Played at Princeton University, where he was named Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2002...Named a Player to Watch, chosen as All-Ivy League Conference and All-America 3rd team in 2004...Also named the Ivy League's Player of the Year by Baseball America in 2004 and was selected as the Ivy League's Top Prospect that year...Played for Chatham in the Cape Cod League in 2003...Was the 24th Princeton alum to play in the Majors, 1st since Chris Young debuted with Texas in 2004...His family owns and operates a longhorn cattle ranch (Rocking O Ranch) near Austin, TX...Had an 8-week internship with the Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC in October-November 2009 where he put in 20-hour work weeks tracking diseases in livestock and conducting research in conjunction with the National Animal Identification System...Met First Lady Michelle Obama on 11/18/09.
2013
Began '13 at Triple-A, but joined the Nationals for spot start (June 12 at COL), never left and ultimately posted a 3.28 ERA...went 3-1 with a 3.52 in 7 starts (Washington went 6-1)...in 9 relief appearances, went 1-0 with a hold (July 4 vs. MIL) and a 2.86 ERA...missed 17 games during DL stint (right shoulder inflammation) from Aug. 1-21...went 2-1 with a 5.13 ERA in 6 games/5 starts thereafter...joined the Nationals in June after going 4-5 with a 4.27 ERA in 13 IL games/12 starts for Syracuse...agreed to terms on '14 contract, thus avoiding arbitration, Dec. 2.
2012
Signed with BOS as a minor-league free agent and spent April and May with Pawtucket of the Triple-A International League (4-3, 4.61 ERA, 10 starts)...per contract with the Red Sox, was allowed to sign a big league deal with the Padres on June 4 and made first appearance for the Friars, June 7 vs. SFG...when toeing the rubber in a starting role, the Padres went 6-7...registered 4 quality starts.
2011
Spent the majority of the season on the disabled list with a shoulder injury...Began the year in Pittsburgh's rotation...Left 2nd start on 4/8 after 2.2 innings with right shoulder discomfort.....Placed on the 15-day DL on 4/9 with a right shoulder posterior strain and transferred to 60-day DL on 5/30...Made 6 rehab starts from 7/14-29 between High-A Bradenton (2 GS), Double-A Altoona (1 GS) and Triple-A Indianapolis (3 GS)...On 8/12, was reinstated from the DL and optioned to Indianapolis...Went 1-1 with a 3.65 ERA (15 ER/37.0 IP) in 7 minor league games (6 on rehab)...Had a 3.33 ERA (9 ER/24.1 IP) in 4 Triple-A starts overall...Recalled from Pittsburgh on 8/23 and started that night vs. MIL, his 1st start since 4/8...Totaled 7 Major League starts over August and September, earning his only ML win of the season with 6 strikeouts in 7.0 innings of 2-run ball on 9/15 at LAD...In that game, hit his 1st Major League home run, a 3-run shot off Dana Eveland, for his 1st first big league RBI.
2010
Started the second game of the season and received a no-decision in Pittsburgh's 4-3, 10-inning victory over the Dodgers at PNC Park (5.0ip/3r/2er)...Was scratched from his second start on 4/12 in San Francisco after suffering back spasms two days prior...Was placed on the 15-day D.L. on 4/17 (retroactive to 4/12)...Had a 50-pitch
bullpen session in Houston on 4/27...Threw 3.0 innings and a total of 43 pitches on 4/30
during the club's Extended Spring Training program in Bradenton, FL...Made a rehab start
with Double-A Altoona on 5/5 and pitched 4.0+ innings; he allowed three hits and no runs
while walking one batter and striking out six at Richmond...Was reinstated from D.L. on 5/10
and suffered a 2-1 loss vs. Cincinnati that night (4.0ip/1er)...Left game on 5/16 at Chicago
(NL) with a 3-1 lead in the 7th inning, but received a no-decision in 4-3 loss...Pitched 3.2
innings and gave up six runs while losing second game on 5/21 vs. Atlanta...Tied career
high with five walks (second time) and lost third straight decision on 5/26 at Cincinnati
(6.0ip/3er)...Gave up one run in 7.0 innings, but received a no-decision in a 2-1 win vs. Cubs
on 5/31...Lost three of his five starts in June...Tossed 7.0 scoreless frames in a 2-0 combined
shutout vs. Philadelphia on 7/2 and won lone game of the season...Surrendered four runs
in the 2nd inning and left the game on 7/17 vs. Houston after pitching just 1.1 innings, but
did not factor in the decision (Pirates won 12-6)...Gave up one run in 6.0ip and lost a 3-2
decision on 7/22 vs. Milwaukee...Faced only four batters on 7/28 at Colorado - left the game
after being struck in head by Troy Tulowitzki line drive in opening frame...Left two starts in
August with leads in the 7th inning only to have bullpen suffer blown saves each time...Tied
career high and pitched season-high 8.0 innings, but lost a 3-2 decision vs. Florida on 8/18...Made final start on 8/23 and left after
facing just two batters due to tightness/soreness in back of his right shoulder...Was placed on 15-day disabled list on 8/25 (retro
to 8/24) and was transferred to 60-day D.L. on 9/7...Posted a 2.68 ERA (53.2ip/16er) in his last 11 starts with the Pirates, beginning
with his start in Oakland on 6/27...Went 2-for-26 (.077) as a batter.
2009
Spent first full season in the Majors and led
Pittsburgh staff in ERA...Shared team lead in victories with Zach Duke...Posted a 2.83 ERA in 11 starts after the All-Star break - the 10th-best ERA among National League pitchers with at least 11 starts...Went 8-2 with a 2.64 ERA in
16 starts at PNC Park; went 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA (65.2ip/12er) in his final 10
home starts...Recorded the 10th-best home ERA in the league...Received 63
runs of support when he was on the mound in his 11 wins (75 runs total), but
just six runs of support while he was on the mound in his 10 losses (11 runs
total)...The Pirates went 14-15 in his 29 starts and were shut out three
times...Started the fourth game of the season and suffered 2-1 loss to Chris
Carpenter at Busch Stadium (6.0ip+/2er)...Also lost second start on 4/15 vs.
Houston (5.0ip/4er)...Tossed 7.0 scoreless innings and gave up just two hits
while winning an 8-0 decision vs. Florida on 4/20 - his first win in a Pittsburgh
uniform...Won three straight decisions from 4/20 thru 5/2...Snapped an 0-for-18 start to his big league batting career with a single off Todd Wellemeyer
on 5/7 at St. Louis...Held Cardinals to just two hits and one run (6.0ip) while winning a 5-2 decision over Joel Pineiro at PNC Park on 5/13...Suffered
back-to-back losses on 5/23 at Chicago (AL) and 5/29 vs. Houston and finished the first two months with a 5-5 record in 10 starts...Gave up just two
hits and one run in 6.0ip while winning sixth game on 6/14 vs. Detroit - his first victory since 5/18...Gave up six runs (four earned) in 5.0ip and
suffered sixth loss on 6/19 at Colorado...Gave up two runs in 7.0ip, but received a no-decision on 6/25 vs. Cleveland...Struck out eight batters and
gave up just three hits in 7.0 scoreless frames while winning seventh game on 6/30 vs. Chicago (NL)...Lasted just 5.0 innings and gave up five runs
while losing next start on 7/5 at Florida...Picked up eighth win in first start after the All-Star break on 7/20 vs. Milwaukee; the win snapped
Pittsburgh's 17-game losing streak to the Brewers...Snapped an 0-for-25 streak at the plate with a single off Doug Davis on 7/25 at Arizona...Hit
safely in two straight games on 7/25 and 7/31...Won three straight decisions from 7/31 thru 8/18...Gave up just one run in 6.0ip vs. Arizona on
8/5 and left with a 2-1 lead, but received a no-decision in 4-3 Bucco loss...Won fifth straight decision at home on 8/18 vs. Milwaukee...Suffered 4-
1 loss at Milwaukee on 8/30...Struck out career-high 11 batters and pitched 8.0 innings (1r/0er) in a no-decision vs. St. Louis on 9/5; also became
second pitcher in team history to strike out the side on nine pitches in a game (also Jeff Robinson at Chicago on 9/7/87)...Gave up a pair of tworun
homers and lost a 4-2 decision at Houston on 9/12 (6.1ip/4er)...Gave up one run in 7.0ip and received a no-decision in final start on 9/19 vs.
San Diego (Bucs lost 2-1) - was shut down for the rest of the season due to innings pitched total in first full season as a starter...Went 4-for-59 (.068)
with four sac bunts at the plate.
2008
Pitched a total of 131.2 innings in 42 combined games with four teams...Began campaign in the New
York bullpen and made two scoreless outings (2.0ip) to start the year...Was scored upon in six of his next seven games (14.2ip/12er);
suffered loss on 4/26 at Cleveland...Made four straight scoreless appearances (7.0ip) from 4/29 thru 5/14...Gave up a total of 11
runs in his next three outings (6.0ip), including three home runs (four runs total) at
Baltimore on 5/27...Pitched 2.0 scoreless frames and won his first Major League game
on 5/31 at Minnesota...Surrendered just two earned runs in eight appearances (9.0ip) from
5/31 thru 6/25...Made first career Major League plate appearance and lined out to first
base off Pittsburgh's Franquelis Osoria at PNC Park on 6/25...Was charged with six earned
runs in 1.1 innings of work on 6/27 vs. New York Mets and was optioned to Triple-A
Scranton-Wilkes Barre following the game...Made first start for Scranton on 7/1 vs. Buffalo
and received a no-decision (3.0ip/1er)...Struck out seven batters in 5.0ip and won first
Triple-A game in third start on 7/11 at Columbus...Suffered loss in final start with Scranton
on 7/24 vs. Richmond (5.2ip/4er)...Did not give up a home run in his five starts (22.1ip) with Scranton...Was acquired by Pittsburgh
orgainzation on 7/26 and was assigned to Triple-A Indianapolis...Made first start with Indy on 7/29 at Toledo and suffered 13-5 loss
(6.0ip/4er)...Whiffed a season-high nine batters while winning an 8-4 decision vs. Toledo on 8/3 (7.2ip/3er)...Pitched 8.0 scoreless
innings while winning a 1-0 decision vs. Columbus on 8/13...Suffered loss at Charlotte on 8/19 (6.0ip/4er)...Gave up just one run
in 8.0ip while winning third game with Indy on 8/24 at Durham...Won fourth game with Indians in final start on 8/29 vs. Louisville
(5.0ip/3er)...Pitched at least 6.0 innings in six of his seven starts with Indianapolis and into the 8th inning three times...Went 4-4
with a 3.65 ERA (69.0ip/29r/28er) in 12 Triple-A starts...Was recalled by Pittsburgh on 9/2...Made debut with Pirates and first Major
League start on 9/3 at Cincinnati; received a no-decision in Bucs 6-5 victory (6.0ip/7h/4r/3er/1bb/2so)...Became 26th different pitcher
to start a game for the Pirates - setting a club record...Took the mound with a 2-0 lead, but suffered first loss with Pirates in second
start on 9/9 at Houston (4.0ip/9h/6r/6er/1bb/3so)...Pitched 3.0 innings and allowed five hits, four walks and three runs (two
earned) while losing second game on 9/15 vs. Los Angeles...Dropped third straight decision on 9/21 vs. Houston
(5.0ip/10h/4r/4er/2bb/3so)...Received a no-decision in fifth and final start on 9/28 at San Diego (4.2ip/1er); left game with a 2-
1 lead and a pair of runners on base...The Pirates posted a 2-3 record in his five starts...Went 0-for-6 at the plate with Pittsburgh.
2007
Was acquired by New York from Arizona as part of a five-player deal on 1/9 and attended spring training as a non-roster invitee with Yankees...Began season with Scranton-Wilkes Barre, where he went 2-3 with a 5.24 ERA in nine starts and 1-0 with a 4.57 ERA in 12 relief appearances...Pitched a season-high 6.1 scoreless innings on 5/5 at Syracuse and picked up first victory...Was
placed on the disabled list on 5/12 due to a lower back strain...Began a rehab assignment with GCL Yankees on 6/25...Made four
starts with GCL Yankees before being recalled from rehab assignment and reinstated from D.L. on 7/14...Made two additional starts
with Scranton before being converted to a reliever...Made first relief appearance on 7/26 vs. Louisville and allowed four hits and
three runs in 2.0ip...Picked up lone relief win on 8/2 at Ottawa (3.0ip/1er)...Tossed at least 2.0 innings in seven of his 12 relief
outings...Was recalled by New York on 9/9...Made Major League debut on 9/11 at Toronto and tossed a perfect inning (1 K)...Struck
out four batters in 1.1 innings of work at Boston on 9/15 in second appearance; also walked a batter and surrendered a solo home
run to Eric Hinske in the game...Made one appearance in the Division Series vs. Cleveland; pitched 1.0 inning and allowed four hits
and three earned runs in Game One loss at Jacobs Field...Became just the fourth Yankee to appear in a post season game after making
his Major League debut on-or-after September 1 of the same season (also Mike Hegan in 1964, Andre Robertson in 1981 and Jorge
Posada in 1995)...Pitched for the Peoria Javelinas during the Arizona Fall League and went 0-0 with a 3.52 ERA
(7.2ip/8h/3er/4bb/3so) in six relief appearances.
2006
Spent majority of season with Tennessee (Diamondbacks' AA)...Led Southern League in complete games, ranked second in innings pitched, fourth in wins and fifth in starts...Posted the lowest walks-to-9.0ip ratio in the league (1.37)...Was named to Southern League mid-season All-Star team...Won a season-high seven straight decisions in an 11-start span from 5/11 thru
7/3...Was named Southern League Pitcher-of-the-Week for the week of 5/15-21 after going 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA (14.1ip/4er) in two
starts and .333 (2-for-6) with a home run at the plate...Hit a grand slam on 5/26 vs. Chattanooga...Went 4-0 with a 1.98 ERA
during the month of June...Tied career high with 11 strikeouts on 7/31 at West Tenn...Was promoted to Triple-A Tucson following
Double-A season and started Sidewinders' season finale at Tacoma...Made one start during Pacific Coast League playoffs on 9/15
and received a no-decision (5.0ip/1er) in championship series clinching Game Three as Tucson captured PCL title.
2005
Was tabbed by Baseball America as having the "Best Fastball" in the Arizona organization prior to the season...Spent entire season with South Bend (Diamondbacks' A)...Shared team lead in victories and finished second in the Midwest League in strikeouts...Was named to the Midwest League mid-season All-Star team...Recorded 10 strikeouts while tossing 7.0 scoreless
innings of two-hit ball in victory vs. Clinton on 5/5...Tossed a five-hit shutout and first career complete game on 8/8 vs. Lansing.
2004
Spent first professional season with Yakima after being selected by Arizona in the fourth round of the First-Year Player Draft...Limited opposing hitters to a .210 batting average in his seven starts...Was chosen by Baseball America as one of the Northwest League's Top 20 prospects...Struck out 11 batters in 6.0ip in final start on 9/1 vs. Spokane.