Chad Qualls

Chad Michael Qualls (born August 17, 1978) is an American former professional baseball pitcher.

He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays, San Diego Padres, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, Miami Marlins, and Colorado Rockies.

Qualls attended Narbonne High School in Harbor City, California, Los Angeles Harbor College (LAHC) in Wilmington, California, and the University of Nevada-Reno in Reno, Nevada.

After pitching for LAHC, he was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 52nd round of the 1997 MLB Draft, but he did not sign.

He transferred to the University of Nevada, where he played college baseball for the Nevada Wolf Pack's baseball team, competing in the Big West Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I.

He was named to the Big West Conference's second team in 1999.

In 2000, Qualls anchored the Wolf Pack's starting rotation with Darrell Rasner and Matt Rainer.

Qualls pitched seven complete games for the Wolf Pack.

Qualls was drafted in the second round of the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Houston Astros.

He began his career as a starting pitcher with the Michigan Battle Cats of the Class A Midwest League during the 2001 season.

In 2002 and 2003, he pitched for the Round Rock Express, which competed in the Class AA Texas League.

He was converted to relief during the 2004 season while with the New Orleans Zephyrs of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League.

Qualls made his major league debut with Astros on July 22, 2004.

He pitched the next three seasons for the Astros.

He recorded six saves and a 3.39 earned run average (ERA).

He became one of four pitchers who pitched in at least 70 games every season from 2004 through 2008.

Qualls joined with Dan Wheeler and Brad Lidge to form a strong bullpen, as the Astros reached the 2005 World Series.

Qualls served a three-game suspension for throwing a baseball into the stands.

On December 14, 2007, the Astros traded Qualls to the Arizona Diamondbacks, along with Chris Burke and Juan Gutiérrez, for José Valverde.

Qualls replaced Brandon Lyon as the closer for the Diamondbacks in mid-September 2008 after Lyon struggled in the second half of the season.

Qualls signed a $2.54 million contract with the Diamondbacks for the 2009 season.

He became their closer at the start of the 2009 season.

For the year, he recorded a 2–2 win–loss record, a 3.63 ERA, and 24 saves in 29 opportunities.

On August 30, 2009, he suffered a patellar dislocation on the final play of a winning effort against the Astros.

He required surgery and missed the rest of the season.

Qualls signed a one-year contract with the Diamondbacks for the 2010 season worth $4.185 million.

However, he struggled with the Diamondbacks that season, pitching to an 8.29 ERA with 12 saves.

On July 31, 2010, Qualls was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays for a player to be named later.

He pitched in 27 games for them with a 5.57 ERA.

Qualls signed with the Padres for the 2011 season and a $6 million team option for 2012.

He finished the 2011 season with a 6–8 record and 3.51 ERA in a team-high 77 appearances.

Qualls signed a $1.15 million, one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies on January 31, 2012.

On April 4, he was named to the opening day roster.

He began the year as the primary set-up reliever to closer Jonathan Papelbon.

With the Phillies, Qualls pitched to a 4.60 ERA in 35 games.

On July 1, 2012, Qualls was traded to the New York Yankees from the Phillies for a player to be named or cash.

He replaced the struggling Cory Wade in the bullpen, as Wade was demoted to the minor leagues.

On July 31, 2012, Qualls was traded from the Yankees to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Casey McGehee.

On Friday, January 25, 2013, Chad Qualls reportedly agreed to a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins.

Following a game on Tuesday, July 30, 2013, between the Marlins and Mets, Qualls became an overnight social media viral sensation.