Graduated from Joliet (IL) Catholic High School in 1998...was an honor roll student for 4 years in high school and member of National Honor Society...married (Sara).
2009
Spent half of season on disabled list at triple-A Sacramento but did have one stint with Oakland in May...had no decisions, his 1st career save and 3.44 ERA in 11 relief appearances...
was selected from Sacramento April 29 and after allowing run in his 1st outing, he tossed 4-consecutive scoreless outings from May 5 to 12 (6.0ip)...struck out career-high tying 3 batters in 2.0 innings May 5 against Los Angeles-AL and May 18 at Tampa Bay...recorded his 1st career save May 25 against Seattle when he tossed career-high tying 3.0-scoreless innings in A's 6-1 win...allowed career-high tying 4 earned runs May 30 at Texas, including 1st home run of his career, 5th inning solo home run by Nelson Cruz...that snapped career opening 67-game, 83.2-inning, 368-batter homerless streak...made his final appearance June 1 at Chicago-AL (0.2ip, 1h, 2bb, 1so) before being optioned to Sacramento June 2...was 2-1 with save and 2.77 ERA in 10 relief appearances
with Sacramento...did not allow home run in 13.0 innings but issued 11 walks while striking
out 14...held opposition to .159 batting average, including .136 (3-for-22) against left-handed hitters and .182 (4 for 22) against righties...issued 8 of his 11 walks to righties for .400 on-base pct...took loss in his 1st outing of season April 9 against Tacoma, allowing 3 runs in 0.2 innings...then allowed just one run over his next 7 outings (10.1ip, 0.87 ERA) before A's called April 29...was optioned back to Sacramento June 2 but did not pitch before going on disabled list June 12 with neck strain...made 1 rehab start with A's affiliate in Arizona Rookie League Aug. 29 (1.0ip, 2so) and was reinstated from DL Sept. 1...pitched in 2 regular season games in Sept. (2.0ip, 2h, 1r, 3bb, 1so) and then compiled 3.00 ERA (3.0ip, 1h, 1r, 1er, 3bb, 3so) in 3 postseason games for River Cats...was outrighted off A's 40-man roster Oct. 8 and elected free agency Oct. 15.
2008
Had no decisions and 3.60 ERA in 10 relief appearances for San Diego in year in which he spent most of season on disabled list...began year at triple-A Portland before he was recalled by San Diego April 15 after compiling 1.42 ERA in 4 appearances...was on 15-day disabled list from May 7 to July 27 with strained right elbow...spent most of July pitching on rehab assignment before he was reinstated from DL and optioned to Portland July 28...made 6 more appearances before going back on DL with elbow strain Aug. 11 and missed remainder of season...was recalled April 15 and tossed season high 2.0 innings that day against Colorado...struck out season high 3 batters in that outing and had just 2 more strikeouts over his final 9 outings and 8.0 innings...allowed 6 runs in 0.2 innings in game against Arizona, but only 1 of runs was earned... his final outing came May 6 at Atlanta when he tossed just 3 pitches before leaving with elbow injury...was placed on DL 2 days later...was sent to Padres affiliate in Arizona Rookie League July 7 to begin rehab assignment and made 2 appearances, tossing 1.0 scoreless and hitless inning in each outing...was transferred to Portland July 13 to continue his rehab assignment...went 1-0 with save and 2.57 ERA in 5 relief appearances before he was reinstated from DL and optioned to Portland July 28...made 6 more appearances for Beavers and posted 1.69 ERA...pitched in both games of doubleheader Aug. 10 at Colorado Springs and was placed on DL next day with strained right elbow...missed remainder of season...was 1-0 with save and 1.93 ERA in 15 relief appearances overall for Beavers.
2007
Selected by the Padres in the first round of the Rule 5 Draft, 12/7/06...remained on the 25-man roster for the entire 2007 season...in his rookie season, posted a 2.79 ERA (18 ER/58.0 IP) in 48 relief appearances for the Padres...stranded 23 of 27 inherited runners and limited hitters to a .249 batting
average...held opponents scoreless in 38 of his 48 games...did not allow a run over eight games (8.2 IP), surrendering seven hits and three walks 7/28-8/15...earned his first Major League win in an 11-inning, 12-7 victory 8/10 at CIN, working 2.0 scoreless innings...earned his second win with 1.0 shutout frame 8/29 vs. ARI...posted a 2.08 ERA (3 ER/13.0 IP) in 11 July outings...had allowed one run in 16.1 innings (13 games)
since 6/2, before giving up a then-season-high three runs (two earned) in 1.2 innings 7/25 at COL...allowed his first inherited runners to score in that appearance after stranding his first 14...made his Major League debut 4/5 at SF, throwing 2.0 scoreless innings.
REMARKABLE ROOKIE: Began his Major League career with 17.1 scoreless innings...the streak was the
longest by a Padres pitcher to begin his career, surpassing the mark of 16.0 frames by Jeremy Fikac 8/16- 9/17/01...had his streak snapped during his second frame of work 5/29 at PIT, allowing an RBI single in the eighth after working a perfect seventh.
2006
Spent the entire season at Triple-A Rochester
in the Minnesota Twins organization...appeared in 40 games for the Red Wings, going 6-4 with nine saves and a 2.98 ERA (22 ER/66.1 IP)...recorded 65 strikeouts and 26 walks...allowed only two home runs over the entire year...his 2.98 ERA marked his third consecutive year with a sub-3.00 ERA...finished a career-high 23 games in
2006...held opponents to a .216 average (53-for-245)...opened the season with 9.1 scoreless innings over five appearances (April 6-17)...did not allow an earned run in 29 of his 40 games...credited with three wins and two saves
over five consecutive appearances April 15-26...posted a 1.17 ERA in June, allowing one earned run over 7.2 innings in five games...strung together 11.2 scoreless
innings from July 21-31, picking up three saves over the five-game stretch...did not allow a run over his final six games, spanning 12.0 innings.
2005
Went 6-2 for Double-A New Britain...posted a 2.72 ERA (24 ER/79.1 IP) with 60 strikeouts and 27
walks...picked up six saves and finished 17 games...sidelined with right shoulder tendinitis from April 28-May 23.
2004
Split the season between Single-A Fort Myers and Double-A New Britain...combined to go 3-6
with four saves and a 2.65 ERA (23 ER/78.0 IP) in 69 relief appearances...recorded 69 strikeouts compared
to 34 walks...held opponents to a .195 average (23-for-118) at Fort Myers...after opening in Single-A, he
was promoted to New Britain June 18.
2003
Spent the entire season at Single-A Quad Cities, going 1-5
with two saves and a 3.92 ERA (27 ER/62.0 IP)...averaged 8.42 strikeouts per nine innings with 58 on the
year...spent July 6-24 on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis.
2002
Missed the entire season due
to a labrum tear in his right shoulder.
2001
Spent his first professional season at Rookie-level Elizabethton,
going 1-1 with a 1.57 ERA (4 ER/23. IP)...made 22 relief appearances, finishing the game each time he took
the mound...picked up 13 saves...averaged 11.7 strikeouts per nine innings with 30 on the year...walked
only five batters and did not surrender a home run.