Mike Grzanich

Grzanich was born in Canton, Illinois, on August 24, 1972. He attended Lewistown High School and Parkland College.[1]

Grzanich was a 19th-round draft pick of the Houston Astros during the 1992 MLB draft.[1] He made his professional debut for the GCL Astros last that year, posting a 2–5 record and an earned run average of 4.54 in 17 appearances.[2]

In 1993, Grzanich was promoted to the Single–A Auburn Astros of the New York–Penn League. He made 14 starts, with a 5–8 record and a 4.82 ERA. He also struck out 71 batters in 93.1 innings.[2]

Grzanich spent 1994 with the Quad Cities River Bandits of the Single–A Midwest League. In 22 starts with Quad Cities, he went 11–7 with a 3.09 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 142.2 innings.[2]

For the 1995 season, Grzanich was promoted to the Double–A Jackson Generals of the Texas League. He was converted from a starting pitcher to a relief pitcher and made 50 appearances from the bullpen. He had a 5–3 record, an ERA of 2.74, and 8 saves. In 65.2 innings, Grzanich struck out 44 but also surrendered 38 bases on balls.[2]

Grzanish remained with Jackson in 1996. He made 57 relief appearances, posting a 5–4 record, 6 saves, and an ERA of 3.98. Over 72.1 innings, he struck out 80 batters and walked 43.[2]

In 1997, Grzanich spent a third consecutive season with the Jackson Generals. He made 38 appearances (13 starts) and tallied a 7–6 record and 12 saves. His ERA was 4.96 over 101.2 innings, and he totaled 73 strikeouts and 46 walks.[2]

Grzanich was promoted to the Triple–A New Orleans Zephyrs of the Pacific Coast League for the 1998 season. He made 34 appearances for New Orleans, recording a 1–1 record, a 2.27 ERA, and 5 saves.[2] He also made his MLB debut on May 14 against the Pittsburgh Pirates and surrendered two earned runs in an inning of relief.[1] On January 27, 1999, Grzanich was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Tigers.[3]

1999 was Grzanich's final season in affiliated baseball. He struggled with the Triple–A Toledo Mud Hens, posting a 9.28 ERA in 14 appearances. He struck out 17 batters in 21.1 innings, but also recorded 25 walks.[2]

After spending 2000 out of professional baseball, in 2001 Grzanich joined the Yuma Bullfrogs of the independent Western League for what would be his final season. He saw action in 7 games (4 starts), posting an ERA of 10.43.[2]

Grzanich is married and has a daughter. After his playing career had ended, he paid $120 in an internet auction to buy the uniform he had worn during his lone MLB appearance.[4]

• Career statistics and player information from Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball-Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
• Pelota Binaria (Venezuelan Winter League)