Jermaine Russell Van Buren...graduated from Hattiesburg (MS) High School, where he earned Mississippi Player of
the Year honors in 1998...fanned 148 in 76.0 innings as a senior (1.95 batters per inning).
2006
Completed 5 separate stints with BOS, going 1-0 with an 11.77 ERA in 10 relief appearances...was with the big league
club from April 15-22 (one appearance), May 24-June 6 (4), June 13-19 (2), July 18-30 (2) and for one day on August
19 (one)...was designated for assignment on September 5 to make room for catcher George Kottaras (acquired from
SDP for David Wells) on the 40-man roster...was outrighted to Pawtucket on September 15.
Game-By-Game Highlights: Made BOS debut April 22 at TOR, allowing one run on 2 hits and a walk in 3.0 relief
innings...including his first major league win May 31 at TOR, did not allow a run in his next 3 Sox outings (4.1 IP).
In minor leagues: Went 4-0 with a team-leading 16 saves and a 2.98 ERA in 33 relief appearances with Triple-A
Pawtucket.. .posted a .233 batting average, including a .213 mark by opposing right-handed batters...struck out 46
in 45.1 innings...carried a 1.17 ERA (2 ER/15.1 IP) into June...posted a 10.0-inning scoreless streak from June 28-August 1...within that stretch, recorded a save in a season-best 4 straight appearances from July 13-August 1.
2005
SUMMARY: Was named the Cubs' 2005 Triple-A Pitcher of the Year at Iowa, where he posted a 1.98 ERA (12 ER/54.2 IP) and set a franchise record with 25 saves in 52 appearances...was recalled by the Cubs August 30 and made his debut the next night vs.
the Dodgers, striking out 2, walking one and allowing one hit in 2.0 scoreless innings...appeared in 6 games for Chicago down the stretch, going 0-2 with a 3.00 ERA (2 ER/6.0 IP)...limited opponents to a .118 (2-for-17) average.
AT IOWA: Was a mid-season and year-end Pacific Coast League All-Star, ranking 2nd in the PCL in saves while limiting the opposition to a .181 average, including a .158 mark by righthanders...opponents hit just .081 (3-for-37) against him with runners in scoring
position...struck out 65 in 54.2 innings, an average of 10.7 K's per 9 innings...registered
14 saves and recorded a 1.25 ERA (3 ER/21.2 IP) in his final 21 games with Iowa to earn his promotion to Chicago...set the Iowa franchise mark with his 23rd save August 20 vs. Memphis, breaking Marc Pisciotta's record from 1997...was on the D.L. May 27-June 2 with a right groin strain and June 21-27 with a right shoulder strain.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Had a 0.90 ERA (1 ER/10.0 IP) in 11 games in April...posted a season-best run of 12.1 consecutive scoreless innings July 5-August 4, allowing only 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 14 over the 13-game span...notched 6 saves and a 0.82 ERA (1 ER/11.0 IP) in 9 August contests.
2004
Was a mid-season Southern League All-Star for Double-A West Tennessee, where
he posted 21 saves to tie for 2nd in the league...started the season at Single-A Lansing
and appeared in 3 games before promotions to West Tennessee and eventually
Iowa...tossed 17.0 consecutive scoreless innings over 13 games April 20-May 27 to
start his first Double-A stint, posting 9 saves in that span...after allowing a run in his next
outing May 28 vs. Carolina, worked 10.0 straight shutout innings while notching 6 more
saves in his next 12 games...overall, surrendered just one run in his first 27.0 innings for
a 0.33 ERA...finished the year at Triple-A Iowa, recording a save and a 2.08 ERA (1 ER/4.1 IP) in 3 outings...posted a combined 1.88 ERA at the 3 stops...combined for 76 strikeouts in 62.1 innings, an average of 11.0 K's per 9 innings.
2003
Released by the Rockies on March 23, he signed with Fort Worth of the independent Central League...went 9-4 with a 3.07 ERA in 18 starts...struck out 113 in 111.1 innings, an average of 9.1 per 9 innings...allowed 2 runs or less in 11 starts.
2002
In his 4th year at the Single-A level, went 6-9 with a 4.96 ERA 30 games (17 starts) for Colorado's Asheville affiliate...was 3-7 with a 5.93 ERA (54 ER/82.0 IP) in 17 starts and 3-2 with a 1.80 ERA (5 ER/25.0 IP) in 13 relief appearances...16 of his first 19 appearances were starts...then made 10 straight appearances out of the bullpen before ending the year with a start August 29 vs. Columbus.
2001
Appeared in only 7 games (4 starts) for Rookie-level Casper and short-season Single-A Tri-City, going
4-0 with a 5.65 ERA...underwent right
knee surgery in April.
2000
Held opponents to a .214 average in 13 starts at short-season Single-A Portland (OR)...allowed 2 earned runs or less in 11 starts, including each of his final 5, when he went 2-1 with a 1.88
ERA (6 ER/282. IP)...in 69.0 innings, allowed just one home run, which came in his final start August 25 vs. Eugene.
1999
Made 28 starts for Single-Asheville, striking out 133 in 143.0 innings...was 0-4 with an 8.38 ERA (18 ER/19.1 IP) in his first 5 starts...went
1-1 with a 2.65 ERA (10 ER/34.0 IP) in
6 August starts.
1998
Made his pro debut with the Arizona Rookie League Rockies, going 7-2 with a 2.22 ERA in 12 games (11 starts) before an August 22 promotion to short-season Single-A Portland...made 2 starts in the Northwest League, and allowed 4 runs in 10.0 innings for a 3.60 ERA.
