A 2004 graduate of Lamar High School, Savery was a four-year starter and letterman for the Lamar Redskins. During his tenure at Lamar, he earned first team all-state and first team all-greater Houston. He was a three-time first team all-district 18-5a honoree, and was voted the most valuable player in the district in 2004. Joe was named the 2004 Proline player of the year after hitting .556 with 7 home runs and 40 RBI as a senior. He also went 11–0 on the mound with 93 strikeouts, posting a 0.53 ERA. Joe lead the Redskins to be nationally ranked in 3 different polls during his senior year.[1]
Savery matriculated to Rice University in August 2004, where he played for the Rice Owls baseball team. Savery concentrated on baseball, starting at first base and in the outfield when not pitching.[citation needed]
As a freshman in 2005, Savery stepped into the starting lineup as opening-day pitcher and a regular in the batting lineup. Savery earned second- and third-team all-America honors while being named National Freshman of the Year and Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year. He was named first-team all-WAC at pitcher and first base after leading the conference with a .382 batting average and finishing second with a 2.49 ERA. In the postseason, Savery helped Rice to an upset NCAA regional win over LSU at formidable Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge. In the NCAA super regional against top-ranked Tulane, Savery broke his right hand in the opening game while making a sliding catch against the Turchin Stadium fence. The injury prevented Savery from hitting, but he pitched into the seventh inning and allowed only one run in Rice's Game 2 loss. Tulane advanced to the 2005 College World Series with a win in Game 3.[citation needed]
As a sophomore in 2006, Savery again earned third-team all-America status despite making only 11 pitching starts due to injury. At the plate, Savery hit .335 and was one of Rice's most dangerous postseason hitters, earning MVP honors in that year's conference tournament[2] and making the all-regional team. He also hit a three-run home run in the decisive third game of the NCAA super regional against Oklahoma, helping the Owls to the 2006 College World Series. At the College World Series, Savery went 3-for-3 in Rice's opening-game win against Georgia but was just 1-for-9 after that.[citation needed]
As a junior in 2007, Savery spent much of the season trying to recover his form on the mound after offseason surgery. He continued to dominate at the plate, leading the Owls in hitting, but struggled with control and efficiency on the mound while posting a sub-3.00 ERA. Savery was named a first-team all-America as a two-way player and earned his second conference Player of the Year award in three seasons. He saved his best for the postseason, leading Rice through the NCAA regional with a Most Outstanding Player performance that included a dominant mound performance in the Sunday clincher against TCU.[citation needed]
Four days after the regional, during an emotional pre-super-regional press conference, Savery was selected in the first round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. Rice then swept Texas A&M in a tense super regional to advance to the 2007 College World Series. After hitting a homer in the first game against Louisville, Savery finally got to pitch in Omaha and earned the win in a 14–4 defeat of North Carolina.[citation needed]
Savery was the Phillies' first-round draft pick out of Rice in 2007 as the 19th overall pick. After signing with the Philadelphia Phillies, Savery was assigned to the Williamsport Crosscutters of the New York-Penn League (Class A Short Season). In 7 starts, he compiled a 2–3 W-L record with a 2.73 ERA. He struck out 22 and walked 13. He played in the 2007 Arizona Fall League with the Peoria Saguaros.
In 2008 Savery skipped over Class A Lakewood and was assigned to Class A Advanced Clearwater. There he went 9–10 with a 4.13 ERA over 27 games (24 starts). He compiled 122 Ks in 150.1 innings while giving up 60 walks. He allowed 10 home runs as well.
In 2009 Savery split time between Reading and Lehigh Valley, the AA and AAA affiliates of the Phillies, respectively. In Reading he had one of his best seasons. He went 12–4 with a 4.41 ERA struck out 77 in 112.1 innings pitched while walking 53, and giving up 13 home runs. He earned a mid-season call-up to AAA Lehigh Valley. There he went 4–2 in 7 starts with an ERA of 4.38. In 39 innings he walked 24 while striking out only 19, indicating some issues with his control.
In 2010 Savery was assigned to Lehigh Valley where his stats and his control got worse. He went 1–12 with his worst ERA of his professional career at 4.66, striking out 67 and giving up 51 walks in 127.1 innings.
During the off-season of 2010 it was announced that Savery would be converted into a hitter, with the hope he can recapture his collegiate success. He participated in the FIL after the season to learn first base which is where he will play in 2011.[citation needed]
During the off-season Joe worked on his strength and conditioning. He switched some of his training techniques from being a pitcher, and began training more like a hitter. After hitting .348 for the AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs[3] the Phillies were quite optimistic about Joe's chances of becoming a force in their Major League Lineup.[citation needed] After a successful spring training in 2011, Joe was sent to Clearwater Threshers. As of April 15, 2011, Joe is hitting .621, with 4 doubles and 1 home-run. He finished the season batting .307 with 2 home runs for Clearwater. He was later promoted to AA Reading and AAA Lehigh Valley where he was once again converted to a pitcher, but this time a relief pitcher. He compiled a 1.80 ERA, 2 saves, 25/6 k/BB ratio, in 25 innings pitched for the IronPigs.[3]
Savery was called up to the Philadelphia Phillies on September 16, 2011, after spending most of the 2011 season with the Phillies' AAA affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.[4] He made his debut on September 20, 2011, against the Washington Nationals. In his first four appearances, Savery faced nine batters, giving up one hit, recording two strike-outs and no walks.
Savery opened the 2012 season with the Phillies, appearing on an Opening Day roster for the first time in his career.[5] He was optioned to the IronPigs on April 15 to accommodate José Contreras's return to the active roster, but returned to the Phillies less than a week later after Cliff Lee landed on the 15-day Disabled List.[6]
Savery started the 2013 season with Lehigh Valley. He was recalled on April 19 and made one appearance before being optioned. He was recalled again by the Phillies on May 6 when Roy Halladay went on the disabled list,[7] but didn't make an appearance before being optioned. He was recalled on May 31 when the struggling Chad Durbin was released.[8] On July 23, Savery was placed on the disabled list with elbow stiffness,[9] and returned as a September call-up on September 3. In 18 games with the Phillies in 2013, Savery went 2–0 with 1 hold and a 3.15 ERA, striking out 14 in 20 innings.
Savery was designated for assignment on February 16, 2014.
Oakland Athletics
Savery was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics on February 17, 2014.[10] He was designated for assignment on September 1, 2014.
Chicago White Sox
Savery signed a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox on January 22, 2015.[11] He was released on March 30.
Retirement
On April 8, 2015, Savery announced his retirement from professional baseball.[12]
