D. J. Houlton
Encyclopedia
Dennis Sean "D. J." Houlton Jr. (born August 12, 1979 in Fullerton, California
) was a Major League Baseball
pitcher
and is currently a member of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
in Japan.
Houlton attended Servite High School
and the University of the Pacific. On May 11, 2001, while at Pacific, Houlton pitched a complete game no hitter with an 8-0 victory over UC Riverside.
In the amateur draft, the Houston Astros
drafted Houlton in the 11th round. He signed on June 9, 2001.
In 2001-2002, he pitched for the Michigan Battle Cats
, the Astros Single-A team, going 14-5 with a 3.15 ERA
in 35 games (16 starts). In 2003 and 2004, he pitched primarily for the then Double-A Round Rock Express
in the Texas League
, where he went 12-5 with a 2.94 ERA in 28 starts with 3 complete games.
On December 13, 2004, the Dodgers acquired Houlton from the Astros in the Rule 5 Draft
. Houlton spent the entire season in the Major Leagues, going 6-9 with a 5.16 ERA in 35 appearances (19 starts).
As one of the players brought to the team by General Manager Paul DePodesta
and then Manager Jim Tracy, Houlton's fortune's faded when a new management team took over the Dodgers prior to the season. He failed to make the major league team out of spring training
and spent the year with the Las Vegas 51s
in AAA
.
In 2006, Houlton struggled in the minor leagues, going 9-11 with a 5.60 ERA at Las Vegas and did not get called up. In 2007, going 5-4 with a 3.90 ERA over the first half of the season, Houlton was called up to the Dodgers on July 1, 2007. Houlton ended up at 0-2 with a 4.18 ERA in twenty-eight innings.
In January 2008, the Dodgers sold Houlton's contract to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
of the Japanese Pacific League
.
in the absence of the team's ace closer Takahiro Mahara
. Until the end of May, Houlton was regularly able to close games, many times getting six-out saves. However, after blowing three straight saves at the end of May and beginning of June (all in Interleague play), Houlton was demoted to ni-gun. He was recalled in July as a starter, and stayed in that role the rest of the season. He recorded six quality starts, while going seven or more innings four times. In the 2008 season, Houlton went 4-7 with 6 saves and a 4.27 ERA in 28 games (11 starts).
Reassigned with the number #54 in 2009 and being pegged a starter from the outset as Mahara was finally healthy, Houlton was able to finally settle into a role early on, a luxury he did not have the previous season. He responded immediately, giving the Hawks quality starts in each of his first eleven starts and posting a 5-3 record with a 2.13 ERA in that span. Houlton was able to maintain this torrid pace, as he went less than five innings only once during the season. He finished with a solid 11-8 record, but he did record a 2.89 ERA with 138 strikeouts in 171 innings.
Fullerton, California
Fullerton is a city located in northern Orange County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 135,161.It was founded in 1887 by George and Edward Amerige and named for George H. Fullerton, who secured the land on behalf of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway...
) was a 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...
and is currently a member of the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
in Japan.
Houlton attended Servite High School
Servite High School
Servite High School is an all-boys, Roman Catholic college preparatory high school operated by the Order of Friar Servants of Mary . Located on a campus in Anaheim, California, USA, as of 2011 it had an enrollment of about 985 and about 9200 alumni. Its mascot is the Friar and its colors are black...
and the University of the Pacific. On May 11, 2001, while at Pacific, Houlton pitched a complete game no hitter with an 8-0 victory over UC Riverside.
In the amateur draft, the Houston Astros
Houston 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...
drafted Houlton in the 11th round. He signed on June 9, 2001.
In 2001-2002, he pitched for the Michigan Battle Cats
Michigan Battle Cats
The Michigan Battle Cats was a minor league baseball team which began playing in the Midwest League in 1995 and called C.O. Brown Stadium in Battle Creek, Michigan home. The franchise had previously been located in Madison, Wisconsin in 1994 where they were called the Madison Hatters. Prior to that...
, the Astros Single-A team, going 14-5 with a 3.15 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 35 games (16 starts). In 2003 and 2004, he pitched primarily for the then Double-A Round Rock Express
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
in the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
, where he went 12-5 with a 2.94 ERA in 28 starts with 3 complete games.
On December 13, 2004, the Dodgers acquired Houlton from the Astros 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...
. Houlton spent the entire season in the Major Leagues, going 6-9 with a 5.16 ERA in 35 appearances (19 starts).
As one of the players brought to the team by General Manager Paul DePodesta
Paul DePodesta
Paul DePodesta is the Vice President of player development and scouting for the New York Mets. He was formerly a Front Office assistant for the San Diego Padres...
and then Manager Jim Tracy, Houlton's fortune's faded when a new management team took over the Dodgers prior to the season. He failed to make the major league team out 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...
and spent the year with the 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...
in AAA
AAA (baseball)
Triple-A refers to the highest level of play in minor league baseball in the United States and Mexico.-Purpose:Triple-A teams' main purpose is to prepare players for the Major Leagues:...
.
In 2006, Houlton struggled in the minor leagues, going 9-11 with a 5.60 ERA at Las Vegas and did not get called up. In 2007, going 5-4 with a 3.90 ERA over the first half of the season, Houlton was called up to the Dodgers on July 1, 2007. Houlton ended up at 0-2 with a 4.18 ERA in twenty-eight innings.
In January 2008, the Dodgers sold Houlton's contract to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
The are a Japanese baseball team based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The team was bought on January 28, 2005 by the SoftBank Corporation.The team was formerly known as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks. In 1988, Daiei bought the team from Osaka's Nankai Electric Railway Co., and its headquarters were...
of the Japanese Pacific League
Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagues constituting Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. The winner of the league championship competes against the winner in the Central League for the annual Japan Series...
.
Houlton with SoftBank
Houlton did not have a set role in his first season with the Hawks, as he started the season in the bullpen as the team's set-up man. Assigned the number #00, Houlton eventually became the team's closerCloser (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
in the absence of the team's ace closer Takahiro Mahara
Takahiro Mahara
is a right-handed pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. He played in the 2006 World Baseball Classic. Originally a starter, Mahara was converted to a closer partway through 2005 season and has been an efficient closer since then.His best season was in...
. Until the end of May, Houlton was regularly able to close games, many times getting six-out saves. However, after blowing three straight saves at the end of May and beginning of June (all in Interleague play), Houlton was demoted to ni-gun. He was recalled in July as a starter, and stayed in that role the rest of the season. He recorded six quality starts, while going seven or more innings four times. In the 2008 season, Houlton went 4-7 with 6 saves and a 4.27 ERA in 28 games (11 starts).
Reassigned with the number #54 in 2009 and being pegged a starter from the outset as Mahara was finally healthy, Houlton was able to finally settle into a role early on, a luxury he did not have the previous season. He responded immediately, giving the Hawks quality starts in each of his first eleven starts and posting a 5-3 record with a 2.13 ERA in that span. Houlton was able to maintain this torrid pace, as he went less than five innings only once during the season. He finished with a solid 11-8 record, but he did record a 2.89 ERA with 138 strikeouts in 171 innings.