Mike Minor

Michael David Minor (born December 26, 1987) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.

Minor had an outstanding high school career at Forrest School in Chapel Hill, Tennessee and was drafted in the 13th round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after his senior season.

However, he did not sign, choosing to attend Vanderbilt University.

Minor played at Vanderbilt University with fellow future first round draft picks Pedro Alvarez and David Price.

Minor pitched for the United States National Team (Collegiate) in 2007 and 2008.

One highlight of the 2008 season was his earning the 4–1 win over Cuba in the championship game of the Haarlem Baseball Week tournament in The Netherlands.

This victory marked the first time in recorded history that a United States Collegiate National Team has defeated the Cuba Olympic Team in a tournament title game.

In the 2008 World University Baseball Championship held in Brno, Czech Republic, Minor led Team USA to its third gold medal alongside Stephen Strasburg.

In the tournament, he was 1–0 with a 1.15 ERA and 16 strikeouts, allowing eight hits in 15 innings for Team USA.

In 2008, he was named Baseball America's Summer Player of the Year.

He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves with the seventh overall pick in the 2009 MLB draft.

He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, and Cincinnati Reds.

Minor was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the first round (seventh overall) in the 2009 Major League Baseball draft and represented the United States in the 2010 All-Star Futures Game.

Those 12 strikeouts set an Atlanta Braves rookie strikeout record in a single game; surpassing Tommy Hanson's 11 strikeouts in 2009.

Minor made his major-league debut on August 9, 2010 against the Houston Astros.

He recorded his first strikeout against Chris Johnson.

On the night, he went six innings giving up five hits and four runs (three earned) while walking one and striking out five batters; he got a no-decision.

In his next start on August 17, 2010, Minor went six innings giving up five hits and two earned runs and got his first major league victory.

Then, in his third career start against the Chicago Cubs, Minor went six innings giving up three earned runs while striking out 12 and earning his second career victory.

On August 18, 2011, in a game against the San Francisco Giants, Minor pitched six scoreless innings including facing the minimum number of batters over the last four innings.

This victory was the first time in 17 major league starts that Minor did not give up a run.

The Braves eventually won the game in the 12th inning on Justin Upton's two-run home run.

On May 25, 2013, Minor hit his first career home run off Dillon Gee of the New York Mets in a 6–0 win.

On August 22, 2014, Minor pitched 7 2⁄3 no-hit innings, before giving up an RBI single to the Reds' Billy Hamilton.

Minor finished the 2014 season with a 6–12 record and 4.77 ERA, pitching most of the year with a sore shoulder.

In 2015, Minor became the first Brave since John Rocker in 2001 to challenge the team in an arbitration hearing.

He won and was awarded $5.6 million.

On March 3, 2015, Minor again began feeling tightness in his shoulder and was diagnosed with rotator cuff inflammation.

As a result, he was placed on the disabled list on March 10.

Minor attempted to start throwing programs in mid-March and early April, but felt discomfort both times.

He was moved to the 60-day disabled list on May 2.

Eleven days later, Minor underwent surgery for a torn labrum, and missed the rest of the season.

Minor became a free agent on December 2, 2015, when the Braves opted not to tender him a contract.

Minor signed a two-year contract with the Kansas City Royals worth $7.25 million with a club option worth $10 million for the 2018 season on February 19, 2016.

Minor started the 2016 season on the disabled list.

The Royals planned for Minor to return in the second half of the season, but persistent fatigue and discomfort in his shoulder forced Minor to stay on the disabled list for the rest of the season.

Because of his troubles staying healthy, the Royals announced that Minor would pitch out of the bullpen in 2017.

A move to relief brought tremendous results for Minor, who saw his average fastball velocity climb to nearly 95 miles per hour, compared to 91 miles per hour as a starter.

Minor would emerge as one of the Royals best relievers, finishing with a 2.55 ERA and six saves, with 88 strikeouts in 772⁄3 innings.

Despite his success out of the bullpen, Minor returned to starting in 2018.