Ross Detwiler
Encyclopedia
Ross Emery Detwiler is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Washington Nationals
. He is a left-handed pitcher with a mid 90s fastball that has topped out at 96 miles per hour. He throws a fastball
, curveball
, and changeup
.
and graduated from Wentzville Holt High School
in 2004. As a senior, Detwiler helped lead Holt to its first district title in 14 years.
of the Missouri Valley Conference
. In 2006, he was a member of the All-MVC Tournament team, and also pitched 10⅓ innings in two starts for Falmouth in the Cape Cod League, accruing a 1.74 ERA, striking out 14 batters and issuing three walks before moving on to play for Team USA. In 2007, he finished his third year with a 2.22 ERA in 14 starts and 100 strikeouts in 89 innings.
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The Washington Nationals drafted him in the first round (sixth overall) in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft
, making him the highest Missouri State draft pick in history. Detwiler was the fifth pitcher taken by the Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos
franchise in the first round of the draft in the last six years following Clint Everts, Chad Cordero
and Bill Bray
in 2002
, 2003
and 2004
, respectively, and Colton Willems taken in 2006
.
During the summer of his freshman year in college Detwiler played for Wentzville Legion Post 323.
After being drafted and signed by the Nationals, he pitched four games in the rookie Gulf Coast League
, and then five games with the high A Potomac Nationals
. On 7 September 2007, he made his major-league debut, pitching one hitless inning in relief against the Atlanta Braves
, striking out one. He became the first player drafted in the 2007 Draft to appear in a major-league game. He joined Cordero and Ryan Zimmerman
as the third member of the Nationals franchise to be called up to the major leagues in the same year that he was drafted.
Detwiler opened the 2009 season with the Harrisburg Senators
of the Class AA Eastern League. However, due to the injury of Scott Olsen
, he was called up to start on May 18 against the Pirates
. He went 5 innings and allowed 3 runs, striking out 6. Although he was 1-6 with a 5.00 ERA in 15 games with the Nationals in 2009, he went 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in four September starts.
On February 18, 2010, Detwiler underwent hip surgery due to a labral tear.
Detwiler made his return to major league play in July 2011 after recovering from hip surgery, and he remained in rotation for the remainder of the 2011 season. Detwiler finished the 2011 season with a 4-5 win loss record and a 3.00 ERA.
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...
for 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...
. He is a left-handed pitcher with a mid 90s fastball that has topped out at 96 miles per hour. He throws a fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
, 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...
, and changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
.
High school
Ross Detwiler grew up in Wentzville, MissouriWentzville, Missouri
Wentzville is a city located in western St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 29,070. The city's major employer is General Motors which has a full size van assembly plant located there. As the site of the county fairgrounds,...
and graduated from Wentzville Holt High School
Wentzville Holt High School
Wentzville Holt High School is the older and smaller of the two high schools in the Wentzville R-IV School District. With a 2010 enrollment of 1,617, Holt is the sixth largest high school in St. Charles County, Missouri. Although officially known as Emil E...
in 2004. As a senior, Detwiler helped lead Holt to its first district title in 14 years.
College baseball
In college, Detwiler pitched for Missouri State UniversityMissouri State University
Missouri State University is a public university located in Springfield, Missouri, United States and founded in 1905. It is the state's second largest university, with an official enrollment of 20,802 in fall 2011...
of the Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
. In 2006, he was a member of the All-MVC Tournament team, and also pitched 10⅓ innings in two starts for Falmouth in the Cape Cod League, accruing a 1.74 ERA, striking out 14 batters and issuing three walks before moving on to play for Team USA. In 2007, he finished his third year with a 2.22 ERA in 14 starts and 100 strikeouts in 89 innings.
Washington Nationals
2007 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 7 and June 8, 2007...
, making him the highest Missouri State draft pick in history. Detwiler was the fifth pitcher taken by the Washington Nationals/Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
franchise in the first round of the draft in the last six years following Clint Everts, Chad Cordero
Chad Cordero
Chad Patrick Cordero is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He broke into the big league ranks with the Montreal Expos...
and Bill Bray
Bill Bray
William Paul "Bill" Bray , is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary...
in 2002
2002 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2002 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 4 and 5.This year's draft is featured in Michael Lewis' 2003 book Moneyball.-First Round Selections:-Supplemental First Round Compensation Selections:...
, 2003
2003 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2003 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 3 and 4. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.Source: -First round selections:...
and 2004
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...
, respectively, and Colton Willems taken in 2006
2006 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft, was held on June 6 and 7. It was conducted via conference call with representatives from each of the league's 30 teams.-First Round Selections:...
.
During the summer of his freshman year in college Detwiler played for Wentzville Legion Post 323.
After being drafted and signed by the Nationals, he pitched four games in the rookie Gulf Coast League
Gulf Coast League
The Gulf Coast League is a minor league baseball league which operates in Florida. It is a Rookie League, with a season running from mid-June to late August. The season is 60 games long and teams in the league are divided into three divisions, East, North and South...
, and then five games with the high A Potomac Nationals
Potomac Nationals
The Potomac Nationals are a Minor League Baseball team located in Woodbridge, Virginia. The Nationals play in the Class A Advanced Carolina League, and are an affiliate of the Washington Nationals.-History:...
. On 7 September 2007, he made his major-league debut, pitching one hitless inning in relief against the Atlanta Braves
2007 Atlanta Braves season
The Atlanta Braves' 2007 season began with the Braves attempting to recapture the NL East title, which they relinquished for the first time since the 1990 season to the New York Mets in the 2006 season. They opened their season with a sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.-December:*: Signed RHP...
, striking out one. He became the first player drafted in the 2007 Draft to appear in a major-league game. He joined Cordero and Ryan Zimmerman
Ryan Zimmerman
Ryan Wallace Zimmerman is a Major League Baseball third baseman with the Washington Nationals. A 6-foot 3-inch player from the University of Virginia and Kellam High School, Zimmerman has been a member of the Nationals since his debut on September 1, 2005...
as the third member of the Nationals franchise to be called up to the major leagues in the same year that he was drafted.
Detwiler opened the 2009 season with the Harrisburg Senators
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
of the Class AA Eastern League. However, due to the injury of Scott Olsen
Scott Olsen
Scott Matthew Olsen is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher who is a free agent.-Early life:Olsen was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan...
, he was called up to start on May 18 against the Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. He went 5 innings and allowed 3 runs, striking out 6. Although he was 1-6 with a 5.00 ERA in 15 games with the Nationals in 2009, he went 1-1 with a 2.08 ERA in four September starts.
On February 18, 2010, Detwiler underwent hip surgery due to a labral tear.
Detwiler made his return to major league play in July 2011 after recovering from hip surgery, and he remained in rotation for the remainder of the 2011 season. Detwiler finished the 2011 season with a 4-5 win loss record and a 3.00 ERA.