Resides in Hattiesburg, MS, with his wife, Jessica, and his son, Wyatt...Graduated from Germantown (TN) High School in 2000... He was all-state and named an All-American honorable mention by USA Today...Was a three-year letterman while pitching at Mississippi State, going 27-10 with a 3.55 ERA in 46 games (44 starts) for the Bulldogs...Was selected as a pre-season All-American by Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball in 2003...Was ranked by Baseball America as the ninth-best pitcher in the 2003 draft and the 17th-best overall prospect...Struck out comedian/actor Billy Crystal in a spring training game on 3/13/08 at Legends Field; Crystal signed a one-day minor league contract with the Yankees and led off the game as the DH...Signed by Everett Russell (Pirates)
2013
Posted a 10-11 record with a 4.41 ERA in 26 starts with the Braves, ranking fourth on the team with 26 starts and fourth on team in innings pitched (153.0)... His 10 wins on the season were tied for second-most of his career (also: 2007), behind his 13 wins in 2012... Led the team with 20 induced doubled plays... On the season, lefties hit just .226 (35-for-155) against him…gave up just one home run, while striking out 35... Got off to a hot start, winning seven of his first 11 decisions...won his first three starts of the season from April 3-14…didn't give up an earned run and only allowed 11 total hits in 20.1 innings of work…limited batters to a 153 average during that span... Had his most productive month of the season in April, posting a 3-2 record with a 3.30 ERA in five starts…limited hitters to a.225 batting average against him during the month...had his best start of the season on April 14 against the Nationals, tossing a four-hit shutout with seven strikeouts in 7.2 innings of work... In 10 home starts posted a 6-3 record with a 2.37 ERA (17 ER/ 64.2 IP).
2012
Was acquired on 7/30 along with OF Reed Johnson and cash considerations from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for RHPs Arodys Vizcaino and Jaye Chapman. From 4/21 to the end of the season, he went 13-9 with a 3.23 ERA (65 ER/181.0 IP) and 136 K in 30 appearances (29 starts). Recorded 10 straight "quality starts" from 6/29-8/27 and had a total of 19 QS among his 31 starts. Each of his 10 earned runs allowed from 7/30-8/27 (five starts) came as a result of home runs. Went 4-0 with a 1.23 ERA in the month of July over six appearances (five starts) while fanning 26 over 36.1 IP. He allowed just one home run in the month. Went 5-0 with a 1.00 ERA (5 ER/45.0 IP) over his last seven appearances (six starts) with the Cubs from 6/29-7/29, who went 7-0 in those games. His five-game winning streak was a career-high. Made one relief appearance on 7/8 at NYM (1.0 scoreless IP) while allowing two hits in a 7-0 Cubs win. Added to his totals as the PNC Park leader in most career wins (36), winning percentage (.529), complete games (4), starts (99), innings pitched (641.1), strikeouts (378) and ranks sixth in fewest home runs allowed per 9.0 IP (0.66). From 2006 to 2012 ranked second among active left-handed pitchers (min. 1000 IP) in fewest home runs allowed per 9.0 innings pitched with a 0.85 mark (CC Sabathia, 0.75) and ranks fifth among all LHPs in innings pitched since 2006 (1291.1 IP).
2011
In his final season with Pittsburgh, Paul pitched at least 160.0 innings and made 26 starts for the sixth-straight season...had a 2.96 ERA at the All-Star break and left four starts in that span (five overall) with a lead, only to have the bullpen suffer
a blown save...Was 6-9 with a 2.96 ERA before the All-Star break and 0-5 with a 5.75
ERA in seven starts after the break...Allowed a team-high 18 runs in the first inning...Went 2-1 with a 1.53 ERA in his four starts against the Cubs and 4-13
with a 4.13 ERA in his other 22 starts...Received just 14 runs of support in his first 10 starts through May 22...Became 39th pitcher in club history to log 1,000-career innings
during his start, April 14...Whiffed eight batters while winning his first decision, April 25 vs.
Washington...Posted a 2.14 ERA (8 ER/33.2 IP) and held opposing hitters to a .192
average in five starts during the month of May, but had a 1-3 record...Tossed three-hit shutout in 10-0 victory, May 28 at the Cubs...was his
fifth-career complete game and third-career shutout...Had third career two-hit game on June 2 at New York (N.L.)...Gave up just four hits and no runs in back-to-back starts (13.0 IP), June
8 vs. Philadelphia (6.0 IP, 1 H) and June 13 vs. the Mets (7.0 IP, 3 H)...Picked up his final win of the season, July 10 vs. the Cubs, before
dropping his final five decisions...Made his final start of the season, August 17 vs. St. Louis...landed on
the shelf following the start due to a left shoulder strain. The D.L. stint marked the first of his major league career.
2010
Spent fifth straight full season as a starter in Pittsburgh rotation...Set a career high in starts and led staff in
wins, innings pitched and strikeouts...Went 8-5 with a 3.52 ERA (117.2ip/46er) in 18 starts against teams from the N.L. Central
and 1-10 with a 7.85 ERA (67.2ip/59er) in his other 14 starts (his only win outside the division came against the World Champion
Giants on 6/5)...Left five games with a lead only to have the bullpen suffer a
blown save...Ranked second behind Roy Halladay (231) in hits allowed among
all National League pitchers...Also tied for second in losses behind Arizona's
Rodrigo Lopez (16) and ranked second in runs allowed behind Lopez
(126)...Suffered a loss in first start on 4/8 vs. Los Angeles (6.0ip/4er)...Picked
up first victory in third start on 4/18 vs. Cincinnati (6.2ip/2er)...Pitched 7.0
innings and gave up four runs in a 4-3 loss to Roy Oswalt at Houston on
4/23...Was staked to a 3-0, 1st-inning lead in Milwaukee on 4/28, but gave up
three runs in the home half of the opening frame en route to a no-decision
(7.0ip/4er)...Gave up two runs in 6.0ip and won second game on 5/4 vs.
Chicago (NL)...Tossed 7.0 scoreless innings, but received a no-decision in
Pittsburgh's 2-1 win at Cincinnati on 5/25...Posted a 1.78 ERA (25.1ip/5er) in
a four-start stretch from 5/25 thru 6/12, dropping ERA to a season-low
3.67...Had shortest career start on 6/23 at Texas; gave up two runs in the 1st
inning and was charged with five runs in the 2nd inning without retiring a
batter...Rebounded to pitch 8.0 innings while winning a 2-1 decision at Wrigley
Field on 6/28...Gave up eight runs in his next start (3.0ip+) on 7/3 vs.
Philadelphia - his shortest career start at PNC Park...Tossed second career shutout (9-0) and fourth complete game on 7/18 vs.
Houston...Had career-high 16.0-inning scoreless streak snapped on 7/23...Lost back-to-back starts on 7/23 and 7/29 before
winning a 7-6 decision vs. Cincinnati on 8/3...Lost six straight decisions from 8/8 thru 9/15...Won his last two starts on 9/21 vs.
St. Louis and 9/26 vs. Houston...Had a 6-7 record and a 4.03 ERA (114.0ip/51er) after tossing his three-hit shutout on 7/18...Went
3-8 with a 6.81 ERA (71.1ip/54er) in his last 13 starts, which included a 2-1 record and a 2.92 ERA (24.2ip/8er) in his final four
assignments...Went 5-for-56 (.089) with seven sacrifice bunts at the plate...Picked up his first hit on 6/28 at Chicago, snapping
an 0-for-38 streak...Hit safely in four of his five starts between 7/23 and 8/14.
2009
Spent fourth straight full season as a starter
in Pittsburgh rotation...Tied career high in starts...Led staff in strikeouts and
ranked second in innings pitched behind Zach Duke (213.0)...Went 1-1 with
a 1.01 ERA (35.2ip/4er) while making five starts on six or more days of
rest...Led staff in wild pitches...Was Pittsburgh's Opening Day starter; allowed
two runs (one earned) in 6.2 innings and received a no-decision on 4/6
at St. Louis...Also singled and walked twice at the plate in first start...Picked
up first win in second start on 4/11 at Cincinnati (7.0ip/1er)...Walked
season-high five batters and gave up five runs in 5.1ip while picking up a
no-decision on 4/28 at Milwaukee...Went 3-0 with a 2.97 ERA in his first
six starts thru 5/4...Was in line for fourth win, but bullpen suffered blown
save in 8th inning on 5/4 vs. Milwaukee...Suffered first loss on 5/9 at New
York (5.0ip/7er), his shortest outing since 5/3/08...Also connected off John
Maine for first Major League home run on 5/9...Pitched 7.0 scoreless
innings and was in line for victory on 5/15 vs. Colorado, but Matt Capps gave up three runs in the 9th in 3-1 loss...Also received a no-decision on
5/20 at Washington (6.0ip/1er)...Pitched season-low 4.0 innings and was charged with seven earned runs in a no-decision at Chicago (NL) on
5/25...Suffered 2-1 loss to Houston's Mike Hampton at PNC Park on 5/31 (7.0ip/2r/1er)...Picked up second road win on 6/6 at Houston - his first
road victory since 4/11...Tied career high with eight strikeouts and gave up one unearned run in 7.0ip, but received a no-decision in 3-1 Bucco
victory on 6/11 at Atlanta...Gave up career-high 14 hits and surrendered eight runs while losing an 8-2 decision at Minnesota on 6/16 (5.0ip+)...Also
suffered loss on 6/21 at Colorado (5.0ip/5er)...Snapped personal two-game losing streak with victory vs. Kansas City on 6/27
(7.0ip/2er)...Surrendered a 5-0 lead and received a no-decision in 9-8 Bucco loss in 10 innings vs. New York on 7/2 (4.1ip/11h/6er)...Won final
start prior to the All-Star break, giving up two runs in 6.0ip at Houston on 7/7...Allowed one unearned run in 8.0ip, but received a no-decision in
battle against Tim Lincecum on 7/17 at PNC Park (Pirates won the game 2-1 in 14 innings)...Gave up seven runs (two homers) in 4.2ip on 7/22
vs. Milwaukee (ND)...Lost three straight decisions from 7/27 thru 8/13...Gave up one run in 7.2ip while winning seventh game on 8/19 vs.
Milwaukee; also snapped an 0-for-25 streak at the plate with a double off David Weathers in the contest...Gave up three runs in the 1st inning
and four runs in 5.0ip and lost a 6-3 decision on 8/31 at Cincinnati (game two)...Struck out seven batters, including career strikeout #500, in a
no-decision vs. St. Louis on 9/6...Pitched 8.0 scoreless innings while winning eighth game on 9/13 at Houston...Had 11.0-inning scoreless streak
snapped while suffering ninth loss in 4-0 setback on 9/20 vs. San Diego (6.0ip/3r/2er)...Received a no-decision in final start on 9/26 vs. Los
Angeles (7.0ip/3er); left game with a 4-3 lead, but Dodgers went on to win 8-4...Went 2-2 with a 2.89 ERA in his last seven starts, beginning on
8/19...The Pirates went 15-16 in his 31 starts...Went 4-for-58 (.069) with a double, homer and two RBI as a batter.
2008
Established career highs in starts, innings pitched and strikeouts in third full season with Pittsburgh.
...Ranked 12th in the National League in innings pitched - third among lefties behind Johan Santana (234.1) and Cole Hamels (227.1).
...His 3.11 ERA (144.2ip/50er) from 5/31 thru the end of the season was the ninth-lowest among all N.L. pitchers and fourth-lowest
among lefthanders behind CC Sabathia (1.65), Santana (2.13) and Hamels (3.04)...Pitched
6.0 innings or more in 20 straight starts from 5/8 thru 8/24 and in 26 of his 31 starts
overall...Struck out comedian/actor Billy Crystal on 3/13 at Legends Field; Crystal signed a
one-day minor league contract with the Yankees and led off the game as the designated
hitter...Whiffed nine batters in his first start on 4/5 at Florida but suffered the loss...Tossed
second career complete game on 4/27 vs. Philadelphia; threw just 99 pitches in 5-1
victory...Went 0-3 in five-start stretch from 5/3-25...Won consecutive starts on 5/31 at St.
Louis and 6/5 vs. Houston. ...Reached base safely in eight of his nine games from 4/22
thru 6/5, which included a three-game hitting streak from 5/15 to 6/5...Took a 4-1 lead
into the 7th inning against Washington on 6/10 before surrendering three solo home runs
in the frame; ended up with a no-decision in Pittsburgh's 7-6 loss...Gave up two solo homers in his next start on 6/15 at Baltimore
(6.0ip/2er) and left game with a 4-2 lead, but received a no-decision in Bucs 5-4, 10-inning victory...Also left game in Cincinnati
on 6/30 with a 3-2 lead (7.0ip/2er), but Matt Capps surrendered walkoff home run to Ken Griffey Jr. in 4-3 loss...Also batted 8th
in the game on 6/30 - the first time since April 18, 1957 that a Pittsburgh starting pitcher did not bat 9th...Allowed just one run
while pitching 8.0 innings in a no-decision at Milwaukee on 7/5...Pitched 8.0 innings and gave up two runs while winning sixth
game on 7/10 vs. New York (AL)...Started first game of the second half on 7/17 at Colorado and suffered 5-3 loss (6.0ip/5er) -
had 3-0 lead after three innings...Pitched 8.0 innings and gave up just one run while winning seventh game on 7/22 at
Houston...Struck out nine batters and gave up just one run in 7.0ip, but received no-decision
vs. Jake Peavy on 7/27 at PNC Park...Singled and tallied RBI on 8/2 at Chicago (NL)...Struck
out career-high 10 batters while pitching 7.0 scoreless frames in a no-decision at Philadelphia
on 8/8...Tosssed 8.0 innings (2 runs) while winning eighth game on 8/13 vs.
Cincinnati...Surrendered home runs to left-handed hitting Corey Patterson and Jay Bruce on 8/13
- the first time he gave up a pair of homers to lefties in the same game in his career...Gave
up two runs in 7.0ip, but received no-decision in Pittsburgh's 5-2 win vs. New York on 8/18
(Bucs scored three runs in the 8th inning)...Received a no-decision (6.0ip/2er) in matchup
against CC Sabathia (6.0ip/1er) at Milwaukee on 8/24 (Pirates tied the game in the 9th before
losing in 12)...Snapped string of 20 straight starts with at least 6.0ip when he gave up six runs
in 5.2 innings in loss vs. Milwaukee on 8/30 - it was the longest such streak by a Pittsburgh
pitcher since Rick Rhoden in 1986 (21 games)...Allowed one run in 6.0ip and left game with
4-1 lead, but received no-decision in 7-6 Bucco loss at San Francisco on 9/6...Pitched 8.0+
innings and gave up two runs while winning ninth game on 9/12 vs. St. Louis; also went 2-
for-4 with two RBI in the game and had two hits in one inning - the first Bucco pitcher to do
so since Kip Wells 8/24/02 at Milwaukee...Gave up just three hits and three runs in 7.0ip, but
walked a season-high six batters in a no-decision vs. Los Angeles on 9/18...Gave up two hits,
but walked six batters and suffered 4-2 loss in final start on 9/24 at Milwaukee
(6.0ip/3er)...Went 8-for-65 (.123) with three RBI at the plate.
2007
Established career highs in wins and innings pitched in second full season with the Pirates...Went 5-0 with
a 2.15 ERA while pitching on four days of rest, 5-10 with a 5.07 ERA with five days of rest and 0-5 with a 9.12 with six or more
days of rest...Went 7-5 with a 5.02 ERA (86.0ip/48er) in final 14 starts after going 3-10 with a 5.01 ERA (91.2ip/51er) in first 15
starts thru 6/20...Led staff in complete games...Tied for third in the league in losses...Suffered a loss in first outing on 4/6 at
Cincinnati after allowing four runs in 5.0 innings of work...Dropped second straight decision on 4/18 at Milwaukee...Scattered three
hits while tossing first career shutout and complete game in a 3-0 decision against Woody Williams at PNC Park on 4/24...Won his
second game on 5/4 at Chicago...Lost career-high five straight decisions from 5/15 thru 6/9 and was 2-9 with a 5.33 ERA after his
first 13 starts...Held the White Sox to one run in 7.0 innings while snapping five-game losing streak with a 4-2 win at PNC Park on
6/15...Retired 15 of his last 16 batters he faced and picked up fourth win after allowing two runs in 7.2 innings while beating
Dontrelle Willis at Dolphin Stadium on 6/26...Allowed three runs or less in five of his six starts during the month of July...Won backto-
back starts for the first time on 7/21 and 7/26...Tossed second complete game on 8/13 vs. San Francisco (game one); allowed
just three hits and one run in 3-1 victory...Won three straight starts from 8/13-23...Missed scheduled start on 9/3 and made just two
starts in September due to a sore lower back...Surrendered 10 runs in 2.2ip at Houston on 9/16 and suffered 15th loss - the first
Pittsburgh pitcher to give up 10 runs in a start since Jimmy Anderson on 8/3/01 at Colorado...Pitched a season-low 2.0+ip in final
start on 9/21 at Chicago (NL) and surrendered seven runs (six earned) while receiving a no-decision...Allowed a team-high 31 runs
in the 1st inning...The Pirates went 12-17 in his 29 starts...Went 11-for-59 (.186) at the plate with a double and five RBI.
2006
Spent first full season in the major leagues with Pittsburgh...Finished third among National League rookies in starts...Also ranked third among N.L. rookies in innings pitched and fifth in strikeouts...Fell three starts shy of tying club record for most starts by a rookie (Josh Fogg made 33 in 2002)...Ranked second among National League hurlers with 11 caught stealings (teammate Zach Duke had a league-leading 12 caught stealings)...Went 5-2 with a 3.59 ERA (95.1ip/38er) in 15 starts at PNC Park. ..Allowed a total of 29 first inning runs, which ranked fifth among all National League pitchers...Produced an 8.40 ERA (30.0ip/28er) in the opening frame and a 4.01 ERA (146.0ip/65er) afterwards...Made season debut on 4/7 at Cincinnati and allowed five runs in 6.0 innings of work while losing a 7-6 decision...Limited St. Louis to a pair of runs (on an Albert Pujols two-run home run in the 1st inning), but lost a 2-1 decision to Jason Marquis on 4/17 at PNC Park...Lost third straight decision after allowing five runs in 3.0 innings on 4/23 at Houston...Scattered one run in 7.0ip and won first game of season on 4/29; a 3-2 victory over Philadelphia's Cory Lidle at PNC Park...Allowed just one run in 6.0 innings of work but took the loss in 6-0 setback to New York's Tom Glavine on 5/4 at Shea Stadium...Tied career high with eight strikeouts on 5/16 vs. Cincinnati....Served up just one home run over eight outings (48.1ip) from 4/29 thru 6/6...Snapped a three-game losing streak with an 11-1 win over John Maine at New York on 7/3...Tossed 6.2 scoreless innings and picked up fifth victory in combined 7-0 shutout vs. St. Louis on 8/13 at PNC Park...Allowed seven runs but came away with a no-decision on 8/19 at Cincinnati (the Pirates erased a 6-0 deficit in the 1st inning before Cincinnati scored seven times in the 7th inning in 14-7 Reds victory)...Won each of his last four decisions and went 5-1 in his last 10 starts, beginning with victory in Milwaukee on 7/26...Missed final two weeks of season with rotator cuff tendinitis...Surrendered 18 of his 19 home runs to right-handed batters (Minnesota's Jason Kubel was the only left-handed batter to take him deep on 6/17)...Went 6-for-55 (.109) at the plate with two RBI and three runs scored...Had three-game hitting streak from 6/11 thru 6/28...Tallied first major league RBI while going 2-for-3 on 6/28 vs. Chicago (AL)...The Pirates went 14-16 in his 30 starts.
2005
Went 7-3 with a 3.30 ERA in 22 minor league starts with Altoona (AA) and Indianapolis (AAA) and was named Pittsburgh's Minor League Pitcher-of-the-Year...Began season with Altoona and received a no-decision in first start on 4/9 @Reading...Picked up first Double-A win on 4/14 vs. Erie (6.0ip/2r/0er)...Surrendered six runs (two homers) in 2.1 innings of work on 4/26 @Erie and suffered first loss...Pitched just 1.0 inning on 5/2 vs. Reading...Was on disabled list with a strained left groin from 5/3-17...Posted a 2.35 ERA (15.1ip/4er) in four starts during the month of May and went 3-0 with a 2.61 ERA (38.0ip/11er) in six starts the following month...Pitched season-high 8.0 innings and struck out season-high eight batters on 6/30 @Portland...Was placed on temporary inactive list on 7/2 due to the passing of his mother...Won each of his last five decisions with Altoona. ...Surrendered two earned runs or less in 12 of his 16 Double-A starts...Participated in MLB Futures Game in Detroit on 7/10...Was promoted to Indianapolis on 7/22...Made Triple-A debut on 7/25 and suffered loss to Columbus (5.0ip/4r/2er)...Picked up lone win with Indy on 7/30 @Buffalo...Surrendered just four hits and one unearned run, but received a no-decision on 8/11 @Durham...Had contract purchased by Pittsburgh on 8/27...Made major league debut as a starter on 8/30 @Milwaukee and tossed 8.0 shutout innings for the win...Also singled off Doug Davis for first big-league hit in second at bat...Became first Pittsburgh pitcher to win his major league debut since Joe Beimel did so on 4/8/01 and fell 1.0 inning shy from becoming the first Bucco to twirl a shutout in his major league debut since Erv Kantlehner did so on April 17, 1914...Received no-decision in second start on 9/6 vs. Arizona...Tossed 5.0 shutout innings and was in line for the win but also received a no-decision on 9/11 @Cincinnati...Scattered four hits in 8.0 scoreless frames and won second game in a combined 4-0 shutout vs. Cincinnati on 9/17...Lost lone decision on 9/23 @Los Angeles. ...Allowed two runs in 6.2 innings and won final start on 9/28 @Chicago...The Pirates went 3-3 in his six starts...Held opponents to a .209 batting average (31-for-148)...Surrendered just two hits to left-handed batters in 23 at bats (.087)...Went 2-for-15 at the plate.
2004
Attended first major league training camp as a non-roster invitee with Pittsburgh, but did not see action in any games...Began season with Lynchburg (A)...Allowed two earned runs or less in seven of his eight starts with the Hillcats...Gave up just one run, but came away with a no-decision in first outing on 4/9 vs. Frederick...Dropped first decision (5.2ip/2er) on 4/14 vs. Wilmington (game one)...Tossed 5.0 scoreless frames in a no-decision on 4/19 @Potomac...Was victorious for first time on 4/25 vs. Salem...Allowed one unearned run while suffering the first of back-to-back losses on 4/30...Did not allow a home run in the month of April (29.2ip)...Produced a 1.21 ERA (29.2ip/4er) thru the end of April...Was struck in the face on a line drive and suffered a broken nose and a fracture of the orbital bones on 5/15 vs. Winston-Salem...Returned to action on rehab with Bradenton (Rookie) and allowed one run in 4.0 innings of relief on 7/27 against the GCL Red Sox...Was activated from the disabled list on 8/13 and was assigned to Hickory (A)...Dropped final two starts of the season...Allowed a season-high seven runs on 8/26 vs. Lexington...Went 1-5 with a 3.43 ERA (60.1ip/23er) in 12 combined games (11 starts) with three different teams.
2003
Made professional debut with Williamsport in the New York-Penn League after being selected by Pittsburgh in the first round of the June draft (8th pick overall)...Started and allowed two runs in his first pro contest on 7/24 @Mahoning Valley (3.0ip)...Tossed 3.2 scoreless frames in his next start before picking up first victory on 8/5 @Staten Island (5.0ip/1h/0r/8so)...Went 1-0 with a 1.84 ERA (14.2ip/3er) in his first four starts...Did not allow an earned run in back-to-back starts on 8/22 @Lowell (5.0ip) and 8/27 vs. Staten Island (7.2ip)...Produced a 1.09 ERA (24.2ip/6r/3er) in five starts during the month of August...Surrendered just one home run (came in first game)...Held opponents to a .197 (25-for-127) average...Was rated by
Baseball America as the No. 8 prospect in the organization following the season.
