Foster Griffin Explained

Foster Griffin
Width:250
Team:Yomiuri Giants
Number:29
Position:Pitcher
Birth Date:27 July 1995
Birth Place:Orlando, Florida, U.S.
Bats:Right
Throws:Left
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:July 27
Debutyear:2020
Debutteam:Kansas City Royals
Debut2league:NPB
Debut2date:April 1
Debut2year:2023
Debut2team:Yomiuri Giants
Statyear:2022 season
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:1–0
Stat2value:6.75
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:5
Stat2year:August 20, 2024
Stat2league:NPB
Stat21label:Win–loss record
Stat21value:11-8
Stat22value:2.96
Stat23label:Strikeouts
Stat23value:202
Teams:

Fred Foster Griffin (born July 27, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays.

Career

Kansas City Royals

Griffin attended The First Academy in Orlando, Florida. The Kansas City Royals selected him in the first round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.[1] [2] [3] He signed on June 10,[4] and was assigned to the Burlington Royals, where he posted a 3.21 ERA in 28 innings pitched. Griffin spent 2015 with the Lexington Legends where he went 4–6 with a 5.44 ERA. In 2016, Griffin split time between Lexington and the Wilmington Blue Rocks, where he posted a combined 6–4 record and a 5.43 ERA between the two teams. He spent 2017 with both the Wilmington Blue Rocks and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals where he went a combined 15–7 with a 3.35 ERA between both clubs,[5] and 2018 back with the Naturals where he pitched to a 10–12 record with a 5.13 ERA in 28 games (26 starts).[6] He spent 2019 with the Omaha Storm Chasers,[7] going 8–6 with a 5.23 ERA over 25 starts, striking out 111 over innings.

Griffin was added to the Royals 40-man roster following the 2019 season.[8] Griffin made his major league debut on July 27, 2020, and pitched scoreless innings to earn the win against the Detroit Tigers.

On August 11, 2020, Griffin underwent Tommy John surgery. On November 30, 2020, Griffin was designated for assignment.[9] On December 2, 2020, the Royals nontendered Griffin, making him a free agent. On December 12, 2020, Griffin re-signed with the Royals on a minor league contract.[10] He made 15 rehab appearances with numerous Royals minor league affiliates in 2021. He began the 2022 season with the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers.

On May 20, 2022, Griffin had his contract selected by the Royals.[11] He was designated for assignment on July 11.[12]

Toronto Blue Jays

On July 16, 2022, Griffin traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Jonatan Bernal. Griffin only made one appearances for Toronto, tossing two scoreless innings with two strikeouts. The rest of his time was spent with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, where he pitched to a pristine 1.93 ERA and 4-0 record with 32 strikeouts in 28.0 innings pitched.[13] He was released on November 15.[14]

Yomiuri Giants

On January 12, 2023, Griffin signed with the Yomiuri Giants of Nippon Professional Baseball.[15] On May 13, Griffin hit a triple off of Masato Morishita of the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. In doing so, he became the first Yomiuri non-Japanese pitcher to hit a triple since Toru Nishida did so in 1952.[16] He re-signed a one-year contract extension for the 2024 season on November 26. [17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kansas City Royals choose Foster Griffin with 28th pick. 5 June 2014. kingsofkauffman.com. June 7, 2014.
  2. Web site: Ole Miss signee Griffin selected in MLB Draft. clarionledger.com. June 7, 2014.
  3. Web site: KC chooses prep southpaw Griffin with second pick | royals.com: News. mlb.mlb.com. June 7, 2014.
  4. Web site: Royals agree to terms with several Draft picks. Kansas City Royals. May 16, 2015.
  5. Web site: Foster Griffin Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball. October 31, 2017.
  6. Web site: Foster Griffin Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball. MiLB.com. February 18, 2019.
  7. Web site: Chaser pitchers Foster Griffin, Jake Kolish make early lead hold for first win, save. 18 April 2019 .
  8. Web site: Royals add four players to 40-man roster; Bonifacio, Dini among four DFA'd. Fox Sports Kansas City. November 20, 2019. November 20, 2019.
  9. Web site: Royals Sign Michael A. Taylor. 30 November 2020 .
  10. Web site: Royals Re-Sign Bubba Starling, Carlos Sanabria, Foster Griffin. 12 December 2020 .
  11. Web site: Royals' Foster Griffin: Contract selected by Kansas City. 2023-02-07. cbssports.com. en.
  12. Web site: Royals DFA Foster Griffin, Add Drew Waters to 40-Man . 11 July 2022 .
  13. Web site: Blue Jays option RHP Julian Merryweather to Triple-A Buffalo, recall LHP Foster Griffin. 2023-04-21. sportsnet.ca. en.
  14. Web site: Blue Jays Designate Raimel Tapia, Bradley Zimmer For Assignment. Franco. Anthony. mlbtraderumors.com. November 15, 2022. November 15, 2022.
  15. https://twitter.com/TokyoGiants/status/1613418656574345216
  16. https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/cb1bf3ddb399838832e1678024b68ad532c59897
  17. https://twitter.com/GaijinBaseball/status/1728868632636309858