Graduated from Winston Churchill High School in San Antonio, Texas...lettered in baseball for three years and was AllState during his junior and senior years...played college ball at Florida State and was named First Team All-ACC in 1997... compiled a 13-3 record that season as the staff ace, and became one of six Seminoles selected in the 1997 June Draft, including J.D. Drew, who was taken No. 2 overall by the Phillies...has two daughters, Tatem and Tegan...married to the former Leigh Whitmire and resides in Incline Village, Nev...was the 6th-oldest active player in the majors at the conclusion of the 2014 season...name is pronounced "choht".
2014
Lefty made 61 appearances out of the bullpen, 52 of those scoreless, with 36.0 IP. Pitched less than 1.0 inning 41 times. Held left-handed batters to an .093 batting average (7-75) with two extra base hits (2B, HR). Ranked 2nd in the National League with a 10.3% inherited runners scored, allowing just four of 39 IRs to cross the plate. His 39 inherited runners were T13th most in the N.L. Pitched 2.0 innings 4/30 vs. MIL, his most innings pitched since 8/5/10 vs. MIN (w/TB). Had a scoreless span of 18 games (9.1 IP) from 6/6-7/29. Also went 9.1 scoreless IP from 4/8-5/2. Won his first game of the season on one pitch 6/14 vs. WSH. With the score tied 1-1, faced one in the 7th to force a ground out for third out. The Cards scored 3 in the bottom half of the inning for the win. Allowed two home runs total, both vs. Cubs: Rizzo (5/3) and Alcantara (8/31). The homer on 5/3 was his first allowed since 8/1/12, snapping a homerless streak that lasted 107 games and 55.1 IP (227 BF / 196 AB). Finished regular season with nine consecutive scoreless outings (4.0 IP), not allowing a run in September. Selected as one of the Major Leaguers to travel to Japan as part of the All-Star Series in November vs. Japan's National team. Appeared in four of the seven games (3.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R).
2013
In his first year with the Cardinals, made 64 appearances, 4th on team... Inherited 59 runners, 2nd among National League relievers, allowed nine to score for a 15.3% which ranked 6th in the N.L... Did not surrender a run over his last 13 app. from 8/30 to end of season (23 TBF/20 AB)... Had a season high 1.1 IP on 3 occasions; 34 times pitched 0.1 IP or less... Did not allow a home run all season, 35.1 IP. Currently holds the 11th-longest homerless streak in MLB at 45.0 IP (8/5/12-present). Among active pitchers (min. 300 IP), has the 2nd lowest career HR/9 IP (0.42) ratio... Had 9 scoreless apps. (3.1 IP) during the postseason, appearing in four games in both the League Championship Series and World Series...induced a double play to his lone batter faced in Game 2 of the Division Series vs. Pittsburgh...retired lone batters faced in League Championship Series Games 1 and 2 vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers...stranded two runners in 0.2 IP during LCS Game 3...retired 2 BFs in Game 5 at LAD...retired his batter faced in WS Games 1 & 4; faced one batter (single) in WS Gm 3 & 6 (walk).
2012
Began the season with the Miami Marlins before a mid-season trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Allowed just five extra-base hits while striking out 38 in 38.2 IP between the two clubs and posted a combined 3.03 ERA with one save while appearing in a Major League leading 80 games. Had a career high 20 holds, which was T16th in the National League and led the N.L. with 66 inherited runners, allowing 14 to score (21.2%). Ranked seventh among N.L.relief pitchers with a 74.4 ground ball percentage. Limited opposing left-handed batters to a .158 mark (16-101) with just one HR. All batters hit just .206, which ranked 12th in the NL among relievers while first batters hit only .169 against him (11-for-65). Acquired in a trade by LAD on 7/25. Allowed seven runs (six earned)in 36 appearances with the Dodgers. Those 36 games led the Dodgers from 7/25 through the conclusion of the season.
2011
Landed on disabled list with left elbow inflammation on August 18 (retro to August
16), and was transferred to 60-day DL on September 5...Despite missing final six weeks of season, ranked fourth on Club in appearances,
behind Mike Dunn (72), Juan Carlos Oviedo (68) and Edward Mujica (67)...Among Marlins' relievers to appear in 45 games-or-more in a single season, recorded
third-lowest ERA in Franchise history at 1.82. Armando Benitez owns lowest at 1.29
in 2004, followed by Bryan Harvey (1.70 in 1993)...Inherited 43 runners, which tied for 13th-most in National League; tied with Javier
Lopez for third in percentage of inherited runners scored at 14.0 (43 inherited runners,
six scored). Percentage of inherited runners scored was second-lowest in Club
history, behind Vic Darensbourg's 12.1 in 1998 (33/4)...Held left-handed hitters to a .145 average (10x69), which tied Antonio Bastardo for
fourth-lowest in NL among relievers (min. 50 at-bats)...Became first pitcher in Marlins' history to not allow a single earned run at home (min.
20 appearances) over an entire season...Started season with three runs allowed (one earned) over first four appearances
(2.2 IP). From April 14-June 25, provided scoreless baseball over 30 appearances
(11.2 IP). Surrendered just five hits in 38 at-bats (.132 average) while walking five (two
intentional) and striking out 15 in that span (18.2 IP)...Gave up first home run of season in fourth outing on April 13 at Atlanta, but did not
allow a home run over next 44 games. Held opponents to just two runs (0.96 ERA)
and eight hits while walking eight and striking out 23 in that period...Tossed season-best 1.1 innings on July 6 vs. Philadelphia, retiring all four batters
faced.
2010
Ten-year veteran spent his first full season at the Major League level, going 4-3 with a 4.23 ERA in
85 games for Tampa Bay. Established career-bests in wins and appearances ... His 85 appearances established a Rays' Club record and led the American League. Was tied
with Atlanta's Peter Moylan for second in the Majors behind the Mets' Pedro Feliciano (92).
Made 10 more appearances than the next-closest American League pitcher, Oakland's Craig
Breslow (75). Since being called up in 2009, leads the American League in total games pitched
(146) while ranking third in the Majors (Feliciano-157 and Moylan-149) ... His 85 appearances were the most in the AL since the Yankees' Paul Quantrill (86) in 2004. No
AL pitcher had worked even 80 games since 2007. The last AL left-hander to make more
appearances was Detroit's Sean Runyan (88) in 1998 ... Held left-handed hitters to a .202 avg. (25-for-124), fourth-lowest among qualifying AL relievers.
Allowed only one home run to a lefty: Luke Scott, April 12 at Baltimore. Facing right-handed hitters,
he yielded a .410 opponents average (16x39) ... In 38 apps from July 20 through season's end, went 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA (21.1 IP/4 ER) to lower his
ERA from 6.56 to 4.23 ... Held first batters faced to a .200 average (16x80) with only two walks ... Recorded four wins, all between July 3 and Aug 28. On August 28 vs. Boston, notched his fourth
win after retiring the only batter he faced, David Ortiz, on a flyout that ended the 10th inning.
Dan Johnson homered in the bottom half to win it.
2009
Joined the Rays from Triple-A Durham on
May 25 and made 61 appearances in the Rays
final 115 games...only 2 others in the AL made
more appearances during that span: OAK
Craig Breslow (63) and MIN Jose Mijares (62).
...Veteran reliever had pitched only 23 innings
in the big leagues in the previous 4 seasons
combined...has pitched in the majors for parts
of 9 seasons, but has never spent a full season
in the bigs.
...Finished 2nd in the AL in inherited runners
scored efficiency, allowing only 9 out of his
57 inherited runners to cross the plate (15.79
percent), 2nd best in club history behind J.P.
Howell's 11.4 percent in 2008.
...Led the majors in one-batter relief appearances,
having faced just one batter in 29 of his
61 games.
...Picked up his only win Sep 27 at TEX, despite
allowing a solo shot to Marlon Byrd in the bottom
of the 8th...it was his first major league
win since Sep 14, 2004 vs. COL with Arizona.
...Held lefthanders to a .141 average (11-78,
1-HR), 5th best in the majors (min. 75 AB) and
2nd best in club history behind Grant Balfour's
.120 mark in 2008.
...Converted all 5 save opportunities...faced a
total of 8 batters in those 5 games and retired
all 8 batters.
...Earned his first 2 saves in consecutive nights
May 29-30 vs. MIN...were the first 2 saves of
his career...had gone 198 major league relief
appearances without one...only one active
pitcher had made more career relief apps without
a save: Cla Meredith, who had 220 apps
at the time and now has 265 without one...for
his first save, struck out major league batting
leader Joe Mauer, the only batter he faced.
...Opponents batted .111 (2-18) with two outs
and runners in scoring position.
...In his first 10 appearances with the Rays (8.0-
IP) he allowed only one hit as opponents batted
.042 (1-24).
...Was 3-0 with a 3.72 ERA in a staff-high 21
apps for Durham...6 of his last 7 apps since
May 10 were scoreless.
2008
Pitched in the Brewers organization with Triple-
A Nashville in 2008, making 26 apps (2
starts).
...Missed the first half of the season with a fractured
fourth metacarpal on the left hand, suffered
during spring training...held left-handed
hitters to a .206 average (7-34) in Nashville,
compared to a .289 (35-121) mark against
righties.
...Pitched for Aguilas Cibaenas of the Dominican
Winter League following the season...made
26 relief apps (3.80 ERA, 3 saves) and did not
allow a run over his final 13 games.
2007
Began the season in spring training with Minnesota before he was designated for assignment on 3/24...Declared free agency and signed a minor-league contract with Arizona on 4/17...Spent most of the season at Triple-A Tucson, where he went 3-1 with a 2.98 ERA and 3 saves in 55 relief appearances...Contract was purchased by Arizona on 6/26...Made a pair of relief appearances for the Diamondbacks without retiring a batter (allowed 3 hits)...those outings
came on 6/26 and 6/27 vs. Los Angeles-NL...Was designated for assignment on 6/28 and returned to
Tucson on 7/2...Following the season pitched for Aguilas in the Dominican Winter League...Signed as a free agent with Milwaukee on 11/14.
2006
Began the year at Triple-A Tucson...did not allow a run in his first four outings (6.1 innings)...in eight games from April 14-May 1 went 2-0
with a 0.00 ERA (8.1 innings) allowing just four hits...recorded four saves in nine appearances from May 5-23 and did not allow a run during the
stretch (10.0 innings)...had his contract selected June 13 when Russ Ortiz was designated for assignment...struck out the only batter he faced in
his Diamondbacks season debut June 14...did not allow an earned run over his first 12 appearances with Arizona, totaling 5.2 innings from June
14-July 7...made nine more appearances before he was designated for assignment on August 6...cleared waivers and returned to Tucson...went
3-0 with three saves and a 1.42 ERA in 11 games and was recalled September 1...held minor league lefthanders to a .190 (12-for-63 ) batting
average against...made nine September appearances with the D-Backs, going 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA (6.1 ip, 2 er)...did not allow a home run during
the season and has allowed only two home runs since September 14, 2000, spanning his last 176 appearances in the Majors (150.2 innings).
2005
Appeared in only eight games for Arizona, just a year removed from establishing a club record for appearances by a southpaw (74 outings)...
had a rough three-game stretch from April 16-19, as he gave up six runs in 1.0 inning of action...didn't work again for 10 days...tossed a
season-high 3.0 innings in what would be his final outing April 29 at San Diego...he allowed just one hit and struck out three...had allowed only
two home runs since September 14, 2000, spanning his last 145 big league appearances totaling 134.0 innings...was designated for assignment
on May 5, cleared waivers and reported to Triple-A Tucson where he was 1-1 with three saves and a 3.38 ERA in 47 games...his best stretch in
the minors came from July 2-August 11, hurling 14.1 scoreless frames over 16 appearances...was more effective on the road, owning a 0.42 ERA
in 24 showings away from home while posting a 6.75 ERA in 23 appearances at Tucson Electric Park.
2004
Randy was acquired from Montreal on March 27 in exchange for pitcher John Patterson and appeared in a career best
74 games, establishing a franchise record for a lefthanded pitcher and the fourth highest single-season total in team history...
Choate stranded 56 of 76 inherited runners (74%, T-16th in the N.L.)...after giving up 5 runs in his first 2.0 innings of
the year, he had an outstanding performance on April 22 in Milwaukee, fanning 6 of the 7 Brewers he faced in Arizona's 11-
9, 15-inning win...in April, he fanned 17 batters in only 8.2 innings, spanning 12 outings...Randy faced only 1 batter in 10
of his 14 appearances from May 25-June 15...he fanned both men he faced on June 11 in Toronto and picked up the win
after Arizona rallied for 3 runs in the ninth, Randy's first big league victory since July 17, 2001, when he was pitching for
the Yankees in Philadelphia... he had a 1.72 earned run average over a 26-game span from May 25-June 10, (3 earned runs
in 15.2 innings)...he stranded 21 of 22 inherited baserunners from May 25-July 3...he retired the first batter faced in 19
straight appearances from June 5-July 10...that streak was snapped on July 15 vs. Los Angeles, when Randy walked pinch
hitter Adrian Beltre, then surrendered the game-winning grand slam to Shawn Green...that home run started a tough stretch
in which Choate gave up 8 runs over his next 12 trips to the mound through August 7...he was optioned to Tucson (AAA)
the next day...he appeared in 15 games for the Sidewinders before returning to the big leagues on September 7...Randy was
much sharper after his return, posting a 1.53 ERA in September and holding the opposition to a .190 average...he blanked
the Rockies for 2.0 innings on September 14 and wound up a 4-3 winner in 13 innings...Randy found greater success on the
road than at home during the year, going 1-1 with a 2.53 ERA and a .227 opponents' average away from Bank One Ballpark,
while owning a 1-3 mark, 6.14 ERA and a .292 average against in home games...he's allowed only 2 home runs since
September 14, 2000, spanning his last 137 visits to a big league mound totaling 127.0 innings.
2003
Spent most of 2003 with Triple-A Columbus, going 3-5 with a
3.91 ERA in 54 games. The left-handed specialist made three starts for
Columbus as well. In his one stint with the Yankees, Choate posted no record
and a 7.36 ERA in five appearances.
2002
Split the season between the Yankees and Triple-A Columbus...in four stints with the Yankees
was 0-0 with a 6.04 ERA in 18 relief appearancesb&held opponents to a .217 average (18-for-83)...held lefthanded
hitters to a .107 average (3-for-28)...retired 13-of-18 first batters faced (72 percent) and prevented four-of-seven
inherited runners from scoring...made his second straight Opening-Day roster...in 5/22 loss vs. Toronto,
tossed a career-high 5.0 IP (2H, 2ER, 2BB, 5K)b&was 3-2 with one save and a 1.72 ERA in 31 appearances with
the Clippersb&did not allow an earned run in 14 appearances with Columbus from 7/22-8/21 (21.2IP, 10H, 4BB,
14K).
2000
With the Yankees was 0-1, 4.76 in 22 relief appearances...Retired 14 of 21 first batters faced (66 percent)...Prevented 13 of 17 inherited runners from scoring (76 percent)...Contract purchased from Triple-A Columbus on 6/29...Made his Major League debut in a 6-1 win on 7/1 at Tampa Bay...Retired only batter faced (Fred McGriff) with a tying run on base...Optioned back to Columbus on 8/6 to make room for RHP Orlando Hernandez on the 25 man roster...Recalled from Columbus on 8/11 after LHP Allen Watson was placed on the 15 day disabled list...Tossed a career high 4.01 of relief on 8/25 in a 8-1 loss at Oakland, allowed 1R on 1H (Ben Grieve solo HR)...Recorded his first Major League descision, a loss on 9/14 vs. Toronto...Allowed 2R (Jose Cruz Jr. two-run 11th inning homer) on 2H in 1.0IP (1K) in the 3-2 defeat...Surrendered a career-high 3ER (2H, 1BB) without retiring a batter in the 9-1 loss at Toronto... Was 2-0, 2.04 at Columbus in 33 relief appearances...Was originally selected by the Yankees in the fifth round of the 1997 free-agent draft (from Florida St. University).
1999
Made a minor-league career-high 47 appearances and was 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA for Class-A Tampa...pitched exclusively out of the bullpen for the first time in his professional career.
1998
Was 1-8 with a 5.27 ERA in 13 starts for Class-A Tampa...was 1-5 with a 3.00 ERA in eight starts for Class-A Greensboro.
1997
Was drafted by the Yankees in the 5th round of the June free agent draft and signed on 7/5/9...made ten starts for Class-A Oneonta and won a minor-league career-high five games...was 5-1 with a 1.73 ERA.
