Dan Meyer (pitcher)
Encyclopedia
Daniel Livingston Meyer (born July 3, 1981 in Woodbury, New Jersey
) is a left-handed
Major League Baseball
pitcher
, who is currently in the Pittsburgh Pirates
organization.
Meyer played high school baseball
at Kingsway Regional High School
in Swedesboro, New Jersey
. Meyer is one of only two players (the other being Boardwalk Brown
) in the history of MLB to have been born in Woodbury, NJ.
, Meyer helped his team to the college playoffs in after going 9-2 with a 3.15 ERA
and posting 90 strikeout
s in 97 innings. Meyer was then drafted in the first round (34th overall) in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
by the Atlanta Braves
. Meyer quickly rose through the Braves system as he pitched in Single-A in and split the season in Double-A and Triple-A. He went 6-3 with a 2.22 ERA and struck out batters 11.91 times per 9 innings in Double-A earning him a callup to Triple-A. His 2.70 ERA in 11 starts in Triple-A earned him a September callup that season for the Braves.
Tim Hudson
that had also sent pitcher
Juan Cruz
and outfielder
Charles Thomas
to the Athletics.
During spring training
, Meyer had a 7.78 ERA in 6 games (4 starts) and was sent to the Sacramento River Cats
, the Athletics Triple-A team. He went 2-8 with a 5.36 ERA in 19 games (17 starts) for the River Cats that included 2 stints on the disabled list
. His strikeout numbers declined from the days of being a prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization. It was the first time in his pro career that he had an ERA over 2.87 and gave up career highs in earned run
s (53), home run
s (15), and walks
(43). He led the River Cats pitching staff in losses with 8.
The following year, Meyer began the season for the River Cats again. In 10 starts, he went 3-3 with a 5.07 ERA before having season ending surgery in which bone chips
were removed from his shoulder; his strikeout numbers declined even more.
In , Meyer once again began the year for the River Cats. For the first time in his career in the Athletics organization, his strikeout numbers began to look a little more like the numbers he put up for the Braves organization. With a 4.07 ERA in 15 starts through July 15, Meyer was finally called up to the big league club on August 13, . He had gone 6-2 with a 3.40 ERA in 19 starts for the River Cats at the time of his call up and had the third lowest ERA in the Pacific Coast League
.
Following the season, Meyer was claimed off wiavers by the Florida Marlins
.
In 2009, Meyer proved to be one of the team's most effective and dependable relievers, turning in his best season of his career. He finished with a 3.09 ERA, in 71 games and 58.1 innings pitched.
However, Meyer's success would be short lived, as his 2010 season with the Marlins started out very badly, and continued to get worse as time went by. As of June 15, his ERA was 10.80 in 12 appearances with the team. He has since been designated for assignment. Later, on July 9, Meyer was given another chance by being called up to the Marlins. The story at marlins.com that announced his return began with the lines, "Mind clear. Mechanics ironed out. Dan Meyer is once again back in the big leagues." He appeared in only 13 games for the Marlins and became a free agent at the end of the season.
He signed a split contract with the Phillies in November 2010.
Woodbury, New Jersey
Woodbury is a city in Gloucester County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, 10,307 residents were counted. Woodbury is the county seat of Gloucester County....
) is a left-handed
Left-handed
Left-handedness is the preference for the left hand over the right for everyday activities such as writing. In ancient times it was seen as a sign of the devil, and was abhorred in many cultures...
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...
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...
, who is currently in the Pittsburgh 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...
organization.
Meyer played high school 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...
at Kingsway Regional High School
Kingsway Regional High School
Kingsway Regional High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school serving students in ninth through twelfth grade from five communities in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Kingsway Regional School District...
in Swedesboro, New Jersey
Swedesboro, New Jersey
Swedesboro is a borough in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the borough population was 2,055....
. Meyer is one of only two players (the other being Boardwalk Brown
Boardwalk Brown
Carroll William "Boardwalk" Brown was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was born on February 20, 1889 in Woodbury, New Jersey. He batted and threw right handed, and was 178 pounds. Boardwalk played three seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1911-1913. In 1914 he played for both the A's and...
) in the history of MLB to have been born in Woodbury, NJ.
Minor league career
A touted prospect out of James Madison UniversityJames Madison University
James Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
, Meyer helped his team to the college playoffs in after going 9-2 with a 3.15 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...
and posting 90 strikeout
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....
s in 97 innings. Meyer was then drafted in the first round (34th overall) in the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft
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:...
by the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
. Meyer quickly rose through the Braves system as he pitched in Single-A in and split the season in Double-A and Triple-A. He went 6-3 with a 2.22 ERA and struck out batters 11.91 times per 9 innings in Double-A earning him a callup to Triple-A. His 2.70 ERA in 11 starts in Triple-A earned him a September callup that season for the Braves.
Major league career
Meyer pitched 2 games in 2004 as a September call up for the Braves. During the offseason, Meyer was involved in the big trade with the Oakland Athletics for aceAce (baseball)
In baseball, an ace is the best starting pitcher of any team and nearly always the first pitcher in his starting rotation. Barring injury or exceptional circumstances, an ace usually always starts on Opening Day...
Tim Hudson
Tim Hudson
Timothy Adam Hudson is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Atlanta Braves. Hudson began his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and played his last two years of college eligibility at Auburn University...
that had also sent 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...
Juan Cruz
Juan Cruz (baseball)
Juan Carlos Cruz is a Major League Baseball pitcher.-Career:Cruz was signed for the Chicago Cubs by scout Jose Serra. He began his pro career with the Cubs' Rookie Level team, the Mesa Cubs, where he went 2-4 with a 6.10 earned run average and 36 strikeouts in only 41.1 innings pitched...
and outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
Charles Thomas
Charles Thomas (baseball)
Charles Wesley Thomas is a left fielder in Major League Baseball. He last played in the Milwaukee Brewers organization with the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. Previously, Thomas played with the Atlanta Braves , and Oakland Athletics...
to the Athletics.
During spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, Meyer had a 7.78 ERA in 6 games (4 starts) and was sent to the Sacramento River Cats
Sacramento River Cats
The Sacramento River Cats is a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics....
, the Athletics Triple-A team. He went 2-8 with a 5.36 ERA in 19 games (17 starts) for the River Cats that included 2 stints on the disabled list
Disabled list
In Major League Baseball, the disabled list is a method for teams to remove their injured players from the roster in order to summon healthy players.-General guidelines:...
. His strikeout numbers declined from the days of being a prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization. It was the first time in his pro career that he had an ERA over 2.87 and gave up career highs in 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 (53), 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...
s (15), and 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...
(43). He led the River Cats pitching staff in losses with 8.
The following year, Meyer began the season for the River Cats again. In 10 starts, he went 3-3 with a 5.07 ERA before having season ending surgery in which bone chips
Osteochondritis
Osteochondritis is a painful type of osteochondrosis where the cartilage or bone in a joint is inflamed.It often refers to osteochondritis dissecans...
were removed from his shoulder; his strikeout numbers declined even more.
In , Meyer once again began the year for the River Cats. For the first time in his career in the Athletics organization, his strikeout numbers began to look a little more like the numbers he put up for the Braves organization. With a 4.07 ERA in 15 starts through July 15, Meyer was finally called up to the big league club on August 13, . He had gone 6-2 with a 3.40 ERA in 19 starts for the River Cats at the time of his call up and had the third lowest ERA in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
.
Following the season, Meyer was claimed off wiavers by the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
.
In 2009, Meyer proved to be one of the team's most effective and dependable relievers, turning in his best season of his career. He finished with a 3.09 ERA, in 71 games and 58.1 innings pitched.
However, Meyer's success would be short lived, as his 2010 season with the Marlins started out very badly, and continued to get worse as time went by. As of June 15, his ERA was 10.80 in 12 appearances with the team. He has since been designated for assignment. Later, on July 9, Meyer was given another chance by being called up to the Marlins. The story at marlins.com that announced his return began with the lines, "Mind clear. Mechanics ironed out. Dan Meyer is once again back in the big leagues." He appeared in only 13 games for the Marlins and became a free agent at the end of the season.
He signed a split contract with the Phillies in November 2010.