Michael Pelfrey

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Michael Pelfrey with Mets COO Jeff Wilpon and Mets GM Omar Minaya

Michael Alan (Mike) Pelfrey (born January 14, 1984) is a pitcher in the New York Mets system. He is a 6' 7", 210 pound right-handed power pitcher considered by Mets management to have the potential to become a star at the major league level.

Pelfrey grew up in Wichita, Kansas where he graduated from Heights High School in 2002. He was named player of the year in Kansas in both 2001 and 2002. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 15th round of the 2002 MLB Amateur Draft, but chose to attend Wichita State University instead of signing a professional contract. In college, he compiled a career record of 33-7, with a school record 2.18 ERA, 366 strikeouts, and 69 walks in 359 2/3 innings. Four of his losses were by one run. In two of the losses, Pelfrey lost with a score of 0-1. One loss came on an unearned run.

Michael Pelfrey pitching for the Binghamton Mets at NYSEG Stadium, June 2, 2006

After his junior year at Wichita State, Pelfrey entered the June 2005 amateur baseball draft. Having selected Scott Boras as his agent, there were concerns that Pelfrey would hold out or require a higher-than-market value contract.[1]. The Mets selected him with the ninth overall pick, even though he was projected to have gone higher than that. After six months of negotiations, the Mets signed Pelfrey to a four-year major league contract on January 10, 2006. The deal reportedly included a $3.5 million signing bonus and $5.3 million in guaranteed salary.

Pelfrey began the 2006 season on the Single-A St. Lucie Mets, going 2-1 with a 1.64 ERA in four starts before being promoted to the AA Binghamton Mets. With Binghamton, he was 2-1 with a 2.66 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 47 1/3 innings over his first eight starts. He throws a hard four-seam fastball at speeds up to 98 mph, a two-seam fastball, an 80-85 mph power curveball, and a circle changeup.

Pelfrey made his major league debut with the Mets on July 8, 2006, earning the win in a 17-3 victory against the Florida Marlins. The Mets hit grand slams (José Valentín and Carlos Beltrán) in Pelfrey's first two major league starts. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, this was a first for a rookie pitcher.[2]. He was sent down to AAA Norfolk on 2 August 2006.