Greg Keagle
Encyclopedia
Gregory Charles Keagle is a former right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Detroit Tigers
from to . He attended Horseheads High School
in Horseheads, New York
before attending Florida International University
and Monroe Community College
.
by the San Diego Padres
. He was used almost entirely as a starter
in the minors, appearing in only one game in relief
before his first call to the majors. His first professional season in the Northwest League
with the Spokane Indians
was promising (3-3 record
, 3.25 ERA
), but the first half of his season was absolutely outstanding. He was 11-1 with a 2.05 ERA in 14 games for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
and was named to the California League
All-Star team. However, that success did not continue after he was promoted to the Double-A Wichita Wranglers
, where he was 3-9 with a 6.27 ERA.
He remained in the Padres organization until September 17, , when he was named as the player to be named later
in a deal announced July 31 in which the Padres sent Andy Benes
to the Seattle Mariners
for Ron Villone
and Marc Newfield
.
In December of that year, the Tigers took him from the Mariners in the Rule 5 Draft
.
, walking
two and striking out
two. He allowed one earned run
. His first career strikeout victim was Chuck Knoblauch
. He then struck out Rich Becker
, who followed Knoblauch in the batting order.
Keagle did not have a very successful rookie season. In 26 games (six started), he posted a three and six record with an ERA of 7.39. He also walked 68 batters in 87+ innings of work.
He was used mostly as a starter in the final two seasons of his career, and 1998. He went three and eight combined in those final two years, posting a career best ERA of 5.59 in 1998. He didn't not average five innings a start in his final two seasons.
Perhaps the best game of his career came on September 12, 1997, against the Oakland Athletics
. He threw seven fine innings of work, giving up only five hits, one run
(a home run
to Scott Spiezio
) walking only one and striking out nine batters.
Overall, his career record was six and 16. He posted an ERA of 6.76, and in 171 2/3 innings of work, he walked 106 batters and struck out 123. He pitched in a total of 46 games in his career, starting exactly half of those. He hit a total of 18 batters in his career, or one every 9.53 innings of work.
He had only one career at bat
, facing Denny Neagle
of the Atlanta Braves
on September 2, 1997, he struck out. He committed zero errors
in his career, for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage
. He played his final big league game on May 26, 1998. He wore number 57 during his time in the majors.
organization and the Elmira Pioneers
in , where he threw the first no-hitter
in Pioneers history (and just one of three in Northeast League history). In and , Keagle was a pitcher/coach for the Pioneers. He played in the Florida Marlins
organization in all of .
He last played in 2005 with the Elmira Pioneers of the Can-Am League
.
Overall, he spent six professional seasons as a teammate of Raul Casanova
-longer than any other teammate.
Tigers. Currently, he lives in Pittsford, New York
.
Keagle is also a color analyst for Rochester Red Wings
live television broadcasts in Rochester.
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...
in 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...
who played for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
from to . He attended Horseheads High School
Horseheads High School
Horseheads High School is a public institution for secondary education in the rural town of Horseheads, New York. The current principal is Karen Donahue, and the current assistant principals are Dan Busek and Michael McCawley.The communities of the Town and Village of Horseheads, Big Flats, Elmira...
in Horseheads, New York
Horseheads (village), New York
Horseheads is a village in Chemung County, New York, USA. The population was 6,461 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from the number of bleached skulls of pack horses left behind by the Sullivan Expedition....
before attending Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
and Monroe Community College
Monroe Community College
Monroe Community College is a two-year college of the State University of New York, located in Monroe County, New York. The college has two campuses, one in the town of Brighton and another, the Damon City Campus, in the City of Rochester...
.
The draft and minors
Keagle was selected in the sixth round, 170th overall, of the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft1993 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1993 Major League Baseball draft.-Compensation picks:-Other notable players:*Scott Rolen was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2nd round of the 1993 amateur draft....
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...
. He was used almost entirely as a starter
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....
in the minors, appearing in only one game in relief
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...
before his first call to the majors. His first professional season in the Northwest League
Northwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
with the Spokane Indians
Spokane Indians
The Spokane Indians are a minor league baseball team located in Spokane, Washington, United States. They are a Short-Season A classification team in the Northwest League and have been a farm team of the Texas Rangers since 2003. The Indians play home games at Avista Stadium...
was promising (3-3 record
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...
, 3.25 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...
), but the first half of his season was absolutely outstanding. He was 11-1 with a 2.05 ERA in 14 games for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are a minor league baseball team in Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA. They are a Class A – Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Los Angeles Dodgers, their third major league affiliate in team history....
and was named to the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
All-Star team. However, that success did not continue after he was promoted to the Double-A Wichita Wranglers
Wichita Wranglers
The Wichita Wranglers were a minor league baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas. The team, which played in the Texas League, was the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major-league club from 1995 to 2007, and of the San Diego Padres from 1987 to 1994. The Wranglers played in...
, where he was 3-9 with a 6.27 ERA.
He remained in the Padres organization until September 17, , when he was named as the player to be named later
Player to be named later
The concept of the "player to be named later" is most often associated with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball trades.-Description:...
in a deal announced July 31 in which the Padres sent Andy Benes
Andy Benes
Andrew Charles Benes is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During a 14-year career from 1989-2002. Benes played for four different teams: the San Diego Padres, the Seattle Mariners, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Arizona Diamondbacks...
to the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
for Ron Villone
Ron Villone
Ronald Thomas Villone Jr. is a Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher who is currently with the Somerset Patriots. He has not been on the same team for more than two years in his major league career and due to his many baseball travels, some of his teammates have affectionately referred...
and Marc Newfield
Marc Newfield
Marc Alexander Newfield is a former Major League Baseball player from to for the Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, and Milwaukee Brewers....
.
In December of that year, the Tigers took him from the Mariners in the 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...
.
The majors
Keagle was on the Tigers' Opening Day roster in 1996, and he made his debut in their first game of the season, April 1. He pitched three innings in his first big league game, surrendering three hitsHit (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....
, walking
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...
two and 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....
two. He allowed one 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...
. His first career strikeout victim was Chuck Knoblauch
Chuck Knoblauch
Edward Charles "Chuck" Knoblauch is a retired Major League Baseball player. He played all or part of twelve seasons in the majors, from until , for the Minnesota Twins , New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals...
. He then struck out Rich Becker
Rich Becker
Richard "Richie" Godhard Becker was a Major League Baseball player between 1993-2000.Born in Aurora, Illinois, Becker was selected in the third round of the 1990 Major League Baseball amateur draft out of West Aurora High School by the Minnesota Twins. In high school Becker, excelled at football...
, who followed Knoblauch in the batting order.
Keagle did not have a very successful rookie season. In 26 games (six started), he posted a three and six record with an ERA of 7.39. He also walked 68 batters in 87+ innings of work.
He was used mostly as a starter in the final two seasons of his career, and 1998. He went three and eight combined in those final two years, posting a career best ERA of 5.59 in 1998. He didn't not average five innings a start in his final two seasons.
Perhaps the best game of his career came on September 12, 1997, 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....
. He threw seven fine innings of work, giving up only five hits, one 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...
(a 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...
to Scott Spiezio
Scott Spiezio
Scott Edward Spiezio is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He is currently an infielder for the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League . He is well known for his time as a member of the Anaheim Angels, when he hit a 3-run home run in Game Six of the 2002 World Series against the...
) walking only one and striking out nine batters.
Overall, his career record was six and 16. He posted an ERA of 6.76, and in 171 2/3 innings of work, he walked 106 batters and struck out 123. He pitched in a total of 46 games in his career, starting exactly half of those. He hit a total of 18 batters in his career, or one every 9.53 innings of work.
He had only one career at bat
At bat
In baseball, an at bat or time at bat is used to calculate certain statistics, including batting average, on base percentage, and slugging percentage. It is a more restricted definition of a plate appearance...
, facing Denny Neagle
Denny Neagle
Dennis Edward Neagle Jr. is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was last under contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays during the season, but he did not play due to injury...
of 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....
on September 2, 1997, he struck out. He committed zero errors
Error (baseball)
In baseball statistics, an error is the act, in the judgment of the official scorer, of a fielder misplaying a ball in a manner that allows a batter or baserunner to reach one or more additional bases, when such an advance would have been prevented given ordinary effort by the fielder.The term ...
in his career, for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage
Fielding percentage
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball...
. He played his final big league game on May 26, 1998. He wore number 57 during his time in the majors.
Back to the minors
Although his major league career ended in 1998, his professional career lasted until . He stayed in the Tigers' organization in , split time between the Anaheim AngelsLos Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
organization and the Elmira Pioneers
Elmira Pioneers
The Elmira Pioneers are an amateur baseball team based in Elmira, New York. They currently compete in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, a wood bat collegiate summer baseball league. Prior to the 2006 baseball season, the team was a professional ballclub with a rich history of league...
in , where he threw the first no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
in Pioneers history (and just one of three in Northeast League history). In and , Keagle was a pitcher/coach for the Pioneers. He played in 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...
organization in all of .
He last played in 2005 with the Elmira Pioneers of the Can-Am League
Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball
The Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, based in Durham, North Carolina, is a professional, independent baseball league located in the Northeastern United States and the Canadian province of Quebec. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is...
.
Overall, he spent six professional seasons as a teammate of Raul Casanova
Raul Casanova
Raul Casanova was a Major League Baseball catcher from 1996 to 2008 with the exception of 1999 and 2006.-Minor leagues:He was drafted 220th overall, in the eighth round of the draft by the New York Mets....
-longer than any other teammate.
After pro baseball
Since retiring from professional baseball, Keagle has become financial professional with New York Life. Keagle also is the pitching coach for the Rochester Institute of TechnologyRochester Institute of Technology
The Rochester Institute of Technology is a private university, located within the town of Henrietta in metropolitan Rochester, New York, United States...
Tigers. Currently, he lives in Pittsford, New York
Pittsford (village), New York
Pittsford is a village in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 1,418 at the 2000 census. It is named after Pittsford, Vermont, the native town of a founding father....
.
Keagle is also a color analyst for Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
live television broadcasts in Rochester.