Jeremy Affeldt
Jeremy David Affeldt (born June 6, 1979) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who competed in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 14 seasons from 2002 to 2015.[1] Drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the third round of the 1997 MLB June Amateur Draft from Northwest Christian High School in Spokane, Washington, Affeldt made his MLB debut on April 6, 2002, with the Royals and later played for the Colorado Rockies (2007), Cincinnati Reds (2008), and San Francisco Giants (2009–2015).[2] Primarily a left-handed relief pitcher during his Giants tenure, he appeared in 774 career games, recording 43 wins, 46 losses, a 3.97 earned run average (ERA), and 720 strikeouts over 926 innings pitched.[1] Affeldt's most notable achievements came in the postseason, where he excelled with the Giants, securing three World Series championships in 2010, 2012, and 2014 while posting a 0.86 ERA in 33 appearances, ranking among the lowest in history for pitchers with at least 30 postseason innings.[3] Beyond baseball, Affeldt has engaged in philanthropy, co-founding the nonprofit Generation Alive to foster youth involvement in community service and advocating against human trafficking in partnership with organizations such as Not For Sale.[4]
Early Life
Birth and Upbringing
Jeremy David Affeldt was born on June 6, 1979, in Phoenix, Arizona, to David and Charlotte Affeldt.[2][1] His father, David Affeldt, served as a career member of the United States Air Force, which shaped a peripatetic childhood marked by frequent relocations and international travel.[5][6] The family's military commitments took them overseas, including a posting in Guam where Affeldt lived during his early school years.[6] In second grade, while based in Guam, the Affeldts vacationed in Thailand, during which young Jeremy wandered ahead of his father and encountered a disturbing incident involving a local man that left a lasting impression on his worldview.[7] These experiences exposed him to diverse cultures across Asia from a young age, fostering adaptability amid the uncertainties of military life.[6] By his high school years, the family had relocated to Washington state, where Affeldt attended Northwest Christian School in Colbert.[2] There, under his father's guidance, he honed his baseball skills, drawing inspiration from Major League games he watched as a child, including an early vow at age 12 during an Oakland Athletics contest to pursue a professional career.[8] This period solidified his athletic foundation before his draft by the Kansas City Royals in 1997.[1]Amateur Baseball Development
Affeldt began playing organized baseball at age 5 in Washington state after his family relocated from Arizona.[9] By age 12, while attending an Oakland Athletics game, he expressed to his father his determination to reach Major League Baseball, reflecting early ambition and focus on the sport.[9] He attended Northwest Christian High School in Colbert, Washington, a Division 2-B institution near Spokane, where he competed in three sports but prioritized baseball as a left-handed pitcher.[1] During his high school tenure, Affeldt developed a fastball that reached 90 miles per hour, drawing attention from professional scouts.[10] In a standout senior-year performance on May 28, 1997, he struck out 18 batters over eight innings in a 3-2 victory for Northwest Christian, while also driving in the game-winning run with his bat.[10] These accomplishments led to his selection by the Kansas City Royals in the third round (91st overall) of the 1997 MLB June Amateur Draft, prompting him to bypass college and sign a professional contract shortly thereafter.[1][2]Professional Baseball Career
Draft and Minor Leagues
Affeldt was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the third round (91st overall) of the 1997 Major League Baseball June Amateur Draft out of Northwest Christian High School in Colbert, Washington.[2][1] He signed with the Royals on June 21, 1997, for a reported bonus of $275,000.[11] His minor league career began that summer in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where he made nine starts. Affeldt progressed through the Royals' system over the next four seasons, reaching Double-A by 2001 and demonstrating consistency as a starter with a mid-90s fastball and developing changeup. He recorded double-digit wins in 1999 and 2001 but endured a challenging 2000 campaign at High-A with a league-high 15 losses. Affeldt made his MLB debut on April 6, 2002, after a brief early-season stint at Double-A Wichita.[12][13] The following table summarizes his pre-MLB minor league pitching statistics:[12]| Year | Team | League | Level | W-L | ERA | G | GS | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | GCL Royals | GCL | Rk | 2-0 | 4.50 | 10 | 9 | 36 |
| 1998 | GCL Royals | GCL | Rk | 4-3 | 2.89 | 12 | 9 | 67 |
| 1998 | Lansing Lugnuts | Midw. | A | 0-3 | 9.53 | 6 | 3 | 8 |
| 1999 | Charleston Alley Cats | SALL | A | 7-7 | 3.83 | 27 | 24 | 111 |
| 2000 | Wilmington Blue Rocks | CARL | A+ | 5-15 | 4.09 | 27 | 26 | 92 |
| 2001 | Wichita Wranglers | TL | AA | 10-6 | 3.90 | 25 | 25 | 128 |
| 2002 | Wichita Wranglers | TL | AA | 0-0 | 1.50 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Kansas City Royals Tenure (2002–2006)
Affeldt made his Major League Baseball debut with the Kansas City Royals on April 6, 2002, against the Chicago White Sox, allowing one run on three hits with one strikeout over two innings pitched.[1] He earned a spot on the Opening Day roster after strong minor league performances and appeared in 34 games that season, including seven starts, posting a 3–4 record with a 4.64 ERA over 77⅔ innings and 67 strikeouts.[1] [2] In 2003, Affeldt transitioned to a more prominent starting role, logging 18 starts across 36 appearances for a 7–6 record, 3.93 ERA, 126 innings pitched, 98 strikeouts, and four saves, marking his career high in innings that year.[1] This performance represented his most effective stretch with the Royals, though the team finished with a 83–79 record, their first winning season since 1993.[14] Affeldt began the 2004 season as the Royals' third starter but struggled with a 0–3 record and 5.24 ERA in eight starts before shifting to the bullpen, where he recorded 13 saves across 38 total appearances, finishing with a 3–4 mark, 4.95 ERA, 76⅓ innings, and 49 strikeouts.[1] He remained in relief full-time in 2005, appearing in 49 games without a start or win, yielding a 0–2 record, 5.26 ERA over 49⅔ innings, and 39 strikeouts amid the Royals' 56–106 campaign.[1] During the 2006 season, Affeldt split time between starting and relieving in 27 games, compiling a 4–6 record, 5.91 ERA, 70 innings, and 28 strikeouts before being traded to the Colorado Rockies on July 31, along with pitcher Denny Bautista, in exchange for Scott Dohmann and a player to be named later (later identified as Ryan Shealy).[1] [11] Over his five seasons with the Royals, Affeldt appeared in 184 games, transitioning from a starter to a reliever, with an overall 17–22 record, 4.74 ERA, 399⅔ innings pitched, and 281 strikeouts.[1] His tenure reflected the Royals' rebuilding struggles, with the team posting losing records in four of those years, though Affeldt provided consistent innings in a developing bullpen.[15] [14] [16] [17]| Year | G | GS | W–L | ERA | IP | SO | WHIP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 34 | 7 | 3–4 | 4.64 | 77⅔ | 67 | 1.571 | Debut season; Opening Day roster |
| 2003 | 36 | 18 | 7–6 | 3.93 | 126 | 98 | 1.302 | 4 saves; career-high IP |
| 2004 | 38 | 8 | 3–4 | 4.95 | 76⅓ | 49 | 1.611 | 13 saves; shift to relief |
| 2005 | 49 | 0 | 0–2 | 5.26 | 49⅔ | 39 | 1.711 | Full relief role |
| 2006 | 27 | 9 | 4–6 | 5.91 | 70 | 28 | 1.614 | Traded July 31 |
Colorado Rockies Stint (2006–2007)
On July 31, 2006, the Kansas City Royals traded Affeldt and pitcher Denny Bautista to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for first baseman Ryan Shealy and pitcher Scott Dohmann.[11] Appearing in 27 relief games for the Rockies that season, Affeldt recorded 4 wins, 2 losses, a 6.91 ERA, and 20 strikeouts over 27.1 innings pitched.[1] Affeldt signed a one-year, $1.25 million contract with the Rockies on January 16, 2007.[18] In 75 relief appearances during the 2007 regular season, he posted a 4-3 record, 3.51 ERA, 46 strikeouts, and 33 walks in 59 innings, contributing to the Rockies' late-season surge to the National League pennant.[1] In the postseason, Affeldt appeared in 7 games across the NLDS, NLCS, and World Series, allowing 1 earned run over 5.1 innings for a 1.69 ERA.[1] During Game 3 of the World Series against the Boston Red Sox on October 28, 2007, he relieved starter Aaron Cook, striking out Jason Varitek before inducing a double play to end the inning amid Boston's 3-0 lead in the eventual sweep.[19] Despite these efforts, the Rockies were outscored decisively in the series, highlighting the challenges of Affeldt's relief role in high-altitude Coors Field conditions.[20]Cincinnati Reds Season (2008)
Jeremy Affeldt signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds on January 20, 2008, marking his transition from the Colorado Rockies after their 2007 National League Championship Series appearance.[21] The deal included $1 million in performance bonuses tied to starts and innings pitched, reflecting initial interest in deploying him as a starter despite his recent success in relief roles.[22] Throughout the 2008 season, Affeldt served primarily as a left-handed reliever in the Reds' bullpen under manager Dusty Baker, appearing in 74 games without any starts.[1] He recorded a 2-2 win-loss record with a 3.33 ERA over 74.1 innings pitched, allowing 72 hits, 34 walks, and 67 strikeouts while limiting opponents to a .247 batting average.[1] His performance contributed to the Reds' relief corps amid a 74-88 finish, fifth in the National League Central division.[23] Affeldt's repertoire emphasized ground-ball tendencies, with frequent use of sinkers (380 pitches), four-seam fastballs (420 pitches), and curveballs (397 pitches), complemented by occasional changeups (92 pitches).[24] Notable moments included receiving his 2007 NLCS ring prior to an August 22 game against the Rockies, where the Reds secured an 8-5 victory.[25] Affeldt became a free agent after the season, concluding his brief tenure with Cincinnati on October 30, 2008.[11]San Francisco Giants Era (2009–2015)
Affeldt signed a multi-year contract with the San Francisco Giants on November 17, 2008, following his release from the Cincinnati Reds, marking the beginning of his tenure as a primary left-handed reliever in the Giants' bullpen.[26] In 2009, he appeared in a career-high 74 games, posting a 2-2 record with a 1.73 ERA over 62.1 innings, allowing 42 hits, 31 walks, and 55 strikeouts while surrendering just three home runs; this performance earned him MLB.com's Setup Man of the Year award for the Giants.[2][1] Affeldt contributed to the Giants' World Series victories in 2010, 2012, and 2014, appearing in 26 postseason games across those runs with a collective 2-0 record and 0.68 ERA over 26.0 innings, including scoreless outings in critical moments such as the 2012 World Series (10.1 IP, 10 K) and 2014 World Series (11.2 IP, 2-0).[1] In the 2010 regular season, he recorded 4 saves and a 4-3 mark with a 4.14 ERA in 53 games, while 2011 and 2012 saw sub-3.00 ERAs (2.63 and 2.70, respectively) over 67 appearances each, with 13 and 16 holds; he notched three saves in each of those years.[1][2] Injuries hampered Affeldt's availability in later seasons, including a 2011 hand laceration from separating frozen meat, a 2012 right knee sprain from roughhousing with his son, and a 2013 groin issue requiring surgery that limited him to 39 games (1-5, 3.74 ERA).[27][28] He rebounded in 2014 with a 4-2 record and 2.28 ERA in 62 games (18 holds), but struggled in 2015 amid shoulder and knee issues, posting a 5.86 ERA over 52 appearances before announcing his retirement on October 1, 2015.[7][1]| Year | W-L | ERA | G | IP | SO | Holds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 2-2 | 1.73 | 74 | 62.1 | 55 | 33 |
| 2010 | 4-3 | 4.14 | 53 | 50.0 | 44 | 7 |
| 2011 | 3-2 | 2.63 | 67 | 61.2 | 54 | 13 |
| 2012 | 1-2 | 2.70 | 67 | 63.1 | 57 | 16 |
| 2013 | 1-5 | 3.74 | 39 | 33.2 | 21 | 11 |
| 2014 | 4-2 | 2.28 | 62 | 55.1 | 41 | 18 |
| 2015 | 2-2 | 5.86 | 52 | 35.1 | 21 | 9 |
Career Performance and Legacy
Statistical Overview
Jeremy Affeldt pitched in Major League Baseball from 2002 to 2015, appearing in 774 games with 42 starts, recording 43 wins against 46 losses, a 4.07 ERA, 28 saves, and 720 strikeouts over 926 innings pitched.[1] His career WHIP stood at 1.40, with an ERA+ of 112 indicating above-average performance relative to league and ballpark contexts.[1]| Team (Years) | W-L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Royals (2002–2006) | 25-30 | 5.12 | 234 | 42 | 18 | 429.2 | 329 |
| Colorado Rockies (2006–2007) | 8-5 | 4.47 | 129 | 0 | 1 | 91.1 | 70 |
| Cincinnati Reds (2008) | 1-1 | 3.33 | 74 | 0 | 0 | 78.1 | 80 |
| San Francisco Giants (2009–2015) | 9-10 | 3.31 | 337 | 0 | 9 | 326.2 | 241 |
| Career | 43-46 | 4.07 | 774 | 42 | 28 | 926.0 | 720 |