Matt Purke

Matthew Taylor Purke (born July 17, 1990) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut and played his only MLB season with the Chicago White Sox in 2016.

Matt Purke
Purke pitching for TCU
Pitcher
Born: (1990-07-17) July 17, 1990
Spring, Texas
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
May 20, 2016, for the Chicago White Sox
Last MLB appearance
June 29, 2016, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average5.50
Strikeouts15
Teams

Amateur career

Purke attended Klein High School in Klein, Texas. He was considered one of the best high school pitchers in baseball. His junior year was his best as he had a 12–1 win–loss record with a 0.37 earned run average (ERA). In his senior season he went 4–2 with a 1.18 ERA. He also carried a 4.5 GPA. He came out as a flamethrower throwing an average of 92 miles per hour (148 km/h). In 2009, ESPN projected that he would be the next Johan Santana.[1]

The Texas Rangers selected Purke in the first round, with the 14th overall selection, of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.[2] He did not sign, and instead enrolled at Texas Christian University (TCU), where he played college baseball for the TCU Horned Frogs. While there, he earned 2nd Team All American as a Freshman, and was named the Freshman of the year while going 16–0 with a 3.02 ERA. His sophomore year he went 5–1 with a 1.71 ERA in 11 starts.[3]

Professional career

Washington Nationals

Purke was drafted by the Washington Nationals in the third round of the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft.[4] He signed with the Nationals on August 15, 2011.[5] He was added to the 40-man roster in 2012 and made 3 starts for the Class A Hagerstown Suns. He then had shoulder debridement surgery and missed the remainder of the 2012 season. He returned with Hagerstown in 2013.

Pitching for the Harrisburg Senators of the Class AA Eastern League in 2014, Purke struggled with a 1–6 record and an 8.04 ERA. Purke underwent Tommy John surgery.[6] In November 2014, the Nationals released Purke,[7] and then re-signed him to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.[8]

Chicago White Sox

The White Sox promoted Purke to the major leagues on May 13, 2016.[9] He was designated for assignment on December 14, 2016,[10] and outrighted to the minors on December 21.[11] He elected free agency on November 6, 2017.

New York Mets

On November 17, 2017, Purke signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets.[12] He became a free agent after the 2018 season.[13]

Sugar Land Skeeters

On May 10, 2019, Purke signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He was released on August 16. He re-signed with the Skeeters on August 19, and became a free agent following the season.

High Point Rockers

Purke signed with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League on March 10, 2020. On May 4, 2020, Purke was released.

On August 11, 2020, Purke announced his retirement of professional baseball and returned to his alma mater, Texas Christian University, to serve as a student assistant on the coaching staff as he completed his undergraduate degree.[14]

References
  1. "Who's the next David Ortiz?". ESPN.com. January 26, 2009. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
  2. "MLB Draft Profiles: Matt Purke". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  3. "Matt Purke Minor League Statistics & History - Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  4. "Nationals get aggressive, take TCU's Matt Purke in the third round". Washington Post. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  5. "Nationals agree to terms with LHP Matt Purke, third-round Draft selection". Washington Nationals. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  6. "Washington Nationals prospect Matt Purke needs Tommy John surgery – MiLB.com News – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  7. "Washington drops former Texas Rangers top pick from major-league roster". Texas Rangers Blog. Archived from the original on November 20, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  8. "Nationals sign Matt Purke to a minor league deal". Washington Post. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  9. https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/ct-gameday-white-sox-yankees-spt-0514-20160513-story.html
  10. Merkin, Scott (December 14, 2016). "White Sox strike 1-year deal with Holland". MLB.com. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  11. Wilmoth, Charlie (December 21, 2016). "Minor MLB Transactions: 12/21/16". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  12. Adams, Steve (November 17, 2017). "Minor MLB Transactions: 11/17/17". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  13. Eddy, Matt (November 6, 2018). "Minor League Free Agents 2018". Baseball America. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  14. https://gofrogs.com/news/2020/8/11/baseball-matt-purke-returns-to-program.aspx
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