Jermaine Van Buren
Encyclopedia
Jermaine Russell Van Buren (born July 2, 1980 in Laurel, Mississippi
) is a former pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who now plays for Amarillo Dillas
, an Independent Professional Baseball club in the United League
.
Player of the Year honors in 1998 as a senior. He was drafted in the 2nd round of the draft by the Colorado Rockies
.
of the independent Central Baseball League
.
He would get a second shot at the major leagues when the Chicago Cubs
signed him as a free agent
in . He would quickly go from being a low-ranked prospect to becoming part of the Cubs Triple-A team in Iowa
.
In , he finished second in the Pacific Coast League
with 25 saves and posted up a 1.98 ERA
with 65 strikeout
s in 54 2/3 innings pitched
before receive a late call-up to the majors. He appeared in six games for the Cubs, ending with a 0-2 record, a 3.00 ERA, nine walks
, and six strikeouts in 6.0 innings. At the end of the season, he was dealt by Chicago to the Boston Red Sox
in exchange for minor league outfielder
Matt Ciaramella.
In , Van Buren was called up when David Wells
went on the disabled list
and made his Red Sox debut against the Toronto Blue Jays
on April 21. He was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket
a day later, and was recalled by Boston on May 24. Van Buren was optioned to Pawtucket June 19, but would return once again on July 28.
He was signed by the Washington Nationals
to a minor league deal on November 7, 2006.
On December 3, 2006, he debuted with the Criollos de Caguas (Caguas Creoles) in the Puerto Rico Winter Professional baseball, as a closing pitcher
.
On June 26, , the Oakland Athletics
acquired Van Buren from the Nationals for a player to be named later. In , he joined CPBL's La New Bears
in Taiwan.
Laurel, Mississippi
Laurel is a city located in Jones County in Mississippi, a state of the United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 18,393 although a significant population increase has been reported following Hurricane Katrina. Located in southeast Mississippi, southeast of...
) is a former 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...
in 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...
who now plays for Amarillo Dillas
Amarillo Dillas
The Amarillo Dillas were a professional baseball team based in Amarillo, Texas, in the United States. The Dillas were a member of United League Baseball, an independent professional league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
, an Independent Professional Baseball club in the United League
United League Baseball
United League Baseball was an independent baseball league that operated in Texas. It later merged with the Northern League and the Golden Baseball League to form the North American League.- History :...
.
Early career
Van Buren graduated from Hattiesburg High School, where he earned MississippiMississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
Player of the Year honors in 1998 as a senior. He was drafted in the 2nd round of the draft by the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
.
Professional career
Van Buren spent four years playing Single-A baseball for the Rockies before being released in and signing with the Fort Worth CatsFort Worth Cats
The Fort Worth Cats are a professional baseball team based in Fort Worth, Texas, in the United States. The Cats are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 2002 season the Cats...
of the independent Central Baseball League
Central Baseball League
The Central Baseball League, formerly the Texas-Louisiana League, was a minor league whose member teams were independent of any Major League Baseball affiliations.In 1991, potential owners, Dallas businessman Byron Pierce and U. S...
.
He would get a second shot at the major leagues when the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
signed him as 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....
in . He would quickly go from being a low-ranked prospect to becoming part of the Cubs Triple-A team in Iowa
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
.
In , he finished second in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
with 25 saves and posted up a 1.98 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...
with 65 strikeout
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s in 54 2/3 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
before receive a late call-up to the majors. He appeared in six games for the Cubs, ending with a 0-2 record, a 3.00 ERA, nine walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
, and six strikeouts in 6.0 innings. At the end of the season, he was dealt by Chicago to the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
in exchange for minor league 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...
Matt Ciaramella.
In , Van Buren was called up when David Wells
David Wells
David Lee Wells , nicknamed "Boomer", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Wells was considered to be one of the game's better left-handed pitchers, especially during his years with the New York Yankees and the Toronto Blue Jays. He pitched the fifteenth perfect game in baseball history...
went on the disabled list
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:...
and made his Red Sox debut against 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 ....
on April 21. He was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket
Pawtucket Red Sox
The Pawtucket Red Sox are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League...
a day later, and was recalled by Boston on May 24. Van Buren was optioned to Pawtucket June 19, but would return once again on July 28.
He was signed by the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
to a minor league deal on November 7, 2006.
On December 3, 2006, he debuted with the Criollos de Caguas (Caguas Creoles) in the Puerto Rico Winter Professional baseball, as a closing pitcher
Closer (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...
.
On June 26, , 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....
acquired Van Buren from the Nationals for a player to be named later. In , he joined CPBL's La New Bears
La New Bears
The Lamigo Monkeys , formerly First Financial Holdings Agan and then the La New Bears , are a professional baseball team in the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan...
in Taiwan.