John Charles Courtright (born May 30, 1970) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Cincinnati Reds.

John Courtright
Pitcher
Born: (1970-05-30) May 30, 1970 (age 53)
Marion, Ohio
Batted: Left
Threw: Left
MLB debut
May 6, 1995, for the Cincinnati Reds
Last MLB appearance
May 6, 1995, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
Innings pitched1
Earned run average9.00
Strikeouts0
Teams

Courtright graduated from Marion Harding High School in Marion, Ohio, played college baseball at Duke and was selected in the eighth round of the 1991 Major League Baseball draft by the Reds.[1]

In April 1994, while pitching for the Chattanooga Lookouts, Courtright was the first pitcher to face Birmingham Barons outfielder Michael Jordan in a regular season game. He struck Jordan out twice but asked for his autograph on the following day.[2][3]

On May 6, 1995, he and Scott Sullivan were promoted to Cincinnati's Major League roster to replace Willie Greene and Johnny Ruffin.[4] He made his debut on the same day at the age of 25 at Riverfront Stadium against the New York Mets. In the eighth inning, manager Davey Johnson double-switched him and Jerome Walton into the game for Deion Sanders and Scott Sullivan respectively. He pitched one inning and gave up one earned run and never pitched in the big leagues again.[1][5]

A month after his Major League debut, he was traded to the Minnesota Twins for David McCarty.[6]

Courtright served as an agent after retiring, representing such players as Zack Greinke, Jon Lester, Patrick Corbin, J. A. Happ, Clay Buchholz, Adam Lind, B.J. Ryan, Glen Perkins and Austin Kearns.[1][7][8][9][10][11] He also represented manager John Farrell[9] and former Reds teammate Scott Sullivan.[12]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c McCurdy, Rob (June 18, 2016). "Column: Marion's Moonlight Graham played one game, too". Marion Star. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  2. ^ Kurkjian, Tim (April 18, 1994). "Baron von Bloop". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  3. ^ Murti, Sweeny (4 May 2020). "'30 with Murti': John Courtright on Pitching Against Michael Jordan". WFAN Sports Radio. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Reds Dispatch Best Prospect". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. May 6, 1995. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  5. ^ "New York Mets at Cincinnati Reds Box Score, May 6, 1995". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  6. ^ "John Courtright Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  7. ^ Matthews, Wallace (November 29, 2018). "Patrick Corbin meeting with Yankees "went very well" according to a source". New York Daily News. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  8. ^ Kotloff, Brian (July 21, 2013). "Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz to visit Dr. James Andrews for second opinion". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  9. ^ a b Bremer, George (December 6, 2010). "Lind optimistic about his fresh start". Herald Bulletin. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  10. ^ Miller, Phill (March 15, 2014). "Perkins makes contract extension offer Twins gladly accept". Star Tribune. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  11. ^ "Mets' GM ready to make offers to closers Wagner, Ryan". The Billings Gazette. November 11, 2005. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  12. ^ Greenstein, Teddy (December 7, 2003). "Arbitration offer likely for Colon". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 6 July 2020.

External links edit