Gavin Floyd

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Gavin Floyd

|image = Gavin Floyd 2011.jpg

|image_size = 250

|caption = Floyd with the Chicago White Sox in 2011

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1983|1|27}}

|birth_place = Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = September 3

|debutyear = 2004

|debutteam = Philadelphia Phillies

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = June 25

|finalyear = 2016

|finalteam = Toronto Blue Jays

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 74–76

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 4.37

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 985

|teams =

Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|2004}}–{{mlby|2006}})
Chicago White Sox ({{mlby|2007}}–{{mlby|2013}})
Atlanta Braves ({{mlby|2014}})
Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|2015}})
Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2016}})

}}

Gavin Christopher Floyd (born January 27, 1983) is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, and Toronto Blue Jays.

Amateur career

Born in Annapolis, Maryland and raised in Severna Park, Maryland, Floyd attended Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore, alongside fellow major leaguer Mark Teixeira, who grew up on adjacent streets. Teixeira, who is three years older than Floyd, was also selected in the first round of the 2001 MLB Draft.{{cite news |author=Gallo |first=Jon |last2=Jacobson |first2=Todd |date=June 6, 2001 |title=Teixeira, Floyd Are Neighbors Once More |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/2001/06/06/teixeira-floyd-are-neighbors-once-more/cc65815b-afb4-4261-a09b-d7a4bb97fb89/ |access-date=February 24, 2016 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

Professional career

=Draft and minor leagues=

The Philadelphia Phillies selected Floyd out of high school with the fourth overall selection of the 2001 draft.{{cite web |author=O'Brien |first=David |date=December 14, 2013 |title=Braves negotiating with free-agent pitcher Gavin Floyd |url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/braves-negotiating-with-free-agent-pitcher-gavin-f/ncLLd/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218082252/http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/braves-negotiating-with-free-agent-pitcher-gavin-f/ncLLd/ |archive-date=December 18, 2013 |access-date=December 19, 2013 |website=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |df=mdy}} Floyd, who had originally made a verbal commitment to attend the University of South Carolina, opted instead to play in major league baseball.

In his first professional season (2002), Floyd pitched for the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws of the South Atlantic League (SAL). A highlight of his most impressive first season (2.77 ERA, .200 BAA) was pitching the first nine-inning no-hitter in BlueClaws history on July 24 against the Lexington Legends.{{cite web |author=McKenzie |first=Doug |date=August 17, 2006 |title=Claws sweep Legends, close in on postseason |url=http://exa.gmnews.com/news/2006-08-17/Sports/052.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131220011638/http://exa.gmnews.com/news/2006-08-17/Sports/052.html |archive-date=December 20, 2013 |access-date=December 19, 2013 |work=Allentown Examiner |publisher=GM News |df=mdy}}

In 2004, Floyd was a non-roster invitee to spring training. He began the season with the Reading Phillies (AA) and did not allow any runs in his first four starts, allowing only one runner to make it past second base. He was named the Phillies farm system Minor League Pitcher of the Week, as well as Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month for April (2–0, 0.00 ERA). He was promoted to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons (AAA) in July and made five starts before having his contract purchased by Phillies as a September callup.

=Philadelphia Phillies=

Floyd made his Major League debut September 3, 2004, against the division rival New York Mets and earned the win pitching seven strong innings allowing only one run on four hits, while striking out five.{{cite web |date=September 3, 2004 |title=Floyd goes seven, wins debut |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=240903122 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220121435/http://espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=240903122 |archive-date=December 20, 2013 |access-date=December 19, 2013 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |df=mdy}}

In 2005, Floyd made the Phillies out of spring training. He made his first start of the season on April 9, pitched seven strong innings of one-run ball in a win against the St. Louis Cardinals.{{Cite web |date=April 9, 2005 |title=Burrell continues torrid start with four hits |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/250409124 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220802161847/https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/250409124 |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 2, 2022 |access-date=August 1, 2022 |website=ESPN |publisher=Associated Press |language=en}} However, Floyd struggled thereafter and was demoted to the minors, where he continued to struggle through to the end of the 2005 season. In seven games (four starts) with the Phillies, he was 1–2 with a 10.04 ERA, and 6–9 with a 6.16 ERA in 24 games (23 starts) with the Red Barons.{{Cite web |title=Gavin Floyd Minor, Winter & Fall Leagues Statistics & History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=floyd-001gav |access-date=August 1, 2022 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

Floyd came to 2006 spring training with barely a consideration and pitched his way into the Phillies rotation as the #4 pitcher, pushing Ryan Franklin to the bullpen. However, once again Floyd struggled, with a 4–3 record and a 7.29 ERA in 11 starts, and on June 2, was demoted to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for the second straight year.{{cite web |author=Mandel |first=Ken |date=June 2, 2006 |title=Phils option struggling Floyd to Minors |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-86826 |access-date=December 19, 2013 |website=Minor League Baseball}}

=Chicago White Sox=

File:AAAA5262 Gavin Floyd.jpg

On December 6, 2006, Floyd was traded with Gio González to the Chicago White Sox for Freddy García.{{cite news |date=December 6, 2006 |title=White Sox trade Garcia to Phillies for Floyd |website=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2689303 |access-date=July 7, 2014}} Floyd was expected to be handed the spot vacated by Garcia. However, since he pitched poorly during spring training, Floyd lost the spot and was optioned to Triple-A Charlotte.{{cite news |last=Gonzales |first=Mark |title=Listless play makes Guillen growl after 7th loss in a row |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune/148628882/ |work=Chicago Tribune |page=4–1 |date=March 29, 2007 |access-date=June 3, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}

On July 5, 2007, Floyd was recalled from Triple-A Charlotte by the White Sox.{{Cite web |date=July 5, 2007 |title=White Sox recall Gavin Floyd from Class AAA Charlotte |url=http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070705&content_id=2068666&vkey=pr_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219142455/http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070705&content_id=2068666&vkey=pr_cws&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws |archive-date=December 19, 2014 |access-date=August 2, 2022 |website=Chicago White Sox |publisher=MLB.com}} A day later, he pitched his first start as a South Sider in the second game of a doubleheader against Matt Garza of the Minnesota Twins, earning the loss and yielding six runs in 5.2 innings of work; the White Sox would eventually be blown out of the game, losing 12–0 to the rival Minnesota Twins.{{cite web |date=July 7, 2007 |title=Morneau goes deep 3 times in twinbill sweep of ChiSox |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/270706304 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220121437/http://scores.espn.go.com/mlb/recap?id=270706304 |archive-date=December 20, 2013 |access-date=December 20, 2013 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |df=mdy}}

In 2008, Floyd emerged as a legitimate and solid starting pitcher at the back end of the White Sox rotation. Showing flashes of brilliance, he carried two near-no-hitters against visiting Detroit (April 12) and Minnesota (May 6) into the eighth and ninth innings, respectively,{{cite web |date=May 7, 2008 |title=Mauer breaks up Floyd's no-hitter in ninth as ChiSox win |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280506104 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220121552/http://espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280506104 |archive-date=December 20, 2013 |access-date=December 20, 2013 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |df=mdy}}{{cite web |date=April 12, 2008 |title=Floyd outduels Verlander as White Sox beat toothless Tigers |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280412104 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220121549/http://espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=280412104 |archive-date=December 20, 2013 |access-date=December 20, 2013 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |df=mdy}} and also retired 12 consecutive Baltimore Orioles to start an eventual 6–5 extra inning loss in Baltimore on April 17.{{cite web |date=April 17, 2008 |title=White Sox vs. Orioles Play by Play |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/playbyplay?gameId=280417101 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220121548/http://espn.go.com/mlb/playbyplay?gameId=280417101 |archive-date=December 20, 2013 |access-date=December 20, 2013 |website=ESPN |df=mdy}} He finished the regular season with a 17–8 record and a 3.84 ERA in 33 starts, with his final win coming in a game which the White Sox beat the Detroit Tigers to force a one-game playoff with the Twins to determine the Central's winner.{{Cite web |last=Merkin |first=Scott |date=September 29, 2008 |title=White Sox force one-game tiebreaker |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080929&content_id=3573167&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081002005634/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080929&content_id=3573167&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=cws |archive-date=October 2, 2008 |access-date=August 2, 2022 |website=Chicago White Sox |publisher=MLB.com}} During 2008 he led the majors in stolen bases allowed with 37 – nine more than the next closest pitcher.{{cite web |title=2008 Major League Baseball Batting Against |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-batting-pitching.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831092427/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/2008-batting-pitching.shtml |archive-date=August 31, 2009 |access-date=December 20, 2013 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference |df=mdy}}

Floyd signed again with the White Sox on March 22, 2009; with his four-year contract worth $15.5 million.{{cite web |date=March 22, 2009 |title=Floyd gets 4-year deal with ChiSox |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=4006088 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326075658/http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4006088 |archive-date=March 26, 2009 |access-date=November 29, 2009 |work=ESPN |agency=Associated Press |df=mdy}} During the 2009 season, Floyd started 30 games, posting an 11–11 record and an ERA of 4.06, while cutting the number of stolen bases he allowed to 14.{{cite web |title=Gavin Floyd 2009 Pitching Splits |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=floydga01&year=2009&t=p |access-date=March 19, 2014 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |publisher=Sports Reference}}

Floyd only started five games with a 0–4 record and an ERA of 5.18 during the 2013 season. On April 28, 2013, Floyd was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a flexor muscle strain in his right elbow.{{Cite web |last=Silva |first=Drew |date=April 28, 2013 |title=White Sox place Gavin Floyd on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right elbow muscle |url=https://mlb.nbcsports.com/2013/04/28/white-sox-place-gavin-floyd-on-the-15-day-disabled-list-with-a-strained-right-elbow-muscle/ |access-date=August 2, 2022 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}} After an MRI revealed his elbow had a torn flexor muscle and UCL, Floyd underwent Tommy John surgery on May 7, 2013 and was shut down for the rest of the 2013 season.{{Cite web |last=Lipsman |first=Benjy |date=May 8, 2013 |title=Gavin Floyd Has Tommy John Surgery |url=https://chicagoist.com/2013/05/08/gavin_floyd_to_have_tommy_john_surg.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170313023610/https://chicagoist.com/2013/05/08/gavin_floyd_to_have_tommy_john_surg.php |archive-date=March 13, 2017 |access-date=August 2, 2022 |website=The Chicagoist}} He became a free agent following the season.

=Atlanta Braves=

On December 16, 2013, Floyd signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Atlanta Braves.{{cite web |last=Crasnick |first=Jerry |date=December 15, 2013 |title=Braves, Gavin Floyd complete deal |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/10140870/atlanta-braves-gavin-floyd-close-deal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215191042/http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/10140870/atlanta-braves-gavin-floyd-close-deal |archive-date=December 15, 2013 |access-date=December 20, 2013 |website=ESPN |df=mdy}}{{cite news |author=O'Brien |first=David |date=April 20, 2014 |title=For now, no glaring need for Gavin Floyd |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/for-now-no-obvious-need-for-rehabbing-floyd/nfdh7/ |url-status=dead |access-date=April 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422172231/http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/baseball/for-now-no-obvious-need-for-rehabbing-floyd/nfdh7/ |archive-date=April 22, 2014 |df=mdy}} In June 2014, Floyd suffered a fractured olecranon, missing the rest of the season.{{cite news |last1=Bowman |first1=Mark |date=June 26, 2014 |title=Floyd undergoes season-ending surgery |work=Atlanta Braves |publisher=MLB.com |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140626&content_id=81736462¬ebook_id=81797264&vkey=notebook_atl&c_id=atl |url-status=dead |access-date=June 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808061806/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140626&content_id=81736462¬ebook_id=81797264&vkey=notebook_atl&c_id=atl |archive-date=August 8, 2014}} Alex Wood replaced Floyd in the rotation.{{cite news |date=June 20, 2014 |title=Alex Wood to take Gavin Floyd spot |work=ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/11113748/atlanta-braves-place-gavin-floyd-dl-broken-elbow |url-status=live |access-date=June 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140621082105/http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/11113748/atlanta-braves-place-gavin-floyd-dl-broken-elbow |archive-date=June 21, 2014 |df=mdy}}

=Cleveland Indians=

On December 16, 2014, Floyd signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the Cleveland Indians,{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2014 |title=Indians sign pitcher Floyd to 1-year deal |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/12038306/cleveland-indians-sign-starting-pitcher-gavin-floyd-one-year-deal |access-date=August 2, 2022 |website=ESPN |publisher=Associated Press |language=en}} but was subsequently placed on the 60-day disabled list on April 5, 2015 after injuring his pitching elbow during spring training.{{Cite web |last=Krest |first=Shawn |date=April 5, 2015 |title=Indians send four to DL, including Nick Swisher, Gavin Floyd |url=https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/indians-send-four-to-dl-including-nick-swisher-gavin-floyd/ |access-date=August 2, 2022 |website=CBS Sports |language=en}} Floyd made his Indians debut on September 2, 2015, pitching a single inning of relief.{{Cite web |date=September 2, 2015 |title=Dickey throws 4-hitter, Jays beat Indians 5-1 |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/350902114 |access-date=August 2, 2022 |website=ESPN |publisher=Associated Press |language=en}}

=Toronto Blue Jays=

On February 6, 2016, Floyd signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays.{{cite web |last=Chisholm |first=Gregor |date=February 4, 2016 |title=Blue Jays come to terms with Floyd |url=http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/163713784/blue-jays-sign-pitcher-gavin-floyd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206235102/http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/163713784/blue-jays-sign-pitcher-gavin-floyd |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 6, 2016 |access-date=February 6, 2016 |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media}} Floyd entered spring training in competition for the fifth starter role with Aaron Sanchez, Drew Hutchison, and Jesse Chavez. On March 28, it was announced Sanchez would be the team's fifth starter, while Floyd would begin the season in the bullpen.{{cite web |last=Fidlin |first=Ken |date=March 28, 2016 |title=Toronto Blue Jays give Aaron Sanchez spot in starting rotation |url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/baseball/mlb/toronto-blue-jays-give-aaron-sanchez-spot-in-starting-rotation |access-date=March 28, 2016 |work=National Post}} Floyd left a game against the White Sox on June 25 with a shoulder injury, and was placed on the 15-day disabled list after the game. On June 28, it was determined he had torn his right lat muscle and would miss 8–12 weeks recovering.{{cite web |last=Kennedy |first=Brendan |date=June 28, 2016 |title=Jays reliever Gavin Floyd out eight to 12 weeks |url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2016/06/28/jays-reliever-gavin-floyd-out-eight-to-12-weeks.html |access-date=June 29, 2016 |work=Toronto Star}} Floyd remained on the disabled list for the rest of the 2016 season. He finished the season with a 2–4 record, 4.06 ERA in 28 games, striking out 30 batters in 31 innings pitched.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/floydga01.shtml|title=Gavin Floyd Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=January 5, 2016}} He became a free agent following the season.

On January 5, 2017, Floyd signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays which included an invitation to spring training.{{cite web |last=Adams |first=Steve |date=January 5, 2017 |title=Blue Jays Sign Gavin Floyd To Minor League Deal |url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/01/blue-jays-sign-gavin-floyd-to-minor-league-deal.html |access-date=January 5, 2017 |work=MLB Trade Rumors}} He did not appear in any spring training games, and was released on April 5.{{cite web |last=Adams |first=Steve |date=April 5, 2017 |title=Blue Jays Release Gavin Floyd |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/04/blue-jays-release-gavin-floyd.html |access-date=April 5, 2017 |work=MLB Trade Rumors}}

Pitching style

Floyd threw five pitches, leading with a four-seam fastball at 90–93 mph. He also threw a two-seam fastball (90–93), a slider (85–87), a curveball (79–81), and a changeup to left-handed hitters (mid 80s). His curve was a favored option with two strikes.{{cite web |title=Home of the PitchFX Tool - Player Card: Gavin Floyd |url=http://brooksbaseball.net/player_cards/player_card.php?player=425856 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013173049/http://brooksbaseball.net/player_cards/player_card.php?player=425856 |archive-date=October 13, 2012 |access-date=August 20, 2012 |website=Brooks Baseball |publisher= |df=mdy}}