Resides in Staten Island, NY...Graduated from Curtis (NY) High School in June 2002...Was captain of the baseball team his junior and senior years in high school...Earned first-team All-City honors in baseball as a senior...Threw a no-hitter in the City Playoffs, striking out 15 in the process...Attended St. Johns University...As a seniorin 2005, he went 9-3 with a 2.32ERA...Led theBIG EAST in strikeouts (115) as senior and ranked sixth in the NCAA in K/9.0 IP...Named a third-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball...Underwent "Tommy John" surgery on his right elbow on 6/27/05...Signed by David May (Mariners).
2014
Matched career bests in ERA (2.63 ERA) and WHIP (1.08) set in 2011...Also tied his career high with 3 victories...Established career bests in SO (50), BB/9.0 IP ratio (2.1), and hits/9.0 IP ratio (7.6)...No runs allowed in 48 of his 61 appearances (79%)...Held opponents to a .228 AVG (46-for-202)...Only 16 extra-base hits allowed (10 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR)...Induced 7 grounded into double plays, 2nd most among Braves relievers.
2013
Spent his first full season in Atlanta and pitched in a career-high 62 games, logging 73.1 innings. Also set career highs in games finished (30) and strikeouts (43). Recorded his first career save on 8/30 by throwing 2.0 scoreless innings and allowing one hit. Tossed a season-high 3.1 innings twice, including a three-strikeout performance on 8/17. His 30 games finished for Atlanta ranked second on the Club behind closer Craig Kimbrel. Pitched to a 1.38 ERA in September, allowing two earned runs in 13.0 innings over 11 games. Went 1-0 with a 2.34 ERA (11 ER/42.1 IP) in 34 games at Turner Field.
2012
Spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Gwinnett, while fanning 47 over 44.1 IP and holding International League opponents to a .231 clip. Recalled by Atlanta on 6/13 and went on to pitch 12 times in relief for the Braves. He went 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA (10 ER in 16.2 IP) before being optioned to Gwinnett on 7/23. Led Gwinnett relievers in ERA (2.23) while finishing second on the club in holds (5) and third in saves (6). Held opposing IL right-handers to a .178 average (16-for-90) with one HR and five RBI, while left- handers hit .291 (23-for-79) with seven RBI against him. Did not allow a single earned run in 11 outings in August, going 0-1 with four saves. IL opponents hit .152 against him on the month. Posted a 12-game streak (14.2 innings) without an earned run allowed from 7/31-8/29. His streak was snapped in his last outing of the year, 9/1 at Norfolk (1 ER in 1.2 IP).
2011
Ranked second among International League relievers with a .185 (37-for-200) opponents' batting average. His 10.53 K/9.0 IP ranked fourth in the IL...Was recalled for the first time on 7/28 from Gwinnett (AAA) and was optioned back on 8/14. Was recalled
a second time on 9/1 for the remainder of the season...In his Atlanta debut on 7/28 vs. PIT, offered 2.0 scoreless innings in relief of Derek Lowe. He struck out
four batters while not allowing a hit -- including striking out the side in order in the sixth inning.
2010
Recalled from Tacoma (AAA) on 9/22 following the playoffs.
... Made Major League debut on 9/24 at TB, struck out two and walked one in 1.0 scoreless inning.
... Started the year with West Tennessee (AA) and went 1-3 with 9 saves and a 3.20 ERA in 31 appearances.
... Selected to play in the Southern League All-Star game.
... Promoted to Tacoma on 9/14 and made 19 appearances for the Rainiers (0-0, 5.26).
2009
Began season with High Desert (A), appearing in 8 games before being transferred to
West Tenn on May 1...combined to make career-high 44 appearances, all in relief...Named to the Southern League All-Star team...Went 4-3 with 8 saves and 2.82 ERA (17 ER, 54.1 IP) in 36 games with West Tenn...held
opponents scoreless in 26 of 36 appearances...Allowed only 2 runs over 23.0-inning stretch (14 games), May 4-June 20...Played for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League...went 1-0 with a 4.05 ERA (6
ER, 13.1 IP) in 10 relief appearances...started the AFL Championship game, allowing 1
run and striking out 3 in 2.0 IP.
2008
Spent season with High Desert (A), appearing in 30 games, 24 starts...struck out
7 or more batters 5 times, including a season-high 9 strikeouts, May 25 vs. Rancho
Cucamonga...transferred to West Tennessee (AA) on Sept. 2 for the playoffs and
appeared in 1 game in relief.
2007
Spent season with Wisconsin (A) in the Midwest League...led Timber Rattlers with 112
strikeouts, while finishing 4th among all Mariners Minor Leaguers...went 1-1 with a 1.12
ERA, allowing only 3 runs while striking out 33 in 26.0 innings (5 GS), June 10-July 27...
on disabled list with a right elbow strain, June 20-July 8... struck out at least 5 batters in
12 games, including striking out a career-high 11 batters in 5.0 innings, July 27 vs. Great
Lakes...earned first career save in only relief appearance of the season, allowing 2 runs
on 1 hit while walking 2 and striking out 9 in 4.0 innings, Aug. 17 vs. Clinton.
2006
Made professional debut making 5 appearances (3 GS) with the AZL Mariners...
limited opponents to a .184 batting average.
