Jon Erich Rauch...Tallest pitcher in Major League Baseball history at 6-11...Member of Team USA club that won Gold medal at 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia...Recorded 21 strikeouts during tournament, one shy of Olympic record (Ben Wallace, 22 in 1992)...Attended Morehead State University, where he was a preseason third team All-America selection by Baseball America...Graduated from Oldham County (KY) High School, where he earned All-Region and All-District honors as a senior and first team All-State academic honors all four years.
2013
Jon pitched in 15 games at the Major League level with Miami and also made 10 appearances at Triple-A Norfolk in the Baltimore Orioles' organization...Recorded only win as a Marlin vs. the Mets on April 29, working 3.0 innings of relief in a 4-3 triumph.
2012
Opened season with 11 consecutive scoreless outings (10.0 IP), earning three wins and holding opponents to a .118 average (4x34). Allowed first run on April 29 at Colorado, giving up three runs on one hit and two walks in 0.2 inning...Suffered first loss of season on May 4 vs. Arizona, which began a career-long tying seven-game losing streak over span of just 20 games through June 23. Registered a 5.82 ERA (17.0 IP/11 ER) over span...Over final 40 appearances after June 23, went 3-for-4 in save opportunities and had ERA of just 2.79 (29.0/9). Did not record a victory to snap losing streak, however...Appeared in 500th career game on June 19 vs. Baltimore, pitching 1.0 scoreless inning with one strikeout.
2011
Won five games and since 2006, his 31 vict ories are most among major league relief pit chers. ... Has worked in t he second-most number of games (434) over that period. ... Chad Qualls leads with 435. ... Did not pitch after September 4 because of injury. ... Placed on the Disabled List on September 12 with torn cartilage of his right knee. ... Underwent surgery on September 19, 2011. ... Dr. Richard Steadman performed the procedure in Vail, CO. ... Was also on the DL from August 16-August 31 with appendicitis. ... Posted a 1-1 record and five saves with a 2.45 ERA in 11 games in April (three earned runs/11.0 innings). ... Pitched a season-high 2.0 innings four times during the year. ... Had 3-1 record and four saves with a 3.62 ERA in 29 home games.
2010
Started the season as the Twins closer after Joe Nathan had Tommy John surgery... SAVE THE DAY:
Converted his first six save opportunities, including the first save at Target Field over BOS Apr. 12... Suffered his first blown save on Apr. 24 at KC, yet earned his first win in the same contest... Recorded six saves in April and May, then picked up career save #40 on June 4 at OAK... Through June 16 was tied for the AL lead in saves with 17... Finished with 21 saves, a career high, before MIN acquired Matt Capps... Pitched in a setup role the balance of the season... FINISHER: Did not allow a run in his final eight appearances, and did not allow a home run in his final 33 appearnces... ROAD WARRIOR: On the road was 2-0 with 12 saves, including a 1.84 ERA... Held opponents to a .243 average as opposed to .291 at home... BACK-TO-BACK: Pitched 12 times with zero days rest, recording six saves in seven chances, while posting an ERA of 2.70... BEARING DOWN: Allowed batters to hit .293 with no one on base, however marked dropped to .227 with runners in scoring position and only .100 with runners in scoring position and two outs.
2009
Began season with Arizona and went 2-2 with two saves in 58 relief appearances...posted a 1.17 ERA (15.1 ip, 2 er) in 14 appearances, holding opponents to a .157 (8-for-51) batting average,
May 27-June 27...allowed just two earned runs in 11 (9.2 ip) July appearances (1.86 ERA)...acquired by the Twins in exchange for a player to be named later (Kevin Mulvey), August 28...recorded the win in his Twins debut, August 30 vs. Texas...according to the Elias Sports Bureau, he became the 16th pitcher in club history (since 1961) to win in his debut, but only the second in the last 22 seasons...the last Twins pitcher to win in his debut with the club was Todd Ritchie, April 3, 1997...won in his second appearance with the Twins, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning, September 1 vs. Chicago (AL)...made 17 appearances for Minnesota, going 5-1, 1.72 (15.2 ip, 3 er) with 14 strikeouts and six walks...16 of his 17 appearances with the Twins were scoreless, with the only three runs he allowed coming on a three-run homer by John McDonald, September 8 at Toronto...did not allow a run in his final 12 appearances (11.0 ip), September 11-October 6...his seven wins tied him for third in the Majors for victories by a reliever...appeared in 74-or-more games for the fourth consecutive season...his .833 (5-1) winning percentage Post-All-Star break was tied for third among all American League pitchers.
2008
Went 4-8 with a 4.14 ERA and a career-best 18 saves in 74 games with the D-backs and
Washington Nationals...posted an 0-6 record with a 6.56 ERA and a save in 26 games
for the D-backs after he was acquired on July 22 in a trade from the Nationals, where he
was 4-2 with a 2.98 ERA and 17 saves in 48 games as the team's closer...Among NL relievers with 60.0 more innings pitched, finished tied for sixth-fewest walks
allowed (16), ninth with a 4.13 strikeout-to-walk ratio and tied for 10th in appearances...Posted a 1.93 ERA (2 ER in 9.1 IP) and had 5 holds in his first 10 relief outings with the
D-backs from July 22-Aug. 12...after that, he allowed runs in 11 of his 16 appearances
to end the season and compiled an 0-6 record with a 9.64 ERA (15 ER in 14.0 IP) and a
save...With the Nationals, blew 2 of his first 4 save opportunities before settling in as the closer
and converting 10 straight save opportunities from April 18-May 30...Strung together a 12.0-inning scoreless streak from April 25-May 18, going 1-0 with 7
saves, 10 strikeouts and only 1 walk in 12 games...Allowed a home run in 3 consecutive outings from Aug. 20-25, the second time in his
career he has accomplished the feat (Aug. 13-18, 2006)...Allowed only 4 of the 14 runners (29%) he inherited to score.
2007
Led the Majors with 88 appearances for Washington...8 relief wins led the Nationals and tied St. Louis' Russ Springer and the Yankees' Luis Vizcaino for the big league-lead...33 holds tied for third in the Majors.
♦ Walked just 21 batters in his 87.1 innings for an average of 2.2 walks per 9 innings...didn't walk a batter until his 13th appearance of the season.
♦ Tossed team bullpen season-best 12.1 consecutive scoreless innings from June 9-29.
♦ Had a 2.43 ERA (8 ER in 29.2 IP) in 28 appearances in June and July.
♦ Was 6-1 with 2 saves and a 1.93 ERA (7 ER in 32.2 IP) when pitching on zero days' rest...worked 3 days in a row 8 times, registering a 0.78 ERA (2 ER in 23.0 IP) in those 24 appearances.
♦ In 11 interleague appearances, posted a .100 batting average against (4-for-40) en route to a 0.73 ERA (1 ER in 12.1 IP).
♦ Was 4-0 with a 1.04 ERA (2 ER in 17.1 IP) in 19 games against NL West clubs.
♦ Limited first batters faced to a .183 average (15-for-82).
♦ Closed strong, posting 12 holds from Aug. 22-Sept. 3 with a .149 batting average against and a 1.37 ERA in final 20 appearances.
♦ Struck out the side to record his 25th hold and break the franchise's all-time single-season mark held by Gary Majewski (24 in 2005) on Sept. 5 at Florida.
2006
Led the Nationals with 18 holds...had never recorded a hold entering the 2006 season.
♦ Ranked among MLB and NL leaders with 85 games (tied for second in both MLB and NL) and 91.1 innings (tied for third in MLB, tied for second in NL)...86 strikeouts ranked sixth among NL relievers...tied the Yankees' Scott Proctor for the Major League-lead among relievers having thrown 1594 pitches.
♦ Picked up first 2 saves of big league career (Sept. 3 vs. Arizona and Sept. 28 vs. Philadelphia)...needed just 8 pitches to record perfect 1-2-3 ninth inning and first career save vs. Arizona on Sept. 3.
♦ Successfully retired 56 of 83 first batters faced (67%).
♦ Closed strong, posting a 0.96 ERA (1 ER/9.1 IP) in final 9 appearances of 2006.
2005
Began the season in the minors and was recalled from New Orleans (AAA) on April 25...made his season debut that night with 2.0 scoreless innings vs. Philadelphia.
♦ Fired 3.0 no-hit, scoreless innings of relief to earn his first win at San Francisco on May 6.
♦ Pitched on May 25 at Cincinnati, but was placed on the DL that night with a torn right labrum...had arthroscopic surgery performed by Dr. Wiemi Douoguih on May 31 to repair labrum tear (labrum/rotator cuff debridement) in right shoulder...began throwing 6 weeks later...returned to action on Sept. 8 at Florida after missing 102 games.
♦ Made first big league start of the season on Sept. 28 at Florida, working 3.0 scoreless innings and tallying the game-winning RBI in the victory, despite not learning of assignment until 4:10 p.m.
2004
Began season with Charlotte (AAA) and made 2 starts for the White Sox before being acquired by the Expos in 3-player deal that sent Carl Everett back to the Windy City.
♦ Recalled by the Expos on Aug. 6.
♦ Earned the win in his Expos debut, Aug. 7 at Houston.
♦ Pitched just twice for the Expos before missing 29 games with a strained left oblique...placed on the 15-day DL on Aug. 15 (retroactive to Aug. 14)...reinstated from DL on September 14.
♦ Allowed only 1 run in his final 8 games (1 start) or 17.1 innings with the Expos.
♦ Allowed only 1 homer in 32.0 big league innings (Jeff Conine, Sept. 28 vs. Florida).
♦ Worked 4.2 no-hit, shutout innings and collected his first big league hit, a 2-run opposite-field home run off Roger Clemens on Aug. 13 vs. Houston making him the tallest man to ever hit a home run in a Major League game...left the game early, however, and was placed on the 15-day DL 2 days later, due to a left oblique strain...not only had a no-hitter intact at the time of his exit, finished 1 out shy of recording the win in first start at Olympic Stadium.
♦ Matched career high with 4 strikeouts on 3 occasions, the last coming Sept. 15 at Florida (in relief).
♦ Allowed 2 or fewer runs in 12 of 16 AAA starts.
♦ Fanned a season-high 9 in 7.0 shutout innings for Charlotte (AAA) on June 9 at Buffalo.
2003
Averaged 6.8 strikeouts per 9.0 innings for Charlotte (AAA).
♦ Was 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA (6 ER in 24.0 IP) in April and 2-0 with a 2.17 ERA (9 ER in 37.1 IP) in August.
♦ Was on the DL from June 30-July 17 with right shoulder inflammation.
♦ Threw only complete game in nightcap of Aug. 15 twinbill at Indianapolis.
♦ Went season-high 8.0 scoreless innings in first game of Aug. 20 twinbill at Richmond.
♦ Tabbed by Baseball America as the No. 5 prospect in the White Sox organization entering the 2003 season.
2002
Made his first Opening Day roster for the White Sox.
♦ Tossed 1.1 scoreless innings in Major League debut on April 2 at Seattle, retiring all 4 batters he faced.
♦ Went 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA as a starter as the White Sox went 3-3 in his 6 starts.
♦ Made first career start on April 16 vs. Cleveland lasting only 4.0 innings, allowing 3 runs, not factoring in the decision.
♦ Went 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA in September with the Sox after being recalled on Sept. 2.
♦ Earned his first career win, in relief, on Sept. 3 at Toronto.
♦ Limited opposing batters to a .196 mark after the break, compared to .290 prior.
2001
Ranked fourth among International League starters in opponents average (.226) and fifth in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (8.0).
♦ Was rated by Baseball America as the No. 2 prospect in the White Sox organization.
♦ Underwent season-ending shoulder surgery, May 24...the procedure was performed by Dr. James Andrews...surgery involved repairing a Type 2 achromium, a rotator cuff debridement and a labral repair...began rehab on May 28 in Tucson.
2000
Named Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America and The Sporting News after going 16-4 with a 2.66 ERA and 187 strikeouts for Winston-Salem (A) and Birmingham (AA)...became the second White Sox player (Frank Thomas, 1990) and first Sox pitcher to earn the award.
♦ Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 1 prospect in the organization and the Best Pitching Prospect in the Carolina League...was tabbed a First-Team Minor League All-Star by the same publication.
♦ Finished sixth in the minor leagues in wins and strikeouts, and 14th in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (10.2)...led White Sox minor leaguers in strikeouts and wins...also ranked among the White Sox' top 5 in winning percentage (second), complete games (tied for second), shutouts (tied for third) and ERA (fifth).
♦ Was leading the Carolina League in strikeouts (124) and wins (11) at time of his promotion to Birmingham...selected to the CL mid-season All-Star Team.
♦ Won 10 straight decisions from April 16-June 16, posting a 1.98 ERA.
♦ Promoted to Birmingham on July 21.
♦ Recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts in a 2-hit, complete-game victory on Aug. 29 vs. Huntsville.
1999
Averaged 10.4 strikeouts and just 2.5 walks per 9 innings pitched...Struck out 7 batters in only start at Winston-Salem.
