team deal that included 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...
. Arizona received Halsey, pitcher Javier Vázquez
Javier Vázquez
Javier Carlos Vázquez is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. Previously, he pitched for the Florida Marlins , Atlanta Braves , Chicago White Sox , Arizona Diamondbacks , New York Yankees and Montreal Expos . Vázquez was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico...
, and catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Dioner Navarro
Dioner Navarro
Dioner Favian Navarro Vivas is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher, who is a free agent.-New York Yankees:In 2000, Navarro was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent...
from New York, then sent Navarro and three minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
prospects to the Dodgers for outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Shawn Green
Shawn Green
Shawn David Green is a former Major League Baseball player.Green was a 1st round draft pick and a two-time major league All-Star...
.
Oakland Athletics (2006-2008)
On March 26, 2006, the Diamondbacks traded Halsey to the Athletics for Juan CruzJuan Cruz (baseball)
Juan Carlos Cruz is a Major League Baseball pitcher.-Career:Cruz was signed for the Chicago Cubs by scout Jose Serra. He began his pro career with the Cubs' Rookie Level team, the Mesa Cubs, where he went 2-4 with a 6.10 earned run average and 36 strikeouts in only 41.1 innings pitched...
. Halsey made the Athletics' opening-day roster as a middle reliever, then was pressed into starting duty in May with injuries to starters Esteban Loaiza
Esteban Loaiza
Esteban Antonio Loaiza Veyna [lo-EYE-sa] is a former Major League Baseball pitcher...
and Rich Harden
Rich Harden
James Richard Harden is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher.-Early years:Harden attended Claremont Secondary School in Victoria, British Columbia. He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 38th round of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft...
. Halsey pitched in six starts, with a record of 1-2, ERA of 5.63, and opponents batting .305 against him. He was the 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...
who threw the pitch on May 20, 2006, that Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
hit out of the park for his 714th home run, tying Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
for second place all-time.
When Loaiza returned, Halsey returned to middle relief duty in mid-June. His statistics through mid-August were 3-3, 4.50 ERA. On August 10, Halsey was optioned to Oakland's Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento
Sacramento River Cats
The Sacramento River Cats is a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics....
when the Athletics activated reliever Jay Witasick
Jay Witasick
Gerald Alphonse "Jay" Witasick, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2nd round of the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his major league debut on July 7, as a member of the A's versus the California Angels...
from the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
only to be recalled on August 22 with the A's needing a fifth starter in a string of consecutive games. He finished the year in middle relief. His statistics for the year were 5-4, 4.67 ERA.
Halsey did not make the playoff roster for Oakland's division series against the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. Oakland already had a left-hander in Joe Kennedy
Joe Kennedy (baseball player)
Joseph Darley Kennedy was an American Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He pitched from 2001-2007 for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Toronto Blue Jays.-Early life:Kennedy was born in La Mesa, California and graduated from El...
Halsey entered the season as a candidate for the fifth starter slot, but did not pitch well in spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, going 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA, and lost out to favorite Joe Kennedy. On April 1, Halsey was again optioned, this time to Sacramento.
On April 21, 2007, Halsey was held out of his start at Triple-A Sacramento, in case he was called to start for Rich Harden 3 days later. Harden could not go, but instead of Halsey, the A's went with left-hander Dallas Braden
Dallas Braden
Dallas Lee Braden is a left-handed pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. He was drafted out of Texas Tech University in the twenty fourth round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft by the Athletics...
. Halsey made inflammatory comments that he was bypassed because the A's found out that Halsey was scheduled for an MRI exam.
Halsey eventually did have surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder on July 12, 2007, and was placed on the 60-day disabled list. Halsey had a grievance filed against the A's over the misdiagnosis of his injury and won.
Los Angeles Dodgers and independent baseball (2008-2010)
After being released in , Halsey signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers in February . Halsey was released by the Dodgers at the end of spring training. On May 12, 2009 Halsey signed a deal with the Long Island DucksLong Island Ducks
The Long Island Ducks is an American professional baseball team based in Central Islip, New York. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
. In 2010, he pitched for the Gary SouthShore RailCats
Gary SouthShore RailCats
The Gary SouthShore RailCats are a professional baseball team based in Gary, Indiana, in the United States. The RailCats are a member of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The RailCats have played their home games at...
of the independent Northern League.
New York Yankees (2011-present)
On May 2, 2011, Halsey signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees.Scouting report
Halsey throws a fastballFastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
in the 87-90 MPH range, but his best pitches are a fine slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
and a deceptive changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
.