Blaine Boyer

Blaine Thomas Boyer (born July 11, 1981) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves, St. Louis Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox and Kansas City Royals. He also played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers.

Blaine Boyer
Boyer pitching for the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2013
Pitcher
Born: (1981-07-11) July 11, 1981
Atlanta, Georgia
Batted: Right Threw: Right
Professional debut
MLB: June 12, 2005, for the Atlanta Braves
NPB: June 23, 2013, for the Hanshin Tigers
Last appearance
NPB: 2013, for the Hanshin Tigers
MLB: August 14, 2018, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
Win–loss record17–27
Earned run average4.55
Strikeouts292
NPB statistics
Win–loss record3–1
Earned run average2.67
Strikeouts21
Teams

Baseball career

Boyer attended George Walton Comprehensive High School in Marietta, Georgia. The Atlanta Braves selected him in the third round of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft. His first season of pro baseball was with the rookie league team the Gulf Coast Braves, where he went 1–3 with a 2.51 Earned run average (ERA).

Atlanta Braves
Boyer with the Atlanta Braves in 2008

Boyer went 4–5 with a 4.52 ERA and 57 strikeouts with the Danville Braves in 2001. The next year, he played with the Class A team the Macon Braves and led the bullpen with 73 strikeouts.

In 2003, Boyer stayed with the Macon Braves when they moved to Rome. That year he finished fifth in the league in wins with 12, and led the team in wins. He finished the year with a 12–8 record and a 3.69 ERA. He also recorded a minor-league career-high 115 strikeouts.

In 2004, Boyer played with Class A Myrtle Beach. He led the Carolina League with 154 innings pitched and was selected to the Carolina League All-Star team. He was elected the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week for the week of May 3 by The Sports Network.

On June 12, 2005, Boyer was called up to the major leagues directly from the AA Mississippi Braves, and made his debut that day against the Oakland Athletics. He went 4–1 with a 2.05 ERA in 23 games at Atlanta's home field, Turner Field. In Boyer's first season, playing for the Atlanta Braves as a midseason call-up, he went 4–2 with a 3.11 ERA in 37.2 innings. The following two seasons, he spent the majority of the time in the minors, collecting just 7 appearances total.

On May 14, 2008, Boyer pitched 1.1 innings to record his first Major League save, against the Philadelphia Phillies.[1] He played a career high 76 games, posting an ERA of 5.88 in 72 innings. He was designated for assignment the following season.

St.Louis Cardinals

On April 20, 2009, Boyer was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Brian Barton.[2] On June 4, Boyer was designated for assignment.[3] In 15 games for the Cardinals, he had a 4.41 ERA.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On June 8, 2009, Boyer was claimed by the Arizona Diamondbacks.[4] He pitched stellar for the D'Backs for the remainder of the 2009 season, posting a 2.68 ERA in 30 games. He remained with the team the following season, appearing in 54 games.

New York Mets
Boyer pitching for the New York Mets in 2011

Boyer signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets on January 21, 2011.[5] The deal included an invitation to spring training. On April 10, 2011, Boyer was designated for assignment.[6]

Pittsburgh Pirates

Boyer signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates on April 20, 2011.[7] He was released on June 18.[8]

Return to St. Louis

Boyer signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals on July 5, 2011. He was assigned to the Triple-A Memphis Redbirds.[9] He was released on August 13, after allowing 26 runs in 16 innings for Memphis.[10]

Kansas City Royals

Boyer retired from baseball in 2012.[11] He returned to baseball the next year, when he signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals on January 3, 2013.[12] He was released in May.

Hanshin Tigers
Boyer pitching for the Hanshin Tigers in 2013

Boyer subsequently signed with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball after his release from Kansas City.[13]

San Diego Padres

Boyer signed a minor league deal with the San Diego Padres on January 9, 2014.[14] His contract was selected from the Triple-A El Paso Chihuahuas on May 22.[15] He was designated for assignment on May 25, and outrighted back to El Paso on May 27.[16] He was called back up on June 15.[17] He became a free agent after the season. For the Padres, he ended with a 3.57 ERA in ​40 1⁄3.

Minnesota Twins
Boyer with the Minnesota Twins in 2015

On January 7, 2015, Boyer signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins.[18] The team announced that Boyer had made the Opening Day roster on March 30.[19] For the entire season, Boyer posted a career low 2.49 ERA in 68 games for the Twins.

Milwaukee Brewers

On February 12, 2016, Boyer signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers with an invitation to spring training,[20][21] and made the Opening Day roster with a contract worth $950,000.[22] In 61 games for the Brewers, he appeared in 61 games, posting an ERA of 3.95 with a 2-4 record.

Return to Atlanta

Boyer signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves on January 17, 2017.[23] He was released on March 25.[24]

Boston Red Sox

On April 3, 2017, Boyer signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox called up Boyer on May 28 2017. In 32 games for Boston, he was 1-1 in ​41 1⁄3.

Return to Kansas City

On February 7, 2018, Boyer signed a minor league deal with the Kansas City Royals.[25] His contract was purchased by the Royals on March 29, 2018. He appeared in 21 games, going 2-1 with a 12.05 ERA, before he was released on August 15, 2018.[26]

Personal life

Boyer is married to Ginsey,[11] with whom he has two sons.[27] In November 2015, working with non-profit group The Exodus Road, Boyer spent ten days undercover with former MLB first baseman (and his former Braves teammate) Adam LaRoche, helping to identify and rescue underage sex slaves in Southeast Asia.[28]

References
  1. Bowman, Mark (May 14, 2008). "Glavine exhales after garnering first win". MLB.com. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  2. "Cards deal Barton for Braves' Boyer". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 20, 2009. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  3. Leach, Matthew (June 4, 2009). "Cards call up Todd, designate Boyer". MLB.com. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  4. Gilbert, Steve (June 8, 2009). "D-backs claim Boyer off waivers". MLB.com. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  5. Fordin, Spencer (January 21, 2011). "Mets ink veteran Boyer to Minor League deal". MLB.com. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  6. "Mets calling up two relievers". ESPN. April 10, 2011. Retrieved April 10, 2011.
  7. "Pirates sign Boyer, Sinkbeil to minor league deals". USA Today. Associated Press. April 20, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  8. Axisa, Mike. "Pirates Release Blaine Boyer". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
  9. "Cardinals sign Boyer, Mahay to Minors deals". MLB.com. July 5, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  10. "Baby Birds: Boyer released by Memphis". MLB.com. August 13, 2011. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  11. Miller, Phil. "Twins reliever Boyer goes from retired to rehired". Star Tribune. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  12. Cotton, Gary (January 3, 2013). "Royals ink righty Boyer to Minor League deal". MLB.com. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  13. Dutton, Bob (May 21, 2013). "Follow-up exam confirms Salvy Perez's hip injury is just a bruise". Kansas City Star. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  14. Eddy, Matt (January 18, 2014). "Minor League Transactions: Jan. 9-15". Baseball America. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  15. Brock, Corey; Laws, Will (May 23, 2014). "Boyer makes long-awaited return to Majors". MLB.com. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  16. Brock, Corey (May 27, 2014). "Buckner, Boyer outrighted to Triple-A". MLB.com. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
  17. Kring-Schreifels, Jake (June 15, 2014). "Padres place Vincent on DL, call up Boyer". MLB.com. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  18. Merkin, Scott (January 7, 2015). "Twins sign righty Boyer to Minor League deal". MLB.com. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  19. "Twins add reliever Blaine Boyer to 40-man roster". ESPN.com. Associated Press. March 30, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  20. Berardino, Mike (February 12, 2016). "Blaine Boyer signs with Milwaukee Brewers after Twins pass on reunion". TwinCities.com. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  21. "Brewers sign reliever Boyer, invite him to spring training". FoxSports.com. February 12, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  22. "Pitchers Chris Capuano, Blaine Boyer among Brewers' roster adds". ESPN.com. March 29, 2016. Retrieved April 2, 2016.
  23. Bowman, Mark (January 17, 2017). "Boyer reunites with Braves on Minors deal". MLB.com. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  24. Bowman, Mark (March 25, 2017). "Braves release veteran reliever Boyer". MLB.com. Retrieved March 25, 2017.
  25. Rieper, Max (February 7, 2018). "Royals sign reliever Blaine Boyer to minor league deal". royalsreview.com. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  26. Adams, Steve (August 15, 2018). "Royals Release Blaine Boyer, Promote Jorge Lopez". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  27. Jenkins, Chris (July 9, 2014). "Boyer's boys giving 'Dad' his spark". U-T San Diego. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  28. Keown, Tim (April 13, 2016). "Adam LaRoche goes deep on his decision to walk". ESPN. Retrieved April 22, 2016.
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