Jon Link
Encyclopedia
Jon Paul Link is a right-handed pitcher
who is a free agent.
in the 26th round of the 2005 MLB Draft
out of Bluefield College
. He was the first major league player who had played at Bluefield.
on July 31, 2007 for Rob Mackowiak
. In 2008 he was selected to the Southern League
All-Star Game while playing for the Birmingham Barons
. He reached AAA with the Charlotte Knights
in 2009, where he saved 13 games.
(along with John Ely
) for Juan Pierre
. He began the 2010 season as the closer for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
. On April 18, he was called up to the Dodgers, making his first appearance on a Major League roster. He made his Major League debut on April 20, 2010 against the Cincinnati Reds
. He worked two scoreless innings of relief in his debut and was then optioned back to Albuquerque after the game. Link was also on the Dodger's roster for a few days in June when Chad Billingsley
was injured. Link was recalled for the third time on July 11, while the Dodgers
optioned the man he was traded with, John Ely
, to Triple-A Albuquerque in the process. He returned to AAA soon after before rejoining the Dodgers when rosters expanded in September. Overall, he appeared in 9 games with the Dodgers, working 8.2 innings for a 4.15 ERA. With Albuquerque he was 3-2 with a 3.71 ERA in 45 games, and also made one start. After the season, he pitched for the Phoenix Desert Dogs
in the Arizona Fall League
. He was designated for assignment on March 30, 2011 and removed from the 40-man roster.
Link spent all of 2011 with the Isotopes, where he appeared in 54 games (including making 1 start) and was 2-2 with a 4.24 ERA and 11 saves.
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...
who is a free agent.
Professional career
Link was drafted by the San Diego PadresSan Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in the 26th round of the 2005 MLB Draft
2005 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...
out of Bluefield College
Bluefield College
Bluefield College is a small, Christian liberal arts college in Bluefield, Virginia, United States, in Tazewell County. It offers 22 majors, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
. He was the first major league player who had played at Bluefield.
Chicago White Sox
The Padres traded him to the Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
on July 31, 2007 for Rob Mackowiak
Rob Mackowiak
Robert William Mackowiak is an American professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. He bats left-handed, throws right-handed, and is a utility player. During his Major League Baseball career, he has played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres, and...
. In 2008 he was selected to the Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
All-Star Game while playing for the Birmingham Barons
Birmingham Barons
The Birmingham Barons are a minor league baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox major-league club....
. He reached AAA with the Charlotte Knights
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
in 2009, where he saved 13 games.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On December 18, 2009, he was traded to the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(along with John Ely
John Ely (baseball)
John Daniel Ely is a right-handed starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He made his Major League Baseball debut with Dodgers in April 2010.-Early years:...
) for Juan Pierre
Juan Pierre
Juan D'Vaughn Pierre is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. He bats and throws left-handed....
. He began the 2010 season as the closer for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes
The Albuquerque Isotopes are a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers...
. On April 18, he was called up to the Dodgers, making his first appearance on a Major League roster. He made his Major League debut on April 20, 2010 against the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. He worked two scoreless innings of relief in his debut and was then optioned back to Albuquerque after the game. Link was also on the Dodger's roster for a few days in June when Chad Billingsley
Chad Billingsley
Chad Ryan Billingsley is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers.-Biography:...
was injured. Link was recalled for the third time on July 11, while the Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
optioned the man he was traded with, John Ely
John Ely (baseball)
John Daniel Ely is a right-handed starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He made his Major League Baseball debut with Dodgers in April 2010.-Early years:...
, to Triple-A Albuquerque in the process. He returned to AAA soon after before rejoining the Dodgers when rosters expanded in September. Overall, he appeared in 9 games with the Dodgers, working 8.2 innings for a 4.15 ERA. With Albuquerque he was 3-2 with a 3.71 ERA in 45 games, and also made one start. After the season, he pitched for the Phoenix Desert Dogs
Phoenix Desert Dogs
The Phoenix Desert Dogs are a baseball team that plays in the East Division of the Arizona Fall League located in Phoenix, Arizona. They play their home games at Phoenix Municipal Stadium, the spring training home of the Oakland Athletics...
in the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
. He was designated for assignment on March 30, 2011 and removed from the 40-man roster.
Link spent all of 2011 with the Isotopes, where he appeared in 54 games (including making 1 start) and was 2-2 with a 4.24 ERA and 11 saves.