Photo Credit
This article was researched and compiled
by Carrie Birdsong
Born: October 1st, 1986
Birthplace: Walnut Creek, California
Position: Relief Pitcher
Batted: Left
Throws: Left
Professional Debut:
MLB: June 12th, 2009, for the Chicago White Sox
NPB: March 28th, 2015, for the Yomiuri Giants
MLB Statistics: Win–Loss Record: 3 – 1
Earned Run Average: 4.67
Strikeouts: 33
NPB Statistics: Win–Loss Record: 9 – 11
Earned Run Average: 3.10
Strikeouts: 120
Teams:
NPB: March 28th, 2015, for the Yomiuri Giants
MLB Statistics: Win–Loss Record: 3 – 1
Earned Run Average: 4.67
Strikeouts: 33
NPB Statistics: Win–Loss Record: 9 – 11
Earned Run Average: 3.10
Strikeouts: 120
Teams:
1. Chicago White Sox (2009)
2. San Diego Padres (2009)
3. Texas Rangers (2014)
4. Yomiuri Giants (2015 – 2016)
Aaron Poreda was born in Walnut Creek, California, to John Porada and Barbara Anderman(1). He is Jewish, as is his mother, and was raised Jewish (2) and grew up in Moraga, California (3)(4)
He attended Campolindo High School, where he played baseball, pitched a no–hitter, and was named Most Valuable Player in the Diablo Foothill Athletic League (DAFL) in 2003 – 2004(1)(5)(6)(7). He also played football for the Cougars – his primary focus in high school – as a defensive end / tight end, and was named second team ALL-DFAL defensive line(1)(5). He graduated in 2004. (8)
College Career
Poreda played college baseball at the University of San Francisco. He finished the 2005 season 2 – 0, with a 2.16 ERA (the fifth–lowest in team history) in 14 appearances, including 2 starts. (1)(9)
As a freshman in 2005, his ERA of 2.16 was third–best in the West Coast Conference (WCC), and his hits–per–9–innings ratio of 6.48 was second–best in the conference(10). Poreda was named WCC Pitcher of the Week for March 19th – 25th, 2006, during his sophomore year. He tossed the first complete game of his career, allowing one run off five hits and struck out a career–high nine(11). In 2006, he appeared in 18 games (17 as starts), and posted an 8 – 5 record with a WCC–best 2.49 ERA(1)(10). In the NCAA regional, he pitched the team to a 5 – 1 victory over the number 6 seed Nebraska. (1)
For his college career, he started 33 of 46 games, going 17 – 11 with 167 strikeouts and a 2.61 ERA in three seasons in which he threw a plus fastball (a higher-than-average fastball), slider, and change–up (1)(5)(12). He was twice All–West Coast First Team(12). Poreda was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the first round (25th overall) in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. At the time, he was throwing a 97 miles per hour fastball.(5)(13)
Poreda was named Pioneer League pitcher of the week on September 4th, 2007, while pitching for the Rookie–Level Great Falls White Sox(12). For the season with the team, he went 4 – 0 with a 1.17 ERA. He limited opposing batters to a 1.81 batting average and struck out an average of 9.3 per 9 innings(8). Baseball America named him as having the best pro debut in the White Sox 2007 draft class, and as having the best fastball, being the best athlete, and being the White Sox minor leaguer who was closest to the major leagues. (12)
He began 2008 ranked by Baseball America as the White Sox organization’s #1 prospect, and as having the best fastball(12). On May 19th, 2008, while pitching for Winston–Salem, he was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week(12). For the season, he was ranked third in the organization in ERA and strikeouts(12). In 2008, while playing for the Peoria Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League, Poreda was named one of the AFL Rising Stars. (12)
Poreda was ranked #63 on Baseball America’s top 100 prospect list before the 2009 season, and the #3 prospect of the White Sox(14)(15). In April 2009 Scout.com described him as “the hardest – throwing left – hander in the game.”(16) He was named Southern League Pitcher of the Week on May 11th, 2009, while pitching for the Birmingham Barons. (12)
On May 21st, 2009, the San Diego Padres struck a 4 – for – 1 deal with the White Sox for Jake Peavy, which reportedly included Poreda and Chicago’s other top pitching prospect, Clayton Richard. Peavy, however, invoked his no–trade clause to block the trade. (17)
Poreda was called up to the majors for the first time on June 9th, 2009(18). He struck out Mat Gamel, who was the first batter he faced for his first major league strikeout. On June 12th, 2009, he made his debut against the Milwaukee Brewers. Poreda picked up his first career win on June 25th, 2009, after pitching a perfect 13th in the Sox’s extra–innings win over the Los Angeles Dodgers(19). He went 1 – 0 with a 2.45 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 11 innings in 10 relief appearances with the White Sox before being optioned back to the minors on July 21st. (20)
San Diego Padres
On July 31st, 2009, Poreda was traded with Clayton Richard, Adam Russell, and Dexter Carter to the San Diego Padres for Jake Peavy(21). He was originally assigned to the Portland Beavers, but returned to the majors in September.
Poreda spent the entire 2010 season in the Padres’ minor league system, splitting the year between the San Antonio Missions and the Beavers. For the first time, he pitched the majority of his games as a relief pitcher, appearing in 39 games with a combined record of 1 – 2 and an ERA of 3.83. For the year, he faced 256 batters and only allowed one home run. (8)
Pitching for Tucson, in 41 games, he struck out 79 batters in 69.2 innings(8). On June 13th, 2011, Poreda was designated for assignment. (22)
Pittsburgh Pirates
On December 8th, 2011, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Poreda in the Triple-A portion of the 2011 Rule 5 draft. (23)
Poreda underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in October 2012 and, as a result, missed pitching in all of 2013(14)(24)(25). He was released on March 12th, 2013. (26)
After a spring training with the Rangers in 2014 in which he pitched 8.1 innings and walked only one batter, he was assigned to the Rock Round Express in the AAA Pacific Coast League(28)(29). On April 18th, the Rangers brought him up to pitch out of the bullpen(30). In 2014, he was 2 – 1 with a 5.91 ERA in 26 games in relief for the Rangers(31). Shortly after he was sent to AAA Round Rock on July 12th, he reached 100 mph with his fastball on several pitches(31)(32). A short while later, he developed arm issues. (31)
Yomiuri Giants
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reported on November 11th, 2014, that a major league source had told him that the Rangers planned to sell the rights of Poreda to the Yomiuri Giants of the Japanese Central League in Nippon Pro Baseball(31). On November 20th, the Rangers placed Poreda on unconditional release waivers, and he signed a contract with the NPB team for 2015.(33)(34)
In 2015, his first season in Japan with Yomiuri Giants, Poreda appeared in 24 games, compiling an 8 – 8 record with a 2.94 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched). Plagued by injuries in his second season with the Giants in 2016, Poreda made just five starts, posting a 1 – 3 record and a 4.00 ERA.
On December 2nd, 2016, it was announced that Poreda had been released by the Giants. (35)
For more statistics, click here: https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/poredaa01.shtml
References:
1. "University of San Francisco Athletics – Aaron
2. San Diego Padres (2009)
3. Texas Rangers (2014)
4. Yomiuri Giants (2015 – 2016)
Aaron Poreda was born in Walnut Creek, California, to John Porada and Barbara Anderman(1). He is Jewish, as is his mother, and was raised Jewish (2) and grew up in Moraga, California (3)(4)
He attended Campolindo High School, where he played baseball, pitched a no–hitter, and was named Most Valuable Player in the Diablo Foothill Athletic League (DAFL) in 2003 – 2004(1)(5)(6)(7). He also played football for the Cougars – his primary focus in high school – as a defensive end / tight end, and was named second team ALL-DFAL defensive line(1)(5). He graduated in 2004. (8)
College Career
Poreda played college baseball at the University of San Francisco. He finished the 2005 season 2 – 0, with a 2.16 ERA (the fifth–lowest in team history) in 14 appearances, including 2 starts. (1)(9)
As a freshman in 2005, his ERA of 2.16 was third–best in the West Coast Conference (WCC), and his hits–per–9–innings ratio of 6.48 was second–best in the conference(10). Poreda was named WCC Pitcher of the Week for March 19th – 25th, 2006, during his sophomore year. He tossed the first complete game of his career, allowing one run off five hits and struck out a career–high nine(11). In 2006, he appeared in 18 games (17 as starts), and posted an 8 – 5 record with a WCC–best 2.49 ERA(1)(10). In the NCAA regional, he pitched the team to a 5 – 1 victory over the number 6 seed Nebraska. (1)
For his college career, he started 33 of 46 games, going 17 – 11 with 167 strikeouts and a 2.61 ERA in three seasons in which he threw a plus fastball (a higher-than-average fastball), slider, and change–up (1)(5)(12). He was twice All–West Coast First Team(12). Poreda was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the first round (25th overall) in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. At the time, he was throwing a 97 miles per hour fastball.(5)(13)
Professional Career
Chicago White SoxPoreda was named Pioneer League pitcher of the week on September 4th, 2007, while pitching for the Rookie–Level Great Falls White Sox(12). For the season with the team, he went 4 – 0 with a 1.17 ERA. He limited opposing batters to a 1.81 batting average and struck out an average of 9.3 per 9 innings(8). Baseball America named him as having the best pro debut in the White Sox 2007 draft class, and as having the best fastball, being the best athlete, and being the White Sox minor leaguer who was closest to the major leagues. (12)
He began 2008 ranked by Baseball America as the White Sox organization’s #1 prospect, and as having the best fastball(12). On May 19th, 2008, while pitching for Winston–Salem, he was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week(12). For the season, he was ranked third in the organization in ERA and strikeouts(12). In 2008, while playing for the Peoria Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League, Poreda was named one of the AFL Rising Stars. (12)
Poreda was ranked #63 on Baseball America’s top 100 prospect list before the 2009 season, and the #3 prospect of the White Sox(14)(15). In April 2009 Scout.com described him as “the hardest – throwing left – hander in the game.”(16) He was named Southern League Pitcher of the Week on May 11th, 2009, while pitching for the Birmingham Barons. (12)
On May 21st, 2009, the San Diego Padres struck a 4 – for – 1 deal with the White Sox for Jake Peavy, which reportedly included Poreda and Chicago’s other top pitching prospect, Clayton Richard. Peavy, however, invoked his no–trade clause to block the trade. (17)
Poreda was called up to the majors for the first time on June 9th, 2009(18). He struck out Mat Gamel, who was the first batter he faced for his first major league strikeout. On June 12th, 2009, he made his debut against the Milwaukee Brewers. Poreda picked up his first career win on June 25th, 2009, after pitching a perfect 13th in the Sox’s extra–innings win over the Los Angeles Dodgers(19). He went 1 – 0 with a 2.45 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 11 innings in 10 relief appearances with the White Sox before being optioned back to the minors on July 21st. (20)
San Diego Padres
On July 31st, 2009, Poreda was traded with Clayton Richard, Adam Russell, and Dexter Carter to the San Diego Padres for Jake Peavy(21). He was originally assigned to the Portland Beavers, but returned to the majors in September.
Poreda spent the entire 2010 season in the Padres’ minor league system, splitting the year between the San Antonio Missions and the Beavers. For the first time, he pitched the majority of his games as a relief pitcher, appearing in 39 games with a combined record of 1 – 2 and an ERA of 3.83. For the year, he faced 256 batters and only allowed one home run. (8)
Pitching for Tucson, in 41 games, he struck out 79 batters in 69.2 innings(8). On June 13th, 2011, Poreda was designated for assignment. (22)
Pittsburgh Pirates
On December 8th, 2011, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Poreda in the Triple-A portion of the 2011 Rule 5 draft. (23)
Poreda underwent Tommy John surgery on his left elbow in October 2012 and, as a result, missed pitching in all of 2013(14)(24)(25). He was released on March 12th, 2013. (26)
After a spring training with the Rangers in 2014 in which he pitched 8.1 innings and walked only one batter, he was assigned to the Rock Round Express in the AAA Pacific Coast League(28)(29). On April 18th, the Rangers brought him up to pitch out of the bullpen(30). In 2014, he was 2 – 1 with a 5.91 ERA in 26 games in relief for the Rangers(31). Shortly after he was sent to AAA Round Rock on July 12th, he reached 100 mph with his fastball on several pitches(31)(32). A short while later, he developed arm issues. (31)
Yomiuri Giants
Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reported on November 11th, 2014, that a major league source had told him that the Rangers planned to sell the rights of Poreda to the Yomiuri Giants of the Japanese Central League in Nippon Pro Baseball(31). On November 20th, the Rangers placed Poreda on unconditional release waivers, and he signed a contract with the NPB team for 2015.(33)(34)
In 2015, his first season in Japan with Yomiuri Giants, Poreda appeared in 24 games, compiling an 8 – 8 record with a 2.94 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched). Plagued by injuries in his second season with the Giants in 2016, Poreda made just five starts, posting a 1 – 3 record and a 4.00 ERA.
On December 2nd, 2016, it was announced that Poreda had been released by the Giants. (35)
For more statistics, click here: https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/poredaa01.shtml
References:
1. "University of San Francisco Athletics – Aaron
Poreda – 2006–07 Baseball". Usfdons.com.
Hometown Newspaper". Archived from the
original on January 19, 2013. Retrieved
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Francisco Athletics. October 1, 1986.
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Jersey Jewish News. June 13, 2009. Archived
from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved
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Diablo Foothill Athletic League. Archived
from the original (PDF) on May 6, 2006.
(PDF) from the original on March 3, 2016.
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August 19, 2009". Cstv.com. Archived from
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Statistics (2005–2014)". The Baseball Cube.
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com. March 27, 2014. Retrieved April 19,
Aaron Poreda". Lone Star Ball. Retrieved
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ESPN, May 22, 2009, accessed August 19,
accessed August 19, 2009". ESPN. June 9,
scoreless 13th inning,"". MLB.com.
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ESPN. August 1, 2009. Retrieved March 26,
Poreda For Assignment". MLBTrade
Feliz not ready yet". Dallas Morning
News. March 23, 2014. Retrieved
bullpen". April 19, 2014. Archived
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27. Morris, Adam J. (October 17, 2013).
27. Morris, Adam J. (October 17, 2013).
Opening Day". Detroit Free Press.
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Scheppers on disabled list". mlb.com.
March 27, 2014. Retrieved April 19,
to Japanese club". Texas Rangers Blog.
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Padres job". Texas Rangers Blog.
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four first-time players". Texas
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