Clay Rapada

Clayton Anthony Rapada (born March 9, 1981) is a Filipino American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Indians. He is currently the pitching coach for the Augusta Greenjackets, a single A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants.

Clay Rapada
Rapada in 2012 with the Yankees
Relief pitcher
Born: (1981-03-09) March 9, 1981
Chesapeake, Virginia
Batted: Right Threw: Left
MLB debut
June 14, 2007, for the Chicago Cubs
Last MLB appearance
September 22, 2013, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
Win–loss record8–0
Earned run average4.09
Strikeouts82
Teams

He has appeared in 152 major league games but has pitched only 93 innings in that time, averaging about 2/3 of an inning per appearance. He does however hold a unique major league record. He has a career won loss record of 8–0 for a winning percentage of 1.000. This marks the most wins for a pitcher without ever being charged with a loss, presuming he doesn't resume his playing career and records a future loss at the major league level. He is not credited for his win percentage in the official baseball records because that required a minimum of 1,000 innings pitched.

Early life

Rapada was born in Chesapeake, Virginia to a Filipino father whose roots traces to Cabangan, Zambales and an American mother.[1] and graduated from Deep Creek High School of Chesapeake, Virginia in 1999. He then attended Virginia State University and played on the NCAA Division II Trojans baseball team.

Career

Chicago Cubs

Rapada started in the Chicago Cubs organization pitching for the Single-A Boise Hawks from 2002 to 2003. At the beginning of 2003, he was promoted to the Single-A Lansing Lugnuts, where he posted a 4.96 earned run average (ERA) and recorded 27 strikeouts over ​45 1⁄3 innings pitched, primarily in relief.

In 2004, Cubs coaches suggested that Rapada try a sidearm delivery.[2] Rapada showed improvement that season for the Lugnuts, going 6–6 with an ERA of 2.33 in 57 appearances.[3]

In 2005, the Cubs moved Rapada up to the Single-A Daytona Cubs, where he went 1–3 with an ERA 3.83 in 27 appearances. 2006 saw Rapada progressing through the Cubs minor league organization, and he pitched for both the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx and the Triple-A Iowa Cubs. Between the two teams, he appeared in 61 games and posted an ERA of 1.59.[3]

Rapada made his major league debut with the Chicago Cubs on June 14, 2007, against the Seattle Mariners. He faced one batter, Raúl Ibañez, who lined out to Cubs right fielder Cliff Floyd.[4] Rapada was sent back to the Iowa Cubs on June 19, 2007, without making another appearance.

Detroit Tigers

On August 30, 2007, Rapada was announced as the player to be named later in the trade between the Tigers and Cubs involving outfielder Craig Monroe.

Rapada made his Tigers debut on September 9, 2007. In a coincidence, he faced Ibáñez again, giving up a three-run home run. He was pulled immediately after, giving him the distinction of facing the same batter (and only that batter) twice in his first two major league appearances; one while pitching for a National League club and the other with an American League club. He earned his first major league victory on April 15, 2008, as the Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 6–5.[5]

Rapada did not make the Tigers 25-man roster and began the 2009 season playing for the Toledo Mud Hens.

Texas Rangers
Rapada with the Orioles in 2011

On December 7, 2009, Rapada was traded to the Texas Rangers for a player to be named later or cash considerations.[6] On December 16, Rapada was outrighted off the 40-man roster to Triple-A.

Rapada played most of the 2010 season with the minor league Oklahoma City RedHawks. On September 3, 2010, Texas called up Rapada to the major league roster.[7]

Rapada was listed as an alternative during the postseason when the Texas Rangers would make it to the World Series for the first time in franchise history. The Rangers would eventually lose the 2010 World Series against the San Francisco Giants.

Baltimore Orioles

On January 14, 2011, Rapada was placed on release waivers by the Rangers. On January 25, 2011, Rapada was signed by the Baltimore Orioles and invited to spring training to compete for a roster spot. After being sent to the minors after spring training, Rapada was called up by Baltimore on April 17.[8] He made his Orioles debut on April 18 with two outs in the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins.[9] He was designated for assignment on June 29. In ​16 1⁄3 innings with Baltimore, Rapada had a 6.06 ERA.[10]

After being designated for assignment on February 6, Rapada was released by the Orioles on February 15. He leads the major leagues in left-handers' batting average who face him since 2010.[11]

New York Yankees

Rapada signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees on February 18, 2012, with an invitation to spring training. Rapada made the Yankees Opening Day roster. He had a 2.82 ERA in 70 appearances. After 2013 Spring Training, he was designated for assignment. He cleared waivers and was released on April 3.[12] He was re-signed to a minor league deal on April 9[13] and released on June 3.[14]

Cleveland Indians

Rapada signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians on June 13, 2013. After spending most of the season with the AAA Columbus Clippers, he was added to the Indians' major-league roster as a September call-up.[15] He was designated for assignment on October 2, 2013. After being outrighted to Triple-A Columbus on October 7, Rapada elected free agency on October 16.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Rapada signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in December 2013. He was released before the end of Spring Training.

Seattle Mariners

Rapada signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners in April 2014, and was assigned to Triple-A Tacoma. He pitched in 14 games, going 4–1 with a 4.12 ERA before his release on June 16.[16]

Return to the Orioles

That day, he signed a minor league deal with the Baltimore Orioles.[17] He reported to Triple-A Norfolk. On August 5, 2014, he was released.

San Francisco Giants

On February 5, 2015, Rapada signed a minor league deal with the San Francisco Giants.[18]

Philippine national team

Due to his Filipino heritage, Rapada is eligible to play for the Philippine national team. He was to participate for the Philippines at the 2013 World Baseball Classic qualifiers in 2012 but did not participate citing personal reasons.[19] Rapada led the Philippines at the 2017 World Baseball Classic qualifiers in February 2016.[20]

References
  1. Espejo, Edwin (April 5, 2012). "Clay Rapada: This Yankee is a Filipino". Asian Correspondent. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  2. Aber, Ryan (August 13, 2010). "RedHawks' sidearm relievers excelling". News OK. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  3. "Clay Rapada Statistics (Minor Leagues)". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2009. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  4. "June 14, 2007 Seattle Mariners at Chicago Cubs Box Score and Play by Play –". Baseball-reference.com. June 14, 2007. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  5. "April 15, 2008 Minnesota Twins at Detroit Tigers Play by Play and Box Score –". Baseball-reference.com. April 15, 2008. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  6. Jason Beck (December 7, 2009). "Tigers sign Thomas, deal Rapada". MLB.com. Retrieved December 7, 2009.
  7. Grant, Evan. "Rangers activate Nippert, recall Teagarden and bring up Rapada. After the Texas Ranger's first postseason series clinch in franchise history, the team announced that Clay should be in the bullpen in the ALCS against the Yankees". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  8. "Clay Rapada: Rapada to be promoted from AAA on Monday". Rotoworld.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  9. "Minnesota Twins at Baltimore Orioles - April 18, 2011". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  10. Nicholson-Smith, Ben. "Orioles To Designate Clay Rapada For Assignment". MLBTradeRumors.com. Archived from the original on July 1, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  11. Melewski, Steve (February 15, 2012). "The Orioles have released Clay Rapada". MASN Sports.
  12. "Yankees release Clay Rapada | HardballTalk". Hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  13. New Jersey. "Yankees re-sign lefty reliever Clay Rapada to minor-league deal". Nj.com. Retrieved May 11, 2013.
  14. Vitale, Josh; Hoch, Bryan (June 4, 2013). "Ichiro even with Williams on all-time hits list". MLB.com. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
  15. Massie, Jim (September 1, 2013). "Tribe call-ups require Clippers to pare down". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
  16. Pacific Coast League Transactions
  17. Calcaterra, Craig (June 17, 2014). "The Orioles sign Clay Rapada". NBC Sports.
  18. http://bleedingyankeeblue.blogspot.com/2015/02/clay-rapada-signs-with-giants.html
  19. "Fil-Ams boost lineup for World Baseball Classic qualifiers; MLB champ Lincecum to receive invite". InterAKTV. October 31, 2012. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  20. Terrado, Reuben (January 28, 2016). "Former Yankees pitcher Clay Rapada heads Philippine team vying in World Baseball Classic qualifier". Sports Interactive Network Philippines. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
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