Austin Adams (baseball, born 1986)

Austin Adams
Adams in 2010
Pitcher
Born: (1986-08-19) August 19, 1986 (age 38)
Montgomery, Alabama, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
July 12, 2014, for the Cleveland Indians
Last MLB appearance
July 6, 2019, for the Detroit Tigers
MLB statistics
Win–loss record2–0
Earned run average6.45
Strikeouts58
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Austin David Adams (born August 19, 1986) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Minnesota Twins, and Detroit Tigers.

Amateur career

Adams attended Stanhope Elmore High School in Millbrook, Alabama and played college baseball for Faulkner University. With Faulkner, he played shortstop and pitched; as a shortstop, he had a .372 batting average with 29 home runs.[1] In 2008, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Hyannis Mets of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[2][3]

Professional career

Cleveland Indians

He was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 2009 MLB draft.[4] He began his minor league career with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League. In 17 games, he had a win–loss record of 3–1 and an earned run average (ERA) of 4.86. The following season, he pitched for the Lake County Captains of the Class A Midwest League and the Kinston Indians of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League. Adams pitched in 13 games each for the two squads, and with Kinston he had a 6–1 record and a 1.53 ERA. Between both teams, he had 112 strikeouts in 112 innings pitched.[5]

In 2011, Adams spent the season with the Akron Aeros of the Class AA Eastern League, where he had an 11–10 record, a 3.77 ERA, and 131 strikeouts in 26 appearances. He was invited to spring training with the Indians the following year, but suffered a shoulder injury. He had surgery on it in may of that year, and missed the 2012 season.[6] In 2013, the Indians converted him into a relief pitcher and assigned him to the Aeros for the season. He had a 2.62 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 45 games; the Indians added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[7]

Adams began the 2014 season with the Columbus Clippers of the Class AAA International League, and spent the first three months of the season with them. He was promoted to the Indians on July 11 after pitching in 30 games for the Clippers, and he made his major league debut the following day.[1] Adams made 28 appearances for the Indians in 2015, compiling a 3.78 ERA and earning 1 save.[8] On February 7, 2017, Adams was designated for assignment by the Indians.[9]

Los Angeles Angels

On February 10, 2017, the Indians traded Adams to the Los Angeles Angels for a player to be named later or cash considerations.[10] He was designated for assignment on April 2. On April 5, Adams cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees. He would pitch in 6 games split between Salt Lake and the rookie–level Orem Owlz, registering a 3.60 ERA with four strikeouts and one save across 5.0 innings pitched. Adams elected free agency following the season on November 6.[11]

Sugar Land Skeeters

On June 1, 2018, Adams signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[12]

Minnesota Twins

On August 19, 2018, Adams's contract was purchased by the Minnesota Twins, and he was assigned to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts.[13] He opened the 2019 season with the Rochester Red Wings.[14] On May 16, his contract was selected and he was called up to the major league roster.[15] he made his Twins debut on May 18 and pitched 2 scoreless innings.

Detroit Tigers

On May 26, 2019, the Detroit Tigers claimed Adams off waivers after the Twins designated him for assignment.[16] He made his Tigers debut on June 1. On July 7, he was designated for assignment. He appeared in 13 games, pitching to a 5.14 ERA. He elected free agency on September 30.

Minnesota Twins (second stint)

On January 28, 2020, Adams signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins organization. Adams did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] On November 2, he elected free agency.[18]

Lexington Legends

On July 5, 2021, Adams signed with the Lexington Legends of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.[19][20] Adams made 36 appearances for Lexington in 2021, posting a 4–4 record and 2.68 ERA with 8 saves and 36 strikeouts in 37 innings pitched. Adams struggled in 2022, pitching to a 5.46 ERA while collecting 14 saves and 40 strikeouts in 31+13 innings of work. He was released by the Legends on August 2, 2022.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b Inabinett, Mark (July 11, 2014). "Austin Adams gets first call to big leagues, joining Cleveland Indians". AL.com. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  2. ^ "2008 Hyannis Mets". thebaseballcube.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  3. ^ "CCBL rookies making their mark in first half of MLB season". capecodbaseball.org. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  4. ^ "BASEBALL DRAFT: Cleveland rocks for Faulkner's Adams". Montgomery Advertiser. June 11, 2009. Retrieved December 3, 2013. (subscription required)
  5. ^ "Austin Adams Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  6. ^ Meisel, Zack (March 13, 2014). "Austin Adams' rifle of a right arm wowed the Indians before they sent him down". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland.com. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  7. ^ "Indians add five players to 40-man roster". Cleveland Indians. MLB. November 20, 2013. Archived from the original on March 26, 2014. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  8. ^ "Austin Adams Stats".
  9. ^ Bastian, Jordan (February 7, 2017). "Indians make deal with Logan official". MLB.com. Archived from the original on February 8, 2017. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  10. ^ Adler, David (February 10, 2017). "Angels acquire pitcher Adams from Indians". MLB.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2017. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
  11. ^ "Minor League Free Agents 2017". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  12. ^ Sugar Land Skeeters (August 21, 2018). "Minnesota Twins Purchase Contract of RHP Austin Adams". sugarlandskeeters.com. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  13. ^ RotoWire Staff (August 20, 2018). "Twins' Austin Adams: Signs minor-league deal with Twins". CBS Sports. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  14. ^ Nate Rowan (April 1, 2019). "Red Wings Opening Day Roster Set". redwingsbaseball.mlblogs.com. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  15. ^ La Velle E. Neal III (May 16, 2019). "Twins set to call up reliever Austin Adams to replace Trevor Hildenberger". StarTribune. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  16. ^ "Detroit Tigers claim reliever Austin Adams from Twins". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  17. ^ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". June 30, 2020.
  18. ^ "Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  19. ^ "Atlantic League Professional Baseball: Transactions".
  20. ^ "Lexington Legends Sign Two MLB Pitchers, 2018 All Star - OurSports Central". July 7, 2021.
  21. ^ "Atlantic League Professional Baseball: Transactions".