Michael begins his first full season in the Cubs organization after he was acquired from Boston, April 21 of last season ... has
seen major league action in parts of the last five seasons with the Red Sox (2008-2012) and the Cubs (2012)...Has gone 2-2 with a 4.59 ERA (49 ER/96.0 IP) in 69 career games
(two starts) since making his major league debut with Boston in 2008.
...Has spent a total of eight seasons in the minor leagues, going 45-34
with a 3.17 ERA (255 ER/723.0 IP) in 201 games (119 starts).
...Started and won his major league debut, August 30, 2008 vs. the White
Sox ... at 21 years and 356 days old, was the youngest Red Sox pitcher
to start and win his big league debut since Juan Pena did so on May 8,
1999 at 21 years, 315 days of age.
...Selected by Boston in the supplemental round (47th overall) of the
2005 draft.
...Listed as having the third-best breaking ball among draft-eligible high
school pitchers during Baseball America's "Best Tools" survey during
2005 draft.
...Graduated from Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Ill., where he
went 8-1 with a 0.59 ERA (4 ER/61.0 IP) in 10 games his senior year.
...Participated in the 2013 Cubs Caravan.
2012
Michael made 30 appearances for the Cubs after he was acquired by Chicago, April 21, along with a player to be named (LHP
Hunter Cervenka on May 15) for outfielder Marlon Byrd and a cash consideration ... he posted a 2.95 ERA (12 ER/36.2 IP)
in two stints for the Cubs...Retired 24 of 30 first batters faced ... stranded 12 of 23 inherited
runners.
...Recorded a 1.33 ERA (4 ER/27.0 IP) in his final 20 relief appearances
for the Cubs from August 14 through the end of the season ... walked
11 and struck out 21.
...Concluded the season by tossing 12.0-scoreless innings dating to
September 6 at Washington (11 games).
...Posted a 0.55 ERA (1 ER/16.1 IP) in September, surrendering one run
(a homer) on eight hits and seven walks in 13 appearances ... recorded
16 strikeouts during the month.
...Lefties hit .212 (11-for-52) against him, while righties hit at a .233 clip
(21-for-90).
...Pitched to a 2.61 ERA (6 ER/20.2 IP) in 16 appearances at the Friendly Confines, compared to a 3.32 ERA (7 ER/19.0 IP) in 16 road games.
...Began the year on Boston's Opening Day roster, posting no record
and a 3.00 ERA (1 ER/3.0 IP) in two relief appearances before being
designated for assignment, April 15.
...Pitched to a 7.45 ERA (8 ER/9.2 IP), surrendering five walks and two
homers while striking out eight, in his first 10 appearances with the
Cubs before being designated for assignment, June 1. ...Outrighted to Iowa, June 4.
...With Triple-A Iowa, was 3-2 with two saves and a 2.76 ERA (10 ER/32.2
IP) in 23 relief appearances ... selected to the Cubs, August 13, and
remained with the big league club the rest of the season.
...Pitched in seven games with Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican Winter
League ... was 3-3 with a 3.62 ERA (13 ER/32.1 IP) in seven starts.
2011
Made 14 relief appearances over 4 stints with the Red Sox, posting a 4.05 ERA (9 ER/20.0 IP)...Spent the majority of the season as Triple-A Pawtucket's primary closer. Was with Boston from 5/18-20, 5/29-30, 6/10-23 and 8/27 through the end of the season. ...Did not pitch in a game during his 1st stint with the club. Reached Major League career highs in appearances (tied), innings, strikeouts (17) and games finished (9). ... Finished each of his 1st four and his last three outings. Had a career-high, single-season streak of four scoreless outings from 5/30-6/18 (4.1 IP). ... Run allowed on 6/20 vs. SD ended a career-long 6-game scoreless stretch since 9/30/2010 (7.0 IP).
Pitched more than an inning in a career-high, five-game stretch from 6/22-9/8. Allowed at least 1 run in a career-high 5 straight outings from 8/27-9/11, surrendering eight earned runs in 9.0
innings in that time. ... Gave up just one run over 11.0 combined frames in his other nine appearances with Boston. Had a career-high 5 strikeouts in a season-high 2.2 innings on 9/2 vs. TEX...Marked the most K's by a Red Sox reliever in 2011 and most for a Boston hurler in less than 3.0 IP since Daniel Bard did it on 5/29/09 at TOR (5 in 2.1
IP)...Struck out the side in order in the 3rd inning for the 2nd time in his career (also 9/25/09 at NYY in the 5th). Struck out at least one batter in each of his last nine outings of the season beginning 6/22, a career-high streak. ... Fanned 16 batters over 14.2 innings in that time. With the PawSox, went 3-3 with 16 saves and a 2.73 ERA (16 ER/52.2 IP) while pitching exclusively out of the
bullpen. ...Recorded 61 K's compared to 18 walks and limited opponents to a .218 clip (43-for-197), including a .121 mark (15-for-124) vs. right-handed batters. His 16 saves tied for 1st among all Red Sox minor leaguers. ... Converted all but 1 of his save chances with Pawtucket, including each of his last 12. Ranked second on the PawSox with 41 appearances...Held opponents to one run or less on 37 occasions, including 31 scoreless contests.
2010
Held opponents scoreless in 10 of his 14 Major League games, including 6 of 8 appearances after his final recall
on 9/7 (3.86 ERA, 4 ER/9.1 IP)...Of his 8 runs allowed with the Sox, 5 came around on home runs, all vs. TOR.
Tossed 2.1 scoreless innings over 3 outings from 7/18-22 in his 1st stint with the Red Sox...Returned to
Boston from 8/14-27 and made 3 appearances (4 ER/3.2 IP)...Recalled 9/7 for the remainder of the season.
Recorded career-high-tying 3 strikeouts in a scoreless 9th on 9/20 vs. BAL...Matched single-game high for the
4th time, 2nd in relief (also 9/25/09 at NYY).
Suffered a loss in his only decision of the season as the Sox fell 5-4 on 9/28 at CWS...Allowed 1 of 3 batters
faced in the bottom of the 9th to reach base and the runner came around to score the game-winner when Matt
Fox gave up a single to Dayan Viciedo.
Posted a 3.66 ERA (43 ER/105.2 IP) in 31 games (16 starts) with Triple-A Pawtucket, the 2nd-best mark among
PawSox hurlers with at least 50.0 innings pitched (Robert Manuel, 1.68).
Ranked 3rd among Pawtucket hurlers with 105.2 innings and 5th with 77 strikeouts...Tied for 3rd on the
team with 6 wins and recorded his 1st professional save on 7/16 at Syracuse (WSH).
Held International League opponents to a .222 clip (84-for-379), including a .200 avg. (44-for-220) vs. right-handers.
Made each of his last 15 appearances with Pawtucket out of the bullpen, going 2-1 with 1 save, a 3.20 ERA
(7 ER/19.2 IP) and 18 strikeouts.
2009
Made 3 stints with Red Sox but spent majority of the year with Triple-A Pawtucket...1-0 with 6.92 ERA (10 ER/13.0 IP) in 7 relief outings with BOS...Had 4 scoreless games and 5 of 2.0 or more IP...Called up to BOS 3 times, including twice for only 1 day: 4/6, 8/21 and 9/5 through remainder of season...ML season debut at Fenway Park on 4/26, tossing 2.0 perfect innings out of the bullpen with 2 K's in a 4-1
win vs. NYY...Optioned back to Pawtucket after the game...Made 2nd career start (1st of 2009) on 9/28 vs. TOR after Josh Beckett was scratched...Suffered 1st-career
defeat in an 11-5 loss, yielding 7 runs on 7 hits and a walk while fanning 3 over 3.0 innings...Posted a 3.13 ERA (44 ER/126.1 IP) with Pawtucket, 3rd in the International League and 6th among all Red
Sox minor leaguers...Led the PawSox with 24 starts...Ranked 2nd in the IL with a .228 opponent average against (106-for-464) and 5th with a 1.21 WHIP...Finished
4th among International League starters in fewest base runners/9.0 IP ratio (10.97)...Placed on the Pawtucket disabled list on 7/10 (retro to 7/8) with a mild right calf strain...Reinstated 7/19.
2008
Played at 3 levels of the Red Sox organization in 2008, climbing from Double-A Portland
to Triple-A Pawtucket before making his major league debut with Boston...Combined to
rank among the organization's minor league leaders in ERA (2nd, 2.62), strikeouts (3rd, 130) and
wins (4th, 9-7) while appearing in 26 games/25 starts.
MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT: Promoted from Pawtucket to Boston on August 30 and made his big
league debut later that night against the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park...Allowed 2 runs on
7 hits and one walk and struck out 3 over 5.0 innings to earn the 8-2 victory...At 21 years, 356 days,
became the youngest Red Sox pitcher to start and win his major league debut since Juan Pena
on May 8, 1999 (21 years, 315 days)...Overall he was the 3rd-youngest American League pitcher
to appear in a game in 2008 behind Los Angeles' Nick Adenhart (April 24, 1986) and New York's
Phillip Hughes (June 24, 1986)...Was optioned back to Pawtucket the following day.
HIGH FIVE: Was the last of Boston's first 5 selections in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, including
Jacoby Ellsbury, Craig Hansen, Clay Buchholz and Jed
Lowrie, to advance to the majors...Marked the first
time the any team's top 5 picks from a single draft
have debuted in the majors for that club since Boston's
1989 class of Greg Blosser, Mo Vaughn, Kevin Morton,
Jeff McNeely and Eric Wedge.
WITH PORTLAND: Spent most of the year with Portland
where he went 9-4 with a 2.33 ERA (27 ER/104.1
IP) in 19 starts...Landed on the disabled list on July
12 (retroactive to July 10) with a calf injury that prevented
him from representing the Sea Dogs in the
Eastern League All-Star Game in Manchester, NH...
Promoted to Pawtucket upon his return from the DL
on July 21, at which point he still ranked 2nd in the
league in ERA and strikeouts (101)...Earned Red Sox
Minor League Pitcher of the Month honors in May
after going 3-1 with a 1.22 ERA (5 ER/37.0 IP) in 6
starts...Gave up one run or less in 7 of 8 starts from
April 26-June 3, going 5-1 with a 1.09 ERA (6 ER/49.2
IP) in that time and logged wins in 6 straight decisions
from May 7-June 24.
WITH PAWTUCKET: Went 0-3 with a 3.38 ERA (15 ER/40.0 IP) in 7 games/6 starts for the PawSox
from June 21-August 23...Fanned 29 and walked just 5 in 40.0 innings of work and tossed at least
6.0 frames in 5 of his 7 outings...Made one relief appearance in the postseason, working 1.2 scoreless
frames in Game 3 of the Governors' Cup Semi-Finals at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
RISING STAR: Named the No. 2 prospect in the Red Sox organization, the No. 1 pitcher, by Baseball
America...Also rated in the magazine's annual "Best Tools" survey as having the "Best Control" in
Boston's farm system...Has 389 K's and just 106 walks in 406.0 career minor league innings.
2007
Advanced from Single-A Lancaster to Double-A Portland, finishing 3rd among Sox minor
leaguers with 128 strikeouts, tied for 4th with 10 wins and 5th with a 3.34 ERA (53 ER/142.2 IP).
Began the year with Lancaster, earning Red Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month honors for April after
going 1-0 with a 2.33 ERA (7 ER/27.0 IP) in 5 starts.
Went undefeated in 1st 11 starts of the year from 4/5-5/29, going 4-0 with a 1.64 ERA (11 ER/60.1 IP)...
Stretch included 1st 3 outings with the Sea Dogs after 5/14 promotion to Portland.
In 1 playoff game with Portland on 9/7, gave up 3 runs while fanning 5 in a 3-2 loss vs. Trenton.
Following season, dubbed No. 7 prospect in Red Sox organization, No. 3 pitcher, according to Baseball America...
Also rated as having best control in club's minor league system in the publication's annual "Best Tools" survey.
2006
Ranked 4th among Red Sox farmhands with 121 strikeouts.
Led Single-A Greenville with 118 K's and tied for team lead with 9 wins (also Buchholz)...Ranked 2nd on staff
in starts (24) and innings (107.2)...Finished 5th among Carolina League starters with 9.86 K's per 9.0 innings.
Promoted to Wilmington on 8/25...Went 0-1 despite a 1.69 ERA (1 ER/5.1 IP) in 1 start in the postseason.
Rated as having best control in the Sox minor league system according to Baseball America's annual "Best
Tools" survey released after the season...Also ranked as No. 3 prospect in the organization, No. 2 pitcher.
2005
Made pro debut with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox.
Held opponents to a .190 average (4-for-21) in 4 games (2 starts)
