Wesley Wright
Encyclopedia
Dequam LaWesley Wright is a major league baseball
relief pitcher
for the Houston Astros
.
Wright was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers
in the 7th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft
and signed with the them on June 10 .
He made his professional debut with the Ogden Raptors
in the Pioneer League in 2004 and played for the Columbus Catfish
and Vero Beach Dodgers in 2005. With Columbus, he pitched in 30 games and accumulated a 1.93 era as a relief pitcher.
In 2006 he pitched in 25 games with Vero Beach, acquiring a 1.48 era and was promoted to the Jacksonville Suns
, where he began 2007 before a mid-season promotion to the Las Vegas 51s
.
In December 2007, he was selected by the Houston Astros
in the major league portion of rule 5 draft
from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wright made the Astros opening day roster as the only left-handed pitcher in the bullpen. On March 31, 2008, Wright made his major league debut against the San Diego Padres
and pitched 1/3 of a scoreless inning. Wright collected his first major league win
on April 4, 2008, against the Chicago Cubs
after pitching 1/3 of a scoreless inning again. He collected his first major league save on July 29, 2008, against the Cincinnati Reds
coming in during 9th inning with two outs, and recorded the final out of the game for the save.
On July 16, 2009, Wright was called in to pitch in a game against the Cubs in the second inning after starter Roy Oswalt
was forced from the game by a strained back. Wright batted in the top of the third inning and singled to left field for his first Major League hit. Later that night, it was reported that he was rushed to the hospital after showing signs of appendicitis
. He was diagnosed with dehydration
.
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...
relief pitcher
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
for the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.
Wright was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in the 7th round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft
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 signed with the them on June 10 .
He made his professional debut with the Ogden Raptors
Ogden Raptors
The Ogden Raptors are a minor league baseball team in the Pioneer League based in Ogden, Utah, United States. The club plays at Lindquist Field, whose view beyond the outfield fence was named the best in professional baseball by a staff writer for Grand Slam Enterprises, INC.The Raptors are one of...
in the Pioneer League in 2004 and played for the Columbus Catfish
Columbus Catfish
The Columbus Catfish were a minor league baseball team in Columbus, Georgia. They were a Class A team in the South Atlantic League, and were an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays since September 29, 2006. The Catfish relocated to Bowling Green, Kentucky for the 2009 season.The Catfish played home...
and Vero Beach Dodgers in 2005. With Columbus, he pitched in 30 games and accumulated a 1.93 era as a relief pitcher.
In 2006 he pitched in 25 games with Vero Beach, acquiring a 1.48 era and was promoted to the Jacksonville Suns
Jacksonville Suns
The Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
, where he began 2007 before a mid-season promotion to the 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...
.
In December 2007, he was selected by the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
in the major league portion of 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...
from the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wright made the Astros opening day roster as the only left-handed pitcher in the bullpen. On March 31, 2008, Wright made his major league debut against the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
and pitched 1/3 of a scoreless inning. Wright collected his first major league win
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
on April 4, 2008, against 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...
after pitching 1/3 of a scoreless inning again. He collected his first major league save on July 29, 2008, against 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....
coming in during 9th inning with two outs, and recorded the final out of the game for the save.
On July 16, 2009, Wright was called in to pitch in a game against the Cubs in the second inning after starter Roy Oswalt
Roy Oswalt
Roy Edward Oswalt is an American Major League Baseball pitcher and Olympic gold medalist who is currently a free agent. Oswalt, a slender six-foot right-handed starting pitcher, is currently in his eleventh major league season...
was forced from the game by a strained back. Wright batted in the top of the third inning and singled to left field for his first Major League hit. Later that night, it was reported that he was rushed to the hospital after showing signs of appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
. He was diagnosed with dehydration
Dehydration
In physiology and medicine, dehydration is defined as the excessive loss of body fluid. It is literally the removal of water from an object; however, in physiological terms, it entails a deficiency of fluid within an organism...
.