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Derek West (baseball)
Derek John West (born December 2, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. CareerAmateurWest attended University High School in Orange City, Florida. As a junior, he tore his hamstring playing for the school's basketball team, and was told that he would not play baseball again; the pain went away after eight weeks and he was able to continue playing.[1] He transferred to Trinity Christian Academy in Deltona, Florida, in 2014. His fastball reached 94 miles per hour (151 km/h) as a senior. He committed to attend the University of Pittsburgh to play college baseball for the Pittsburgh Panthers.[2] West missed his freshman year due to recovery from Tommy John surgery and his sophomore year due to surgery to repair his anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee. In 2018, he had a 3.24 earned run average (ERA) and 47 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched. The Atlanta Braves selected West in the 28th round of the 2018 MLB draft. He opted not to sign so that he could return to Pittsburgh for his senior year.[3][4] In 2019, he had a 3.82 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 68+1⁄3 innings.[5] Houston AstrosThe Houston Astros drafted West in the 14th round, with the 436th overall selection, of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft, and he signed. He made his professional debut with the Low–A Tri-City ValleyCats, making 13 appearances and recording a 6.75 ERA with 25 strikeouts. West did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] West returned to action in 2021, splitting the year between the rookie–level Florida Complex League Astros and High–A Asheville Tourists. In 8 appearances for the two affiliates, he logged a 6.52 ERA with 15 strikeouts across 9+2⁄3 innings. West spent the 2022 season with Asheville and the Double–A Corpus Christi Hooks, accumulating a 4.45 ERA with 68 strikeouts and 6 saves across 39 relief appearances. While he played for Asheville in 2022, West could pitch at 98 miles per hour (158 km/h).[7] West spent the 2023 season back with Corpus Christi, posting a 5.54 ERA with 14 strikeouts across 10 games. On March 17, 2024, West was released by the Astros organization.[8] Rieleros de AguascalientesOn April 7, 2024, West signed with the Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican League.[9] In 16 starts for Aguascalientes, he compiled a 6–2 record and 5.18 ERA with 59 strikeouts across 73 innings pitched. West was released by the Rieleros on October 23.[10] International careerWest is of Dutch descent through his maternal grandparents.[11] He was named to the Netherlands national baseball team for the 2023 World Baseball Classic.[12] References
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