Tom Gorzelanny
Encyclopedia
Thomas Stephen Gorzelanny (born July 12, 1982 in Evergreen Park
, Illinois
) is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the Washington Nationals
.
in 2000. He was drafted in the 38th round of the 2000 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox
but chose to play college baseball rather than immediately pursuing a professional career.
in Chicago
, Gorzelanny played junior college ball at Triton College
after starting his college career at the University of Kansas
. He spent the 2002 summer playing for the St. Cloud River Bats
of the Northwoods League
. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates
in the second round of the 2003 Major League Baseball Draft
with the 45th overall pick.
, but made his Major League debut with the Pirates in September. He struggled in Pittsburgh, allowing eight runs in six innings. At the beginning of the season, he was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis Indians
. Gorzelanny was selected to play for the US team in the 2006 All-Star Futures Game
, but was ineligible due to being called up by the Pirates. On June 29, 2006, the Pirates called Gorzelanny up to replace Oliver Pérez
in the starting rotation. He made his season debut on July 1 against the Detroit Tigers
.
that would be chosen from a final fan vote for the last spot on the NL roster for the 2007 MLB All-Star Game. Gorzelanny went on to compile a 14-10 season for the 68-94 Pirates, leading the Pirates in wins and finishing with over 200 innings and an ERA of 3.88.
In , Gorzelanny suffered from control problems with his pitches, walking 61 batters and giving up 99 hits in his first 87⅔ innings of work. After a difficult start to the first half of the season, Gorzelanny was optioned to AAA Indianapolis in July. He was recalled to Pittsburgh several weeks later after a successful tenure in Indianapolis, but ultimately failed to regain his 2007 form.
After Spring Training, Gorzelanny began the season at AAA Indianapolis. In May, he was recalled to pitch from the bullpen after injuries to the Pirates' roster. He was optioned back to AAA after several weeks with Pittsburgh.
along with John Grabow
for Kevin Hart
, José Ascanio
, and minor league third baseman Josh Harrison
, and assigned to the Chicago Cubs
AAA affiliate, the Iowa Cubs
. He was called up to start on August 4, and got his first win
as a Cub. He went on to make seven starts for the Cubs, earning a record of 4-2 and ending the season in the bullpen.
In , Gorzelanny won a spot in the Cubs starting rotation. Gorzelanny compiled a high strikeout rate and an ERA below 4 through September 2010. In late May, he was moved to the bullpen to accommodate the return of Carlos Zambrano
to the Cubs rotation.
After Zambrano aimed a profanity-laced tirade at his teammates in late June, Gorzelanny pitched in relief for innings. On June 26, skipper Lou Pinella announced that Zambrano would move back to the bullpen, and Gorzelanny would regain a spot in the Cubs rotation. Even after Zambrano made his second return to the rotation after undergoing anger management therapy, Gorzelanny kept his spot in the rotation.
acquired Gorzelanny from the Cubs for prospects Michael Burgess, A. J. Morris, and Graham Hicks. Gorzelanny became expendable to the Cubs after they traded for Matt Garza
ten days earlier. He is expected to be a mid-rotation starter for the Nationals.
On May 28, 2011, Gorzelanny was placed on the 15-day disabled list with left elbow inflammation.
After coming off the DL he was less consistent and was removed from the rotation.
Evergreen Park, Illinois
Evergreen Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 25,044 at the 2009 census.-Geography:Evergreen Park is located at . The suburb is surrounded by the city of Chicago on three of its sides, while Oak Lawn and Hometown border it on the west...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
) is a 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...
for 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...
.
Personal life
Tom grew up in Chicago, IL, graduating from Marist High SchoolMarist High School (Illinois)
Marist High School is a coeducational, college preparatory Roman Catholic secondary school located in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago...
in 2000. He was drafted in the 38th round of the 2000 MLB Draft by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
but chose to play college baseball rather than immediately pursuing a professional career.
College career
After graduating from Marist High SchoolMarist High School (Illinois)
Marist High School is a coeducational, college preparatory Roman Catholic secondary school located in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Gorzelanny played junior college ball at Triton College
Triton College
Triton College is a two-year community college located in River Grove, Illinois, a suburb northwest of downtown Chicago. Triton College facilitates accredited degrees, career-oriented learning opportunities, and English as a second language and GED classes.Over 17,000 students enroll at Triton...
after starting his college career at the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. He spent the 2002 summer playing for the St. Cloud River Bats
St. Cloud River Bats
The St. Cloud River Bats are a baseball team that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. Their home games are played at the Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud, Minnesota...
of the Northwoods League
Northwoods League
The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball league comprising teams of the top college players from North America and beyond. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate...
. He was drafted by 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...
in the second 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:...
with the 45th overall pick.
Minor League Career
Gorzelanny spent most of the season with the Double-A Altoona CurveAltoona Curve
The Altoona Curve are a minor league baseball team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve . The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club...
, but made his Major League debut with the Pirates in September. He struggled in Pittsburgh, allowing eight runs in six innings. At the beginning of the season, he was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis Indians
Indianapolis Indians
The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis...
. Gorzelanny was selected to play for the US team in the 2006 All-Star Futures Game
All-Star Futures Game
The All-Star Futures Game is an annual baseball exhibition game between a team of top minor league prospects from the United States and a team of prospects from other parts of the World...
, but was ineligible due to being called up by the Pirates. On June 29, 2006, the Pirates called Gorzelanny up to replace Oliver Pérez
Oliver Pérez
Óliver Pérez Martínez is a left-handed pitcher currently in the Washington Nationals organization.-San Diego Padres:...
in the starting rotation. He made his season debut on July 1 against 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...
.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Gorzelanny was penciled in as a starter with the Pirates in , earning a regular spot in the rotation. On July 1, 2007, Gorzelanny was selected as one of the five players in the National LeagueNational League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
that would be chosen from a final fan vote for the last spot on the NL roster for the 2007 MLB All-Star Game. Gorzelanny went on to compile a 14-10 season for the 68-94 Pirates, leading the Pirates in wins and finishing with over 200 innings and an ERA of 3.88.
In , Gorzelanny suffered from control problems with his pitches, walking 61 batters and giving up 99 hits in his first 87⅔ innings of work. After a difficult start to the first half of the season, Gorzelanny was optioned to AAA Indianapolis in July. He was recalled to Pittsburgh several weeks later after a successful tenure in Indianapolis, but ultimately failed to regain his 2007 form.
After Spring Training, Gorzelanny began the season at AAA Indianapolis. In May, he was recalled to pitch from the bullpen after injuries to the Pirates' roster. He was optioned back to AAA after several weeks with Pittsburgh.
Chicago Cubs
Gorzelanny was traded on July 30, 2009 to the Chicago CubsChicago 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...
along with John Grabow
John Grabow
John William Grabow, nicknamed "Grabes" , is a Major League Baseball left-handed reliever....
for Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart (baseball)
Kevin Richard Hart is a professional baseball pitcher who is currently playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Career:...
, José Ascanio
Jose Ascanio
José Eleazar Ascanio is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball.-Baseball career:...
, and minor league third baseman Josh Harrison
Josh Harrison
Joshua I. Harrison aka "J-Hay" or "J-Hay da Man" is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball...
, and assigned to 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...
AAA affiliate, the Iowa Cubs
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
. He was called up to start on August 4, and got his first 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...
as a Cub. He went on to make seven starts for the Cubs, earning a record of 4-2 and ending the season in the bullpen.
In , Gorzelanny won a spot in the Cubs starting rotation. Gorzelanny compiled a high strikeout rate and an ERA below 4 through September 2010. In late May, he was moved to the bullpen to accommodate the return of Carlos Zambrano
Carlos Zambrano
Carlos Alberto Zambrano is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher with the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball. Zambrano, who stands 6' 5" and weighs 260 pounds, was signed by the Cubs as a free agent in 1997 and made his debut in 2001...
to the Cubs rotation.
After Zambrano aimed a profanity-laced tirade at his teammates in late June, Gorzelanny pitched in relief for innings. On June 26, skipper Lou Pinella announced that Zambrano would move back to the bullpen, and Gorzelanny would regain a spot in the Cubs rotation. Even after Zambrano made his second return to the rotation after undergoing anger management therapy, Gorzelanny kept his spot in the rotation.
Washington Nationals
On January 17, 2011, the Washington NationalsWashington 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...
acquired Gorzelanny from the Cubs for prospects Michael Burgess, A. J. Morris, and Graham Hicks. Gorzelanny became expendable to the Cubs after they traded for Matt Garza
Matt Garza
Matthew Scott Garza is a United States professional baseball pitcher with the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball.-Amateur career:He attended Washington Union High School and Fresno State.-Minnesota Twins:...
ten days earlier. He is expected to be a mid-rotation starter for the Nationals.
On May 28, 2011, Gorzelanny was placed on the 15-day disabled list with left elbow inflammation.
After coming off the DL he was less consistent and was removed from the rotation.