Jeff Bajenaru
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Michael Bajenaru (born March 21, 1978 in Pomona, California
) is a former MLB baseball
pitcher
.
Bajenaru began his college career at the Riverside Community College
. The Oakland Athletics
drafted him in the 13th round after his sophomore season, but he elected not to sign. He parlayed his community college performance into a scholarship at the University of Oklahoma
. The Chicago White Sox chose him in the 36th round the next year
, but he again returned to school. In 2000, he hit .342 with 11 HR's and 58 RBI. On the mound he was 1-2 with 20 saves (setting a conference and Oklahoma record for season and career) and a 2.62 ERA. He was a 1st Team college All American as a utility player
, and was a 1st Team Big 12 Conference
selection as an outfielder
and 2nd Team Big 12 Conference selection as a relief pitcher. He was projected to be taken between the second and fifth rounds of the 2000 draft by Baseball America
, but signed with the White Sox as a non-drafted free agent
in May, before the draft was held.
Bajenaru has generally worked as a closer during his minor league career, striking out more than 10 batters per nine innings, and collecting 24 wins and 91 saves in relief. He missed the entire 2002 season as a result of Tommy John surgery
, but recovered well and was able to resume his baseball career in 2003.
Bajenaru made his major league debut with the White Sox on September 4, 2004. After brief stints in their bullpen in 2004 and 2005, he was traded to the Diamondbacks on March 8, 2006, with the White Sox receiving infielder Alex Cintron
.
Bajenaru was a member of the 2005 World Series Championship Chicago White Sox team and also the Triple-A and Pacific Coast League Champion Tucson Sidewinders team in 2006. In his 5 full Minor League seasons he participated in three All Star games at the Double-A and Triple-A levels.
Bajenaru missed the entire 2007 season and ended up retiring from professional baseball in 2008 due to two separate shoulder surgeries.
Pomona, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Pomona had a population of 149,058, a slight decline from the 2000 census population. The population density was 6,491.2 people per square mile...
) is a former MLB baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
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...
.
Bajenaru began his college career at the Riverside Community College
Riverside Community College
Riverside City College, or RCC, is a community college located in Riverside, California, United States. The college is part of the Riverside Community College District, as well as the larger California Community Colleges System.-History:...
. The Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
drafted him in the 13th round after his sophomore season, but he elected not to sign. He parlayed his community college performance into a scholarship at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. The Chicago White Sox chose him in the 36th round the next year
1999 Major League Baseball Draft
The 1999 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, 1999...
, but he again returned to school. In 2000, he hit .342 with 11 HR's and 58 RBI. On the mound he was 1-2 with 20 saves (setting a conference and Oklahoma record for season and career) and a 2.62 ERA. He was a 1st Team college All American as a utility player
Utility player
In sport, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently, a sort of jack of all trades. Sports in which the term is often used include association football , baseball, rugby, rugby league, water polo and softball....
, and was a 1st Team Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
selection as an 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...
and 2nd Team Big 12 Conference selection as a relief pitcher. He was projected to be taken between the second and fifth rounds of the 2000 draft by 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...
, but signed with the White Sox as a non-drafted 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....
in May, before the draft was held.
Bajenaru has generally worked as a closer during his minor league career, striking out more than 10 batters per nine innings, and collecting 24 wins and 91 saves in relief. He missed the entire 2002 season as a result of Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
, but recovered well and was able to resume his baseball career in 2003.
Bajenaru made his major league debut with the White Sox on September 4, 2004. After brief stints in their bullpen in 2004 and 2005, he was traded to the Diamondbacks on March 8, 2006, with the White Sox receiving infielder Alex Cintron
Alex Cintrón
Alexander Cintrón is a former Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals. His last Major League game was in April 2009...
.
Bajenaru was a member of the 2005 World Series Championship Chicago White Sox team and also the Triple-A and Pacific Coast League Champion Tucson Sidewinders team in 2006. In his 5 full Minor League seasons he participated in three All Star games at the Double-A and Triple-A levels.
Bajenaru missed the entire 2007 season and ended up retiring from professional baseball in 2008 due to two separate shoulder surgeries.
External links
- An interview with Bajenaru, by the Society for American Baseball ResearchSociety for American Baseball ResearchThe Society for American Baseball Research was established in Cooperstown, New York, in August 1971 by Bob Davids of Washington, D.C. The Society's mission is to foster the research and dissemination of the history and record of baseball, while generating interest in the game...
. - Bajenaru's minor league statistics at The Toronto Star.