Marc Rzepczynski

Marc Walter Rzepczynski (/zəpˈtʃɪnski/ zəp-CHIN-skee; born August 29, 1985), nicknamed Scrabble, is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, St. Louis Cardinals, Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, Washington Nationals, and Seattle Mariners.

Marc Rzepczynski
Rzepczynski with the Indians in 2015
Free agent
Relief pitcher
Born: (1985-08-29) August 29, 1985
Oak Lawn, Illinois
Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
July 7, 2009, for the Toronto Blue Jays
MLB statistics
(through 2018 season)
Win–loss record14–27
Earned run average3.89
Strikeouts409
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Amateur career

Rzepczynski attended Servite High School in Anaheim, California and the University of California, Riverside, where he played college baseball for the Highlanders from 2004–2007. In his senior season, the Highlanders won the Big West Conference championship and appeared in the NCAA Tournament.[1][2]

He also played for the Corvallis Knights and the Bellingham Bells (2004) in the West Coast League, an independent summer collegiate league.

Professional career

Toronto Blue Jays

In June 2007, Rzepczynski was drafted in the fifth round (175th overall) of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. He made his professional debut that season for the short-season Jays' Class A affiliate Auburn Doubledays of the New York–Penn League. With Auburn, he posted a 5–0 record and a 2.76 ERA in 11 games (7 starts), with 49 strikeouts and 17 walks in ​45 2⁄3 innings pitched.

In 2008, Rzepczynski advanced to the Class A Lansing Lugnuts of the Midwest League, where he finished 7–6 with a 2.83 ERA in 22 starts, with 124 strikeouts and 42 walks over 121 innings pitched.

Rzepczynski during the 2011 World Series victory parade.

In 2009, Rzepczynski through early July had split his season between the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, the Jays' Double-A team in the Eastern League, and the Las Vegas 51s, the Jays' Triple-A team in the Pacific Coast League. His 2009 statistics between Double-A and Triple-A combined for 16 games (all starts), with a 9–5 record, a 2.66 ERA, 104 strikeouts, and 40 walks, in 88 innings pitched.[3]

A series of injuries to pitchers at the major league level had plagued the parent Blue Jays for the first three months of the 2009 season, leading to opportunities for several rookies to advance to the top level. Scott Richmond, himself a rookie starter who had pitched very well for Toronto, became the latest casualty, when he went on the disabled list on July 4, retroactive to July 1, due to biceps tendinitis. Richmond, before play on July 6, ranked 16th of 40 eligible American League pitchers in Earned Run Average (ERA). Brett Cecil, another rookie who is already in the Jays' starting rotation, started on July 5 on short notice in Richmond's stead, against the New York Yankees, but this still left Toronto with only four healthy starters, leading to Rzepczynski's promotion and opportunity.[4] Rzepczynski pitched six innings in his debut, during which he gave up 2 hits and 1 earned run, walked 4, and struck out 7 in a no-decision; the Jays lost, 3–1, in 11 innings. In his second big-league start, Rzepczynski again pitched well, but took the loss against the Baltimore Orioles on July 12, lasting 6 innings and allowing 3 earned runs; Toronto lost the game, 4–2. Rzepczynski won his first major-league game on July 18, defeating the American League leading Boston Red Sox; he pitched 6 innings, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits, walking 4 and striking out 4; Toronto won, 6–2. Jays manager Cito Gaston stated before the game that Rzepczynski would remain in the rotation for at least the next couple of weeks, pending Richmond's return from the disabled list.

St. Louis Cardinals
Rzepczynski in 2013

He was traded on July 27, 2011, to the St. Louis Cardinals along with Octavio Dotel, Edwin Jackson and Corey Patterson for Colby Rasmus, P. J. Walters, Trever Miller and Brian Tallet.[5][6] The Cardinals won the 2011 World Series; in the series, Rzepczynski faced a total of four batters in two games, striking out three and giving up a two-run double.

In 2012, Rzepczynski became a lefty specialist, pitching 46.2 innings despite appearing in 70 games for the Cardinals.

On April 29, 2013, Rzepczynski was optioned to the Memphis Redbirds.[7] On July 25, 2013, Rzepczynski was recalled by the St. Louis Cardinals [8]

Cleveland Indians

On July 30, 2013, Rzepczynski was traded to the Cleveland Indians for minor league second baseman Juan Herrera.[9]

San Diego Padres

On July 31, 2015, Rzepczynski was traded to the San Diego Padres for Abraham Almonte.[10]

Oakland Athletics

On December 2, 2015, the Padres traded Rzepczynski and Yonder Alonso to the Oakland Athletics for Drew Pomeranz, José Torres, and a player to be named later or cash considerations.[11]

Washington Nationals

On August 25, 2016, the Athletics traded Rzepczynski to the Washington Nationals for Max Schrock.[12] On October 13, 2016, in the decisive game in the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Rzepczynski was brought in to relieve Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer with the score tied 1-1. Rzepczynski walked the first batter he faced on four pitches, and became the losing pitcher in the 4-3 loss that eliminated the Nationals from the 2016 playoffs.[13]

Seattle Mariners

On December 3, 2016, the Seattle Mariners signed Rzepczynski to a two-year contract worth $11 million.[14] In his first season as a Mariner, he appeared in 64 games despite pitching a career low 31.1 innings. He was designated for assignment on June 1, 2018 after posting an ERA of 9.39 in 18 games. He was later released on June 6.[15]

Cleveland Indians (second stint)

Rzepczynski signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians on June 18, 2018.[16] On July 11, Rzepczynski was designated for assignment.[17] After clearing waivers, Rzepczynski elected free agency.

Seattle Mariners (second stint)

On July 30, 2018, Rzepczynski signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners.[18] He elected free agency on November 2, 2018.

Arizona Diamondbacks

On February 8, 2019, Rzepczynski signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks that included an invitation to spring training.[19] He was released on May 31, but later re-signed to another minor league deal on June 24. He was released on August 25.

Toronto Blue Jays (second stint)

On February 24, 2020, Rzepczynski signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.[20] He was released on July 27.[21]

Personal life

Rzepczynski is of Polish descent.[22] Rzepczynski's nickname is "Scrabble".[23][24]

Marc is married to Lindzey Lawler of Cleveland, Ohio. Their wedding was on January 21, 2017.

References
  1. "University of California, Riverside Baseball Players Who Made it to the Major Leagues". Baseball-Almanac.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2004. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  2. "2007 Highlanders". UCR.edu. Archived from the original on April 17, 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  3. "Marc Rzepczynski Stats, Highlights, Bio – Las Vegas 51s Stats". Las Vegas 51s. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  4. Bastian, Jordan (July 6, 2009). "Rookie lefty Rzepczynski called up". MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 1, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  5. "Cardinals deal Rasmus to Jays in a three-team mega-deal". Sporting News. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  6. Frenette, Brad. "Blue Jays acquire top prospect Colby Rasmus in three-team deal". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved July 27, 2011.
  7. "St. Louis Cardinals get Seth Maness from Memphis, option Marc Rzepczynski". April 29, 2013. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  8. Lee Enterprises. "Cards recall Rzepczynski, option Martinez". stltoday.com. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  9. "Indians acquire Marc Rzepczynski from Cards". Associated Press. July 30, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2013.
  10. "Padres Acquire LHP Marc Rzepczynski from Cleveland Indians". Friar Wire. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  11. "Padres acquire LHP Drew Pomeranz, LHP Jose Torres and a PTBNL or cash considerations from Oakland Athletics". Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  12. "Oakland A's 🌳🐘⚾️ on Twitter". Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  13. Felt, Hunter (October 14, 2016). "Dodgers beat Nationals 4-3 to win NL Division Series – as it happened". The Guardian. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  14. "Mariners announce the signings of free agent relievers Marc Rzepczynski and Casey Fien". December 3, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  15. Todd, Jeff (June 6, 2018). "Mariners Release Marc Rzepczynski". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  16. Calcaterra, Craig (June 18, 2018). "Indians sign Marc Rzepczynski". Yahoo! Sports.
  17. "Indians' Marc Rzepczynski: Bumped from 40-man roster". CBSSports. July 11, 2018. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
  18. Adams, Steve (August 1, 2018). "Mariners Re-Sign Marc Rzepczynski To Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  19. "Arizona Diamondbacks on Twitter".
  20. "Blue Jays sign pitcher Marc Rzepczynski to minor-league deal". Sportsnet. February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  21. Adams, Steve (July 27, 2020). "Blue Jays Release Marc Rzepczynski". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  22. Waldstein, David (October 26, 2011). "The Only St. Louis Pitcher's Name That La Russa Got Right". The New York Times.
  23. Visser, Josh (April 3, 2010). "2010 Blue Jays preview: Few wins, but future bright(er)". CTVToronto. Retrieved May 31, 2011. Youngsters Marc Rzepczynski (nicknamed "Scrabble" for obvious reasons) and Brett Cecil will probably get their shot later in the season.
  24. Lankhof, Bill (May 21, 2011). "Everyone knows Rzepczynski now". Edmonton Sun. Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on 2011-08-07. Retrieved May 31, 2011. Developed the nickname 'Scrabble' in the blogosphere in reference to the high score his last name would earn in the board game.
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