Shaun Marcum
Encyclopedia
Shaun Michael Marcum is an American professional baseball
starting pitcher
for the Milwaukee Brewers
of Major League Baseball
.
and raised in Excelsior Springs, Missouri
, where he attended Excelsior Springs High School. Marcum initially attended the University of Missouri
, but transferred to Missouri State University
, playing on the 2003 College World Series
team.
. Marcum quickly rose through the minor leagues and made his major league debut on September 6, 2005 as a late season call-up from the minors in September when rosters expanded. He made his debut against the Baltimore Orioles
pitching one scoreless inning, giving up a hit and one walk and one strikeout. Marcum pitched 8 innings, giving up six hits, without surrendering a run
during the month of September.
Marcum went 3–4 for the Blue Jays in 2006 in 21 games, including 14 starts, with an ERA
of 5.06. In his final seven starts, he had a record of 2–1 with a 3.31 ERA.
Marcum had a breakthrough season in 2007. He went 12–6 with an ERA of 4.13. He struck out a total of 122 batters over 159 innings of work. He pitched 6+ scoreless innings in seven of his starts, including two instances where he pitched 6+ no-hit innings before being relieved. One of those instances was against the Boston Red Sox
.
In 2008, Marcum got off to a good start, going 5–4 with a 2.65 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 98.2 Innings. But an injury followed by a handful of weak starts sent him to Triple-A on August 23. In September he was back in the starting rotation and he seemed to have returned to form. However on September 19, days after an abbreviated start in which he left with elbow pain, the Jays released the information that Marcum would need Tommy John surgery
and would miss the rest of the 2008 season and likely all of 2009.
As of May 1, 2009, Marcum had started to throw again. Marcum made two starts with A-Class Dunedin in early July, pitching successfully on his rehab assignment, he then started twice with the AA-class New Hampshire Fisher Cats
, and once more with AAA Las Vegas 51s
before being shut down for the season to prevent him from injury again.
On March 22 Marcum was named the opening day starter for the 2010 season
, succeeding Roy Halladay
for that role, who had seven consecutive opening day starts for the team from 2003 to 2009. On May 2, Marcum got his first win against the Oakland Athletics
, it was his first win since September 11, 2008 before going through Tommy John surgery
. On August 4, 2010, Marcum gave up Alex Rodriguez
's 600th career home run
. Marcum ended the season with a 13–8 win–loss record and a 3.64 ERA.
On December 6, at the 2010 MLB Winter Meetings, Marcum was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers
in exchange for infield prospect Brett Lawrie
.
On July 4, 2011, Marcum hit his first Major League home run, a grand slam off of Daniel Hudson
of the Arizona Diamondbacks
. Despite the home run, the Diamondbacks won the game 8–6.
In 2011, he was 13-7, with a 3.54 ERA.
at 88–90 mph, a cutter
in the mid 80's, a change up in the upper 70's, and occasionally a curveball
in the mid 70's.
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...
starting pitcher
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 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...
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...
.
Early life
Marcum was born in Kansas City, MissouriKansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
and raised in Excelsior Springs, Missouri
Excelsior Springs, Missouri
Excelsior Springs is a city in Clay and Ray counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 11,084 at the 2010 census. It is located approximately northeast of central Kansas City, Missouri.- Geography :...
, where he attended Excelsior Springs High School. Marcum initially attended the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
, but transferred to Missouri State University
Missouri 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...
, playing on the 2003 College World Series
2003 College World Series
The 2003 College World Series was held June 13 through June 23, 2003 in Omaha, Nebraska. Eight NCAA Division I college baseball teams met after having played their way through a 64-team bracket to play at historic Rosenblatt Stadium. In the first best-of-three championship series since 1948, Rice...
team.
Professional career
Marcum was drafted by the Blue Jays in the third round, 80th overall, of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft2003 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:...
. Marcum quickly rose through the minor leagues and made his major league debut on September 6, 2005 as a late season call-up from the minors in September when rosters expanded. He made his debut against 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...
pitching one scoreless inning, giving up a hit and one walk and one strikeout. Marcum pitched 8 innings, giving up six hits, without surrendering 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...
during the month of September.
Marcum went 3–4 for the Blue Jays in 2006 in 21 games, including 14 starts, with an 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...
of 5.06. In his final seven starts, he had a record of 2–1 with a 3.31 ERA.
Marcum had a breakthrough season in 2007. He went 12–6 with an ERA of 4.13. He struck out a total of 122 batters over 159 innings of work. He pitched 6+ scoreless innings in seven of his starts, including two instances where he pitched 6+ no-hit innings before being relieved. One of those instances was against the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
.
In 2008, Marcum got off to a good start, going 5–4 with a 2.65 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 98.2 Innings. But an injury followed by a handful of weak starts sent him to Triple-A on August 23. In September he was back in the starting rotation and he seemed to have returned to form. However on September 19, days after an abbreviated start in which he left with elbow pain, the Jays released the information that Marcum would need Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
and would miss the rest of the 2008 season and likely all of 2009.
As of May 1, 2009, Marcum had started to throw again. Marcum made two starts with A-Class Dunedin in early July, pitching successfully on his rehab assignment, he then started twice with the AA-class New Hampshire Fisher Cats
New Hampshire Fisher Cats
The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are a minor league baseball team based in Manchester, New Hampshire. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays major-league club....
, and once more with AAA Las Vegas 51s
Las Vegas 51s
The Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
before being shut down for the season to prevent him from injury again.
On March 22 Marcum was named the opening day starter for the 2010 season
2010 Toronto Blue Jays season
The 2010 Toronto Blue Jays season was the 34th season of Major League Baseball's Toronto Blue Jays franchise, and the team's 21st full season of play at the Rogers Centre. The 2010 season was the first under general manager Alex Anthopoulos, who replaced J. P...
, succeeding Roy Halladay
Roy Halladay
Harry Leroy "Roy" Halladay III , nicknamed "Doc", is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies...
for that role, who had seven consecutive opening day starts for the team from 2003 to 2009. On May 2, Marcum got his first win against 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....
, it was his first win since September 11, 2008 before going through Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
. On August 4, 2010, Marcum gave up Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
's 600th career home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
. Marcum ended the season with a 13–8 win–loss record and a 3.64 ERA.
On December 6, at the 2010 MLB Winter Meetings, Marcum was traded 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...
in exchange for infield prospect Brett Lawrie
Brett Lawrie
Brett R. Lawrie is a Canadian professional baseball third baseman with the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. He was traded to the Blue Jays from the Milwaukee Brewers on December 5, 2010 in a deal for starting pitcher Shaun Marcum...
.
On July 4, 2011, Marcum hit his first Major League home run, a grand slam off of Daniel Hudson
Daniel Hudson
Daniel Claiborne Hudson is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Hudson stands 6 feet, 4 inches and weighs 220 pounds.-College career:...
of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. Despite the home run, the Diamondbacks won the game 8–6.
In 2011, he was 13-7, with a 3.54 ERA.
Scouting Report
Marcum has a Four-seam fastballFour-seam fastball
A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family...
at 88–90 mph, a cutter
Cutter (baseball)
In baseball, a cutter, or cut fastball, is a type of fastball which breaks slightly toward the pitcher's glove side as it reaches home plate. This pitch is somewhere between a slider and a fastball, as it is usually thrown faster than a slider but with more motion than a typical fastball. Some...
in the mid 80's, a change up in the upper 70's, and occasionally a 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...
in the mid 70's.