Alex Meyer (baseball)

Alex John Meyer (born January 3, 1990) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played college baseball for the Kentucky Wildcats and has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins and the Angels. He officially announced his retirement from professional Baseball on June 25th 2019 due to injuries. He had last played for the Los Angeles Angels in 2017.

Alex Meyer
Pitcher
Born: (1990-01-03) January 3, 1990
Greensburg, Indiana
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 26, 2015, for the Minnesota Twins
Last MLB appearance
July 19, 2017, for the Los Angeles Angels
MLB statistics
Win–loss record5–8
Earned run average4.63
Strikeouts107
Teams

Amateur career

Meyer attended Greensburg High School in Greensburg, Indiana, and played for his high school's baseball team. In 2008, his senior year, Meyer had an 8–0 win–loss record, a 0.95 earned run average (ERA), and 108 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched. Meyer was named a high school All-American, Indiana's Mr. Baseball, and the Indiana Player of the Year by Gatorade and Louisville Slugger in 2008.[1][2][3]

The Boston Red Sox selected Meyer in the 20th round of the 2008 MLB Draft. Despite being reportedly offered as much as $2.2 million as a signing bonus, Meyer chose not to sign with the Red Sox so that he could follow through on his commitment to attend the University of Kentucky to play college baseball for the Kentucky Wildcats baseball team.[2] In 2011, his junior year, Meyer had a 7–5 win–loss record with a 2.94 ERA, and led the Southeastern Conference with 110 strikeouts.[4]

Professional career

Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals selected Meyer in the first round, with the 23rd overall selection, of the 2011 MLB Draft.[4] Before the 2012 season, MLB.com rated Meyer as the 83rd best prospect in baseball.[5] He pitched for the Hagerstown Suns of the Class A South Atlantic League in 2012, and was named to appear in the All-Star Futures Game at midseason.[6]

Minnesota Twins

After the 2012 season, the Nationals traded Meyer to the Minnesota Twins for Denard Span.[7] The Twins invited Meyer to spring training in 2013.[8] After the 2013 season, he participated in the Arizona Fall League.[9] The Twins also invited Meyer to spring training in 2014.[10] Before the 2014 season, Baseball America ranked Meyer as the 45th best prospect in baseball.[11] Pitching for the Rochester Red Wings of the Class AAA International League in 2014, Meyer was named to the All-Star Futures Game as a replacement for teammate Trevor May.[12][13]

Meyer began the 2015 season with Rochester. After struggling with a 7.09 ERA in his first eight starts, Meyer began working as a relief pitcher.[14] He pitched to a 0.53 ERA with 20 strikeouts and six walks in 17 innings. The Twins promoted Meyer to the major leagues on June 25.[15] He pitched in two games for the Twins, in which he allowed five runs, including three home runs, in ​2 2⁄3 innings. The Twins demoted Meyer to Rochester, where he pitched to a 7.65 ERA in the next 20 innings he pitched, followed by ​17 2⁄3 innings pitched without allowing a run to end the season.[16]

In 2016, the Twins decided to send Meyer to Rochester to begin the season as a starting pitcher.[16] The Twins promoted Meyer to the major leagues on April 25,[17] but optioned him back to Rochester on May 3, after making two appearances for Minnesota.[18]

Los Angeles Angels

On August 1, 2016, the Twins traded Meyer and Ricky Nolasco plus cash for Angels pitchers Hector Santiago and Alan Busenitz.[19][20] Meyer was optioned to the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees on April 22, 2017.

On September 11, 2017, Angels general manager Billy Eppler announced that Meyer will undergo surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Meyer was on the disabled list since the middle of July.[21] In 13 starts with the Angels, Meyer went 4-5, with a 3.74 ERA, while striking out 75 batters. He was designated for assignment on November 22, 2018 after missing the entire 2018 season. In late December 2018, he re-signed with the Angels to a minor league deal.[22] Meyer retired from professional baseball on June 25, 2019, citing multiple surgeries and countless hours of rehab marking the end of the road.

Personal

During the baseball offseason, Meyer serves as a substitute teacher at Greensburg High School.[1] Meyer was married to Kyra Domingo in November 2015 in his hometown.

References
  1. "Top Twins pitching prospect Alex Meyer subs for $63/day". Usatoday.com. December 25, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  2. "Kentucky baseball's Meyer commands attention in what could be his final start at home". kentucky.com. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  3. "Prep Baseball Report > Indiana > News". prepbaseballreport.com. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  4. "Lexington, KY local and state news by the Lexington Herald-Leader - Kentucky.com". kentucky.com. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  5. "2012 Prospect Watch | MLB.com: Prospects". Mlb.mlb.com. June 19, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  6. Fiammetta, Mike (June 21, 2012). "Meyer to represent Nationals at Futures Game". MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  7. "Nationals acquire Denard Span from Twins for Minor Leaguer Alex Meyer". MLB.com. June 19, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
  8. Wild, Danny (March 31, 2013). "Meyer ready for new role with Twins". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  9. Seiner, Jake (October 23, 2013). "Meyer thrives despite lack of fastball | MiLB.com News | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  10. Berardino, Mike (January 9, 2014). "Twins' spring invitees: Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano, Alex Meyer". Pioneer Press. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  11. "2014 Baseball America Top 100 Prospects: The 25th Edition". BaseballAmerica.com. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  12. Fox Sports. "Minnesota Twins prospect Alex Meyer named to replace injured Trevor May for Futures Game". FOX Sports. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  13. "Minnesota Twins wait for Alex Meyer to slow down". Pioneer Press. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  14. "Updated Twinsights: Alex Meyer moves to the Rochester bullpen". TwinCities.com. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  15. "Twins call up prospect Alex Meyer after switch to bullpen – HardballTalk". nbcsports.com. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
  16. Bollinger, Rhett (March 23, 2016). "Meyer to begin Triple-A season as starter: Twins' No. 12 prospect spent most of '15 as reliever". MLB.com. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
  17. "Minnesota Twins set to promote Alex Meyer". Pioneer Press. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  19. Miller, Phil (August 1, 2016). "Twins trade Ricky Nolasco and Alex Meyer to Angels for Hector Santiago". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  20. Campbell, Dave (August 1, 2016). "Twins send Nolasco, Meyer to Angels in swap for Santiago". US News. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  21. Fletcher, Jeff (September 11, 2017). "Angels' Alex Meyer to miss 2018 season; Andrew Heaney is day to day". The Orange County Register. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
  22. Polishuk, Mark (December 30, 2018). "Angels Sign Alex Meyer To Minors Contract". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
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