Willie Adams (1990s pitcher)

William Edward Adams (born October 8, 1972) is an American former professional baseball player whose career spanned eight seasons, including parts of two in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Oakland Athletics (1996–1997). Over his MLB career, Adams went 6–9 with a 5.81 earned run average (ERA), one complete game, one shutout and 105 strikeouts in 25 games, 24 starts. Adams also played in the minor leagues with the Class-A Madison Muskies (1993), the Class-A Advanced Modesto A's (1994), the Double-A Huntsville Stars (1994–1995), the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers (1995–1998), the rookie-level Arizona League Athletics (1998), the Class-A Advanced Sarasota Red Sox (1999), the Double-A Trenton Thunder (1999) and the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox (1999–2000). In 123 minor league games, Adams went 40–34 with a 4.34 ERA, five complete games, two shutouts, six saves and 421 strikeouts.

For the 1910s baseball pitcher, see Willie Adams (1910s pitcher).
Willie Adams
Pitcher
Born: (1972-10-08) October 8, 1972
Gallup, New Mexico
Batted: Right Threw: Right
MLB debut
June 11, 1996, for the Oakland Athletics
Last MLB appearance
August 14, 1997, for the Oakland Athletics
MLB statistics
Win-loss record6–9
Earned run average5.81
Strikeouts105
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Before turning professional, Adams attended Stanford University. He was drafted by the Athletics during his junior year at Stanford in the first round of the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft. Adams also pitched two games in 1992 Summer Olympics as a member of the United States national baseball team. Adam batted and threw right-handed.

Amateur career

Willie attended La Serna High School in Whittier, California.[1] Willie is the only attendee of La Serna to play in Major League Baseball.[1] Adams was selected twice in the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft, first by the Detroit Tigers in the 52nd round and later by the Houston Astros in the 74th round.[2] From 1991 to 1993, Willie attended Stanford University.[3] During his first season as a member of the Stanford Cardinal baseball team, Adams won the "Most Valuable Freshman" award presented by the school's athletics department.[4] In 1992, Adams played for the United States national baseball team.[5] He pitched two games during the 1992 Summer Olympics.[6] Willie is the only person born in Gallup, New Mexico to compete in the Olympics.[7] After the 1992 and 1993 seasons, Willie was the recipient of the university's "Come Through Award".[4]

Professional career

Oakland Athletics

Willie was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the first round (36th pick overall) of the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft. He began his professional career that season with the Class-A Madison Muskies of the Midwest League. With Madison, Willie went 0–2 with a 3.38 earned run average (ERA) and 22 strikeouts in five games, all stars. In 1994, Willie was rated as the tenth best prospect in the Athletics organization by Baseball America.[8] During that season, Willie split the season between the Class-A Advanced Modesto A's and the Double-A Huntsville Stars. In 11 games with the A's, Willie went 7–1 with a 3.38 ERA, two saves and 42 strikeouts. He was later promoted to the Stars where he went 4–3 with a 4.30 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 10 games, all starts. In 1995, Adams was rated as the eight best prospect in the Athletics organization.[8] During that season, Willie played for the Double-A Huntsville Stars and the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers. With the Stars, Adams went 6–5 with a 3.01 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 13 games, all starts. After receiving a promotion to the Triple-A level, Willie went 2–5 with a 4.37 ERA, one complete game, one shutout and 40 strikeouts in 11 games, 10 starts.

In 1996, Willie attended spring training with the Oakland Athletics, but was optioned to the minors on March 18, before the start of the regular season.[9] On June 11, Willie made his major league debut against the Cleveland Indians and pitched six innings, giving-up four earned runs while earning a no-decision.[10] On August 10, while pitching against the Cleveland Indians, Adams got his first win.[11] During that game, Willie's father was in attendance.[11] With the Athletics in 1996, Willie went 3–4 with a 4.01 ERA, one complete games, one shutout and 68 strikeouts in 12 games, all starts. That year, Willie also pitched in the minor leagues with the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers and went 10–4 with a 3.78 ERA, three complete games, one shutout and 80 strikeouts in 19 games, all starts. During the off-season, it was speculated by Baseball Digest that Willie would be in the Athletics' starting rotation in 1997.[12]

Willie started the 1997 season with the Athletics.[13] However, in mid-May, Willie was sent down to the minor leagues.[13] Adams made his return to the majors in August for two games, but would never appear in a major league game after August 14, 1997.[13] During his time in the minors that season, Adams went 5–4 with a 6.45 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 13 games, 12 starts. In the majors, Willie went 3–5 with an 8.18 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 13 games, 12 starts. In 1998, Willie continued playing in the Athletics minor league organization. He split the season between the rookie-level Arizona League Athletics and the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers. Adams pitched just four combined games that season, going 0–1 with a 7.36 ERA and four strikeouts.

Boston Red Sox

In 1999, Willie joined the Boston Red Sox organization. He started the regular season with the Class-A Advanced Sarasota Red Sox. With Sarasota, Willie went 1–1 with a 1.98 ERA and six strikeouts in two games, both starts. He was then promoted to the Double-A Trenton Thunder where he went 1–1 with a 4.63 ERA and six strikeouts in two games, both starts. Willie received his final promotion to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. At Pawtucket, Willie went 4–5 with a 5.15 ERA, one complete game, one shutout and 37 strikeouts in 11 games, all starts. Willie suffered injuries throughout the season.[14] On the season, combined between the three teams, Adam's record was 6–7 with a 4.60 ERA in 15 games, all starts. During his final professional season, 2000, Willie played for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. He suffered right shoulder inflammation early in the season and was placed on the disabled list on May 22.[14] Pitcher Hipólito Pichardo replaced Willie on the Pawtucket roster. Willie finished the season with a record of 0–2 with a 5.47 ERA, four saves and 21 strikeouts in 20 relief appearances.

References
General references
  1. "Willie Adams Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  2. "Willie Adams Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
Inline citations
  1. "La Serna High School". The Baseball Cube. The Baseball Cube. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  2. "Willie Adams: Transactions". The Baseball Cube. The Baseball Cube. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  3. "Stanford University Cardinal (Palo Alto, CA)". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  4. "Stanford Team Awards". Stanford Cardinal Athletics. Stanford University. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  5. "Mooneyham Earns Spot on Team USA". Stanford Cardinal Athletics. Stanford University. July 11, 2010. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  6. "Willie Adams". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  7. "Olympic Athletes Born in Gallup, New Mexico, United States". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  8. "Willie Adams: Pitching Statistics". The Baseball Cube. The Baseball Cube. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  9. "A's overpower M's". Associated Press. Lodi News-Sentinel. March 18, 1996. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  10. "Willie Adams 1996 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  11. "Adams finds Tribe a relief and A's stop win streak at 4". Associated Press. Toledo Blade. August 11, 1996. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  12. "Oakland Athletics". Baseball Digest. Century CSN Sports Network. 56 (4): 45. 1997.
  13. "Willie Adams 1997 Pitching Gamelogs". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
  14. Bob Leddy (May 22, 2000). "PawSox Journal – Pichardo on board; Willie on DL". The Providence Journal. The Providence Journal. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
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