Jeff Bennett #30

He and his wife Rachel have two daughters, Alivia Grace and Elle, and reside in Lebanon, TN...Signed by Jack Powell (Pirates).

2009

Pitched in 44 games for the Braves and Rays...was released by Atlanta on July 30 and signed a major league deal with the Rays on Aug 1...pitched in 11 games for the Rays over two stints...joined Rays on Aug 1 and debuted that night vs. Kansas City...made 7 apps (5 scoreless) and was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Aug 15...made 3 starts for the Bulls (1-0, 4.76 ERA) then re-joined the Rays on Sep 1 as rosters expanded...pitched in 4 more games over the season's final month...appeared in 33 games for the Braves...was placed on the DL June 25 with a fracture to his left (non-throwing) hand, which required surgery...asked the Braves for his release in late July.

2008

Made four starts and 68 relief appearances. ...Set career highs in wins (3), games (72), innings pitched (97.1), walks (47) and strikeouts (68). ...Was 1-4 with two saves and 4.28 ERA before the break and 2-3 with a save and 2.72 ERA after the break. ...Was 0-2 with a 6.48 ERA in four starts and 3-5 with three saves and 3.12 ERA as a reliever. ...Went 1-2 but had a 1.59 ERA in 15 September games (17.0 IP) with just three walks and 13 Ks. ...Had a seven-game scoreless streak from 9/9-19, going 1-0 with four holds & one blown save. ...From 8/21-9/6 (nine app.), posted an 0.82 ERA (11.0 IP/1 ER) and held opponents to a .162 average. Players ...Over his last 41 games (all in relief) dating to 6/13 at LAA, he did not allow a home run (46.0 IP). ...Picked up his seventh loss of the season 9/22 at PHI by allowing three unearned runs in 0.1 IP. He committed a throwing error on a pickoff attempt in the eighth after a leadoff single. He exited with two runners on base, both eventually scoring. ...Suffered sixth loss this year - fourth as a reliever - when he allowed 3 ER on three hits in 0.1 IP in the 14th inning on 9/7 vs. WSH. Without that game, he had a 0.40 ERA (22.2 IP/1 ER) over his last 20 app. (starting 8/21). ...Suffered his fifth loss 8/19 at NYM when he allowed 3 ER in 1.1 IP. Pitched a perfect 7th inning, but then exited the game in the eighth after loading the bases on two walks and an infield hit resulting in three runs. ...Won his second game on 7/31 vs. STL. Set a career-best with three wins. ...Activated from the DL on 7/28 vs. STL (placed on 7/6) and after missing 16 games with a strained right shoulder. In four rehab starts with Myrtle Beach (A) he went 4.0 IP, 3 H, 3 K. ...Snapped a four-game losing streak 6/18 at TEX (1.0 IP, 1 BB) with his first win since 9/27/07 at PHI. ...Allowed seven runs in 2.0 IP on 6/11 at CHI and then picked up his second save on 6/13 at LAA . ...Threw 3.0 innings of relief (1 R, 3 BB, 4 K) and collected his first career hit off R. Johnson on 5/24 vs. ARI. ...Got his second loss of the season on 5/9 at PIT, allowing a run on three hits in the bottom of the ninth. ...Earned his first MLB save on 5/6 vs. SD when he retired the last out, stranding two with tying run at-bat. ...His first loss came vs. FLA on 4/23, when he started and went 6.0 innings (3 R/5 H) in a 7-2 defeat. ...Entered in the first inning for the injured T. Glavine on 4/13 at WSH and pitched 4.0 innings in relief.

2007

Returned to the mound after missing the 2006 season recovering from "Tommy John" surgery and made two starts (his first career starts) and one relief appearance with Atlanta after his contract was purchased from Richmond (AAA) on September 19...Started the season at Mississippi (AA), where he made six relief appearances (0-0, 4.15 ERA) before being promoted to Richmond (AAA) on 4/22...Made 36 regular-season appearances (3-5, 3.35 ERA) that included six starts for Richmond and started three Governors Cup playoff games (2-0, 1.04 ERA)...Made his first Major League start on 9/20 vs. MIL, and his first ML appearance since 10/3/04. Earned his first big-league win and established career highs with 5.2 IP and eight strikeouts in the 3-1 victory...Went a career-high 6.0 innings in his last start on 9/29 at HOU, getting the loss in a 3-2 game allowing three runs in his only loss of the year...Earned the win in relief on 9/25 at PHI, despite giving a run and the lead the fifth inning of a tie game...Atlanta came back to score four runs in the sixth and went on to a 10-6 victory...Won Game 1 of the first round of the Governors Cup playoffs vs. Scranton-Wilkes Barre (5.1 IP, 1 ER)...Picked up the win in Game 1 of the championship series (6.0 IP, 0 ER) and got a ND despite a strong effort in Game 4 (6.0 IP, 1 ER)...As a starter with Richmond (including the playoffs), he went 4-1 with a 1.74 ERA (46.2 IP, 9 ER)...Went a season-high seven innings and picked up the win on 8/31 at NOR in a 6-2 win...Allowed just five home runs in 86.0 IP at Richmond.

2006

Signed with Atlanta on Feb 15 and suffered a torn right elbow ligament in spring training, requiring seasonending Tommy John surgery.

2005

Spent the entire season with Triple-A Nashville (Brewers), where he pitched in 2003 in the Pirates system...led the Sounds in saves and appearances.

2004

Was the only Brewers rule five draft player on the roster this season . . . went 1-5 with Milwaukee posting a 4.79 ERA in 60 appearances . . . made his Major League debut on April 6 at St. Louis . . . pitched 1.1 scoreless innings allowing a pair of hits . . . struck out JT Snow on April 12 at SBC Park for his first Major League strikeout . . . notched his first Major League win on April 27 vs Cincinnati . . . suffered his first Major League loss in his next appearance on May 2 vs Pittsburgh . . . struck out career-high three batters on May 2 vs Pittsburgh . . . ended the season in the midst of career-high five-game losing streak . . . went 0-3 with a 2.57 ERA in May -- his best month of the season . . . lefthanded batters hit .291 against Jeff and righthanders hit .268 . . . 46 of his 60 outings were at least one inning . . . pitched two-or-more frames 12 times, including a career-high 2.2 innings on August 19 vs Chicago (N).

2003

Split the season between Double A Altoona and Triple A Nashville ... began the season with Altoona where he made 33 appearances posting a 4-4 mark with one save ... began the season with a 1-0 mark in April and a sterling 0.66 ERA (1 er/13.2 ip) in seven games ... went 2-1 with one save and a 1.72 ERA in eight games in June and posted a 1.29 ERA despite an 0-2 record in July (eight games) ... limited lefthanded batters to a .174 average (18-93) and held hitters to a .213 average (10-47) with runners in scoring position ... did not allow a homer in 14 games (two starts) from May 27-July 14 ... promoted to Nashville in August where he made nine appearances, five starts, going 1-3 with a 6.56 ERA ... was 1-1 with a 1.32 ERA (2 er/13.2 ip) in five games at home ... recorded a 3.60 ERA (2 er/5.0 ip) out of the pen limiting opposing batters to a .167 average ... finished fifth among Eastern League starters in batting average against ... tied for seventh among Pirates farmhands in games.

2002

Spent the season with Class A Lynchburg posting a 10-6 mark with a 3.62 ERA in 24 appearances, 20 starts with the Hillcats ... won five consecutive decisions from May 31-July 20 posting a 1.64 ERA (7 er/38.1 ip, 7 g/4 gs) over the stretch ... tossed eight scoreless frames in a no decision on June 10 at Myrtle Beach ... scoreless in five appearances, including a pair of starts.

2001

Spent the majority of the season with Lynchburg posting a career-high 11 wins against 10 losses along with a 3.42 ERA in 25 games (all starts) with the Hillcats ... won five consecutive decisions from June 24-July 16 posting a 2.78 ERA (11 er/35.2 ip) during the streak ... threw a complete-game shutout on June 29 vs Salem ... promoted to Double A Altoona where he made one start ... ranked fourth in the Carolina League in innings pitched ... finished in a three-way tie for most wins among Pirates' farmhands and eighth-best in ERA.

2000

Spent the entire season with Class A Hickory of the South Atlantic League where he went 10-13 with a 4.40 ERA in 27 games (all starts) ... won four of his first five decisions posting a 2.03 ERA (7 er/31.0 ip) with 33 punchouts during the stretch ... posted a 3.23 ERA in his first 15 starts of the season vs a 5.84 ERA over his final 11 starts ... tossed a complete game on May 8 at Asheville ... tied for second in the league in games started and ranked fourth in innings pitched.

1998

Was selected by Pittsburgh in the 19th round of the June Draft out of Gordonsville (Tenn.) High School.