Jerry Blevins
Encyclopedia
Jerry Richard Blevins (born September 6, 1983, in Johnson City, Tennessee
) is an American
professional baseball
pitcher
for the Oakland Athletics
of Major League Baseball
.
in, Arcadia, Ohio
, Blevins walked on to the University of Dayton
baseball team, where he pitched for two years. He had a 7-4 record in 21 games while playing for Dayton.
in the 17th (516th overall) round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
. He signed with the club on June 23 of that year, and began his pro career with the Single-A Boise Hawks
, where he pitched 23 games.
In , he pitched for the Single-A Peoria Chiefs
, but returned to Boise for the season. In 2006, he also pitched for the Single-A Daytona Cubs
and the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
.
Blevins began the season with the Daytona Cubs. He pitched in 15 games there and had a 1-0 record with a 0.38 ERA
before being promoted to the Double-A Tennessee Smokies
on May 15, 2007. He pitched in 23 games for the Smokies, in which he had a 2-2 record with a 1.53 ERA. Blevins had pitched a total of 38 games in the Cubs organization and had a 3-2 record with a 1.02 ERA when he was traded to the Oakland Athletics, along with catcher
Rob Bowen
, for catcher Jason Kendall
on July 16, 2007.
The Athletics, upon receiving Blevins, optioned him to Double-A Midland
. He went 1-3 there with a 3.32 ERA in 17 games. He was promoted to the Sacramento River Cats
, the Athletics Triple-A affiliate, on August 31, 2007. Before the River Cats season ended, he pitched in one game in which he did not give a run
and got the win
in 2 2/3 scoreless innings pitched. Blevins helped the River Cats win the Pacific Coast League
championship. After the win, Blevins was promoted to the Athletics major league club on September 15, 2007. Blevins pitched for four different minor league teams in 2007 and had a combined 5-5 record with a 1.63 ERA in 56 games. He also struck out 11.87 batters per nine innings and had a total of 102 strikeouts in 77 1/3 innings.
On September 16, , Blevins made his major league debut, coming into the game in the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers
. He pitched a perfect ninth inning and struck out David Murphy.
Blevins was designated for assignment
on May 23, 2011. He was later re-added back to the 40-man roster, only to be designated for assignment again on July 19. He was re-added to the 40-man roster a day later.
Johnson City, Tennessee
Johnson City is a city in Carter, Sullivan, and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Tennessee, with most of the city being in Washington County...
) is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional 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...
for 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....
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...
.
College baseball career
After graduating from Arcadia High SchoolArcadia High School (Arcadia, Ohio)
Arcadia High School is a public high school in Arcadia, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Arcadia Local School district. The school is a member of the Blanchard Valley Conference.-External links:*...
in, Arcadia, Ohio
Arcadia, Ohio
Arcadia is a village in Hancock County, Ohio, United States. The population was 537 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
, Blevins walked on to the University of Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
baseball team, where he pitched for two years. He had a 7-4 record in 21 games while playing for Dayton.
Professional baseball career
Blevins was drafted by the Chicago CubsChicago 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...
in the 17th (516th overall) round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft
2004 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2004 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...
. He signed with the club on June 23 of that year, and began his pro career with the Single-A Boise Hawks
Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks are a minor league baseball team, located in Boise, Idaho. The team is currently a farm team for the Chicago Cubs and play in the Short-Season Class A Northwest League.-History:...
, where he pitched 23 games.
In , he pitched for the Single-A Peoria Chiefs
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, from Peoria, Illinois. They play in the Midwest League....
, but returned to Boise for the season. In 2006, he also pitched for the Single-A Daytona Cubs
Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs are a minor league baseball team based in Daytona Beach, Florida. The team plays in the Florida State League , and is the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs major league club. The Cubs play at Jackie Robinson Ballpark; opened in 1914, the park seats 5,100 fans.The...
and the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
West Tenn Diamond Jaxx
The Jackson Generals are a minor league baseball team of the Southern League and the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. The team is located in Jackson, Tennessee, and plays their home games at Pringles Park; opened in 1998, the park currently holds 6,000 fans.From their inaugural season...
.
Blevins began the season with the Daytona Cubs. He pitched in 15 games there and had a 1-0 record with a 0.38 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...
before being promoted to the Double-A Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies are a Minor League Baseball team based in the Knoxville, Tennessee metropolitan area. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball as of the 2011 season...
on May 15, 2007. He pitched in 23 games for the Smokies, in which he had a 2-2 record with a 1.53 ERA. Blevins had pitched a total of 38 games in the Cubs organization and had a 3-2 record with a 1.02 ERA when he was traded to the Oakland Athletics, along with catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
Rob Bowen
Rob Bowen
Robert McClure Bowen is a former Major League Baseball catcher.Bowen spends the regular season living in San Diego, California, but spends his offseasons in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. He also has a baseball camp each winter back in Fort Wayne, Indiana.-High school years:Bowen attended Homestead...
, for catcher Jason Kendall
Jason Kendall
Jason Daniel Kendall is an American professional baseball catcher who is a free agent. He is the son of former catcher Fred Kendall, who played in the majors from 1969–1980.-High school:...
on July 16, 2007.
The Athletics, upon receiving Blevins, optioned him to Double-A Midland
Midland RockHounds
The Midland RockHounds are a minor league baseball team based in Midland, Texas, USA. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics major league club. The RockHounds play in Citibank Ballpark, located in Midland. Opened in 2002, the stadium seats...
. He went 1-3 there with a 3.32 ERA in 17 games. He was promoted to the Sacramento River Cats
Sacramento River Cats
The Sacramento River Cats is a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics....
, the Athletics Triple-A affiliate, on August 31, 2007. Before the River Cats season ended, he pitched in one game in which he did not give a run
Run (baseball)
In baseball, a run is scored when a player advances around first, second and third base and returns safely to home plate, touching the bases in that order, before three outs are recorded and all obligations to reach base safely on batted balls are met or assured...
and got the win
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
in 2 2/3 scoreless innings pitched. Blevins helped the River Cats win 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...
championship. After the win, Blevins was promoted to the Athletics major league club on September 15, 2007. Blevins pitched for four different minor league teams in 2007 and had a combined 5-5 record with a 1.63 ERA in 56 games. He also struck out 11.87 batters per nine innings and had a total of 102 strikeouts in 77 1/3 innings.
On September 16, , Blevins made his major league debut, coming into the game in the ninth inning against the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
. He pitched a perfect ninth inning and struck out David Murphy.
Blevins was designated for assignment
Designated for assignment
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club's 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another...
on May 23, 2011. He was later re-added back to the 40-man roster, only to be designated for assignment again on July 19. He was re-added to the 40-man roster a day later.