| James Meeker | |
| Team: | Milwaukee Brewers |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 22 March 1995 |
| Birth Place: | Livingston, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | June 7 |
| Debutyear: | 2024 |
| Debutteam: | Milwaukee Brewers |
| Statyear: | June 7, 2024 |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 0–0 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 0.00 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 0 |
| Teams: | |
James Henry Meeker III (born March 22, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Milwaukee Brewers organization. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut in 2024.
Meeker attended North Allegheny Senior High School in Wexford, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Akron to play college baseball for the Akron Zips. When Akron ended their baseball program, he transferred to the University of Delaware to play for the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens.[1]
Meeker was not selected in the 2018 MLB Draft and signed with the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League on June 20, 2018.[2] He made 19 appearances on the year, recording a 3.94 ERA with 26 strikeouts across innings pitched. In 2019, Meeker appeared in 40 games for Washington, compiling a 3.17 ERA with 57 strikeouts across 54 innings pitched.[3]
In 2020, after the Frontier League season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[4] Meeker played for the Steel City Slammin' Slammers of the Washington League. He made eight scoreless appearances for the club, striking out 12 across innings.[5]
Meeker returned to the Wild Things in 2021, making 30 appearances and remarkably tossing scoreless innings with 43 strikeouts.[6]
On August 14, 2021, Meeker's contract was purchased by the Milwaukee Brewers organization.[7] He finished the year with the Single–A Carolina Mudcats, posting an 0.50 ERA with 25 strikeouts and 5 saves in 12 appearances.
Meeker spent the 2022 campaign with the High–A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, also making two scoreless appearances for the Double–A Biloxi Shuckers. In 42 games for Wisconsin, he registered a 2.45 ERA with 57 strikeouts and 17 saves across innings of work.[8] Meeker spent the majority of 2023 with Biloxi, also making two appearances for the Triple–A Nashville Sounds. In 34 games for Biloxi, he accumulated an 8–4 record and 3.13 ERA with 80 strikeouts across 89 innings pitched.[9]
Meeker began 2024 with Biloxi, and was promoted to Nashville after four scoreless appearances. Pitching in 14 games for Nashville, he logged a 3.48 ERA with 20 strikeouts across innings.[10] On June 7, 2024, Meeker was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[11] In his debut, he tossed a scoreless inning, allowing one hit and issuing one walk with no strikeouts. On June 11, Meeker was designated for assignment by the Brewers.[12] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Nashville on June 15.[13]