Aaron Sele

Sele grew up in Poulsbo, Washington on the Kitsap Peninsula.{{Cite web |last=Sherwin |first=Bob |date=October 6, 2000 |title=Sweep Dreams |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20001006/4046440/sweep-dreams |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Seattle Times}} He first started playing baseball in North Kitsap Little League.{{Cite web |date=2005-07-09 |title=Sele's 'major' journey brings him home |url=https://www.kitsapdailynews.com/news/seles-major-journey-brings-him-home/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Kitsap Daily News |language=en-US}} He attended North Kitsap High School, pitching on the baseball team. He helped lead the North Kitsap Vikings to the 1988 state championship.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2010-01-05 |title=Aaron Sele |url=https://kitsapsportshalloffame.wordpress.com/2010/01/05/aaron-sele/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=Kitsap Sports Hall of Fame |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=2020 Inductees |url=https://washingtonsportshof.org/2020-inductees/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=Washington Sports Hall of Fame |language=en-US}}

Sele was drafted out of high school in the 37th round by the Minnesota Twins, but he chose to attend Washington State University where he played college baseball for the Cougars and head coach Bobo Brayton.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Sele Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/seleaa01.shtml |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}{{cite web|title=Washington State University Baseball Players Who Made It to the Major Leagues |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/washington_state_university_baseball_players.shtml |work=Baseball-Almanac.com |access-date=16 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040812200714/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/washington_state_university_baseball_players.shtml |archive-date=12 August 2004 |url-status=dead }} Future MLB player Scott Hatteberg was in the same recruiting class as Sele. Sele and Hatteberg won three regular season Pac-10 titles in their three years in Pullman.{{Cite web |title=Baseball Record Book |url=https://wsucougars.com/documents/2023/8/16/BASEBALL_RECORD_BOOK.pdf |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Washington State University Athletics |language=en}} In his first season in college, Sele went 6–5 with 3 saves, starting 8 of his 18 pitching appearances.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Sele MLB, Minor League, College Baseball Statistics |url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/497/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=The Baseball Cube}}

In Sele's sophomore season in 1990, the Cougars ended the season ranked 18th in the nation.{{cite web |title=Division I Baseball Records |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/baseball_RB/2010/D1.pdf |accessdate=2012-07-15 |publisher=NCAA |page=41}} Sele finished with a 12–3 with a 2.22 earned run average (ERA). He was named a first-team All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association and third-team All-American by Baseball America. His 121 strikeouts, 10 complete games, and {{Fraction|121|2|3}} innings pitched all rank second for a single season in school history. That summer, Sele pitched for Team USA, with Hatteberg again his teammate. On July 24, he pitched a three-hit shutout against Cuba with eight strikeouts.{{Cite web |title=USA Baseball Collegiate National Team 1990 Box Scores |url=https://img.mlbstatic.com/opprops-images/image/upload/opprops/blvedfn8j8jbvhfow4zt.pdf |website=USA Baseball |page=24}} Sele led the American collegiate national team with 5 wins, 10 starts, 53 strikeouts, and 52 innings pitched.{{Cite web |title=USA Baseball Collegiate National Team 1990 Statistics |url=https://img.mlbstatic.com/opprops-images/image/upload/opprops/sbnttprqjpsanjjw8oqb.pdf |website=USA Baseball}}

In 1991, Sele went 8–6 with a 2.82 ERA for Washington State. He was named to the Pac-10 All-Conference First Team for the second consecutive year. He is the school leader with 278 strikeouts and is in the top 10 in wins, complete games, and innings pitched.

The Boston Red Sox selected Sele in the first round with the 23rd overall pick of the 1991 Major League Baseball draft. He received a $221,000 signing bonus.{{Cite web |title=1st Round of the 1991 MLB June Amateur Draft |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.fcgi?year_ID=1991&draft_round=1&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} That summer he pitched for the Winter Haven Red Sox, going 3–6 with a team-high 4 complete games. He also pitched in the Florida Instructional League. He was a co-winner of the Tony Latham Memorial Award{{Cite magazine |last=Pearlman |first=Jeff |author-link=Jeff Pearlman |date=2009-03-04 |title=Tragedy at sea brings back chilling memories of Anthony Latham |url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2009/03/04/anthony-latham |access-date=2025-01-06 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=}} for a Red Sox player with the most enthusiasm.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Sele Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/aaron-sele-121986 |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} Sele advanced quickly through the Red Sox minor league system, pitching for the Class-A Advanced Lynchburg Red Sox and Double-A New Britain Red Sox in 1992. He had a combined 15–6 record with a 3.60 ERA and 141 strikeouts in 160 innings.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Sele Minor Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=sele--001aar |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

Before the 1993 season, Sele was ranked as the 84th best prospect by Baseball America, slightly worse than his ranking of 73rd the previous season. Sele began his third professional season with the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox. In his first start on April 10, he allowed no runs and one hit in 7 innings. With Pawtucket, he was 8–2 with a 2.19 ERA in 14 starts.

Sele joined the Red Sox on June 22 after ace Roger Clemens was placed on the disabled list.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Sele Career Notes |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/profiles/notes/5062.html |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=ESPN}} Sele made his major league debut the following night, allowing 1 run in 7 innings in a win over the Minnesota Twins. He struck out future Hall of Famer Dave Winfield for his first MLB strikeout.{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Twins vs Boston Red Sox Box Score: June 23, 1993 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS199306230.shtml |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=1993-06-24 |title=BASEBALL; Red Sox Rookie Baffles Twins |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/06/24/sports/baseball-red-sox-rookie-baffles-twins.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118031552/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/06/24/sports/baseball-red-sox-rookie-baffles-twins.html |archive-date=January 18, 2018 |access-date=2025-01-07 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |agency=Associated Press }} Sele was 6–0 with a 2.72 ERA in his first 8 starts for Boston.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Sele 1993 Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=seleaa01&t=p&year=1993 |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He was the third Red Sox rookie to ever win his first 6 decisions. His personal win streak ended on August 12 against the New York Yankees.{{Cite web |title=New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox Box Score: August 12, 1993 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS199308120.shtml |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

Pitching against the Chicago White Sox on September 6, Sele was involved in a memorable fight. After hitting George Bell with a pitch following another pitch high and inside, Bell charged the mound. Sele stood motionless until Bell was feet from him. At the last second, Sele ducked to his left, avoiding Bell's thrown punch. Boston's Mo Vaughn, having rushed to the mound from first base, tackled Bell to the ground. Both teams' benches emptied.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sw_YlPTsFqY |title=White Sox, Red Sox throw down after George Bell hit by pitch |date=September 6, 1993 |last=MLB |type=Television production |access-date=2025-01-06 |via=YouTube}} Sele claimed he was not trying to hit Bell and tried to throw his second pitch down and away. Bell was ejected from the game and suspended for two games.{{Cite web |title=Around The Majors -- See Sele Ring Bell; See Bell Try To Wring Sele |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19930907/1719865/around-the-majors----see-sele-ring-bell-see-bell-try-to-wring-sele |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=The Seattle Times}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=1993-09-15 |title=BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE MAJORS : George Bell Suspended for Two Games |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-09-15-sp-35239-story.html |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=}}

In his final start of his rookie season, Sele struck out a season-high 11 batters, earning a win over the Detroit Tigers. Sele allowed 3 or fewer earned runs in all 18 starts. Despite making only 18 starts, he was selected as the AL Rookie Pitcher of the Year by The Sporting News and the Red Sox Rookie of the Year. He finished third in Rookie of the Year voting{{Cite web |title=1993 Awards Voting |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1993.shtml#all_AL_ROY_voting |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} and was named to Baseball Digest's Major League Rookie All-Star team. Baseball America named Sele the International League Most Valuable Pitcher.

Sele opened 1994 strong, going 5–1 with a 2.29 ERA in his first 8 starts. His threw complete games in consecutive starts on May 11 against the Milwaukee Brewers and on May 18 in Baltimore against the Orioles. However, he cooled off the rest of the season, with a 3–6 record and 4.79 ERA in final 14 starts.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Sele 1994 Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=seleaa01&t=p&year=1994 |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He finished his second MLB season ranking second on the Red Sox in starts, complete games, innings, and strikeouts, tying for second in wins. He tied for the AL lead in hit batsmen with 9.{{Cite web |title=1994 American League Pitching Leaders |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1994-pitching-leaders.shtml |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

Sele was the Red Sox's Opening Day starter in 1995, throwing five scoreless innings on April 26 against Minnesota in a 9–0 win. He made only six starts for the Red Sox, going 3–1 with a 3.06 ERA.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Sele 1995 Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=seleaa01&t=p&year=1995 |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} In his final start, coming on on May 23 at the Kingdome, he experienced soreness in his right arm. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list (DL) on June 2, retroactive to May 24. He made 2 rehabilitation starts each for the Sarasota Red Sox, Trenton Thunder, and Pawtucket Red Sox from late June to late August, going 0–1 with a 3.60 ERA. However, his arm soreness persisted, and he was moved to the 60-day DL on August 31.

In 1996, Sele returned from injury to start 29 games, the most in his career thus far. However, his posted the worst results of his career, with a 7–11 record and 5.32 ERA. He ranked fourth on Boston in starts, innings, strikeouts, and wins.{{Cite web |title=1996 Boston Red Sox Statistics and Roster |url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/stats_mlb/1996~5/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=The Baseball Cube}} He was placed on the 15-day DL on August 16 with a strained muscle in his left rib cage and made one start on rehab assignment on August 26 for Pawtucket before being activated on September 1.

In his first seven starts of 1997, Sele was 4–1 with a 3.72 ERA. After two disastrous starts, allowing 13 earned runs while getting just 13 outs, he went 4–1, 3.93 in a span of 5 outings from June 12 to July 3. He tied his then-career high with 11 strikeouts on July 12 against the Toronto Blue Jays.{{cite web | url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=seleaa01&t=p&year=1997 | title=Aaron Sele 1997 Pitching Game Logs }} He was among the American League leaders in hit batters (second, 15), walks (tenth), and runs allowed (tied for tenth) and allowed 14.8 baserunners per 9 innings, the highest among AL starters.

Sele was traded to the Texas Rangers with Mark Bradenburg and Bill Haselman on November 6, 1997 for Damon Buford and Jim Leyritz.{{Cite web |last=McAdam |first=Sean |date=April 19, 2020 |title=Hot Stove Heaters: Rangers |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/s/hotstove/tex.html |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=ESPN}}

Sele had two successful seasons with the Rangers. He again started strong 1998, beginning the season with an 11–4 record with a 3.95 ERA in his first 16 starts. He threw two complete game shutouts in April.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Sele 1998 Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=seleaa01&t=p&year=1998 |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He was the first MLB pitcher that season to win 8 games and later 11 games, as well as the first AL pitcher to reach 9, 10, and 12 wins. He was selected to his first All-Star Game, though he didn't pitch in the exhibition.{{Cite web |title=1998 All-Star Game Box Score, July 7 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1998-allstar-game.shtml |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

After a rough two month stretch, with a 5–7 record and 6.46 ERA from June 13 to August 14, Sele finished 1998 strong. He went 6–1 with a 2.41 ERA in his final 8 starts. He threw {{Fraction|13|2|3}} consecutive scoreless innings across his starts on September 9 and 14. He finished the regular season with a 19–11 record and 4.23 ERA, with 167 strikeouts in {{Fraction|212|2|3}} innings. He excelled at not allowing home runs, allowing only 0.59 home runs per 9 innings, seventh in the majors and below his 0.9 career average.{{Cite web |title=1998 Major League Baseball Pitching Leaders |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1998-pitching-leaders.shtml |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He made his postseason debut in Game 3 of the American League Division Series (ALDS), giving up 4 runs in 6 innings as the Rangers were swept by the eventual World Series champion Yankees.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Sele Postseason Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=seleaa01&t=p&post=1 |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

Sele had a second consecutive effective season in 1999. He again pitched well at the end of the season, with a 8–3 record and 3.57 ERA in August and September.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Sele 1999 Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=seleaa01&t=p&year=1999 |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He had a career high 13 strikeouts in a win against the Tigers on August 12.{{Cite web |title=Most Strikeouts In A Game Aaron Sele |url=https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/most-strikeouts-in-a-game-aaron-sele |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=StatMuse |language=en}} He went 18–9 with a 4.79 ERA in his second season with the Rangers. He tied for second in the AL in wins and was third with 186 strikeouts, his career high.{{Cite web |title=1999 American League Pitching Leaders |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1999-pitching-leaders.shtml |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He finished fifth in AL Cy Young Award voting, the only time he received votes for the top pitching award.{{Cite web |title=1999 Awards Voting |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1999.shtml#all_AL_CYA_voting |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} For the second straight year, Sele lost to the Yankees in the ALDS, giving up 3 earned runs in five innings in an 8–0 loss in Game 1. He became a free agent after the 1999 season.

On January 7, 2000, Sele agreed to a four-year, $29 million contract with the Baltimore Orioles, pending the results of a physical.{{Cite web |title=BASEBALL Ex-Ranger Sele signs with Orioles |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2000/01/08/baseball-ex-ranger-sele-signs-with-orioles/62214930007/ |access-date= |website=The Oklahoman |language=}} Orioles owner Peter Angelos wasn't satisfied with the "moderate wear and tear" in Sele's right shoulder and attempted to restructure the deal to three years and $21 million.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/2000-01/12/009r-011200-idx.html Boswell, Thomas. "The Book on Sele: A Farewell to Arm," The Washington Post, Wednesday, January 12, 2000.] Retrieved October 7, 2000. Sele instead returned to his home state and signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Seattle Mariners three days later on January 10. Sele's college teammate John Olerud also signed with the Mariners that offseason.{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2000 |title=Sele jumps to Mariners |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/2000/01/11/Sele-jumps-to-Mariners/1913947566800/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=UPI |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=1989 Washington State Cougars College Baseball Statistics |url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/stats_college/1989~20057/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=The Baseball Cube}}

Sele earned his second and final All-Star selection in 2000, pitching a scoreless fourth inning in the All-Star Game.{{Cite web |title=2000 All-Star Game Box Score, July 11 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/2000-allstar-game.shtml |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He was the first Mariners right-handed pitcher to make an All-Star team, preceded by five different Seattle lefties.{{Cite web |title=Seattle Mariners All-Star Player Register |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SEA/bat-all-star.shtml |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He was also the first Mariner right-hander with 10 wins before the All-Star break. However, he lost his first three starts after the break. He started for the Mariners on October 1 when the team clinched the wild card, allowing 2 runs and exiting with the game tied after {{frac|5|2|3}} innings, before the Mariners eventual 5–2 victory.{{Cite web |title=Seattle Mariners vs Anaheim Angels Box Score: October 1, 2000 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ANA/ANA200010010.shtml |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} His next start was similar, pitching well but not earning a win as the Mariners advanced in the postseason: he allowed 1 run in {{Fraction|7|1|3}} innings as the Mariners beat the White Sox in Game 3 of the ALDS.{{Cite web |title=2000 American League Division Series (ALDS) Game 3, Chicago White Sox vs Seattle Mariners: October 6, 2000 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SEA/SEA200010060.shtml |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He continued his postseason losing streak to the Yankees, allowing 4 runs in 6 innings in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS). Sele went 17–10, leading the Mariners in wins, with a 4.51 ERA and 137 strikeouts in {{Fraction|211|2|3}} innings.{{Cite web |title=2000 Seattle Mariners Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SEA/2000.shtml |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He again excelled at not allowing home runs, finishing second in the American League, allowing only 0.723 home runs per 9 innings.{{Cite web |title=2000 American League Pitching Leaders |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2000-pitching-leaders.shtml |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

In his second season as a Mariner, Sele had career bests with a 3.60 ERA, 215 innings pitched and 1.24 walks plus hits allowed per inning. He earned 15 wins as the Mariners won 116 games, tied for the most in an MLB season.{{Cite web |title=2001 Seattle Mariners Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SEA/2001.shtml |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

Sele continued to struggle in the postseason, earning the loss in all three of his starts. He started the first and last games of the ALCS, both losses to the Yankees. He had a career 0–6 record in the playoffs with a 4.46 ERA in 7 postseason starts, pitching past the sixth inning only once. He has the most postseason losses by an MLB pitcher who never won a postseason game. The next-closest pitcher is Doyle Alexander, who was 0–5 in the playoffs.{{cite web |title=Pitching Streak |url=https://stathead.com/baseball/streak_finder.cgi?request=1&suffix=_post&class=player&type=p&firstgames=1&scomp%5B1%5D=gt&sval%5B1%5D=1&sstat%5B1%5D=A.L&ccomp%5B2%5D=eq&cval%5B2%5D=1&cstat%5B2%5D=decisions&age_min=0&age_max=99&Role=anyGS&DR_comp=%3D&location=pob&locationMatch=is |url-access=subscription |access-date=17 January 2022 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}}{{Cite web |title=MLB Pitcher With Most Postseason Losses And Zero Wins |url=https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/mlb-pitcher-with-most-postseason-losses-and-zero-wins |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=StatMuse |language=en}}

Sele signed a three year, $24 million contract with the Anaheim Angels on December 26, 2001.{{Cite web |last=Pasquarelli |first=Len |date=December 26, 2001 |title=MLB - Sele signs deal to leave Seattle for Anaheim |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2001/1226/1301346.html |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=ESPN}}

In his first season with the Angels, he finished with an 8–9 record in 27 starts over 160 innings in 2002. The Angels beat the San Francisco Giants in the 2002 World Series, but Sele did not pitch in the postseason or for much of the end of the regular season. He pitched only once after August 20 due to a partially torn rotator cuff.{{Cite web |last=Shaikin |first=Bill |date=2002-09-21 |title=Sele May Get a Start During Final Weekend |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-sep-21-sp-angrep21-story.html |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} He underwent surgery on October 18, one day before the World Series began, to repair the injury.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2005-03-24 |title=Sele pitches well, but M's lose to Brewers 8-6 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/sele-pitches-well-but-ms-lose-to-brewers-8-6/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=2002 World Series - Anaheim Angels over San Francisco Giants (4-3) |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2002_WS.shtml |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

Sele began 2003 on 15-day DL, still recovering from surgery. He returned to the Angels starting rotation on May 9.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Sele 2003 Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=seleaa01&t=p&year=2003 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} Sele had the worst ERA of his career, 5.77, with a 7–11 losing record that matched his 1996 results. He also had more walks than strikeouts for the only time in his MLB career.

After a poor season, Sele opened 2004 in the bullpen for the first time in his career. After allowing five earned runs in {{frac|3|1|3}} innings in his first relief outing of the season, he allowed just one earned run over 7 innings in his next three relief outings. He returned to the starting rotation on May 1 and won his first 7 decisions, with a 4.52 ERA in 15 starts.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Sele 2004 Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=seleaa01&t=p&year=2004 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He was the first pitcher in club history to open a season with a 7–0 record.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2004-08-06 |title=BASEBALL: ROUNDUP; Braves Win in 9th On Giles's Fly Ball |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/06/sports/baseball-roundup-braves-win-in-9th-on-giles-s-fly-ball.html |access-date=2025-01-07 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |agency=Associated Press}} His win streak included a stint on the 15-day DL after leaving a game on June 10 game due to shoulder fatigue. He finished his final season with the Angels with a 9–4 record and 5.05 ERA in 24 starts and four relief appearances. His 24 wins and .500 win–loss record with the Angels were the lowest for any team he pitched multiple seasons for.

Sele signed a $700,000 minor league contract with the Mariners in January 2005. He started the season 6–5 but lost his last 7 decisions, ending his final stretch with the Mariners with a 6–12 record and a 5.66 ERA in 21 starts.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Sele 2005 Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=seleaa01&t=p&year=2005 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} The Mariners released Sele on August 1.{{Cite web |title=M's release ex-Coug Sele |url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/aug/02/ms-release-ex-coug-sele/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=The Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press}}

Sele signed a minor league contract with the Rangers on August 6, 2005.{{Cite web |title=The Transactions for the 2005 Texas Rangers |url=https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2005/TM_TEX2005.htm |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=www.retrosheet.org}} He made two starts for the Triple-A Oklahoma City RedHawks, allowing 11 earned runs in {{Fraction|12|1|3}} innings.{{Cite web |last=Hersom |first=Bob |title=Sele back on win track Veteran pitcher victorious in debut with RedHawks |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2005/08/09/sele-back-on-win-trackbrveteran-pitcher-victorious-in-debut-with-redhawks/61931053007/ |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=The Oklahoman |language=en-US}} The Rangers released him on August 15.

Sele signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers on January 14, 2006. He began the season with the Triple-A Las Vegas 51s but joined the Dodgers on May 5. He again started strong, earning wins in three of his four first starts{{Cite web |last=Bolch |first=Ben |date=2006-05-25 |title=Sele Has Another Stellar Outing |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-may-25-sp-dodgers25-story.html |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} and had a 4–2 record and 2.73 ERA at the end of June. He regressed in the final three months of the season, starting only 4 more games and posting a 6.39 ERA in {{Fraction|50|2|3}} innings. His final career start was on September 3, when he allowed 6 runs in {{Fraction|4|1|3}} innings to the visiting Colorado Rockies.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Sele 2006 Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=seleaa01&t=p&year=2006 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He was the winning pitcher on September 18, when the Dodgers hit 4 consecutive home runs in the bottom of the 9th inning, then won on Nomar Garciaparra's tenth-inning walk-off home run.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.facebook.com/DodgersHighlights/videos/back-to-back-to-back-to-back-9182006/2683582138564051/ |title=Back-to-Back-to-Back-to-Back (9/18/2006) {{!}} The one where the Dodger's hit 4 home runs in a row. |type=Television production |language= |publisher=Major League Baseball |access-date=2025-01-07 |via=Facebook}}{{Cite web |date=September 18, 2006 |title=SD@LAD: Five homers lead Dodgers to extra-inning win |url=https://www.mlb.com/video/dodgers-win-on-homer-fest-c20006559 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} Sele allowed one run in the top of the 10th inning in that game.{{Cite web |title=San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers Box Score: September 18, 2006 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/LAN/LAN200609180.shtml |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

On January 25, 2007, Sele signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets and received a non-roster invitation to spring training.{{Cite web |date=2007-01-26 |title=METS SIGN SELE TO DELIVER |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2007/01/26/mets-sign-sele-to-deliver/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250107111657/https://www.nydailynews.com/2007/01/26/mets-sign-sele-to-deliver/ |archive-date=2025-01-07 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=New York Daily News |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Shpigel |first=Ben |date=2007-02-18 |title=At Mets' Camp, Pitchers Need Never Be Lonely |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/sports/baseball/18mets.html |access-date=2025-01-07 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Sele served as the long reliever from the Mets bullpen. He pitched in 34 games, tied for his season high, but made no starts for the first time in his career. He had a 3–2 record with a 5.37 ERA. Sele retired in 2007.

Sele and his wife Jennifer have four daughters: Katherine, Claire, Caroline, and Charlotte.

In high school, Sele was also a starting quarterback on the football team and a forward on the basketball team.

In 1993, a man was convicted in North Dakota of forgery after opening a bank account in Sele's name.{{cite news |last=Baum |first=Bob |date=April 10, 2002 |title=D'Backs' Gonzo Will Chew Gum Again |url=https://apnews.com/article/20ea94ad9ad4655578239630ebd2aef4 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624203604/https://apnews.com/article/20ea94ad9ad4655578239630ebd2aef4 |archive-date=2021-06-24 |access-date=23 June 2021 |work=Associated Press}}

Sele was inducted into the Kitsap Sports Hall of Fame in 2009, the Washington State Cougars Hall of Fame in 2013,{{Cite web |title=Aaron Sele (2013) - Hall of Fame |url=https://wsucougars.com/honors/hall-of-fame/aaron-sele/21 |access-date=2025-01-07 |website=Washington State University Athletics |language=en}} and the Washington Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.

On October 31, 2008, the Dodgers named Sele their minor league pitching instructor.{{cite web |url=http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081031&content_id=3657661&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la |title=Dodgers announce Minor League staff |access-date=2008-10-31 |author=Ken Gurnick |author-link=MLB.com |date=2008-10-31 |work=MLB.com| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081207033920/http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081031&content_id=3657661&vkey=news_la&fext=.jsp&c_id=la| archive-date= 7 December 2008 | url-status= dead}} In 2012, the Dodgers named him as a Special Assistant, Player Personnel. After the 2017 season, he left the Dodgers organization to become a special assignment scout for the Miami Marlins. In January 2019, he became a scout for the Chicago Cubs.{{Cite web |last=Altman |first=Evan |date=2019-01-25 |title=Cubs Have Hired Former Pitcher and Marlins Scout Aaron Sele - |url=https://www.cubsinsider.com/2019/01/25/cubs-have-hired-former-pitcher-and-marlins-scout-aaron-sele/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=CubsInsider.com |language=en-us}} He posted on his LinkedIn account that he became a scout for the Kansas City Royals starting in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Aaron Sele on LinkedIn |url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-sele-467521293/details/experience/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-sele-467521293/ |archive-date=January 7, 2025 |access-date=January 2, 2025 |website=LinkedIn}}

Sele received only one vote in 2013 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, resulting in his removal from further balloting.{{cite web|title=Baseball Writers of America|url=http://bbwaa.com/}} Sele said he viewed the one vote as a sign of respect, and he joked that he was 152 wins short of 300 career wins.{{Cite web |last=Sports |first=Jorge L. Ortiz |date=January 10, 2013 |title=Aaron Sele on Hall of Fame vote: 'A nice tip of the cap' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/01/10/baseball-hall-of-fame-aaron-sele-one-vote/1825415/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}

• List of Major League Baseball career hit batsmen leaders

{{reflist}}

{{Baseballstats|mlb=121986|espn=2904|br=s/seleaa01|fangraphs=34|brm=sele--001aar|retro=S/Pselea001}}

• {{Instagram|id=aaronsele_30}}

{{1990 College Baseball All-Americans}}

{{1991 MLB Draft}}

{{Sporting News MLB Rookie of the year}}

{{Boston Red Sox first-round draft picks}}

{{Boston Red Sox Opening Day starting pitchers}}

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