Vital Statistics:
Born: October 23, 1978
Hometown: Abilene, Texas
Height: 6-6
Weight: 245
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Primary position: Starting pitcher
Before The Bigs:
- Out of high school, he played the 1998 season at the University of Texas and then transferred to Grayson County College, where he helped lead the team to the Junior College World Series in 1999. He pitched and hit .428 with 15 home runs.
- Was selected in the second round (68th overall) in the 1999 draft by the Angels.
- Was named the Angels’ minor league pitcher of the year in 2000, when he advanced from low-A Cedar Rapids to double-A Erie, where he went 6-1 with a 3.30 ERA.
- Split the 2001 season between Double-A and Triple-A.
- Made his big-league debut at age 23 in a doubleheader on June 24, 2002 at Texas, and returned a week later to join the rotation, going 9-4 with a 3.66 ERA.
- Won in the Angels’ wild-card clinching victory on Sept. 26.
- He’s one of two rookie pitchers to ever start and win Game 7 of the World Series. He allowed one run in five innings.
- Won at least 10 games for five consecutive seasons (2003-2007).
- Led the American League in shutouts in 2003 and 2006 with two.
- Made the 2007 American League All-Star team.
