Aaron Harang

Harang was only the ninth pitcher since 1960 to lead the National League in both wins and strikeouts (it has occurred 12 times in baseball history).

Aaron Michael Harang (born May 9, 1978) is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher.

He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Atlanta Braves.

Harang graduated from Patrick Henry High School, then went on to San Diego State University.

He was first drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 22nd round of the 1996 amateur draft, but did not sign with the team.

In 1998, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

After college, Harang was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 6th round of the 1999 draft and signed with them.

He played for the rookie-class Pulaski Rangers in 1999, finishing with a 9–2 record and 2.30 ERA in 16 appearances (10 starts), including one complete game shutout.

He was selected as the Appalachian League Pitcher of the Year and made the postseason all-star team.

In 2000, with the Charlotte Rangers, he was 13–5 with a 3.32 ERA in 27 starts and was selected as a Florida State League All-Star.

In 2000, Harang was traded with minor leaguer Ryan Cullen to the Oakland Athletics for Randy Velarde.

He played with the AA Midland RockHounds in 2001, starting 27 games with a 10–8 record and 4.14 ERA.

He became the first Reds pitcher with 200 innings in a season since right-hander Elmer Dessens led the staff with 205 innings pitched in 2001.

He received votes for NL Pitcher of the Month in May after going 3–1 with 1.93 ERA over five starts.

Harang made his Major League debut for the Athletics on May 25, 2002, against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

He pitched seven shutout innings in his debut, with 10 strikeouts, to record the win.

He started 15 games for the team that season, and also made 1 relief appearance.

He finished 5–4 with a 4.83 ERA.

In 2003, he started 6 games, with a 1–3 record and 5.34 ERA.

During the 2003 season, Harang was traded to the Reds along with Joe Valentine and minor leaguer Jeff Bruksch for José Guillén.

In 2004, he went 10–9 with a 4.83 ERA for the Reds.

In 2005, Harang led the team in wins (11), quality starts (19), innings pitched (211 2⁄3), and strikeouts (163), all of which were career highs.

In his third start of the season, 11 days after Opening Day, Harang pitched 7 shutout innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, who were starting 2005 Cy Young Award winner Chris Carpenter.

Harang would give up 4 hits, get 4 strikeouts, and also had the only RBI of the game as the Reds won 1–0.

Harang also pitched a complete game shutout against the Milwaukee Brewers on April 23, allowing five hits as the Reds won 11–0.

In the 2006 season, Harang pitched on Opening Day for the Reds on April 3 against the Chicago Cubs and allowed 9 runs (6 earned) over 5 innings.

In the 2006 season, Harang led the National League in complete games with six and strikeouts with 216, surpassing Jake Peavy's strikeout total of 215 in his final regular season game.

Harang was also the most consistent pitcher on the 2006 Reds staff.

However, he did not receive any votes for the National League Cy Young Award (Brandon Webb won the award in 2006).

All previous pitchers that led the National League in both categories have won the award.

On February 6, 2007, Harang signed a four-year, $36.5 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds.

On July 23, 2007, Harang threw ten innings for the Reds (throwing 121 pitches), becoming the first Reds pitcher to do so since 1989.

On September 3, 2007, he became the victim of the 3,000th strikeout recorded by the New York Mets' Pedro Martínez.

Harang ended the season with an NL-leading 4.19 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 12 wild pitches.

In 2008, he led the major in home runs given up at home, with 19.

In the second inning of a game at Wrigley Field in Chicago against the Cubs on July 24, 2009, Harang hit his first career home run, a three-run shot to left field off of pitcher Randy Wells.

He missed the end of the 2009 MLB season after undergoing an emergency appendectomy.

He ended the year with a 4.21 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 6–14 record.

On September 10, 2010, it was announced that Harang would be sent to the bullpen due to ineffectiveness (5.32 ERA) and having been on the DL for two months due to back spasms.

However, he received a no-decision because the Reds did not win the game until the 12th inning.