Sam Delaplane
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1995-03-27) March 27, 1995 (age 28)
San Jose, California
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Samuel Louis Nathan Delaplane (born March 27, 1995) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.

Delaplane is the son of Fred and Sue Delaplane, and has a brother, Brad.[1] He attended Leigh High School ('13) in San Jose, California, which is where he was born.[2][3] Playing baseball as a pitcher and catcher, he was All-League First Team and San Jose Mercury Honorable Mention in his senior season, as he was 6–2 with a 1.66 ERA on the mound and batted .342.[1][2][4]

Undrafted out of high school, Delaplane attended Eastern Michigan University, earning a degree in marketing.[5][6] He spent four seasons (2014–17) playing college baseball for the Eastern Michigan Eagles, and was first-team All-Mid-American Conference in his senior year.[6] During the summer of 2016, he played for the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod League.[7][8] He was named 2017 first team All-American (D-I) by the Jewish Sports Review.[9] Delaplane was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 23rd round of the 2017 MLB draft.[6]

Delaplane split his debut season of 2017 between the AZL Mariners of the Rookie-level Arizona League and the Tacoma Rainiers of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, combining to go 2–1 with a 3.00 ERA and 50 strikeouts over 33 innings (13.6 strikeouts per 9 innings).[10] He spent the 2018 season with the Clinton LumberKings of the Single–A Midwest League, going 4–2 with 10 saves (3rd in the league) and a 1.96 ERA, and 100 strikeouts over 59+2⁄3 innings (15.1 strikeouts per 9 innings; he struck out 38% of batters faced).[10][5]

In 2019, he split the season between the Modesto Nuts of the High–A California League and the Arkansas Travelers of the Double-A Texas League, going a combined 6–3 with 7 saves and a 2.23 ERA, and 120 strikeouts (leading all minor league relievers) over 68+2⁄3 innings (15.7 strikeouts per 9 innings; second-best in minor league baseball for pitchers who pitched 50 innings) in 46 relief appearances.[11][10][12][13] Delaplane had the highest K-BB% (37.0%) and pure strikeout rate (45.8%) in minor league baseball, and his curveball/slider had the second-highest swing-and-miss rate of all slider in baseball.[14][15] He was named a mid-season California League All Star.[16] In September 2019 Jim Callis named him to MLB Pipeline's Second Team Prospect Team of the Year.[17]

Following the 2019 regular season, Delaplane played for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League, and in six appearances was 0–1 with two saves and a 1.13 ERA over eight innings with 15 strikeouts and 1 walk.[18] He was named a Fall League All-Star.[19][20] In April 2020 Fangraphs ranked him #11 on its list of Mariners' prospects.[14] In July 2020 CBS Sports opined: "Sam Delaplane is one of, if not the best relief prospect in the game."[21]

Delaplane did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[22] On November 20, 2020, Delaplane was added to the 40-man roster.[23] That month MLB Pipeline named him Seattle's #20 Prospect.[24] In February 2021, Fangraphs ranked him #9.[25] On April 13, 2021, Delaplane underwent Tommy John surgery, effectively ending his 2021 season.[26] On May 27, 2021, Delaplane was designated for assignment by Seattle.[27]

On May 31, 2021, Delaplane was acquired by the San Francisco Giants in exchange for cash considerations.[28] He was placed on the 60-day injured list the next day as he continued to recover from Tommy John.[29] Following the season, on November 30, 2021, Delaplane was non-tendered by the Giants and became a free agent.[30] Delaplane re-signed with the Giants on December 1 on a minor league contract and was later invited to spring training.[31] He was added to the 40-man roster in June 2022; later in the month, after four rehab outings with the San Jose Giants in which he tallied 11 strikeouts, he was put on the 60-day injured list with a right forearm strain.[32][33] On November 15, Delaplane was designated for assignment by the Giants after they protected multiple prospects from the Rule 5 draft.[34] He was non–tender by the Giants in November 18, and became a free agent.[35] Delaplane re–signed with the Giants on a minor league contract the following day.

Through 2022, in four minor league seasons, Delaplane was 12–6 with 17 saves and a 2.41 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 15.3 K/9 (278 strikeouts in 164 innings), and a 4.63 SO/W ratio in 104 relief appearances.[36]

On July 4, 2023, while playing for the High–A Eugene Emeralds, Delaplane combined with Hayden Birdsong, Mat Olsen, and William Kempner to no-hit the Tri-City Dust Devils. The no-hitter was the first since 2015, and the first since the franchise became a part of the Giants organization.[37] He elected free agency on November 6. [38]

Delaplane mixes up a 93–96 mph rising four-seam fastball, and an excellent 83–88 mph curveball-grip curveball/slider hybrid that has a high spin rate and late downward movement and which he releases straight over the top like his fastball.[39][14][15][5][40]

References

  1. ^ a b "Sam Delaplane – Baseball". Eastern Michigan University Athletics.
  2. ^ a b "Sam Delaplane High School Baseball Stats Leigh (San Jose, CA)". MaxPreps. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  3. ^ Kevin Sparrer and Mike Barnhart (December 27, 2012). "Student athletes find success at the next level". The Mercury News. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  4. ^ "Student athletes find success at the next level". The Mercury News. December 27, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c Preusser, Kate (February 2, 2021). "40 in 40: Sam Delaplane". Lookout Landing.
  6. ^ a b c Eastern Michigan Eagles baseball (June 14, 2017). "Delaplane Selected by the Mariners in the 2017 MLB Draft". emueagles.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  7. ^ "#12 Sam Delaplane". pointstreak.com. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  8. ^ Eastern Michigan Eagles baseball (August 23, 2016). "2016 Eastern Michigan Summer Baseball Review". emueagles.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  9. ^ "Brodkowitz, Wanger Named First Team All-Americans by Jewish Sports Review". July 20, 2017.
  10. ^ a b c "Sam Delaplane Player Page". MLB.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  11. ^ "Mariners add four players to their 40-man roster". The Seattle Times. November 20, 2020.
  12. ^ Modesto Nuts (June 7, 2019). "Eight Players Named to the 2019 All-Star Game". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  13. ^ Nicholas Stillman (May 23, 2019). "Confessions of a third day draft pick: Sam Delaplane talks analytics, development, and draft day". Lookout Landing. SB Nation. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  14. ^ a b c "Sam Delaplane's Slider Has Him Soaring Toward Seattle". Fangraphs. April 2020.
  15. ^ a b Trupin, John (September 10, 2019). "The 2019 LL Mariners Minor League Awards". Lookout Landing. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  16. ^ "Sam Delaplane Stats, Highlights, Bio". Milb.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  17. ^ Callis, Jim (September 10, 2019). "MLB Pipeline 2019 Prospect Team of the Year". MLB.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  18. ^ Ryan Divish (August 29, 2019). "Reliever Reggie McClain has been 'effective' for Mariners despite struggles early in appearances". The Seattle Times. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  19. ^ Jonathan Mayo (October 8, 2019). "Here are Saturday's Fall Stars Game rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  20. ^ Alexis Brudnicki and Jesse Borek (October 13, 2019). "How each player did in the Fall Stars Game". MLB.com. Retrieved October 13, 2019.
  21. ^ "MLB Prospect Watch: One young player for each team who could make an impact in 60-game season". CBS Sports. July 13, 2020.
  22. ^ "2020 Minor League Season Canceled". MLB Trade Rumors. June 30, 2020.
  23. ^ Connor Byrne (November 20, 2020). "Mariners Add 4 Players To 40-Man Roster". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  24. ^ "Mariners protect four from Rule 5 Draft". MLB.com.
  25. ^ Jake Mailhot (February 12, 2021). "The Mariners Begin Building Their Bullpen of Tomorrow". Fangraphs.com.
  26. ^ "Sam Delaplane". Instagram.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021.
  27. ^ "Mariners Select Hector Santiago, Designate Sam Delaplane". MLB Trade Rumors. May 27, 2021.
  28. ^ "Giants Acquire Sam Delaplane". MLB Trade Rumors. May 31, 2021.
  29. ^ "Giants' Latest Roster Moves". MLB Trade Rumors. June 2021.
  30. ^ "Sam Delaplane: Non-tendered by San Francisco". December 2021.
  31. ^ "Giants announce non-roster invitees". March 14, 2022.
  32. ^ "Giants' Sam Delaplane: Shut down again with forearm strain". June 21, 2022.
  33. ^ "Sam Delaplane College, Amateur, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History".
  34. ^ "SF Giants protect Marco Luciano, Luis Matos, and several other prospects from Rule 5 Draft". Sports Illustrated San Francisco Giants News, Analysis and More. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  35. ^ "Giants non-tender 10 players". mccoveychronicles.com. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  36. ^ "SF Giants activate Austin Slater and add intriguing arm in series of roster moves". June 5, 2022.
  37. ^ "SF Giants pitching prospects throw a combined no-hitter at High-A Eugene". Sports Illustrated San Francisco Giants News, Analysis and More. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  38. ^ https://www.milb.com/transactions/2023-11-06
  39. ^ Preusser, Kate (March 5, 2020). "LL's top Mariners prospects 2020: 18–15". Lookout Landing.
  40. ^ "Top 38 Prospects: Seattle Mariners". May 17, 2021.

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