Tony Saunders

Anthony Scott Saunders (born April 29, 1974) is a retired American Major League baseball pitcher who played for three seasons between 1997 and 1999. He was the first player selected by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the expansion draft.

For the musician, see Tony Saunders (bassist).
Tony Saunders
Pitcher
Born: (1974-04-29) April 29, 1974
Baltimore, Maryland
Batted: Left Threw: Left
MLB debut
April 5, 1997, for the Florida Marlins
Last MLB appearance
May 26, 1999, for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays
MLB statistics
Win–loss record13–24
Earned run average4.56
Strikeouts305
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Career

Saunders initially signed with the Florida Marlins' minor league system in 1992, a year before their expansion season. He required reconstructive surgery on his elbow in 1994.[1]

Florida Marlins

Saunders joined the Marlins' opening day roster in 1997, and despite a knee injury which cost him seven weeks in the middle of the season finished with a 4–6 record in 22 starts, with his first three wins coming against the Atlanta Braves.[1] The Marlins earned a wild card berth in the 1997 playoffs, and after being left off the Division Series roster, Saunders was placed on the LCS roster against the Braves. He started Game 3 of the series, which Liván Hernández won in relief of Saunders.

In the World Series, Saunders started Game 4 against the Cleveland Indians, but took the loss after giving up six earned runs in two innings pitched; nonetheless, he earned a World Series ring as the Marlins defeated Cleveland in seven games.

Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Saunders was one of many members of that team who left the Marlins following that season, joining the Rays for their inaugural season after being the first pick in the 1997 MLB Expansion Draft. Saunders was 9th in the American League in strikeouts, but also 1st in walks, as he struggled to a 6–15 record. Saunders' 1999 season was short-lived as he went 3–3 with a 6.43 ERA.

On May 26, 1999, while pitching against the Texas Rangers, Saunders suffered a bizarre arm injury while pitching to Juan Gonzalez.[2] As he was delivering a 3-2 pitch to the Rangers’ slugger, his pitching arm suddenly snapped with enough force that the noise could be heard throughout the ballpark. Saunders subsequently collapsed on the mound, screaming in pain and smacking his right arm on the ground. Within moments, team trainer Jamie Reed and teammates John Flaherty and Kevin Stocker rushed to his side. Saunders had to be carted off the field, as the pain was too much for him to walk. He was diagnosed with a humerus fracture and torn ligaments in his arm, an injury severe enough to end his season.[3][4]

Saunders attempted to rehab the injury and make a comeback, and was sent to Single-A to pitch in a rehab assignment in August of 2000. During the game, Saunders’ humerus snapped again in the exact same spot it had before. He retired at the age of 26 immediately afterward. [5]

Saunders won the Tony Conigliaro Award in 2000.[6]

After baseball, Saunders worked as a stockbroker.[7] In 2005, Saunders announced a comeback, signing a minor league contract with the Baltimore Orioles, and making their spring training roster. He pitched one inning against the St. Louis Cardinals before he was reassigned to the minor leagues. He remained listed on the Bowie Baysox roster for the whole 2005 season, but never pitched in a game, although he did appear in 9 games for the Mesa Miners of the Golden Baseball League.

References
  1. Kubatko, Roch (September 1, 1997). "Saunders, long-shot Marlin, has hometown team in sights Glen Burnie left-hander still can't 'believe I'm here'". Baltimore Sun.
  2. "Tony Saunders Baseball Stats by Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved 2019-05-19.
  3. "Rays' Saunders leaves hospital". CBS News. May 26, 1999.
  4. "Video: Tony Saunders breaks arm while throwing a pitch". YouTube. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  5. "Pitcher Tony Saunders packs it in after breaking arm again". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. August 26, 2000.
  6. "Oakland A's outfielder Stephen Piscotty wins 2018 Tony Conigliaro Award". December 14, 2018.
  7. Skolnick, Ethan (September 30, 2003). "1997 Marlins: Where are they now". South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
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