Bryan Bullington
Encyclopedia
Bryan Paul Bullington is a right-handed pitcher
for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
of Nippon Professional Baseball. He was the first overall pick of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
.
, he was 15-0, and pitched a 1 hit game to win the 1999 Indiana High School Athletic Association
Baseball State Finals.
. In for the Ball State Cardinals
, he was 11-3 with a 2.86 ERA, and in 104 innings walked 18 while striking out 139. His 139 strikeouts was a new record for most strikeouts in a single season (standard college season).
by the Pittsburgh Pirates
. He was the first player from the Mid-American Conference
to be selected with the first pick in a major sport's draft. He was selected because the Pirates felt they had a better chance of signing him over other players in the draft such as Jon Lester
, B. J. Upton
, Prince Fielder
, Scott Kazmir
, Nick Swisher
, and Cole Hamels
.
In 2002, with two minor league teams he was 13-5 with a 2.52 earned run average
. In the minors through he was 50-35 with a 3.84 ERA, and only 208 walks in 675.2 innings.
Through 2008, he had pitched 18.3 innings in the majors, as a number of injuries and lack of performance have limited his playing time.
Bullington was designated for assignment by the Pirates on July 3, 2008, and eventually claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Indians
. After the 2008 season, he was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays
. After spending 2009 Spring Training
with Toronto, he was assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas 51s
to begin the 2009 season. On April 23, the Blue Jays, who were dealing with a series of early-season injuries to pitchers, purchased his contract and promoted him to their major league roster. Bullington made his Jays' debut the next day, pitching a scoreless 9th inning in Chicago in a win over the Chicago White Sox
.
Bullington signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals
prior to the 2010 season. On May 17, the Royals purchased his contract from Triple-A Omaha
.
On August 15, 2010, Bullington pitched 8 shutout innings while only giving up 2 hits against the New York Yankees
in Kansas City
for his first major league win.
After the 2010 season, Bullington signed with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
of Japan
's Central League
.
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...
for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League. The team is primarily owned by the Matsuda family, led by , who is a descendant of Mazda founder Jujiro Matsuda. Mazda is the largest single shareholder , which is less than the portion owned by the Matsuda family . Because of that,...
of Nippon Professional Baseball. He was the first overall pick of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
2002 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:...
.
High school career
In 1999, during his senior year at Madison Consolidated High SchoolMadison Consolidated High School
The Madison Consolidated High School is a school, in Madison, Indiana, in the United States.-External References:*...
, he was 15-0, and pitched a 1 hit game to win the 1999 Indiana High School Athletic Association
Indiana High School Athletic Association
The Indiana High School Athletic Association is the arbiter of interscholastic competition among public and private high schools in the State of Indiana. It monitors a system that divides athletically-competing high schools in Indiana based on the school's enrollment. The divisions, known as...
Baseball State Finals.
College career
Bullington attended Ball State UniversityBall State University
Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
. In for the Ball State Cardinals
Ball State Cardinals
Ball State University's athletic teams are called the Cardinals. The Cardinals are part of the NCAA Mid-American Conference and located in Muncie, Indiana...
, he was 11-3 with a 2.86 ERA, and in 104 innings walked 18 while striking out 139. His 139 strikeouts was a new record for most strikeouts in a single season (standard college season).
Professional career
Bullington was the first overall pick in the 2002 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 Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. He was the first player from the Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
to be selected with the first pick in a major sport's draft. He was selected because the Pirates felt they had a better chance of signing him over other players in the draft such as Jon Lester
Jon Lester
Jonathan Tyler Lester is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball...
, B. J. Upton
B. J. Upton
Melvin Emmanuel "B. J." Upton is a Major League Baseball center fielder for the Tampa Bay Rays. Upton is a graduate of Greenbrier Christian Academy....
, Prince Fielder
Prince Fielder
Prince Semien Fielder is a Major League Baseball free agent who plays first base. He is currently listed at 5' 11" and . He was selected by the Brewers in the first round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft out of Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne, Florida.He is the son of former Detroit...
, Scott Kazmir
Scott Kazmir
Scott Edward Kazmir is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Kazmir made his Major League debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2004 when he was only 20 years old and at one time held many of the franchise's career pitching records...
, Nick Swisher
Nick Swisher
Nicholas Thompson "Nick" Swisher is an outfielder for the New York Yankees. Swisher is a switch hitter who throws left-handed....
, and Cole Hamels
Cole Hamels
Colbert Michael "Cole" Hamels is a left-handed starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. Hamels throws a four-seam fastball, a circle changeup, a curveball, and a cut fastball, which he added in 2010...
.
In 2002, with two minor league teams he was 13-5 with a 2.52 earned run average
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 the minors through he was 50-35 with a 3.84 ERA, and only 208 walks in 675.2 innings.
Through 2008, he had pitched 18.3 innings in the majors, as a number of injuries and lack of performance have limited his playing time.
Bullington was designated for assignment by the Pirates on July 3, 2008, and eventually claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. After the 2008 season, he was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. After spending 2009 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...
with Toronto, he was assigned to Triple-A Las Vegas 51s
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
to begin the 2009 season. On April 23, the Blue Jays, who were dealing with a series of early-season injuries to pitchers, purchased his contract and promoted him to their major league roster. Bullington made his Jays' debut the next day, pitching a scoreless 9th inning in Chicago in a win over the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
.
Bullington signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
prior to the 2010 season. On May 17, the Royals purchased his contract from Triple-A Omaha
Omaha Royals
The Omaha Storm Chasers are a United States minor league baseball team currently based in the Omaha suburb of Papillion, Nebraska. The team is the Triple-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major league club and has been a member of the expanded Pacific Coast League since 1998. From 1969 to 1997,...
.
On August 15, 2010, Bullington pitched 8 shutout innings while only giving up 2 hits against 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...
in Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
for his first major league win.
After the 2010 season, Bullington signed with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Hiroshima Toyo Carp
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Central League. The team is primarily owned by the Matsuda family, led by , who is a descendant of Mazda founder Jujiro Matsuda. Mazda is the largest single shareholder , which is less than the portion owned by the Matsuda family . Because of that,...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's Central League
Central League
The or is one the two professional baseball leagues that constitute Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship plays against the winner of the Pacific League in the annual Japan Series. It currently consists of six teams from around the country,The Central League...
.