Kyle Lohse
Encyclopedia
Kyle Matthew Lohse is a right-handed starting pitcher
for the St. Louis Cardinals
. Originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs
in (29th round), Lohse was traded to the Minnesota Twins
in in a deal involving Rick Aguilera
. Lohse made his MLB
debut with the Twins on June 22, .
Lohse is a member of the Nomlaki tribe, based in northern California. As of the 2008 season, Lohse was one of three active non-Hispanic Native American
players in Major League Baseball.
in Hamilton City
, California, Lohse played basketball
, baseball
, and football
. While playing baseball, he was an All-Conference pick in all four years of high school.
of 4.23. He followed that with success in , starting 33 games and going 14–11 with a 4.61 ERA. In , he did not fare as well, going 9–13 with a 5.34 ERA. Lohse has been to one ALCS
, with the Twins in 2002
.
Lohse has a fastball in the low 90s and his dominant pitch is his curveball
. On May 17, , he was sent down to AAA Rochester
, and the Twins called up replacement pitcher Boof Bonser
. On June 9, Matt Guerrier
broke his thumb and Lohse was recalled.
On July 31, 2006, Lohse was traded to the Cincinnati Reds
for minor league pitcher Zach Ward. Lohse made his first start for the Reds on August 17, 2006.
On July 30, , Lohse was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
for minor league pitcher Matt Maloney. After his departure from the Reds, Lohse's performance improved dramatically, and in 10 starts with the Phillies, Lohse went 2–0, receiving a large number of non-decisions due to late offensive rallies by the Phillies lineup. His ERA as a Phillie fell to 4.44.
On March 14, , Lohse signed a one-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals
worth $4.25 million.
Lohse was one of the biggest surprises for the Cardinals in the first half of the 2008 season, going 11–2 with a 3.39 ERA. His performance was good enough for him to be considered for the All-Star Game
, but he ended up not making the team.
Lohse was later suspended for five games for throwing at Reds' pitcher Edinson Volquez
. Lohse appealed the ruling and pitched as he awaited a decision on his appeal: however, Lohse eventually dropped his appeal and served his suspension in full.
Lohse and the Cardinals agreed to a four-year, $41-million contract extension on September 29, 2008.
On April 17, 2010, in a 20-inning game against the New York Mets
, Lohse entered the game playing left field in the 18th inning while shortstop
Felipe López pitched.
On August 28, 2011, Lohse won his 100th game as a pitcher when the Cardinals defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 7–4. "I've been around for a while and it's nice to get a nice round number like that", Lohse said. "To share it with my teammates is pretty cool."
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. Originally drafted by 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...
in (29th round), Lohse was traded to the 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...
in in a deal involving Rick Aguilera
Rick Aguilera
Richard Warren Aguilera is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 16-year baseball career, he pitched from 1985-2000 for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs....
. Lohse made his MLB
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...
debut with the Twins on June 22, .
Lohse is a member of the Nomlaki tribe, based in northern California. As of the 2008 season, Lohse was one of three active non-Hispanic Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
players in Major League Baseball.
High school career
At Hamilton Union High SchoolHamilton Union High School
Hamilton Union High School is a public high school located in Hamilton City, California. The school is the only school in its district .Hamilton High was recognized as a California Distinguished School in 2007....
in Hamilton City
Hamilton City, California
Hamilton City is a census-designated place in Glenn County, California, United States. The population was 1,759 at the 2010 census, down from 1,903 at the 2000 census. Hamilton City is located east of Orland, and 10 miles west of Chico at an elevation of 151 feet . The default numbers used for...
, California, Lohse played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, 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...
, and football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
. While playing baseball, he was an All-Conference pick in all four years of high school.
Major leagues
was Lohse's first full year as a starter, when he posted a 13–8 record with an ERAEarned 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...
of 4.23. He followed that with success in , starting 33 games and going 14–11 with a 4.61 ERA. In , he did not fare as well, going 9–13 with a 5.34 ERA. Lohse has been to one ALCS
American League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the American League Championship Series , played in October, is a round in the postseason that determines the winner of the American League pennant...
, with the Twins in 2002
2002 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 8, 2002 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, MinnesotaJoe Mays outdueled Kevin Appier as the Twins won Game 1. A.J. Pierzynski hit a sac fly to put the Twins out in front first, but the Angels tied it the next inning on an error by Cristian Guzmán. The Twins...
.
Lohse has a fastball in the low 90s and his dominant pitch is his curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
. On May 17, , he was sent down to AAA Rochester
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
, and the Twins called up replacement pitcher Boof Bonser
Boof Bonser
Boof Bonser is a professional American baseball player. He is currently a pitcher in the New York Mets organization of Major League Baseball.-High school career:...
. On June 9, Matt Guerrier
Matt Guerrier
Matthew Olson Guerrier is an American Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He attended college at Kent State University, and made his major league debut on June 17, .-Chicago White Sox:...
broke his thumb and Lohse was recalled.
On July 31, 2006, Lohse was traded to 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....
for minor league pitcher Zach Ward. Lohse made his first start for the Reds on August 17, 2006.
On July 30, , Lohse was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for minor league pitcher Matt Maloney. After his departure from the Reds, Lohse's performance improved dramatically, and in 10 starts with the Phillies, Lohse went 2–0, receiving a large number of non-decisions due to late offensive rallies by the Phillies lineup. His ERA as a Phillie fell to 4.44.
On March 14, , Lohse signed a one-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
worth $4.25 million.
Lohse was one of the biggest surprises for the Cardinals in the first half of the 2008 season, going 11–2 with a 3.39 ERA. His performance was good enough for him to be considered for the All-Star Game
2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 79th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York, home of the New York Yankees, on...
, but he ended up not making the team.
Lohse was later suspended for five games for throwing at Reds' pitcher Edinson Volquez
Edinson Volquez
Edinson Volquez [VOL-kez] , is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds. He bats and throws right-handed....
. Lohse appealed the ruling and pitched as he awaited a decision on his appeal: however, Lohse eventually dropped his appeal and served his suspension in full.
Lohse and the Cardinals agreed to a four-year, $41-million contract extension on September 29, 2008.
On April 17, 2010, in a 20-inning game against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, Lohse entered the game playing left field in the 18th inning while shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Felipe López pitched.
On August 28, 2011, Lohse won his 100th game as a pitcher when the Cardinals defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 7–4. "I've been around for a while and it's nice to get a nice round number like that", Lohse said. "To share it with my teammates is pretty cool."