Wade Townsend
Encyclopedia
Wade Daniel Townsend is a Minor League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent
. He was the Tampa Bay Rays' first-round draft pick out of Rice University
in 2005, signing for a $1.5 million bonus. Townsend was initially drafted by the Baltimore Orioles
with the eighth pick of the 2004 Draft, but he returned to Rice to finish his degree and was ruled ineligible to continue negotiation with the Orioles.
and finished second in the nation in ERA. Townsend was 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA and six saves as a freshman, recording 51 strikeouts, 22 walks, and 10 wild pitches in 51.1 innings. As a sophomore in 2003, he struggled with his control in his first appearance but came into his own as a weekday starter, pitching Rice's non-conference games against rival Houston
and Big 12
opponents. He finished the season 11-2 with a 2.20 ERA, beating defending national champion Texas
twice, including once in the CWS, Houston three times, and single wins over Nebraska, Baylor
, and Texas A&M
. The consensus all-American also recorded five saves as a reliever, mostly in Western Athletic Conference
games, and led the WAC with a school-record 164 strikeouts (broken by Eddie Degerman in 2006). Townsend was Rice's most consistent starter in 2004, finishing 12-0 with a 1.80 ERA and two saves. Against San Jose State
April 17, he came four outs away from a no-hitter. Townsend, Philip Humber
, and Jeff Niemann
were all selected in the first eight picks of the 2004 draft - the first time three teammates had ever gone so early in the same draft.
Townsend and the Orioles, however, could not agree to contract terms. He hired an agent, thereby renouncing his collegiate eligibility, and enrolled at Rice to complete his degree in his seventh semester. Major League Baseball
, however, ruled that Townsend's return to school terminated the Orioles' right to negotiate a contract. He re-entered the draft in 2005 and was again taken eighth overall, this time by the Devil Rays.
, . He finished the season 0-4 with a 5.49 ERA in 12 appearances, including 10 starts. He pitched in the Arizona Fall League
in the 2005 offseason.
In fall of 2005 Townsend underwent Tommy John surgery on his elbow.
In fall 2008, Townsend was again sent to the Arizona Fall League, where he lasted only innings and gave up 12 runs before he was sidelined with shoulder problems. Townsend underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum and would likely be in rehab for most of the 2009 season.
Tampa Bay released Townsend on August 3, 2009. He signed a Minor League deal with the Blue Jays in February 2010, but was later released from Toronto.
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was the Tampa Bay Rays' first-round draft pick out of Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
in 2005, signing for a $1.5 million bonus. Townsend was initially drafted by 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...
with the eighth pick of the 2004 Draft, but he returned to Rice to finish his degree and was ruled ineligible to continue negotiation with the Orioles.
College career
In college, Townsend spent his first season as a reliever for Rice, which went to the College World SeriesCollege World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
and finished second in the nation in ERA. Townsend was 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA and six saves as a freshman, recording 51 strikeouts, 22 walks, and 10 wild pitches in 51.1 innings. As a sophomore in 2003, he struggled with his control in his first appearance but came into his own as a weekday starter, pitching Rice's non-conference games against rival Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
and Big 12
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
opponents. He finished the season 11-2 with a 2.20 ERA, beating defending national champion Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
twice, including once in the CWS, Houston three times, and single wins over Nebraska, Baylor
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
, and Texas A&M
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
. The consensus all-American also recorded five saves as a reliever, mostly in Western Athletic Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
games, and led the WAC with a school-record 164 strikeouts (broken by Eddie Degerman in 2006). Townsend was Rice's most consistent starter in 2004, finishing 12-0 with a 1.80 ERA and two saves. Against San Jose State
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
April 17, he came four outs away from a no-hitter. Townsend, Philip Humber
Philip Humber
Philip Gregory Humber is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox.-Early life:Humber attended Carthage High School in Carthage, Texas...
, and Jeff Niemann
Jeff Niemann
Jeffrey Warren Niemann is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays.-College:...
were all selected in the first eight picks of the 2004 draft - the first time three teammates had ever gone so early in the same draft.
Townsend and the Orioles, however, could not agree to contract terms. He hired an agent, thereby renouncing his collegiate eligibility, and enrolled at Rice to complete his degree in his seventh semester. 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...
, however, ruled that Townsend's return to school terminated the Orioles' right to negotiate a contract. He re-entered the draft in 2005 and was again taken eighth overall, this time by the Devil Rays.
Professional career
Townsend's professional debut came at short-season Class A Short-Season Hudson ValleyHudson Valley Renegades
The Hudson Valley Renegades are a minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays. The team is a member of the New York - Penn League, a Class A Short Season league. The Renegades play at Dutchess Stadium in Fishkill, NY....
, . He finished the season 0-4 with a 5.49 ERA in 12 appearances, including 10 starts. He pitched 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...
in the 2005 offseason.
In fall of 2005 Townsend underwent Tommy John surgery on his elbow.
In fall 2008, Townsend was again sent to the Arizona Fall League, where he lasted only innings and gave up 12 runs before he was sidelined with shoulder problems. Townsend underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum and would likely be in rehab for most of the 2009 season.
Tampa Bay released Townsend on August 3, 2009. He signed a Minor League deal with the Blue Jays in February 2010, but was later released from Toronto.