Jesse Litsch #51

Jesse Allen Litsch...Married...Attended South Florida College...Once was a bat boy and Public Relations Intern for the Tampa Bay Rays...In 2007, volunteered his time to help conduct a series of baseball clinics for more than 200 children, from 22 Toronto Community Housing units across the city...Participated in the Blue Jays Winter Tour in 2011...Hosts a charity golf tournament to benefit youth in North Pinellas County in Florida.

2011

Appeared in 28 games with the Blue Jays, making eight starts and picked up five of his six wins at home... Began the season in the starting rotation and made eight starts posting a record of 4-3 with a 4.66 ERA before being placed on the 15-day DL (right shoulder)... Led the club in victories at the time of his injury... SWING AND A MISS: Fanned a career high nine on May 6 vs. DET in only 6.1 innings... Was activated and optioned to Las Vegas (AAA) July 18... WELCOME BACK: Was recalled from Las Vegas (AAA) on July 29 and spent the remainder of the season with the Blue Jays in the bullpen... July 30 vs. TEX, made his first bullpen appearance since May 16, 2008 at PHI... Picked up his first career save on Aug. 10 vs. OAK and finished the season with three holds... STINGY: Over his 20 relief appearances, held opponents to a .204 AVG and a .272 OBP... Appeared in 11 games in Aug., pitched to a 3.38 ERA and allowed just eight hits over 16.0 innings pitched... His .245 opponents average was the lowest he has posted in his ML career... RH hitters only batted .203... Inherited nine runners out of the bullpen and did not allow any to score... IN THE MINORS: Made nine starts in the minors, one with Lansing (A), two with New Hampshire (AA) and six with Las Vegas (AAA), going 1-2 with a 6.64 ERA (39.1IP/29ER).

2010

Made nine starts for the Blue Jays after coming off Tommy John surgery in 2009...On June 13 made his first Major League start since April 13, 2009...Picked up his first win of the season July 20 at KC...This was his first win since Sept. 28, 2008...On June 19 vs. SF made his first home start since April 8, 2009 pitching seven scoreless innings allowing only three hits and struck out three...Was the first time he went at least seven scoreless innings in a game since Sept. 4, 2008 vs. MIN (9.0IP)...Made six rehab starts recovering from Tommy John surgery with two coming at Dunedin (A) and four with Las Vegas (AAA) combining to go 1-4 with a 5.59 ERA (37.0IP, 43H, 23ER, 5HR, 7BB, 23K)...Had his season end after his start on July 25 at DET after surgery to fix a labral tear in his right hip the week of Aug. 9.

2009

Made only two starts before being placed on the disabled list Apr. 14 with a right forearm strain...DISABLED: Attempted to rehab the arm, however, his season was ended when he underwent Tommy John surgery on June 12... In his two starts, pitched a total of nine innings, walking only one... Took the loss Apr. 8 vs. DET and received a no-decision Apr. 13 at MIN.

2008

Made 28 starts and tossed 176.0 IP to rank 3rd on the club...Was one of three Blue Jays to post double-digit wins with 13...BIG RETURN: Posted an 8-7 record with a 4.46 ERA in 20 games (19 starts) prior to being optioned to Syracuse on July 24... Was re-called on Aug. 12, and in nine starts after, went 5-2 with a 1.92 ERA... Opponents hit just .201 in those nine contests... Team record was 13-15 in his starts and tossed 15 quality starts... NO FREEBIES: Set a Blue Jays record with 38.0 consecutive innings without allowing a walk (Apr. 27-May 24)... Walked Mark Teahan of the Royals with two out in the 9th to end the streak... Was one of 10 AL pitchers to allow less than two walks per nine innings, finishing at 1.99... SCORELESS STREAK: Tossed 18.0 scoreless innings from May 24-June 4 representing a new career high... SHUT 'EM DOWN: Recorded two shutouts, May 24 vs. KC & Sept. 4 vs. MIN... It also marked the first two complete games of his career... K-DAYS: Fanned eight batters vs. NYY Sept. 23, surpassing his previous high of six... LEFTIES: Prior to being optioned to Syracuse had allowed LH hitters to bat .303 over his career... Since his return LH hitters were held to a .208 mark... Allowed a career high 10 hits, four times.

2007

Made his ML debut on May 15, holding the Orioles to one run and four hits over 8.2 innings of work...The outing was the longest of any Blue Jay making their ML debut in franchise history, surpassing the former record of eight innings held by Jerry Garvin (April 10, 1977) and Mauro Gozzo (August 8, 1969)... Became the first Blue Jay to win their ML debut since Brandon Lyon (August 4, 2001 vs BAL)...On July 31 at TB, returned to TB to face his former employers...Picked up the win, holding the Devil Rays without a run in 6.2 IP...Was the Devil Rays bat boy from 2002-2003...Recorded 12 quality starts in 20 starts...Team record was 9-11 in his starts...Had two separate stays with the Blue Jays in 2007...Had contract selected on May 15, before being optioned to Syracuse May 31...Was re-called for the remainder of the season on July 3...After his re-call went 6-7 with a 3.29 ERA, with 11 quality starts in 16 opportunities...ROOKIE MARK: His 3.81 ERA ranks as the 4th lowest ERA in Blue Jays history for a rookie starter...Allowed two or less earned runs in 11 of his 20 starts...NOTEWORTHY: Went 3-2 with a 1.71 ERA in July and 1-2 with a 3.30 ERA in August...Lasted only 0.2 IP vs. New York on May 30...Marked the shortest start of any Blue Jay pitcher in 2007...Allowed a career high seven runs Sept. 3...Allowed a career high three home runs Sept. 9 at TB...LH hitters batted .308, while RH hitters were held to a .229...MINORS: Began the season in New Hampshire before being promoted to Toronto...Made two starts for Syracuse after being optioned by the Blue Jays...Was named Eastern League Pitcher of the Week ending April 29...Tossed seven no-hit innings May 10 for NH, left due to pitch count...Over a four start period, took a no-hitter into the 6th inning twice.

2006

Was a two-time selection as a Blue Jays Minor League Star of the Month, both with Dunedin (A) in April (2-2, 4.28 ERA) and June (3-0, 1.06 ERA).

2005

Posted a 5-1 record with a 2.74 ERA, 5th best in the Appalachian League...Led Pulaski with 65.2 IP and 67 strikeouts...Named as the top pitcher in the Blue Jays minor league system for the month of July (3-1, 1.89 ERA, 39 K).