Joel Zumaya
| File:Jzumaya.jpg | |
|---|---|
| Detroit Tigers — No. 54 | |
| Relief Pitcher | |
| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| April 3, 2006 for the Detroit Tigers | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through August 5, 2006) | |
| Win-loss | 6-1 |
| Strikeouts | 67 |
| Earned run average | 2.06 |
Joel Martin Zumaya (born November 9, 1984, in Chula Vista, California) is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. Selected in the 11th round, 320th overall, in the 2002 MLB amateur draft, Zumaya was previously a starting pitcher in the Tigers minor league system.
Zumaya had been drafted for his power arm, however the question was whether or not he could develop adequate control, along with an off-speed pitch. As a young pitcher straight from high school, he would generally be pitching against players older than him. In 2003, the 18-year-old Zumaya made great strides pitching for the low-A affiliate West Michigan Whitecaps. 2004 saw Zumaya beginning the year pitching for the high-A affiliate Lakeland Tigers, before a late season promotion to the AA Erie SeaWolves. The reults were inconclusive, as he finished with a .500 win-loss record but struggled with walks. Zumaya began the 2005 season back in Erie, however his results were much improved from 2004, and he was promoted to the AAA Toledo Mud Hens. He finished the season with an impressive 199 strikeouts in only 151 innings pitched.
With the Tigers, he is most often being used as a middle relief pitcher and occasional setup man, filling in the innings between the starter and the closing pitcher. He is also a fan favorite for his intense, aggressive attitude on the mound and his high-90's fastball which frequently tops out at 100+ MPH. Zumaya also has an above average knuckle-curve that can be used quite effectively as an off-speed pitch. He has been among the primary reasons for the Tigers' bullpen success in 2006.
The official record according to the Guiness Book of World Records is 101 MPH by Nolan Ryan in 1974. However, the fastest observed speed (although not official) was a pitch from Mark Wohlers during spring training in 1995, which allegedly clocked in 103 MPH. On July 4, 2006 at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California, Zumaya threw a pitch clocked at 103 MPH, thus tying the "unofficial" record held by Wohlers [1]. On July 20 2006 in a game against the Chicago White Sox, Zumaya threw a fastball that television speedguns recorded at 104 MPH, however it is yet to be seen if this speed will be recognized.
According to Tigers manager Jim Leyland and Zumaya himself, he will remain in the bullpen for the rest of the 2006 season. His future as a starter or reliever remains to be determined. Zumaya has stated that he prefers the bullpen, although he will pitch whenever given the opportunity.