Huston Street

Huston Lowell Street (born August 2, 1983) is an American former professional baseball pitcher.

He played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Angels.

Street attended Westlake High School in Austin, Texas, from 1997 to 2001, where he lettered in both football and baseball, winning all-state and all-district honors in both sports.

He then attended the University of Texas at Austin from 2001 to 2004, where he pitched for the school's baseball team.

Statistically one of the best collegiate closers of all time, Street is in the top 20 for career saves (41) and fewest hits allowed per nine innings (5.46).

Street received All-American honors at Texas every season he was there, and helped his team win the College World Series of collegiate baseball in 2002.

In that season, he set a CWS record for the most saves and was named Most Outstanding Player.

He won the USA Baseball Richard W. "Dick" Case Award in 2003.

He was rewarded for his effort by being named Rookie of the Year, as the third player in a row who had spent some time in the Athletics organization (after Ángel Berroa in 2003, and Bobby Crosby in 2004).

After a standout college baseball career for the Texas Longhorns, the Athletics drafted Street in the first round of the 2004 MLB draft.

A year later, Street led the Longhorns to the Series semifinals, and in 2004, he helped his team to the finals, only to lose in two games to Cal State Fullerton.

Drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the first round, 40th overall, of the 2004 MLB draft, Street spent a few months in the minor leagues, spending no more than a month at each level.

He then was invited to the Arizona Fall League where his team took the championship.

He won the MLB Rookie of the Year Award in 2005, and was named an All-Star in 2012 and 2014.

Street was called up to MLB at the start of the 2005 season.

He became Oakland's closer when incumbent Octavio Dotel went down in May with an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery.

Street saved 23 games in 27 chances to go along with a 5–1 record, 72 strikeouts, and a 1.72 ERA.

Only Mariano Rivera's 1.38 ERA for the Yankees was better among American League relievers.

Street had 72 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched, and opposing hitters batted only .194 against him.

Street continued to serve as the closer for the A's in 2006.

He finished the season with a 4-4 record, 37 saves, 67 strikeouts, a 3.31 ERA in 70.2 innings pitched, and 11 blown saves.

On October 14, Street gave up a walk-off three-run home run to Magglio Ordóñez of the Detroit Tigers in Game 4 of the 2006 ALCS that ended the A's postseason.

Street had a solid season in 2007, despite missing time with an injury.

He went 5–2 with a 2.88 ERA, with 16 saves and 62 strikeouts in 50 innings.

Street struggled somewhat with a nagging injury in 2008.

After a rough stretch in July and August, he lost his closer position to rookie Brad Ziegler.

Street's health and pitching improved, although Ziegler continued to close.

On November 12, 2008, Street was traded to the Colorado Rockies with outfielder Carlos González and pitcher Greg Smith for outfielder Matt Holliday.

He beat out Manny Corpas to earn the role of the Rockies' closing pitcher for the 2009 season.

After poor performances by Street, Corpas was renamed the closer on April 17; however, Corpas also pitched poorly, and the closer job was given back to Street on May 1.

Since that time, Street excelled in the closer role and was a key cog in the Rockies' mid-season run back into the race (16–1 from June 4 to 22).

He finished 2009 with 35 saves in 37 opportunities, a 3.06 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 61.2 innings.

After a 2009 season in which he blew only two saves, Street struggled during the playoffs for the Rockies.

In Game 4 of the 2009 National League Division Series, Street entered the ninth inning with the Rockies leading 4–2.

He was able to record the first two outs before allowing three runs that gave the Phillies a 5–4 win and a series victory.

In 2010, Street was named to the NCAA College World Series Legends Team.

Before the 2010 season, Street and the Rockies agreed on a three-year $22.5 million contract with an option for 2013.

Street missed the first 2 1⁄2 months of the season of the 2010 season with shoulder soreness, but on returning to the team he assumed the role of closer.

Prior to a game on July 26, 2010, Street was struck in the midsection by a line drive during batting practice.

He fainted several times from the pain and needed to be taken off the field in an ambulance, but he avoided the disabled list.