Billy Koch

Married with three children... Graduated in 1993 from West Babylon (N.Y.) High School... Attended Clemson University... Was a second team All-America selection in 1996 after going 10-5 with one save and a 3.14 ERA... Ranked fifth among NCAA Division I pitchers in strikeouts (152)... Finished his Clemson career fourth on the Tigers all-time strikeout list (337)... Is the second-highest drafted baseball player in Clemson history (Kris Benson, 1996)... Was a member of the 1996 United States Olympic Baseball Team that won the Bronze Medal.

2004

Joined the Marlins from the Chicago White Sox when he was acquired on June 17 in exchange for minor league infielder Wilson Valdez... Appeared in 47 combined games for Florida and Chicago (AL) and went 2-3 with eight saves and a 4.41 ERA, allowing 25 runs (24 ER) on 45 hits in 49.0 innings with a .241 BAA... Posted a 1-1 record with eight saves and a 5.40 ERA in 24 games with Chicago and 1-2 with a 3.51 ERA in 23 games for Florida... His 47 combined appearances and eight saves both marked the fewest in his career, lower than his 55 outings and 11 saves collected with the Chicago White Sox in 2003... Made his Marlins debut on June 23 vs. ATL, tossing a scoreless inning in a Florida victory... Took his first NL loss on June 20 vs. TEX, as he followed a scoreless 10th inning by allowing a two-run homer to Hank Blalock in the 11th inning... Marked the fourth straight outing that he allowed at least one run... Walked a batter in seven consecutive outings (11 BB in 8.0 IP) from June 23-July 5, for the first time in his career, surpassing previous mark of five straight games with a walk... Earned his first victory as a Marlin on Aug. 6 vs. MIL, tossing a scoreless ninth... Was his first win since April 23 vs. TB... Had a 1-1 record with a 1.13 ERA (2 ER in 16.0 IP) and three holds over 14 outings from June 30 to August 12, allowing a .185 BAA (10x54)... Had 13 scoreless appearances during the span... Allowed six home runs on the year, including three with the Marlins... STRONG FINISH: Finished 35 games, including 16 with the Marlins, tied for second-most on the team, along with Matt Perisho, behind Armando Benitez's 59... At the end of June, had a .268 BAA and a 5.74 ERA on the year... WHAT THE HITTERS THOUGHT: With the Marlins, held opponents to a .226 batting average... Left-handed hitters batted just .220 while righties were held to an average of .231... Held opponents to just .153 batting average at home, however, opponents batted .353 on the road vs. Koch... Overall, lowered his OBA to .241 by season's end, yielding a .183 BAA after June, and lowered his season ERA to 4.41, by posting a 2.04 ERA after June... SHUTTING THE DOOR: Had a stretch of five straight scoreless outings from June 30-July 11, throwing 6.2 innings, recording 11 strikeouts and allowing three hits, finishing four of the five games... Picked up a season-high four strikeouts on July 11 vs. NYM, when he threw 1.2 scoreless innings to notch his first hold with the Marlins, retiring all five batters he faced, and stranding his inherited runner... Made his final appearance of the season on Aug. 26 vs. SF (1 ER in 0.2 IP) before being excused from the team to handle personal issues related to his family... Posted a 1-1 record with a 5.40 ERA in 24 relief outings with the Chicago White Sox... Overall, allowed three of his seven inherited runners to score against him, including 0-1 with Florida... Allowed first batters a .378 BA, 14 hits in 37 at-bats.

2003

Appeared in a career-low 55 games in his first season with the White Sox ... suffered career-highs in ERA and home runs allowed (10), while setting career lows in IP, strikeouts (42) and saves (11) ... ranked ninth in the American League with 45 games finished and tied for ninth in home runs allowed ... posted a 5.34 ERA (19 ER/32.0 IP) at home and 6.43 ERA (15 ER/21.0 IP) on the road ... compiled an ERA of 7.36 or higher in four of the six months ... averaged 7.1 strikeouts and 4.8 walks (28 BB) per 9.0 IP ... opponents hit .281 (59-210), up from .214 in 2002 ... left-handers batted .294 (32-109) and right-handers .267 (27-101) ... allowed 33.3 (6-18) percent of inherited runners to score, highest percentage since allowing 58.3 (7-12) percent in 1999 ... first batters were 10-48 (.208) ... opponents hit .311 (19-61) with runners in scoring position and .333 with the bases loaded ... allowed career-high 10 home runs ... made four rehabilitation appearances at Class AAA Charlotte after being placed on the disabled list on 8/12 with right elbow inflammation ... was 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA (2 ER/3.2 IP) at Charlotte ... was recalled from assignment and reinstated from the 15-day disabled list on 9/2 ... tossed 0.2 scoreless IP on 9/11 vs. Minnesota in his first appearance since 8/11 at Anaheim ... was 0-0 with an 8.31 ERA (4 ER/4.1 IP) with the Sox following his reinstatement ... allowed two earned runs or more 10 times ... had a 7.54 ERA (19 ER/22.2 IP) over his final 23 outings ... compiled a 1.80 ERA (2 ER/10.0 IP) in May and a combined 5.48 ERA (14 ER/23.0 IP) in June/July ... recorded all 11 saves prior to the break, converting nine straight from 4/22-6/24 ... notched 150th career save on 5/29 at Toronto, going 0.2 scoreless IP ... earned last save on 6/24 at Minnesota ... allowed two game-ending home runs in a five-game span, a solo shot to Jacque Jones on 6/25 at Minnesota and a three-run homer to Carl Crawford on 7/4 at Tampa Bay ... struck out a season-high three batters three times (last, 9/20 vs. Kansas City) ... saved back-to-back games once on 6/13-14 vs. San Diego ... posted his first career hold on 5/1 vs. Oakland ... was 3-0 with a 1.86 ERA (2 ER/9.2 IP) and three saves during interleague play ... tossed 8.1 scoreless IP (nine outings) from 5/8-29, including seven hitless appearances from 5/13-29 ... surrendered 11 runs on 13 hits (five home runs) over 6.2 IP from 4/15-5/3 ... went 2.0 IP or more seven times, including a season-high 2.1 IP on 9/20 vs. Kansas City ... struck out a season-high three batters three times (last, 9/20 vs. Kansas City) ... earned first win with the Sox on 4/18 at Cleveland and first save on 4/4 vs. Detroit.

Major League Highlights
Was the first pitcher in major-league history to record 30-plus saves in each of his first four seasons...was one of four pitchers (Trevor Hoffman, Robb Nen, Troy Percival) with 30 saves each year from 1999-2002...his 144 saves from 1999-2002 ranked fourth in baseball behind Nen (166), Hoffman (164) and Mariano Rivera (159).

Minor League Highlights
1999: Opened the season with Class AAA Syracuse of the International League...was 3-0 in five starts before being recalled from Syracuse on 5/5.

1998: Rebounded successfully from elbow surgery to earn Howe Sportsdata Comeback Player of the Year honors...spent most of the season with Class A Dunedin where he was 14-7 with a 3.75 ERA...was named to the Florida State League All-Star team...14 wins tied for the league lead...was 5-6 through 6/12 but went 9-1 the rest of the way...combined on three shutouts, throwing 6.0 IP in each game ...held opponents to four or fewer hits in 13 of 25 starts...joined Syracuse for two starts to end the season...went 1.1 IP in one relief appearance in the International League playoffs...rated the No. 2 Prospect in the Blue Jays organization by Baseball America.

1997: Attended major league spring training and was 0-0 with a 9.82 ERA (4 ER/3.2 IP) in three games...opened the season at Dunedin...pitched in three games before having season-ending surgery on his right elbow...went 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA in three starts... underwent reconstructive ulnar colateral ligament surgery on his right elbow on 4/23 in a procedure performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.

2002

Spent his first and only season with Oakland...won the American League Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award and also was named A.L. Reliever of the Year by The Sporting News...saved a career-high 44 games and added a career-high 11 wins to become the first pitcher in major league history with 40 saves and 10 wins in the same season...became the first pitcher in major-league history to record 30-plus saves in each of his first four seasons...led all relievers in wins and his save total was second to Eddie Guardado of Minnesota (45)...led AL relievers in strikeouts and innings pitched...led AL relievers and set an Athletics franchise record with a career- high 84 appearances...the games pitched were the most ever by a major league pitcher with 40 or more saves, topping the 81 games pitched by Rod Beck when he saved 51 games for the Cubs in 1998...in addition to wins, saves and games pitched, he also established career bests in innings (93.2), strikeouts (93) and lowest opponents batting average (.214)...the strikeouts were the most by an A's reliever since 1992 when Dennis Eckersley also had 93...had the win or save in 53.4 percent of the Athletics victories (55 of 103)...save total was the fourth best single season total in Oakland history and ranks sixth on the Oakland career list...joined Dennis Eckersley as the only A's relievers to save 40 games in a season (Eckersley did it four times)...his victory total tied Rollie Fingers (1972) for the second most ever by an Oakland reliever...Fingers set the record with 13 in 1976...broke the Oakland mark of 78 appearances set by Buddy Groom in 1997 and the Athletics mark of 81 set by John Wyatt with Kansas City in 1964...went more than 1.0 IP for six of his saves and had 15 outings of more than 1.0 IP for the season...had six blown saves which tied for seventh most in the AL...his 88.0 (44 for 50) save percentage was fourth best in the AL...A's were 5-1 in games where he was charged with a blown save and five of his 11 wins came after blowing a save...four of his blown saves came over his first 30 games through 6/9...was 32 of 34 (94.1 percent) in save opportunities over final 53 games...his save percentage of 92.3 percent (24 of 26) after the break was the best in the AL...compiled a 2.43 ERA (18 ER/66.2 IP) over his final 58 games...nine home wins tied for fifth in the AL...allowed seven home runs (six at home and one on the road)...his opponents average was .237 (36-152) against left-handers and .196 (37-189) against right-handers...opponents average dropped to .196 (20-102) with runners in scoring position...inherited just 11 baserunners and allowed three to score (27.3 percent)...first batters faced hit .215 (17-79) with five walks...made 200th career appearance on 4/18 vs. Anaheim...had a 10.1 scoreless IP streak from 4/9-5/9...opponents were 1-32 during the streak...tossed career-high 3.0 IP on 5/21 vs. Baltimore and also on 8/9 at New York... compiled season-best 12.2 IP scoreless streak from 5/30-6/19...matched his career high with four strikeouts on 6/7 vs. Houston... converted 12 consecutive save opportunities from 6/10-7/18, going 1-1 with a 0.95 ERA (2 ER/19.0 IP) over that span...had five saves in five games from 6/16-21 to become the first pitcher in Oakland history with five saves in five consecutive team games...previous best was four by Eckersley (8/16-20/93) and Jason Isringhausen (5/30-6/3/00)...saved all three games of the Pittsburgh series on 6/18-20...joined Eckersley as the only Oakland pitchers to save all three games of a series (Eckersley did it four times, last on 8/29-31/95 at Baltimore)... was 2-0 with a 0.59 ERA (1 ER/15.1 IP) and nine saves in June...his streak of 12 consecutive saves ended on 7/20 vs. Texas on a Rafael Palmeiro home run...homer snapped a 26-game, 29.2 IP, 129 batter homerless streak...then recorded 13 consecutive saves from 7/23- 8/31, going 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA (5 ER/21.2 IP) over that stretch...the loss came on 7/27 at Texas when he allowed the game-ending grand slam to Alex Rodriguez...had 11 saves and a 0.50 ERA (1 ER/18.0 IP) in 14 outings in August...the save total set an Oakland record for saves in a month, topping the mark of 10 set by Eckersley in 8/89 and matched in 5/92...the ERA was the lowest by an A's reliever (minimum 15.0 IP) since Gene Nelson did not allow an earned run in 15.0 innings in 9/89...recorded the win in three consecutive A's games on 9/1-2, 4, closing out the A's 20-game winning streak...that tied a major-league record for consecutive games won during a team winning streak, the first time it has been done by an Athletic...went 5-2 with seven saves in September...tied for the lead among major league pitchers for wins in September...pitched on five consecutive days from 9/15-19, the first time he has done that in his career ...had pitched four consecutive days twice earlier in the season (6/18-21 and 8/30-9/2)...had one save in three Division Series appearances against Minnesota...the save came in Game 3 in Minnesota with a scoreless ninth inning...was 7-7 in save opportunities against Anaheim...allowed 12 runs in five games against Toronto and 12 runs in 10 games against Texas for a 14.09 ERA (24 ER/15.1 IP)...had a 1.14 ERA (10 ER/78.1 IP) against the rest of baseball.

2001

Recorded 36 saves, the second-highest, single-season total in Toronto history...finished fifth in the American League in saves and 11th in the majors...converted 36-44 save opportunities and was sixth among AL closers in the Rolaids Relief Man Award... appeared in 69 games and finished 56, the fifth-highest total in club history...was 1-1 with five saves (five chances) and a 1.69 ERA in June...made 10 straight scoreless outings from 6/8-29 (10.1 IP)...did not record a save from 5/28-6/15...posted saves in five straight outings from 6/20-26...struck out all six batters faced over two outings on 6/10-11...collected nine saves in August despite a 7.30 ERA...recorded 30th save on 8/29 at Yankee Stadium to join Tom Henke as the only Blue Jays with three consecutive 30 save seasons... recorded 100th career save on 10/3 at Baltimore...inherited only 14 runners all season, two of which scored...retired the side in order 15 times...was 2-5 with 15 saves and a 6.87 ERA at home and 0-0 with 21 saves and a 2.30 ERA on the road...went more than 1.0 IP on seven occasions.

2000

In first full major-league season, was 9-3 with 33 saves and a 2.63 ERA in 68 games...tied for seventh in the AL in saves... finished 62 games to rank second in the league...tied for third with nine relief wins and was fourth in relief ERA (2.63)...converted 33 of 38 save opportunities to rank sixth in the AL with an 86.8 save percentage...went more than 1.0 IP 17 times...of his 33 saves, 12 were of more than 1.0 IP...had seven saves in which he pitched 2.0 IP...finished tied for fourth in the AL for the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year ...earned his first major-league win on Opening Day, 4/3 vs. Kansas City...was 1-0 with five saves and a 3.97 ERA in April...recorded saves in six consecutive outings from 4/24-5/2...did not allow a run in nine games from 6/7-24, spanning 12.0 IP and striking out 15...in July, was 1-0 with seven saves and an ERA of 0.00 in 14.2 IP (allowed runs in his last June and first August games)...converted 21 straight save opportunities from 6/7-8/28...at the All-Star Break, was 4-1 with 20 saves and a 2.74 ERA...went 5-2 with 13 saves and a 2.48 ERA after the break...recorded saves in three consecutive games against Texas, 8/3-5...was 1-2 with eight saves and 4.26 ERA in August...pitched 2.0 innings just once from 7/23 through the end of the season...opponents hit .258 with six home runs, including .255 with two home runs by left-handers and .261 with four home runs by right-handers.

1999

Set what was then an AL record for saves by a rookie with 31 to surpass the 24 by Gregg Olson with Baltimore in 1989...was 0-5 with an ERA of 3.39...along with the club rookie save record, he appeared in 56 games which is fifth-most by a Blue Jay rookie...named the Topps Major League Rookie Right Handed Pitcher of the Year...selected by the Toronto chapter of the BBWAA as the Blue Jays Rookie of the Year and Pitcher of the Year...was recalled from Class AAA Syracuse on 5/5...made his major league debut on 5/5 vs.Oakland...tossed 2.2 scoreless IP and retired the first six hitters he faced...prior to that, had made just one professional relief appearance and it came in the 1998 International League playoffs on 9/11/98 (1.1 IP)...in his second appearance, he earned his first save with 2.0 hitless IP in relief of Pat Hentgen...converted his first four save opportunities...in 11 games in June he was 0-0 with six saves and a 0.61 ERA (1 ER/14.2 IP)...captured the AL Rolaids Relief Award in July after setting a club record for saves in a month with 11... became the first Blue Jay winner since Duane Ward in 8/93...had saves in 10 consecutive appearances from 7/18-8/8 to tie the club record set by Duane Ward (1991) and Darren Hall (1994)...converted 14 straight save opportunities from 7/18-9/12...was 0-0 with 14 saves and a 1.34 ERA at the All-Star Break and 0-5 with 17 saves and a 5.70 ERA after the break...posted saves on three consecutive days, 7/21-23...retired 36 of 56 first batters faced and stranded five of 12 inherited runners...opponents hit .235 (55-235) including .209 by left-handers and .261 by right-handers.