Aaron Sele

He went 5–1, 2.29 in 1st 8 starts through May 18 before going 3–6, 4.79 in final 14 outings despite allowing 3 or fewer earned runs in 8 of final 14 games.

His complete games came in consecutive starts, May 11 against Milwaukee and May 18 in Baltimore.

Sele was drafted out of high school in the 37th round by the Minnesota Twins, but he chose to attend Washington State University where he played college baseball for the Cougars and head coach Bobo Brayton.

Another incoming freshman was catcher Scott Hatteberg.

During Sele and Hatteberg's three years at Washington State, they won three conference titles.

Aaron Helmer Sele (born June 25, 1970) is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who is currently a special assignment scout for the Chicago Cubs.

His family moved to Poulsbo, Washington, a town on the Kitsap Peninsula, where he pitched for North Kitsap High School.

He helped lead the North Kitsap Vikings to the 1988 state championship.

In Sele's sophomore year, 1990, the Cougars ended a surprising season ranked 18th in the nation.

Sele won his first seven decisions and finished at 12–3 with 2.22 ERA.

He was named a third-team All-American by Baseball America.

In the summer of 1990, Sele pitched for Team USA and, in one game, shut out Cuba on three hits and eight strikeouts.

Sele was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the first-round (#23 overall) of the 1991 Major League Baseball draft.

He had a team-best 4 complete games at Winter Haven and also pitched in the Florida Instructional League.

He was a co-winner of the Tony Latham Memorial Award for player with the most enthusiasm.

Sele advanced quickly through the Red Sox farm system, with stops at Lynchburg and New Britain in 1992.

Sele began his third pro season with Triple-A Pawtucket and pitched a one-hit 7-inning shutout in his first Triple-A start on April 10 at Columbus and was 4–0, 1.98 in final 6 starts.

He was purchased from Pawtucket on June 22, 1993.

Sele defeated Minnesota, 3–1 in his major league debut on June 23 at Fenway Park (7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER).

He struck out future Hall of Fame member Dave Winfield for his first major league strikeout.

Sele was 6–0 with a 2.72 ERA (15 earned runs in 49 2⁄3 IP) in his first 8 MLB starts.

He was the third Red Sox rookie to ever win as many as his first 6 decisions.

This streak ended on August 12 against the New York Yankees.

He had 7 consecutive no decisions, August 22-September 22, despite a 2.38 ERA in that span, and fanned 11 on September 28 against the Detroit Tigers.

He allowed 3 or fewer earned runs in all 18 starts and held opponents to a .237 batting average (.229 vs. left-handers).

Despite making only 18 starts, he was selected as the AL Rookie Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News and the Red Sox Rookie of the Year.

He finished 3rd in BBWAA AL Rookie of the Year voting and was named to Major League Rookie All-Star team by Baseball Digest and also named International League Most Valuable Pitcher and the starting pitcher on the IL's post-season all-star team by Baseball America.

On September 6, 1993 while pitching against the White Sox in Chicago, Sele was involved in one of baseball's more memorable fights.

After two consecutive inside pitches, George Bell charged the mound.

Sele, seeming to have a plan, did not move until Bell was feet from him, about to throw a punch.

At the last second, Sele ducked to his left as Bell threw the punch and the burly Mo Vaughn, having rushed to the mound from first base, ran into Bell.

Bell flipped backwards, crashing to the ground as both of the benches emptied and the teams made their way to the mound.

In 1994, Sele finished 2nd on the Red Sox staff in starts, complete games, innings, and strikeouts and tied for 2nd in wins.

Sele was the Opening Day starter in 1995, April 26 against Minnesota, and worked 5 scoreless innings in a 9–0 victory.

He made just six starts, going 3–1, 3.06 and allowing right-handed batters to hit just .194 (13-67).

He experienced soreness in his right arm after start on May 23 at Seattle and was placed on the 15-day disabled list on June 2 (retroactive to May 24).

He made 2 rehab starts each at Sarasota, Trenton, and Pawtucket from June 21-August 22, going 0–1 with a 3.60 ERA (20 IP, 8 ER) but continued to experience soreness and was moved to the 60-day disabled list for the remainder of the season on August 31.

In 1996, Sele ranked fourth on the Boston staff in starts, innings, strikeouts, and wins.

He was placed on the 15-day disabled list on August 16 (retroactive to August 14) with a strained muscle in his left rib cage and made one start on rehab assignment on August 26 for Pawtucket before being activated on September 1.

Sele led the Red Sox in 1997 in wins and starts while ranking third in innings and strikeouts.