Jeremy Hellickson
Encyclopedia
Jeremy Robert Hellickson (born April 8, 1987) is an American professional baseball
pitcher
with the Tampa Bay Rays
of Major League Baseball
. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa
and attended Hoover High School. Following the season, Hellickson was named American League
Rookie of the Year.
. Baseball America
rated him as the 18th best prospect in all of baseball going into the 2010 season. He was selected to play in the 2010 All-Star Futures Game
and was the starting pitcher for U.S. team.
On August 2, 2010, Hellickson made his major league debut against Minnesota Twins
. During his debut, he held the Twins to two runs over seven innings. He struck out six while walking two. He was optioned back to Triple-A Durham after the start. He was once again recalled to the majors on August 10 to take the spot of Wade Davis
in the rotation. He made his second career start that day against the Detroit Tigers
at Comerica Park
, earning his second career victory after pitching seven shutout innings with three hits, seven strikeouts and no walks as the Rays won 8–0.
On August 21, 2010, Hellickson was optioned to High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs
to work on moving to the bullpen. He was recalled to Tampa Bay on September 1 and made his first appearance out of the bullpen on September 4, pitching 1 and 2/3 innings giving up 2 runs.
Hellickson began the 2011 season as the Rays fifth starter. On May 13, he threw his first complete game
, earning a 3–0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles
. Following the season, Hellickson earned the 2011 American League MLB Rookie of the Year Award.
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...
with the Tampa Bay Rays
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
of 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...
. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
and attended Hoover High School. Following the season, Hellickson was named American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
Rookie of the Year.
Professional career
Hellickson was drafted by Tampa Bay in the 4th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft2005 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2005 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 7 and 8. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams...
. 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...
rated him as the 18th best prospect in all of baseball going into the 2010 season. He was selected to play in the 2010 All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
and was the starting pitcher for U.S. team.
On August 2, 2010, Hellickson made his major league debut against 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...
. During his debut, he held the Twins to two runs over seven innings. He struck out six while walking two. He was optioned back to Triple-A Durham after the start. He was once again recalled to the majors on August 10 to take the spot of Wade Davis
Wade Davis (baseball)
Wade Davis is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays.-Professional career:Davis was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2004 amateur entry draft...
in the rotation. He made his second career start that day against the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
at Comerica Park
Comerica Park
Comerica Park is an open-air ballpark located in downtown Detroit, Michigan. It serves as the home of the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball's American League, replacing historic Tiger Stadium in 2000....
, earning his second career victory after pitching seven shutout innings with three hits, seven strikeouts and no walks as the Rays won 8–0.
On August 21, 2010, Hellickson was optioned to High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs
Charlotte Stone Crabs
The Charlotte Stone Crabs are a minor league baseball team based in Port Charlotte, Florida. The team are currently members of the Florida State League and are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball team....
to work on moving to the bullpen. He was recalled to Tampa Bay on September 1 and made his first appearance out of the bullpen on September 4, pitching 1 and 2/3 innings giving up 2 runs.
Hellickson began the 2011 season as the Rays fifth starter. On May 13, he threw his first complete game
Complete game
In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were...
, earning a 3–0 victory over the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. Following the season, Hellickson earned the 2011 American League MLB Rookie of the Year Award.
Achievements
- 2009 Triple-A Baseball National Championship Most Valuable Player
- Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year AwardBaseball America Minor League Player of the Year AwardListed below in chronological order are the Minor League Baseball players chosen by Baseball America as recipients of the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year Award...
, 2010 - International LeagueInternational LeagueThe 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...
Most Valuable Pitcher, 2010 - USA Today Minor League Player of the Year AwardUSA Today Minor League Player of the Year AwardListed below in chronological order are the Minor League Baseball players chosen by USA Today as recipients of the USA Today Minor League Player of the Year Award...
, 2010 - American League Rookie of the Month – May 2011
- American League Pitcher of the Month – May 2011
- American League Rookie of the Year Award, 2011