Clay Condrey
Encyclopedia
Clayton Lee Condrey is a relief pitcher
who is currently a free agent
. Condrey features 5 pitches: a sinker
, cutter
, curveball
, changeup
, and a four-seam fastball
.
. The New York Yankees
selected Condrey in the 94th round, with selection No. 1,728 of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft
out of Angelina (Texas) Junior College
. Condrey was the very last player selected in the 1996 Draft.
in 1998. He was signed by then-Padres scout Theo Epstein
.
Condrey pitched with the San Diego Padres
in the and seasons before coming to the Phillies in the offseason. In the Padres organization as a starter
, Clay started 43 games between the Triple-A Portland Beavers
and the major leagues, giving up 118 earned run
s in 257.1 innings (ERA
of 4.13).
Condrey pitched his entire season for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
of the International League
, where he led the team in starts and innings pitched (28 ST, 162 IP), compiling an ERA of 5.50. His campaign dropped slightly in appearances, where he appeared in only 24 starts (132.1 IP), but he subsequently lowered his ERA to 4.15. After being converted to relief, he was off to a strong start in as well, allowing only 3 earned runs in eight appearances, but was called up to the Phillies in May.
Condrey began the season on the Phillies' active roster, but on April 14, 2007, Condrey was designated for assignment by the Phillies to make room on the roster for starting pitcher Freddy Garcia
, who had been on the DL
since the end of spring training
. Condrey would be designated for assignment three other times, up until August 3, 2007, when he was recalled from Triple-A Ottawa
for his fifth stint of the season with the Phillies.
In , Condrey made the Phillies' Opening Day squad and pitched well in middle-relief. In accordance with one of the oddities of the baseball rulebook, he earned a save in a 12–2 Phillies victory over the Nationals on May 21 by pitching three innings in relief of Jamie Moyer
and not surrendering the lead, though he entered the game with the Phillies leading by twelve runs.
On December 12, , Condrey was non-tendered by the Phillies and became a free agent.
On January 6, 2010, Condrey signed a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins
. but experienced some elbow discomfort at the beginning of the season and did not pitch in 2010.
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...
who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. Condrey features 5 pitches: a sinker
Sinker (baseball)
In baseball, a sinker , is a type of fastball pitch which has significant downward and horizontal movement. The sinker is known for inducing a lot of ground balls...
, cutter
Cutter (baseball)
In baseball, a cutter, or cut fastball, is a type of fastball which breaks slightly toward the pitcher's glove side as it reaches home plate. This pitch is somewhere between a slider and a fastball, as it is usually thrown faster than a slider but with more motion than a typical fastball. Some...
, curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
, 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...
, and a four-seam fastball
Fastball
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...
.
Early life
The right-handed pitcher played at Navasota High School and McNeese State UniversityMcNeese State University
McNeese State University is a public university located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, in the United States. Founded in 1939 as a junior college, McNeese experienced growth due to economic activity in the region. It adopted its present name in 1970....
. 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...
selected Condrey in the 94th round, with selection No. 1,728 of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft
1996 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1996 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, was held on June 4 and 5, 1996...
out of Angelina (Texas) Junior College
Angelina College
Angelina College is a community college located in Lufkin, Texas, with special-purpose branches in nearby Nacogdoches and Crockett.As defined by the Texas Legislature, the official service area of Angelina College is the following:...
. Condrey was the very last player selected in the 1996 Draft.
Professional career
Condrey would eventually sign with the San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in 1998. He was signed by then-Padres scout Theo Epstein
Theo Epstein
Theo Nathan Epstein is the President of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs.On November 25, 2002, he became the youngest GM in the history of Major League Baseball when the Boston Red Sox hired him at the age of 28...
.
Condrey pitched with the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in the and seasons before coming to the Phillies in the offseason. In the Padres organization as a starter
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
, Clay started 43 games between the Triple-A Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
and the major leagues, giving up 118 earned run
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...
s in 257.1 innings (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...
of 4.13).
Condrey pitched his entire season for the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees are a professional minor league baseball club located based in the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre area. They currently play in the International League's Northern Division and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball club...
of the International League
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...
, where he led the team in starts and innings pitched (28 ST, 162 IP), compiling an ERA of 5.50. His campaign dropped slightly in appearances, where he appeared in only 24 starts (132.1 IP), but he subsequently lowered his ERA to 4.15. After being converted to relief, he was off to a strong start in as well, allowing only 3 earned runs in eight appearances, but was called up to the Phillies in May.
Condrey began the season on the Phillies' active roster, but on April 14, 2007, Condrey was designated for assignment by the Phillies to make room on the roster for starting pitcher Freddy Garcia
Freddy García
Freddy Antonio García , nicknamed "The Chief", is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who is currently a free agent...
, who had been on the DL
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:...
since the end of 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...
. Condrey would be designated for assignment three other times, up until August 3, 2007, when he was recalled from Triple-A Ottawa
Ottawa Lynx
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos , Baltimore...
for his fifth stint of the season with the Phillies.
In , Condrey made the Phillies' Opening Day squad and pitched well in middle-relief. In accordance with one of the oddities of the baseball rulebook, he earned a save in a 12–2 Phillies victory over the Nationals on May 21 by pitching three innings in relief of Jamie Moyer
Jamie Moyer
Jamie Moyer is an American professional left handed baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. At the time of his last game to date , he was the oldest player in the major leagues and had the most wins, losses, and strikeouts of any active Major League pitcher...
and not surrendering the lead, though he entered the game with the Phillies leading by twelve runs.
On December 12, , Condrey was non-tendered by the Phillies and became a free agent.
On January 6, 2010, Condrey signed a one-year deal with 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...
. but experienced some elbow discomfort at the beginning of the season and did not pitch in 2010.