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Steven Okert

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Steven Okert
Okert with the San Francisco Giants in 2017
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1991-07-09) July 9, 1991 (age 33)
Riverside, California, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
MLB debut
April 19, 2016, for the San Francisco Giants
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record15–11
Earned run average3.92
Strikeouts253
Teams

Steven Chandler Okert (born July 9, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants, Miami Marlins, and Minnesota Twins. The Giants selected Okert in the fourth round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.

Amateur career

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Okert graduated from Rowlett High School in Rowlett, Texas.[1] The Milwaukee Brewers selected him in the 43rd round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft out of Grayson County College, but he did not sign and returned to Grayson. He was then drafted by the Brewers again in the 33rd round of the 2011 draft, but again did not sign and transferred to the University of Oklahoma.[2] In his lone season for the Oklahoma Sooners, he appeared in 30 games with five starts, going 9–8 with a 3.07 earned run average (ERA) and 78 strikeouts.

Professional career

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San Francisco Giants

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Minor leagues

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The San Francisco Giants selected Okert in the fourth round, with the 148th overall pick, of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.[3][4] He made his professional debut that season for the Arizona League Giants and also played for the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes. He had a 2.20 ERA in 28+2⁄3 innings. Okert played the 2013 season with the Augusta GreenJackets, recording a 2.97 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 60+2⁄3 innings. He started 2014 with the San Jose Giants. After recording a 1.53 ERA, 19 saves and 54 strikeouts in 35+1⁄3 innings, he was promoted to the Double-A Richmond Flying Squirrels.[5][6] The Giants added him to their 40-man roster after the 2015 season.[7]

Major leagues

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Okert was called up to the San Francisco Giants on April 19, 2016.[8] Okert made his major league debut later that day against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He pitched 2 scoreless innings, getting a batter to ground into a double play and recorded his first two major league strikeouts.[9] Okert struck out in his first MLB at-bat, coming against left-handed relief pitcher Adam Liberatore of the Dodgers. In 16 games, Okert pitched 14 innings, recording 14 strikeouts with a 3.21 ERA.

Okert started the 2017 season with Triple-A Sacramento, but was called up to the Giants in April.[10] On May 3, 2017, Okert recorded his first major league win, pitching 12⁄3 innings of scoreless relief in an extra-inning victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.[11] Okert made 44 relief appearances and pitched 27 innings for the Giants during the 2017 season.

In 10 appearances for the Giants in 2018, Okert logged a 1.23 ERA. Okert was designated for assignment by the Giants on March 23, 2019,[12] and outrighted on March 26.[13] He spent the year in Triple-A with the Sacramento River Cats, posting a 8–2 record and 5.31 ERA in 50 appearances with the team. On November 4, he elected free agency.[14]

Miami Marlins

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On February 26, 2021, Okert signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins organization.[15] He was assigned to the Triple-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp to begin the year. In 15 appearances with Jacksonville, he logged a 2–0 record and 1.80 ERA. On June 29, Okert was selected to the active roster.[16] He made 34 relief appearances for the Marlins, recording a 2.75 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 36 innings.[17]

Okert made 60 appearances out of the bullpen in 2022, registering a 5–5 record and 2.98 ERA with 63 strikeouts across 51+1⁄3 innings pitched.[18] In 2023, Okert made 64 appearances for Miami and saw a slight regression in his numbers, posting a 4.45 ERA with 73 strikeouts across 58+2⁄3 innings of work.[19]

Minnesota Twins

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On February 11, 2024, the Marlins traded Okert to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Nick Gordon.[20] In 44 appearances for Minnesota, he compiled a 5.09 ERA with 33 strikeouts across 35+1⁄3 innings pitched. Okert was designated for assignment by the Twins on August 24.[21] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–A St. Paul Saints on August 26.[22] Okert elected free agency on October 1.[23]

References

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  1. ^ "San Francisco Giants Media Guide" (PDF). 2016. p. 148.
  2. ^ Hasson, Devin. "Former Eagles continue careers in minor leagues". Star Local.
  3. ^ "Giants conclude 2nd day of 2012 First-Year Player Draft". M.giants.mlb.com. June 5, 2012. Archived from the original on October 19, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  4. ^ "Giants take college pitchers with seven of first 10 draft picks". Blogs.mercurynews.com. June 5, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  5. ^ Times-Dispatch, TIM PEARRELL Richmond. "Squirrels' Okert developing into a reliever to watch". Richmond Times-Dispatch.
  6. ^ "Farm report: Giants prospect promoted, A's prospect mashing".
  7. ^ Haft, Chris (November 20, 2015). "Giants add eight pitchers to 40-man roster". M.giants.mlb.com. Archived from the original on November 21, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  8. ^ "George Kontos placed on DL, Chris Heston optioned by Giants". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  9. ^ Haft, Chris. "Okert relishes 'amazing' big league debut". MLB.com. Retrieved April 20, 2016.
  10. ^ Schulman, Henry (April 16, 2017). "Giants recall reliever Steven Okert to replace Jarrett Parker". San Francisco Chronicle.
  11. ^ Pavlovic, Alex (May 3, 2017). "Giants Notes: Okert's Beer Shower; Pair of Injured Players Sent to Arizona". NBC Sports Bay Area.
  12. ^ Ty Bradley (March 23, 2019). "Giants Acquire Michael Reed From Twins". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  13. ^ Steve Adams (March 28, 2019). "Outrighted: Duensing, Wilkerson, Okert". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  14. ^ Matt Eddy (November 7, 2019). "Minor League Free Agents 2019". Baseball America. Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  15. ^ Anthony Franco (February 28, 2021). "Minor MLB Transactions: 2/28/21". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  16. ^ Anthony Franco. "Marlins To Select Steven Okert". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  17. ^ "Steven Okert - Baseball Stats". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  18. ^ "Steven Okert - Stats - Pitching". fangraphs.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  19. ^ "Twins reliever Steven Okert transformed his career through a canceled minor league season". startribune.com. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  20. ^ De Nicola, Christina (February 11, 2024). "Marlins add utility man Gordon, trade Okert to Twins". mlb.com. Retrieved February 11, 2024.
  21. ^ "Twins Designate Steven Okert, Select Scott Blewett". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  22. ^ "Twins Outright Steven Okert". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  23. ^ https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-10-01
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