Brandon Claussen

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Brandon Claussen

| image = Baseball pitching motion 2004r.jpg

| image_size = 300px

| caption = Claussen in 2004 with the Cincinnati Reds.

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|5|1}}

| birth_place = Rapid City, South Dakota, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = June 28

| debutyear = 2003

| debutteam = New York Yankees

|finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = June 16

| finalyear = 2006

| finalteam = Cincinnati Reds

| statyear =

|statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 16–27

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 5.04

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 228

| teams =

New York Yankees ({{By|2003}})
Cincinnati Reds ({{By|2004}}–{{By|2006}})

}}

Brandon Allen Falker Claussen (born May 1, 1979) is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher.

Career

Claussen graduated from Goddard High School in Roswell, New Mexico.{{cite news|title=Major League pitcher shares Christian testimony|url=http://www.cnjonline.com/2006/11/21/major-league-pitcher-shares-christian-testimony/|access-date=April 26, 2016|work=Clovis News Journal|date=November 21, 2006}} He then attended Howard College in Big Spring, Texas.{{cite news|title=Big Country baseball draft picks|url=http://www.reporternews.com/sports/big-country-baseball-draft-picks-ep-396098445-341986971.html|access-date=April 26, 2016|work=Abilene Reporter News|date=June 11, 2009}} He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 34th round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft while in college.{{cite news|last1=Luttrell|first1=Jim|title=Yankee Prospects Coveted|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/04/sports/baseball-minor-league-notebook-yankee-prospects-coveted.html|access-date=April 26, 2016|work=New York Times|date=August 4, 2001}} In 2001, he led all minor league pitchers in strikeouts, with 220.{{cite news|last1=McCarron|first1=Anthony|title=MAJOR SURGERY FOR CLAUSSEN YANKS' TRADE PROSPECTS TAKE HIT|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/major-surgery-claussen-yanks-trade-prospects-hit-article-1.491496|access-date=April 26, 2016|work=New York Daily News|date=June 22, 2002}} In June 2002, Claussen had Tommy John surgery.

Claussen was called up to the major leagues on June 28, 2003.{{cite news|last1=Kepner|first1=Tyler|title=Anderson Sent to Columbus|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/29/sports/baseball-notebook-ventura-takes-a-seat.html|access-date=April 26, 2016|work=New York Times|date=June 28, 2003}} He made his debut against the New York Mets that day.{{cite news|last1=Waszak|first1=Dennis|title=Yankees complete two-park sweep of Mets|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/games/2003-06-28-yankees-mets_x.htm|access-date=April 25, 2016|work=USA Today|agency=Associated Press|date=June 28, 2003}} On July 31, 2003, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds with Charlie Manning and cash for Aaron Boone.{{cite news|last1=Finley|first1=Bill|title=Boone Has the Fire, and Could Provide a Spark|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/02/sports/baseball-boone-has-the-fire-and-could-provide-a-spark.html|access-date=April 25, 2016|work=New York Times|date=August 2, 2003}} Claussen was invited to spring training in 2004,{{cite news|title=Claussen will be all smiles this spring|url=http://m.reds.mlb.com/news/article/636969|access-date=April 26, 2016|work=MLB.com|date=February 13, 2004}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} and sent to the minors on March 28.{{cite news|access-date=April 26, 2016|title=Reds' rotation options dwindling|url=http://m.reds.mlb.com/news/article/671543|work=MLB.com|date=March 28, 2004}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} He was recalled on July 20 to make his first start for the Reds.{{cite news|title=Claussen sharp in Reds debut|url=http://m.reds.mlb.com/news/article/804624|access-date=April 26, 2016|work=MLB.com|date=July 20, 2004}}{{dead link|date=October 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Claussen finished the 2005 season with a 10–11 record and 4.21 ERA. He made his final major league appearance on June 16, 2006, and took the loss against the Chicago White Sox.{{cite news|last1=Sheldon|first1=Mark|title=Claussen, Reds routed by White Sox|url=http://m.reds.mlb.com/news/article/1508784|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509150448/http://m.reds.mlb.com/news/article/1508784|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 9, 2016|access-date=April 26, 2016|work=MLB.com|date=June 16, 2006}} Two days later, he was diagnosed with rotator cuff tendinitis and placed on the disabled list.{{cite news|last1=Sheldon|first1=Mark|title=Notes: Claussen placed on 15-day DL|url=http://m.reds.mlb.com/news/article/1510124|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509162741/http://m.reds.mlb.com/news/article/1510124|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 9, 2016|access-date=April 26, 2016|work=MLB.com|date=June 17, 2006}} On August 14, Claussen underwent an operation to repair the rotator cuff and debridement in his throwing shoulder. On January 12, 2007, he signed a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals.{{cite news|title=Nationals agree to terms with pitchers Jerome Williams and Brandon Claussen|url=http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070112&content_id=1777897&vkey=pr_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509145227/http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070112&content_id=1777897&vkey=pr_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 9, 2016|access-date=April 25, 2016|work=MLB.com|date=January 12, 2007}} He became a free agent at the end of the season.{{cite news|last1=Eddy|first1=Matt|title=Minor League Free Agents 2007|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/minor-league-free-agents/|work=Baseball America|date=November 2, 2007|access-date=April 26, 2016}}