Jesse Crain

Jesse Alan Crain (born July 5, 1981) is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox.

Jesse Crain
Crain with the Chicago White Sox
Pitcher
Born: (1981-07-05) July 5, 1981
Toronto, Ontario
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 5, 2004, for the Minnesota Twins
Last MLB appearance
June 29, 2013, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
Win–loss record45–30
Earned run average3.05
Strikeouts440
Teams
Career highlights and awards

High school and college

Crain was born in Toronto, Ontario and attended Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado, where he played baseball, basketball, and football. He was named 1999 All-State and Colorado High School Player of the Year. He was a 2001 graduate of San Jacinto Junior College in Texas, where he was an All-Conference shortstop. In 2002, he transferred to the University of Houston and was named to the all-conference team as a shortstop and relief pitcher, the all-conference tournament team as a shortstop,[1] and the conference all-academic team. He was named first team All-America by Baseball America and Baseball Weekly and second team All-America by the ABCA.

Minor leagues

Crain was drafted and signed in 2002, playing at the rookie level, and low-A minor league levels going 3–2 (wins/losses) with an 0.99 earned run average combined. In 2003, he managed to pitch at all three levels in the minor leagues, going 6–3 with a 3.00 ERA. In 2004, he pitched with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings and went 3–2 with a 2.49 ERA before being called up by the Minnesota Twins.

Major leagues

Minnesota Twins
Crain pitching for the Twins in 2006.

Crain was called up by the Minnesota Twins in early August 2004, going 3–0 with a 2.00 ERA. In 2005, he made the major league roster. Starting the season 8–0, he set a record for most consecutive wins in relief to start a career.

On May 17, 2007, Crain was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a torn rotator cuff and labrum. He missed the rest of the season after undergoing surgery.

Crain returned to the team in 2008. He stepped up, along with Craig Breslow, to fill the eighth-inning setup role formerly occupied by Pat Neshek, who was placed on the 60-day disabled list on May 29 with an acute tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm. He went 5–4 for the season, with a 3.59 ERA in 66 games.

Jesse Crain celebrates a 2006 Twins win with Joe Mauer

Chicago White Sox

After the 2010 season, Crain signed a three-year contract with the Chicago White Sox.[2]

Crain was used as the setup man for 2013. From April 17 to June 22, Crain pitched 29 straight scoreless appearances, a franchise record. On July 3, Crain was placed on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain.[3] In 38 games with Chicago, Crain went 2-3 with 19 holds and a 0.74 ERA, striking out 46 in 36.2 innings. Crain was elected to the All-Star Game, but since he was injured, he was replaced by Justin Masterson.

Tampa Bay Rays

Crain was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on July 29, 2013, for future considerations.[4] Crain was activated off the disabled list on September 23,[5] but he did not appear in the regular or post season. On October 16, the compensation for the White Sox in the trade was named as minor-leaguers Sean Bierman and Ben Kline.

Houston Astros

On December 31, 2013, he agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Houston Astros.[6] He was placed on the 60-day DL on March 21.[7] He did not play a single game for the Astros.

Second stint with the White Sox

The White Sox signed Crain to a minor league contract on January 22, 2015.[8]

World Baseball Classic

Crain was selected to represent Canada at the World Baseball Classic. In the first game of the 2006 edition of the Classic, Crain came into the game in the 9th inning. He got the save as Canada beat the South Africans 11–8.

In the 2009 World Baseball Classic, Crain struck out all four batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings. Canada ended up losing the game to Italy.[9]

References
  1. "2012 Conference USA Baseball Media Guide" (PDF). p. 93. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 June 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  2. http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=5939595
  3. Padilla, Doug (July 3, 2013). "Jesse Crain, Paul Konerko on DL". ESPN Chicago.
  4. Mastrodonato, Jason (July 29, 2013). "Rays acquire injured White Sox reliever Crain". MLB.com. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  5. Snyder, Matt (September 23, 2013). "Rays finally activate July acquisition Jesse Crain". CBS Sports.
  6. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/hou/astros-sign-houston-product-jesse-crain-to-bolster-bullpen?ymd=20131231&content_id=66250406&vkey=news_hou
  7. http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/73981844/astros-sign-left-hander-tony-sipp-to-bullpen
  8. http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/01/white-sox-sign-jesse-crain-scott-carroll-to-minor-league-deals.html
  9. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Jesse_Crain
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