Eric Surkamp

Eric Michael Surkamp (born July 16, 1987) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who played for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Oakland Athletics from 2011 to 2016.

Eric Michael Surkamp was born July 16, 1987, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Growing up, he always enjoyed watching left-handed pitchers, particularly Andy Pettitte.

At Moeller High School, he was the number two pitcher in the baseball team's starting rotation, behind Andrew Brackman.

Growing up, Surkamp helped Moeller High School become Ohio state baseball champions in 2004.

As a junior in 2004, he posted an 0.44 earned run average (ERA) and won all eight of his decisions, striking out 81 batters while giving up only 26 hits in 48 innings pitched.

Brackman and he went a combined 15–0, helping their school win its fourth state championship, with Surkamp getting the start in the championship game.

After graduating Moeller in 2005, Surkamp attended North Carolina State University (NC State), where he played college baseball for the Wolfpack and was again a teammate of Brackman.

In 18 games (12 starts) as a freshman in 2006, he posted a 2–3 record, a 5.10 ERA, 48 strikeouts, and 32 walks in 60 innings pitched.

Following the college season, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Orleans Cardinals of the Cape Cod Baseball League.

In 13 games (five starts), he had a 3–2 record, a 2.37 ERA, 38 strikeouts, 23 walks, and 23 hits allowed in 38 innings.

He played college baseball at North Carolina State University (NC State) and was a member of Team USA in 2007.

As a sophomore in 2007, Surkamp was selected to the second All-Atlantic Coast Conference team.

In 16 starts, he had a 4–5 record, a 3.47 ERA, 84 strikeouts, 27 walks, and 92 hits allowed in 96 innings pitched.

He tried out for Team USA in 2007; after initially not getting selected, he pitched for Orleans again.

In five games (four starts), he had a 2–0 record, a 1.85 ERA, 26 strikeouts, eight walks, and 20 hits allowed in 24 1⁄3 innings.

He was then added to Team USA's roster in late July due to an injury, and he made two appearances in the World Port Tournament in Rotterdam.

Again making 16 starts for the Wolfpack in his senior year, he had a 5–3 record, a 4.89 ERA, 86 strikeouts, 40 walks, and 76 hits allowed in 73 2⁄3 innings pitched.

Drafted by the Giants in the sixth round in the 2008 MLB Draft, he was called up in August 2011 after posting a 2.02 earned run average (ERA), which led the Eastern League.

He was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the sixth round of the 2008 Major League Baseball (MLB) Draft.

Upon signing with the Giants' organization in 2008, Surkamp was briefly assigned to the rookie-level Arizona League Giants.

He appeared in just two games for them before getting promoted to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes of the Single-A short season Northwest League.

In five games (four starts), he had an 0–2 record, a 6.43 ERA, 16 strikeouts, five walks, and 20 hits allowed in 14 innings pitched.

For the 2009 season, Surkamp joined the Single-A Augusta Greenjackets of the South Atlantic League.

In 23 starts, he had an 11–5 record and a 3.30 ERA in 130 innings pitched.

His 11 wins tied with Johnny Dorn for second in the league behind Charles Leesman's 13, and his 169 strikeouts were second to Matt Moore's 176.

Promoted to the Single-A Advanced San Jose Giants of the California League at the end of the year, Surkamp made two playoff starts for the team.

On September 19, 2009, he started the third game of the California League Championship Series against the High Desert Mavericks.

He had a 2–2 record with the Giants and was considered a fringe candidate for the team's Opening Day roster in 2012, though he wound up missing that season due to Tommy John surgery.

He made only one start for the Giants in 2013, allowing seven runs in 2 2⁄3 innings.

in a 9–3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

Following the year, Surkamp was claimed off waivers by the White Sox.

Used exclusively as a relief pitcher by them in 2014, he appeared in 35 games, posting a 4.81 ERA.

He failed to make their roster in 2015 and was traded to the Dodgers in May, making one appearance with the team in July.

He also pitched for the Hanwha Eagles of the KBO League in 2016.

Surkamp batted and threw left-handed with his fastball averaging 89 mph.

A free agent after that year, he signed a minor league contract with the Athletics for 2016.

Called up four times in 2016, he made nine starts for Oakland but posted an 0–5 record.

In the latter part of the season, he pitched for Hanwha in the KBO League, initially as a starting pitcher, though he was moved to the bullpen after posting an 0–3 record in a little over a month.

Following his professional career, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business from NC State and became a Cincinnati-area realtor for Comey & Shepherd.