Jake Esch

{{Infobox MLB player

|name = Jake Esch

|image=Jake Esch (cropped).jpg

|caption=Esch with Georgia Tech in 2010

|width=200

|number =

|position = Pitcher

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|3|27}}

|birth_place = Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 31

|debutyear = 2016

|debutteam = Miami Marlins

|finalleague=MLB

|finaldate=April 12

|finalyear=2017

|finalteam=San Diego Padres

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 0–1

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 5.54

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 10

|teams=

Miami Marlins ({{mlby|2016}})
San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2017}})

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry | {{bb|GBR}} }}

}}

Jacob Otto Esch (born March 27, 1990) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins and San Diego Padres. He has played for the Great Britain national baseball team.{{Cite web|url=https://extrainningsbaseball.wordpress.com/2017/04/25/esch/|title=GB's Esch on Playing for the Queen, Next to Ichiro|first=Gabriel|last=Fidler|date=April 25, 2017}}

Career

=Florida/Miami Marlins=

Esch attended Cretin-Derham Hall High School. He then enrolled at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he played college baseball for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. A pitcher in his freshman year, Esch became a second baseman as a sophomore.{{cite web|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/college/second-basemen-the-key-for-georgia-tech/nQdMH|title=Second basemen the key for Georgia Tech|work=ajc.com|accessdate=November 28, 2014}} The Florida Marlins selected Esch in the 11th round of the 2011 Major League Baseball draft as a pitcher.{{cite web|url=http://www.twincities.com/golf/ci_18234832|title=Bob Sansevere on and on with Jake Esch|work=TwinCities.com|date=8 June 2011 |accessdate=November 28, 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/college/marlins-draft-techs-esch-to-pitch/nQwJB/|title=Marlins draft Tech's Esch to pitch|work=ajc.com|accessdate=November 28, 2014}} He pitched for the Jamestown Jammers of the Low–A New York–Penn League after he signed.{{cite web|url=http://www.starnewsdaily.com/viewby/contributor/scott-eddy/story/Pro-Ball-Brings-Whole-New-World-for-Jammers-Reliever-Esch-2011-08-11|title=StarNewsDaily.com: Scott Eddy – Pro Ball Brings Whole New World for Jammers Reliever Esch|work=starnewsdaily.com|accessdate=November 28, 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205120907/http://www.starnewsdaily.com/viewby/contributor/scott-eddy/story/Pro-Ball-Brings-Whole-New-World-for-Jammers-Reliever-Esch-2011-08-11|archivedate=December 5, 2014}}

In 2012, he pitched for Jamestown and the Greensboro Grasshoppers of the Single–A South Atlantic League, In 2013 and 2014, he pitched for the Jupiter Hammerheads of the High–A Florida State League. On November 20, 2015, the Marlins added Esch to their 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.{{cite web|url=http://m.marlins.mlb.com/news/article/157818048/jarlin-garcia-among-4-added-to-marlins-roster|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121144132/http://m.marlins.mlb.com/news/article/157818048/jarlin-garcia-among-4-added-to-marlins-roster|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 21, 2015|title=Jarlin Garcia among 4 added to Marlins' roster|website=marlins.mlb.com|publisher=MLB Advanced Media|date=November 20, 2015|first1=Joe|last1=Frisaro|accessdate=September 5, 2016}}

Esch began the 2016 season with the Jacksonville Suns of the Double–A Southern League, and was promoted to the New Orleans Zephyrs of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League. The Marlins promoted Esch to the major leagues on August 31, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-marlins/sfl-marlins-david-phelps-placed-on-dl-20160831-story.html|title=Marlins' David Phelps placed on DL; Jake Esch promoted to debut and start vs. Mets|first=Tim|last=Healey|website=sun-sentinel.com|publisher=|date=August 31, 2016|accessdate=September 5, 2016}}

=San Diego Padres=

On March 31, 2017, the San Diego Padres claimed Esch off of waivers from the Marlins.{{cite web| url = http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/padres/sd-sp-padres-add-jake-esch-20170331-story.html| title = With Esch, Padres again fishing for pitching depth - The San Diego Union-Tribune| date = 31 March 2017}} He was designated for assignment by the Padres on June 11, following the promotion of Phil Maton.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/06/padres-select-phil-maton-designate-jake-esch-for-assignment.html|title=Padres Select Phil Maton, Designate Jake Esch For Assignment|last=Wilmoth|first=Charlie|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=June 11, 2017|accessdate=June 11, 2017}} He was released by the Padres the following day.

On June 21, 2017, Esch re–signed with the Padres on a minor league contract. He appeared in the minor leagues for the rookie–level Arizona League Padres, High–A Lake Elsinore Storm, Double–A San Antonio Missions, and Triple–A El Paso Chihuahuas. In 15 total games (13 starts), he registered a cumulative 1–9 record and 4.62 ERA with 60 strikeouts in {{fraction|85|2|3}} innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2017|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2017/?amphtml|access-date=July 15, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

=St. Paul Saints=

On April 16, 2018, Esch signed with the St. Paul Saints of the American Association of Professional Baseball.{{cite web|url=http://saintsbaseball.com/team/news/veteran-help-saints-sign-former-big-league-pitcher-cretin-derham-hall-star-jake-esch-triple-catcher-justin-oconner/|title=Veteran Help: Saints Sign Former Big League Pitcher, Cretin-Durham Hall Star, Jake Esch, Triple-A Catcher Justin O'Conner|publisher=St. Paul Saints|accessdate=April 16, 2018}}

=Sioux Falls Canaries=

On July 1, 2018, Esch signed with the Sioux Falls Canaries of the American Association.{{cite web |title=Canaries Acquire Former Major Leaguer Jake Esch |url=http://sfcanaries.com/press-box/news/canaries-acquire-former-major-leaguer-jake-esch/ |website=sfcanaries.com |publisher=Sioux Falls Canaries |accessdate=February 4, 2019 |language=English |date=July 3, 2018 |quote=The Sioux Falls Canaries have signed former major league pitcher Jake Esch...}}

International career

Born in the United States, Esch is of English descent through his mother with roots in St Austell, Cornwall. He played for the Great Britain national baseball team at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.{{Cite web|url=https://batflipsandnerds.com/2017/02/26/gb-players-to-watch-part-2/|title=GB Players to Watch – Part 2|first=John|last=McGee|date=February 26, 2017}}