Cla Meredith
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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| San Diego Padres — No. 43 | |
| Relief Pitcher | |
| Born: June 4, 1983 | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
| May 8, 2005 for the Boston Red Sox | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through 2007) |
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| Win-Loss | 10-7 |
| Earned Run Average | 2.98 |
| Strikeouts | 96 |
| Teams | |
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Olise Claiborne "Cla" Meredith III (pronounced /kleɪ/), nicknamed "The Claw" (born June 4, 1983 in Richmond, Virginia), is an American baseball player who is currently a relief pitcher for the San Diego Padres.
Drafted after his junior year at VCU, Meredith was used almost exclusively as a reliever. He put up his best numbers in 2003, going 6-0 with a school record 1.19 ERA, which was 2nd best in the NCAA (Division I). Meredith posted 8 saves that year, with 70 strikeouts, and only 16 walks. He is also VCU's all time ERA leader at 2.52.
Meredith was drafted in 2004 by the Boston Red Sox, starting his pro career with their single A affiliate the Augusta GreenJackets. In 13 games he gave up no runs and saved 6 games, while striking out 18 and walking 3.
He was promoted to Sarasota of the Florida State League after his great performance in Augusta and put up a 0-2 record with a 2.20 ERA in 16 games with 12 saves, 16 strikeouts and only 3 walks. In 2005, he pitched 15 innings over 12 games for the Portland Sea Dogs without giving up a single earned run, striking out 12 while walking 3.
He made his major league debut on May 8, 2005 in relief against Seattle. Meredith walked two batters before allowing a grand slam to Richie Sexson, and was quickly withdrawn.
The right handed side-armer is best known for his sinking fastball, which is typically thrown in the 86-89 mph range. He is working to further develop his changeup and average slider.
On September 9, 2006 (Against the San Francisco Giants), Meredith pitched two consecutive innings without allowing a run, stretching his streak of consecutive innings without giving up a run to 31.
On May 1, 2006, Meredith was traded to the Padres, along with then-Red Sox backup catcher Josh Bard, for catcher Doug Mirabelli. Meredith earned a win in his first appearance for San Diego on May 13, 2006, starting off a record setting rookie campaign. His 1.07 ERA and .170 batting average against both led the National League (minimum 50 innings pitched).[1][2] He did not surrender a run in 28 consecutive appearances, a span of 33 2/3 innings from July 18-Sept. 12. That streak set a new franchise record, eclipsing Randy Jones' 30-inning scoreless streak. The 33 2/3 straight scoreless innings also tied Orel Hershiser's mark in 1984 for the second-longest such streak by a rookie since 1970. It now stands as the longest scoreless stretch by a rookie relief pitcher in the live-ball era (1920).[3]
