Andrew Carpenter (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Andrew "Drew" Carpenter (born May 18, 1985) is an American
professional baseball
pitcher
for the Toronto Blue Jays
of Major League Baseball
. A graduate of Long Beach State University, Carpenter was called up to the majors for the first time from AA Reading
on August 27, .
(ERA) in the season for Long Beach State, Carpenter was drafted by the Phillies and signed on June 14 of the same year. The team assigned him to the Gulf Coast League
Phillies, a rookie-league affiliate, where he appeared in two games before being promoted to short-season Batavia
for the remainder of the season.
Carpenter pitched well enough to earn a promotion to high-A Clearwater
for the season, and he did not disappoint. In 24 starts for the Threshers, Carpenter posted a 17–6 record and a 3.30 ERA, striking out
116 batters in 161 innings pitched. In August, while the major league club labored to chase down the New York Mets
, Carpenter pitched a seven-inning perfect game
against the Fort Myers Miracle
.
During 2008 spring training, Carpenter was promoted for a short stint at major league camp while the Phillies' top-level pitchers were depleted or injured. In his only appearance against major league hitters, Carpenter faced Yankees
Jason Giambi
, Wilson Betemit
, and Jorge Posada
, striking out each of them; he also forced 2007 American League
MVP
Alex Rodriguez
to ground into an inning-ending double play
. After posting a 3–3 record and an even lower ERA of 2.98 at the beginning of 2008, the Phillies promoted him to Reading, where he struggled to a 2–7 record, allowing 83 hits and 46 earned run
s in 59⅔ innings.
on the active roster. At the time of his call-up, he had posted a 4–1 record with a 3.44 ERA in his prior five starts. Carpenter made his Major League debut that night, pitching the ninth inning in relief against the New York Mets
.
Carpenter participated in the 2008 Arizona Fall League
as a member of the Mesa Solar Sox
.
The Phillies called up Carpenter for the second time on May 16, 2009, to start in place of J. A. Happ
, who pitched in relief in the Phillies' extra-inning win against the Washington Nationals
. Though Carpenter did not pitch the requisite five innings, he did earn his first major league win
in a rain-shortened, six-inning game against Washington, pitching 4⅓ innings and allowing 5 earned run
s on 8 hits
and 3 walks
.
The Philadelphia Phillies called up Carpenter for the third time on July 20, 2010 to replace Kyle Kendrick
in the Phillies' starting rotation.
On June 28, 2011, Carpenter had his contract purchased by the Phillies.
On September 2, 2011, Carpenter was claimed off waivers by the San Diego Padres
. The Toronto Blue Jays
claimed him off waivers on November 18.
between 88 and 92 miles per hour (41.1 m/s). His repertoire includes a pair of breaking pitches
: a slider, widely considered a strong pitch, and a split-finger fastball, which has developed into his "out" pitch. He also throws a changeup, new to his repertoire since turning pro. He has also been ranked as the Phillies' ninth-best prospect by Baseball America.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
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...
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 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 ....
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...
. A graduate of Long Beach State University, Carpenter was called up to the majors for the first time from AA Reading
Reading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
on August 27, .
Minor leagues
After posting a 7–4 record and a 2.91 earned run averageEarned 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...
(ERA) in the season for Long Beach State, Carpenter was drafted by the Phillies and signed on June 14 of the same year. The team assigned him to the 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...
Phillies, a rookie-league affiliate, where he appeared in two games before being promoted to short-season Batavia
Batavia Muckdogs
The Batavia Muckdogs are a minor league baseball team based in Batavia, a city in Genesee County, New York, United States. The Muckdogs are the current Short-Season A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals...
for the remainder of the season.
Carpenter pitched well enough to earn a promotion to high-A Clearwater
Clearwater Threshers
The Clearwater Threshers are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the Florida State League. Since 2004, the team competes in the West Division....
for the season, and he did not disappoint. In 24 starts for the Threshers, Carpenter posted a 17–6 record and a 3.30 ERA, striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
116 batters in 161 innings pitched. In August, while the major league club labored to chase down the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
, Carpenter pitched a seven-inning perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
against the Fort Myers Miracle
Fort Myers Miracle
The Fort Myers Miracle is the Class A Advanced minor league baseball affiliate of the Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball club, currently managed by Jake Mauer. Home games are played at the Lee County Sports Complex in Hammond Stadium, which has a capacity of 7,500, and opened in...
.
During 2008 spring training, Carpenter was promoted for a short stint at major league camp while the Phillies' top-level pitchers were depleted or injured. In his only appearance against major league hitters, Carpenter faced Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
Jason Giambi
Jason Giambi
Jason Gilbert Giambi is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball.He was the American League MVP in 2000 while with the Oakland Athletics, and is a five-time All-Star who has led the American League in walks four times, in on base percentage...
, Wilson Betemit
Wilson Betemit
Wilson Betemit is a Dominican professional baseball infielder. He is 6'2" and weighs 220 pounds...
, and Jorge Posada
Jorge Posada
Jorge Rafael Posada Villeta is a Major League Baseball player who is currently a free agent and has played his entire career for the New York Yankees. He served as the Yankees primary catcher for most of his career, though following off-season knee surgery, he was moved to designated hitter for...
, striking out each of them; he also forced 2007 American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
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...
to ground into an inning-ending double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
. After posting a 3–3 record and an even lower ERA of 2.98 at the beginning of 2008, the Phillies promoted him to Reading, where he struggled to a 2–7 record, allowing 83 hits and 46 earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
s in 59⅔ innings.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies called up Carpenter to the majors on August 27, 2008, replacing Andy TracyAndy Tracy
Andrew Michael Tracy is a Major League Baseball first baseman. He is an alumnus of Bowling Green State University....
on the active roster. At the time of his call-up, he had posted a 4–1 record with a 3.44 ERA in his prior five starts. Carpenter made his Major League debut that night, pitching the ninth inning in relief against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
.
Carpenter participated in the 2008 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...
as a member of the Mesa Solar Sox
Mesa Solar Sox
The Mesa Solar Sox are a baseball team that plays in the East Division of the Arizona Fall League. They play their home games in Mesa, Arizona at HoHoKam Stadium, which is also the spring training facility of the Chicago Cubs....
.
The Phillies called up Carpenter for the second time on May 16, 2009, to start in place of J. A. Happ
J. A. Happ
James Anthony "J. A." Happ is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Houston Astros. He is a six-foot-six left-hander. Though his name is James Anthony and his initials are "J...
, who pitched in relief in the Phillies' extra-inning win against 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...
. Though Carpenter did not pitch the requisite five innings, he did earn 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...
in a rain-shortened, six-inning game against Washington, pitching 4⅓ innings and allowing 5 earned run
Earned run
In baseball, an earned run is any run for which the pitcher is held accountable . Any runner who tags his base and reaches home plate is scored against the pitcher as an earned run...
s on 8 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
and 3 walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
.
The Philadelphia Phillies called up Carpenter for the third time on July 20, 2010 to replace Kyle Kendrick
Kyle Kendrick
Kyle Rodney Kendrick is a relief pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball.-High school:...
in the Phillies' starting rotation.
On June 28, 2011, Carpenter had his contract purchased by the Phillies.
On September 2, 2011, Carpenter was claimed off waivers by 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...
. 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 ....
claimed him off waivers on November 18.
Scouting
Carpenter throws a fastballFastball
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...
between 88 and 92 miles per hour (41.1 m/s). His repertoire includes a pair of breaking pitches
Breaking ball
In baseball, a breaking ball is a pitch that does not travel straight like a fastball as it approaches the batter. A pitcher who uses primarily breaking ball pitches is often referred to as a junkballer. A breaking ball will have some sideways or downward motion on it...
: a slider, widely considered a strong pitch, and a split-finger fastball, which has developed into his "out" pitch. He also throws a changeup, new to his repertoire since turning pro. He has also been ranked as the Phillies' ninth-best prospect by Baseball America.