Alec Asher

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Alec Asher

| image = Alec Asher.jpg

| image_size = 240

| caption = Asher with the Philadelphia Phillies

| team =

| number =

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|10|4}}

| birth_place = Lakeland, Florida, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = August 30

| debutyear = 2015

| debutteam = Philadelphia Phillies

| debut2league= CPBL

| debut2date = July 6

| debut2year = 2019

| debut2team = Uni-President Lions

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = July 12

| finalyear = 2018

| finalteam = Milwaukee Brewers

| final2league= CPBL

| final2date = September 25

| final2year = 2019

| final2team = Uni-President Lions

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 4–12

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 5.42

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 78

| stat2league = CPBL

| stat21label = Win–loss record

| stat21value = 1–6

| stat22label = Earned run average

| stat22value = 4.29

| stat23label = Strikeouts

| stat23value = 43

| teams =

Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|2015}}–{{mlby|2016}})
Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|2017}})
Milwaukee Brewers ({{mlby|2018}})
Uni-President Lions ({{by|2019}})

}}

Alec Edward Asher (born October 4, 1991) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Baltimore Orioles, and Milwaukee Brewers and the Uni-President Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL).

Career

Asher had Tommy John surgery when he was 14 years old.{{cite web|url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/jul/04/spokane-indians-pitcher-asher-proves-resilient/|title=Spokane Indians pitcher Asher proves resilient|publisher=The Spokesman-Review|first1=Jess|last1=Brown|location=Spokane, WA|date=July 4, 2012|website=spokesman.com|accessdate=August 30, 2015}} He attended McKeel Academy of Technology through his sophomore year of high school. He then transferred to Charlotte High School during his Junior year, but later went on to graduate from Lakeland Senior High School.

Asher was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 23rd round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft out of Lakeland Senior High School in Lakeland, Florida. He had agreed to an $80,000 signing bonus with the Giants, however the team decided not to sign Asher after a bone spur was revealed in his physical.{{cite web|url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20110417/NEWS/110419512?tc=ar|title=Former Lakeland Star Alec Asher Looks to Get Another Shot|website=theledger.com|publisher=The Ledger|first1=Tom|last1=Zebold|location=Lakeland, Florida|date=April 17, 2011|accessdate=August 30, 2015|archive-date=March 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316122603/http://www.theledger.com/article/20110417/NEWS/110419512?tc=ar|url-status=dead}} He attended Santa Fe College for a year before transferring to Polk Community College.{{cite web|url=http://www.theledger.com/article/20120323/NEWS/120329666|title=Asher Rebuilding Major League Dreams at PSC|website=theledger.com|publisher=The Ledger|first1=Lisa|last1=Coffey|date=March 23, 2012|location=Lakeland, Florida|accessdate=August 30, 2015}}

=Texas Rangers=

He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the fourth round of the 2012 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft.{{cite web|url=http://www.polkeagles.com/sports/bsb/2011-12/releases/20120605hntong|title=Polk's Asher Selected by Texas Rangers in Fourth Round of 2012 MLB Draft|work=polkeagles.com|date=June 5, 2012|accessdate=August 30, 2015}} He made his professional debut for the Spokane Indians that year. He pitched in 20 games as a relief pitcher, finishing with a 3.09 earned run average (ERA), five saves and 50 strikeouts over 35 innings.

In 2013, Asher was a starting pitcher for the Myrtle Beach Pelicans.{{cite web|url=http://www.wbtw.com/story/22597983/asher-overcomes-arm-obstacles-on-way-to-pelicans|title=Asher overcomes arm obstacles on way to Pelicans|work=WBTW.com|date=June 15, 2013|first1=Jeff|last1=Zell|accessdate=August 30, 2015}} He appeared in 26 games with 25 starts and went 9–7 with a 2.90 ERA and 139 strikeouts over {{frac|133|1|3}} innings.

=Philadelphia Phillies=

On July 31, 2015, Asher was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies along with Nick Williams, Jorge Alfaro, Jake Thompson, Matt Harrison, and Jerad Eickhoff in exchange for Cole Hamels and Jake Diekman.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/majors/trade-central-hamels-texas-ranger/|title=Trade Central: Phillies Get Impact Talent, Depth In Hamels Deal|first=Ben|last=Badler|work=Baseball America|date=July 31, 2015|accessdate=July 31, 2015}} He made his major league debut on August 30.

On June 16, 2016, Asher was suspended for 80 games for violating MLB's drug policy after testing positive for chlorodehydromethyltestosterone.{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/phillies/Phillies-pitcher-Alec-Asher-suspended-80-games.html|title=Phillies pitcher Alec Asher suspended 80 games|first=Matt|last=Gelb|accessdate=June 16, 2016|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|date=June 16, 2016}}

=Baltimore Orioles=

Asher was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for a player to be named later on March 28, 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/19025576/baltimore-orioles-acquire-starting-pitcher-alec-asher-philadelphia-phillies|title = Orioles acquire pitcher Asher from Phillies|date = 28 March 2017}} Asher made his season debut on April 15 against the Toronto Blue Jays. In the start, he tossed 6{{fraction|1|3|}} innings, giving up just one run while striking out five. He earned a no decision in a 2-1 Orioles' loss. He earned his first win of the year on April 26 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Out of the bullpen, Asher gave up a run in the eleventh inning, before the Orioles would score two in the bottom half to win 5–4.

Asher was designated for assignment on March 29, 2018.

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

Asher was claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 5, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/04/dodgers-claim-alec-asher.html|title=Dodgers Claim Alec Asher, Designate Zach Neal|work=MLB Trade Rumors|first=Jeff|last=Todd|date=April 5, 2018|accessdate=April 5, 2018}}

=Milwaukee Brewers=

On April 17, 2018, he was claimed off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers.{{cite web|url=https://www.truebluela.com/2018/4/17/17248522/alec-asher-waiver-claim-brewers-dodgers|title=Brewers claim Alec Asher off waivers from Dodgers|work=SB Nation|first=Eric|last=Stephen|date=April 17, 2018|accessdate=April 17, 2018}} The Brewers designated him for assignment two days later.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/04/brewers-acquire-tyler-saladino-designate-alec-asher.html|title = Brewers Acquire Tyler Saladino, Designate Alec Asher| date=April 19, 2018 }} He elected free agency on October 23, 2018.

=Colorado Rockies=

On January 26, 2019, Asher signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/MaxWildstein/status/1089324090387767297|title=Max Wildstein on Twitter|publisher=}} He was released on March 14, 2019.

=Sugar Land Skeeters=

On April 15, 2019, Asher signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He was released on May 2, 2019. In 2 games 3 innings of relief he struggled immensely going 1-0 with a 9.00 ERA with 3 strikeouts.

=Long Island Ducks=

On May 13, 2019, Asher signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. In 7 games (6 starts) 34.2 innings he went 3-1 with a 3.12 ERA with 21 strikeouts.

=Uni-President Lions=

On June 19, 2019, Asher's contract was purchased by the Uni-President Lions of the Chinese Professional Baseball League.{{cite news|date=June 19, 2019|accessdate=June 19, 2019|publisher=cpblstats.com|title=Uni-Lions Sign Alec Asher from Atlantic League|url=http://cpblstats.com/uni-lions-sign-alec-asher-from-atlantic-league/}}

=Minnesota Twins=

On January 28, 2020, Asher signed a minor league deal with the Minnesota Twins. Asher did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|title=2020 Minor League Season Canceled|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/06/2020-minor-league-season-will-be-canceled.html|website=mlbtraderumors.com|date=June 30, 2020 |language=en}} He became a free agent on November 2.{{Cite web|title=Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/full-list-of-2020-2021-milb-free-agents/|access-date=September 17, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 2, 2020 |language=en}}