Jesse Crain

Jesse Crain
Crain with the Chicago White Sox
Pitcher
Born: (1981-07-05) July 5, 1981 (age 43)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
August 5, 2004, for the Minnesota Twins
Last MLB appearance
June 29, 2013, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
Win–loss record45–30
Earned run average3.05
Strikeouts440
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Jesse Alan Crain (born July 5, 1981) is a Canadian former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins and the Chicago White Sox.

High school and college

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Crain was born in Toronto, Ontario and attended Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado, where he played baseball, basketball, and football. He was named 1999 All-State and Colorado High School Player of the Year. He was a 2001 graduate of San Jacinto Junior College in Texas, where he was an All-Conference shortstop. In 2002, he transferred to the University of Houston and was named to the all-conference team as a shortstop and relief pitcher, the all-conference tournament team as a shortstop,[1] and the conference all-academic team. He was named first team All-America by Baseball America and Baseball Weekly and second team All-America by the ABCA.

Minor leagues

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Crain was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the second round (61st overall) of the 2002 Major League Baseball draft.[2] He made his professional debut that year with the Rookie-level Elizabethton Twins, going 2–1 with two saves and an ERA of 0.57 in nine relief appearances.[3] Crain was later promoted to the Single-A Quad Cities River Bandits, where he went 1–1 with one save and a 1.50 ERA in nine relief appearances.[3] In 18 combined appearances, he went 3–2 with three saves and an 0.98 ERA.[3] In 2003, he managed to pitch at all three levels in the minor leagues, going 6–3 with 19 saves and a 1.93 ERA in 55 relief appearances.[3] In 2004, Crain pitched with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings and went 3–2 with 19 saves and a 2.49 ERA in 41 relief appearances before being called up by the Twins.[3]

Major leagues

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Minnesota Twins

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Crain pitching for the Twins in 2006.

Crain was called up by the Twins on August 1, 2004.[4] He spent the remainder of the season in the majors, going 3–0 with a 2.00 ERA in 22 relief appearances.[5] In 2005, Crain made the major league roster out of spring training. Starting the season 8–0, he set a record for most consecutive wins in relief to start a career.[6]

On May 17, 2007, Crain was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a torn rotator cuff and labrum.[7] He missed the rest of the season after undergoing surgery.[8]

Crain returned to the team in 2008. He stepped up, along with Craig Breslow, to fill the eighth-inning setup role formerly occupied by Pat Neshek, who was placed on the 60-day disabled list on May 9 with an acute tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm.[9] Crain went 5–4 with a 3.59 ERA in 66 games.[5]

On April 20, 2009, Crain was placed on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder.[8] He was activated on May 3.[10] In 56 relief appearances, Crain went 7–4 with a 4.70 ERA.[5] He fared better in 2010, going 1–1 with one save and a 3.04 ERA in 71 relief appearances.[5]

Jesse Crain celebrates a 2006 Twins win with Joe Mauer

Chicago White Sox

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On December 20, 2010, Crain signed a three-year, $13 million contract with the Chicago White Sox.[11]

Crain was used as the setup man for 2013. From April 17 to June 22, Crain pitched 29 straight scoreless appearances, a franchise record. On July 3, Crain was placed on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain.[12] In 38 games with Chicago, Crain went 2–3 with 19 holds and a 0.74 ERA, striking out 46 in 36.2 innings.[5] Crain was elected to the All-Star Game, but since he was injured, he was replaced by Justin Masterson.[13]

Tampa Bay Rays

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Crain was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays on July 29, 2013, for future considerations.[14] Crain was activated off the disabled list on September 23,[15] but he did not appear in the regular or post season. On October 16, the compensation for the White Sox in the trade was named as minor-leaguers Sean Bierman and Ben Kline.[16]

Houston Astros

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On December 31, 2013, Crain agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the Houston Astros.[17] He was placed on the 60-day DL on March 21 while recovering from offseason surgery on his right biceps.[18] He did not play a single game for the Astros. He became a free agent following the season.

Chicago White Sox (second stint)

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On January 22, 2015, Crain signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.[19] He elected free agency after the season on November 6.

World Baseball Classic

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Crain was selected to represent Canada at the World Baseball Classic. In the first game of the 2006 edition of the Classic, Crain came into the game in the 9th inning. He got the save as Canada beat the South Africans 11–8.

In the 2009 World Baseball Classic, Crain struck out all four batters he faced in the eighth and ninth innings, although Canada ended up losing the game 6 - 2 to Italy.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "2012 Conference USA Baseball Media Guide" (PDF). CSTV. p. 93. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
  2. ^ "2nd Round of the 2002 MLB June Amateur Draft". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Jesse Crain Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  4. ^ Sheldon, Mark (August 1, 2004). "Notes: Crain gets called up". Minnesota Twins. MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2004. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Jesse Crain Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  6. ^ "Brazelton suffers meltdown, coughs up four runs in relief". ESPN. Associated Press. July 2, 2005. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  7. ^ "Twins' Crain has torn labrum, rotator cuff". The Denver Post. May 16, 2007. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Twins place Crain on DL with sore right shoulder". ESPN. Associated Press. April 20, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  9. ^ Thesier, Kelly (May 10, 2008). "Neshek likely to miss rest of season". Minnesota Twins. MLB.com. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  10. ^ "Twins activate RHP Crain, send C Morales to minors". St. Paul Pioneer Press. May 3, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  11. ^ Padilla, Doug (December 20, 2010). "White Sox, reliever Crain finalize 3-year deal". ESPN. Retrieved December 20, 2010.
  12. ^ Padilla, Doug (July 3, 2013). "Jesse Crain, Paul Konerko on DL". ESPN. Retrieved July 3, 2013.
  13. ^ "Jesse Crain Celebrates 10 Years in the Big Leagues". Houston Cougars. August 11, 2014. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  14. ^ Mastrodonato, Jason (July 29, 2013). "Rays acquire injured White Sox reliever Crain". Tampa Bay Rays. MLB.com. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  15. ^ Snyder, Matt (September 23, 2013). "Rays finally activate July acquisition Jesse Crain". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  16. ^ Links, Zachary (October 16, 2013). "Rays, White Sox To Complete Jesse Crain Trade". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
  17. ^ McTaggart, Brian (December 31, 2013). "Astros sign Houston product Jesse Crain to bolster bullpen". Houston Astros. MLB.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  18. ^ McTaggart, Brian (May 1, 2014). "Astros sign lefty Sipp for bullpen duty". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on November 29, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  19. ^ Adams, Steve (January 22, 2015). "White Sox Sign Jesse Crain, Scott Carroll to Minor League Deals". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  20. ^ "Italy vs. Canada - Game Summary - March 9, 2009". ESPN. March 9, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
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