Josh Outman

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Joshua Stephen Outman

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Biographical Information[edit]

Josh Outman made his major league debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2008.

Outman used a pitching motion that was considered unusual - he was not even allowed to pitch for his high school as a sophomore because his coach disliked his technique so much. Outman was part of a stellar Central Missouri State University staff in 2005 as they recorded a NCAA-record 16 shutouts; they fell short in their title bid, finishing second in the 2005 Division II College World Series. Outman was 10-2 and adjusted his motion to a very convential one during the season so he would be more draftable. The Philadelphia Phillies took Outman in the 10th round of the 2005 amateur draft. He was signed by scout Jerry Lafferty and made his pro debut that summer.

Josh debuted with the Batavia Muckdogs and was 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA, striking out over a batter per inning. In 2006, he went 14-6 with a 2.95 ERA for the Lakewood BlueClaws, striking out 161 in 155 1/3 IP, allowing only 119 hits (a .213 batting average allowed). He walked 75 batters and gave up only five home runs. He was second in the South Atlantic League in strikeouts, behind Matt Maloney, third in wins (two behind Maloney) and fourth in ERA. Maloney beat him out for the All-Star LHP slot. Baseball America ranked him as the league's #20 prospect, one spot behind his teammate Maloney. With those two left-handers and right-hander Carlos Carrasco, Lakewood went on to win the SAL pennant for the first time.

Outman was even better in 2007. He led Phillies farmhands in strikeouts (151), ERA (2.99) and walks (77). He was 10-4 with a 2.45 ERA for the Clearwater Threshers and 2-3, 4.50 for the Reading Phillies. He led the Florida State League in ERA and was named to the league All-Star team; Baseball America rated him the #14 prospect inthe FSL.

Outman joined Team USA for the fall as they won the 2007 Baseball World Cup, their first Baseball World Cup Gold Medal in over three decades. On November 9, he struggled against the Italian national team, allowing five hits, two walks and three runs in 3 innings. Laidel Chapellí and Luis Ricardo Serafin De Camargo singled to begin the second. A Brian Bixler error put Leonardo Zileri aboard and scored Chapellí. Outman allowed back-to-back RBI singles to Jack Santora and Davide Dallospedale to fall behind 3-0. Outman took Team USA's only loss of the 2007 Baseball World Cup, with Matteo D'Angelo beating him. Against the host Taiwan team, he struck out 8 in five innings but allowed three runs on three hits and some more bad defense by the US. He had a 1.13 ERA for the event but a 6.75 RA. His 10 strikeouts tied Matt Wright and Lee Gronkiewicz for the Team USA lead.

Outman began 2008 back with Reading, going 5-4 with a save and a 3.20 ERA while pitching primarily out of the bullpen. He fanned 66 in 70 1/3 innings. He was then traded with Adrian Cardenas and Matt Spencer to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Joe Blanton. He was 2-0 in 9 games for the Midland RockHounds and Sacramento River Cats following the trade. He was then called up by the A's when rosters expanded on September 1st and made his debut the next day, pitching two scoreless innings in relief in Kansas City.

Outman suffered a highly unusual injury which put him on the disabled list at the start of the 2012 season, after he had been acquired by the Colorado Rockies in an off-season trade. Suffering from a case of food poisoning during spring training, he vomited so violently that he strained an oblique muscle, putting him out of action. Indeed, the entire season was a sickening experience for the lefthander, as he made only 27 appearances in the majors, including 7 starts as part of the Rockies' unusual short-leashed four-man rotation. In 40 2/3 innings, his ERA was 8.19, and his record was 1-3. Things went a lot better in 2013, as he made 61 appearances, a personal high, all in relief, and his record was 3-0, 4.33. He struck out 53 batters in 54 innings, giving indications that he could be an effective LOOGY down the road. On December 18th, it was exactly with that role in mind that the Cleveland Indians acquired him as part of a complete overhaul of their bullpen; they gave up OF Drew Stubbs in return.

Outman's fastball has been timed repeatedly at 94 mph. His brother, Zach Outman, played in the Toronto Blue Jays system.

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