Pat Underwood
Encyclopedia
Patrick John Underwood was a Major League Baseball
Pitcher
from to .
Underwood was drafted by the Detroit Tigers
in the 1st round of the 1976 Major League Baseball Draft
, as the second pick overall.
He spent the next several seasons in the Tigers farm system. He had a record of 6-2 in 1976 with the Advanced A level Lakeland Flying Tigers in the Florida State League
and an earned run average
of 2.22. He split the 1977 season, spending the first half of the year at Montgomery in the AA Southern League
, where he had a record of 9-2 and an ERA of 3.38 with 64 strikeouts in 104 innings of work. At Evansville Triplets
in the AAA American Association
, Underwood was 3-5 with a 5.22 ERA. He spent the entire 1978 season in Evansville, finishing with a 5-5 record a 4.15 ERA.
Underwood started the 1979 season in Evansville and had a 2-3 record and an ERA of 2.81. He was called up by the Tigers and pitched his first game on May 31 against the Toronto Blue Jays
at Exhibition Stadium
. Underwood defeated his brother, Tom Underwood
, in his major league debut, pitching 8⅓ innings and giving up three hits and a walk, with the Tigers winning 1-0. With the Tigers, he had a 6-4 record and an ERA of 4.59 with 83 strikeouts in 27 appearances.
He spent the entire 1981 season with the Tigers, switching from starting to relieving. He had a 3-6 record that season and five saves, with an ERA of 3.59. In 1982, he was back in the minor leagues at Evansville, where he was used exclusively as a starting pitcher, and had a record of 9-8 with an ERA of 3,98, throwing 90 strikeouts in 165 innings.
With the Tigers in 1983, he pitched in four games and had an ERA of 8.71. His final major league appearance was on June 21, 1983, when he gave up five runs in two innings as part of a 10-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers
. The Tigers traded him on June 30, 1983 to the Cincinnati Reds
in exchange for third baseman Wayne Krenchicki
. He split the season in the minor leagues between Evansville with the Tigers and at the Indianapolis Indians
of the International League
for the Reds. Between the two teams he had a record of 7-4 with a 4.09 ERA.
He was drafted by the Texas Rangers
on December 5, 1983 from the Reds in the 1983 Rule 5 draft
, but the Rangers released him before the start of the 1984 season. He signed with the Baltimore Orioles
on April 2, 1984 as a free agent. He played in 1984 for the Rochester Red Wings
, the Orioles' AAA affiliate, and had an 0-2 record and an ERA of 9.00 in three appearances in relief.
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...
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...
from to .
Underwood was drafted by 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...
in the 1st round of the 1976 Major League Baseball Draft
1976 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1976 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign- Background :The 1976 Arizona State University team, considered by many to be the best collegiate team ever, played a major role in the draft. Floyd Bannister was picked number one...
, as the second pick overall.
He spent the next several seasons in the Tigers farm system. He had a record of 6-2 in 1976 with the Advanced A level Lakeland Flying Tigers in the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
and an earned run average
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...
of 2.22. He split the 1977 season, spending the first half of the year at Montgomery in the AA 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...
, where he had a record of 9-2 and an ERA of 3.38 with 64 strikeouts in 104 innings of work. At Evansville Triplets
Evansville Triplets
The Evansville Triplets were a minor league baseball team of the American Association from to . In its last season, Evansville was the Triple-A farm team for the Detroit Tigers...
in the AAA American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
, Underwood was 3-5 with a 5.22 ERA. He spent the entire 1978 season in Evansville, finishing with a 5-5 record a 4.15 ERA.
Underwood started the 1979 season in Evansville and had a 2-3 record and an ERA of 2.81. He was called up by the Tigers and pitched his first game on May 31 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 ....
at Exhibition Stadium
Exhibition Stadium
Canadian National Exhibition Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that formerly stood on the Exhibition Place grounds, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada....
. Underwood defeated his brother, Tom Underwood
Tom Underwood
Thomas Gerald Underwood was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies , St...
, in his major league debut, pitching 8⅓ innings and giving up three hits and a walk, with the Tigers winning 1-0. With the Tigers, he had a 6-4 record and an ERA of 4.59 with 83 strikeouts in 27 appearances.
He spent the entire 1981 season with the Tigers, switching from starting to relieving. He had a 3-6 record that season and five saves, with an ERA of 3.59. In 1982, he was back in the minor leagues at Evansville, where he was used exclusively as a starting pitcher, and had a record of 9-8 with an ERA of 3,98, throwing 90 strikeouts in 165 innings.
With the Tigers in 1983, he pitched in four games and had an ERA of 8.71. His final major league appearance was on June 21, 1983, when he gave up five runs in two innings as part of a 10-3 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. The Tigers traded him on June 30, 1983 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....
in exchange for third baseman Wayne Krenchicki
Wayne Krenchicki
Wayne Richard Krenchicki is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. He played all or part of eight seasons in the majors from until . He is currently the manager of the Evansville Otters of the independent Frontier League...
. He split the season in the minor leagues between Evansville with the Tigers and at the Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
of the International League
International League
The 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...
for the Reds. Between the two teams he had a record of 7-4 with a 4.09 ERA.
He was drafted by 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...
on December 5, 1983 from the Reds in the 1983 Rule 5 draft
Rule 5 draft
The Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
, but the Rangers released him before the start of the 1984 season. He signed with 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...
on April 2, 1984 as a free agent. He played in 1984 for the Rochester Red Wings
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...
, the Orioles' AAA affiliate, and had an 0-2 record and an ERA of 9.00 in three appearances in relief.