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Joey Devine

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Joey Devine
Joey Devine pitches for the Oakland Athletics
Relief pitcher
Born: (1983-09-19) September 19, 1983 (age 41)
Junction City, Kansas, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 20, 2005, for the Atlanta Braves
Last MLB appearance
July 24, 2011, for the Oakland Athletics
MLB statistics
Win–loss record8–3
Earned run average2.75
Strikeouts89
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  United States
World University Championship
Gold medal – first place 2004 Tainan Team

Joseph Neal Devine (born September 19, 1983) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves and Oakland Athletics.

Baseball career

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Atlanta Braves

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Devine was the Braves' first selection (27th overall) in the first round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft out of North Carolina State University, where he had set the Wolfpack record for saves with 24 and made the All-Atlantic Coast Conference team three times.[1][2][3] After being drafted, Devine spent only two months in the minor leagues, pitching with the Single-A Advanced Myrtle Beach Pelicans and the Double-A Mississippi Braves, before being called up to the major leagues on August 20.[4] He was the first player in his draft class to make his MLB debut.[5]

Devine encountered early struggles once being called up to the major leagues, becoming the first pitcher in major league history to allow a grand slam in each of his first two games.[6] Braves manager Bobby Cox showed faith in Devine, however, by including him on the postseason roster despite his pitching only five innings with the big-league club during the regular season. In the 18th inning of Game 4 of the 2005 National League Division Series, Devine gave up a walk-off home run to Houston Astros rookie Chris Burke to end the Braves' season.

In 2006, Atlanta planned to have Devine start the season at Triple-A Richmond as the closer,[7] but injuries to Horacio Ramírez and Blaine Boyer forced the Braves to call him up along with fellow reliever Ken Ray.[8] Devine struggled once again, however, pitching a total of one inning in two games against the San Francisco Giants and giving up seven runs on five hits, five walks, and two wild pitches. Devine was optioned back to Richmond afterwards, with Peter Moylan serving as his replacement in Atlanta's bullpen. Devine was called up again in September and continued to pitch in Atlanta until the end of the regular season. Baseball America rated Devine as the Braves' ninth-best prospect entering 2007.[9] Devine spent the majority of the 2007 season at Mississippi, though he was called up by Atlanta several times. On September 22, Devine earned his first major league victory against the Milwaukee Brewers. He finished the 2007 season 1–0 with a 1.08 ERA.

Oakland Athletics

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On January 14, 2008, Devine was traded to the Oakland Athletics along with minor league pitcher Jamie Richmond for center fielder Mark Kotsay.[10] Devine had a breakout season with the Athletics in 2008; in 452⁄3 innings, Devine gave up just 23 hits, walked only 15, struck out 49, held major-league batters to a .148 BA, and finished with a remarkable 0.59 ERA; the lowest ever in MLB history among pitchers with a minimum of 45 innings since ERA became an official statistic in 1912. This record is not officially recognized because the MLB minimum is 50 innings.[11]

Devine missed the 2009 season following Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.[12] The operation was performed Tuesday, April 21, 2009, by Dr. James Andrews on Devine's ulnar collateral ligament.[13] On December 2, 2009, Devine, avoided arbitration and agreed to a 1-year contract with the Oakland Athletics.[12]

Devine remained inactive through the 2010 season while still recovering from the surgery. He finally returned to action in 2011. However, after struggling to find control in a flukish spring training game, Joey Devine was sent down to the A's Minor League Sacramento River Cats to work out the kinks. He instantly regained his 2008 form and commenced to not allow a single earned run over his first 121⁄3 innings, striking out a solid 17, giving up only 4 hits, and walking a mere one batter. He was recalled to the Oakland A's Major League Roster on May, 20th 2011.

Devines' longest streak of innings without yielding an earned run (33.2 innings) was broken on June 3, 2011, due to inherited runs acquired through reliever Brian Fuentes.

After pitching relatively well after his return to the MLB roster in 2011, Devine struggled in late July during his last three outings of that month (Devine attributed control issues to heat and lack of grip during a heat wave in which temps. were over 100 °F (56 °C)). On July 22, 2011, he walked three consecutive Yankees, throwing a wild pitch behind Brandon Laird to initiate the latter's debut major-league at-bat.[14] His control issues lead to his being demoted back to Sacramento River Cats on July 28, 2011, despite the fact that many of the earned runs he had acquired to that point were inherited after he stepped off the mound. Prior to his last three outings, Devine was one of the leading pitchers on Oakland's MLB pitching staff statistically: 2.14 ERA and declining, over 9K/9 innings, and high octane pitch speeds of up to 97 MPH, with additional nasty off speed pitch movement in his slider, low hits/outs ratio, hitters average under .200, no homers allowed, and an average walk rate.

It was announced on April 10, 2012, that Devine had undergone his second career Tommy John surgery.[15] Devine was placed on the disabled list for the 2012 season.

Personal life

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After leaving baseball, Devine worked for a sports agency, earned a degree from NC State while living in Raleigh, North Carolina[16] and worked as a graduate assistant for his former college team.[1]

In 2017, Devine told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Brian McCann was still one of his closest friends.[16]

As of July 2018, he was married and had three young children.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Morris, Ron (July 3, 2018). "Where Are They Now? Joey Devine". Baseball America. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  2. ^ "North Carolina State University Baseball Players Who Made it to the Major Leagues". Baseball-Almanac.com. Archived from the original on November 23, 2005. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  3. ^ "Braves draft RHP Joey Devine with first selection". MLB.com. June 7, 2005. Archived from the original on September 17, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  4. ^ Bowman, Mark (August 20, 2005). "Devine struggles in MLB debut". MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  5. ^ Werner, Joseph (June 16, 2016). "First Player from the 2015 Draft to Make the Big Leagues". Beyond the Box Score. SB Nation. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  6. ^ Bowman, Mark (September 27, 2005). "Notes: Furcal keys turnaround". MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  7. ^ Bowman, Mark (April 1, 2006). "Braves make final cuts, roster set". MLB.com. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  8. ^ "Strained hamstring lands Braves' Ramirez on DL". ESPN.com. April 6, 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  9. ^ Ballew, Bill (January 2, 2007). "2007 Top 10 Prospects: Atlanta Braves". Baseball America. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  10. ^ "Braves acquire outfielder Mark Kotsay from Athletics". MLB.com. January 14, 2008. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  11. ^ Tim Peeler (September 29, 2008). "Devine Records MLB-low ERA of 0.59". MLB.com. Retrieved October 9, 2008. [dead link]
  12. ^ a b "A's Agree to Terms with RHP Joey Devine". MLB.com. December 2, 2009. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  13. ^ "Oakland RHP Joey Devine has elbow surgery". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 21, 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  14. ^ Ken Plutnicki (July 28, 2011). "A's Demote Reliever After Wildness at Stadium". New York Times. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
  15. ^ Stiglich, Joe (April 10, 2012). "Reliever Joey Devine has second Tommy John procedure; will miss season". The Mercury News. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  16. ^ a b Walton, Carroll Rogers (January 27, 2017). "Baby Braves are forever connected". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
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