Mike Adams (pitcher)

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Mike Adams (pitcher) bigraphy, stories - Baseball player

Mike Adams (pitcher) : biography

July 29, 1978 –

Jon Michael Adams (born July 29, 1978) is a right-handed relief pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. Prior to joining the Phillies, he was a member of the Texas Rangers (2011-12), San Diego Padres (2008-11), and Milwaukee Brewers (2004-06).

Professional career

Early Career: Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians (2004-2006)

Adams made his Major League debut on May 18, , against the Montreal Expos. During his first two Major League seasons, he compiled an earned run average (ERA) of 3.26 in 59 games. On May 26, , he was traded to the New York Mets for pitcher Geremi Gonzalez. Soon after, he was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Indians.

San Diego Padres (2008-2010)

On July 18, 2006, the Indians traded Adams to the Padres for right-handed pitcher Brian Sikorski. Adams played for four minor league teams in 2006: Nashville Sounds, Norfolk Tides, Buffalo Bisons, and Portland Beavers.

Adams battled injuries, missing the 2007 season after undergoing three knee surgeries. He missed the first two months of 2009 after shoulder surgery. Afterward through 2010, he was on the 15-day disabled list twice, once for a fatigued shoulder and another time for a strained oblique.

He pitched well from 2009–10, throwing 107 innings and allowing 62 hits with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 118/31 and an earned run average (ERA) of 1.35. As the eighth-inning specialist, he appeared in a career-high 70 games in 2010, including eight of the final 11 games which consisted of a stretch of five consecutive games. Adams signed a one-year, $2,535,000 contract for 2011, avoiding salary arbitration. The earliest he could become a free agent is after the 2012 season.

Texas Rangers (2011–2012)

At the trade deadline on July 31, 2011, Adams was traded from the Padres to the Texas Rangers for Double-A pitchers Robbie Erlin and Joe Wieland.

In 2011, he finished the season with a combined record of 5–4 and a 1.47 ERA, in 73 innings.

Philadelphia Phillies (2013)

On December 15, 2012, Adams signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Player profile

Adams has mainly been a setup man in his career as a relief pitcher. Adams throws hard with a fastball in the mid-90s mph. He is not afraid to pitch inside. He is effective against both right and left-handed batters. "He’s got the fastball inside. He’s got the cutter/slider inside. And he commands the outside of the plate (against right-handed and left-handed batters). The command is good, the stuff is good and the head’s good," said Padres manager Bud Black. Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley attributed Adams’ success against lefties to a hard, inside slider. "It neutralizes them a little bit," Balsley said. "They’re not able to dive out over the plate."

Early years

Adams grew up in Sinton, Texas, which has population of less than 6,000, and graduated from Sinton High School, where he was an All-State selection in baseball and basketball. He attended Texas A&M University–Kingsville where he continued to play both sports. The Milwaukee Brewers signed Adams as an undrafted free agent in .