Jason Berken

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Jason Berken

|image=Jason Berken 2009.jpg

|caption=Berken with the Baltimore Orioles in 2009

|position=Relief pitcher

|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1983|11|27}}

|birth_place=Green Bay, Wisconsin, U.S.

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate=May 26

|debutyear=2009

|debutteam=Baltimore Orioles

|finalleague=MLB

| finaldate = October 1

| finalyear = 2012

| finalteam = Chicago Cubs

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label=Win–loss record

|stat1value=10–20

|stat2label=Earned run average

|stat2value=5.36

|stat3label=Strikeouts

|stat3value=163

|teams=

Baltimore Orioles ({{mlby|2009}}–{{mlby|2012}})
Chicago Cubs ({{mlby|2012}})

}}

Jason Thomas Berken (born November 27, 1983) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago Cubs.

College

Berken graduated from West De Pere High School. He played college baseball for the Clemson Tigers. While at Clemson, he played for the New England Collegiate Baseball League's Keene Swamp Bats. In 186{{frac|2|3}} innings with Clemson, Berken pitched to an 18–6 record, 3.04 ERA, and 156 strikeouts.{{cite web|url=http://www.tigernet.com/story/baseball/Former-Tiger-Jason-Berken-Start-Baltimore-Orioles-7921|title=Former Tiger Jason Berken to Start for Baltimore Orioles|work=tigernet.com|date=May 26, 2009|accessdate=September 21, 2016}}

Professional career

=Baltimore Orioles=

Berken was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the sixth round (175th overall) of the 2006 MLB draft. On May 26, 2009, after pitching just 25{{fraction|2|3}} innings for Triple-A Norfolk, he was called up to the Orioles' roster to replace injured outfielder Lou Montanez. Berken earned his first major league win that day, giving up two runs in five innings in a 7–2 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. However, he finished the year with a 6–12 record, along with a 6.54 ERA in 119{{fraction|2|3}} innings pitched. This led to Berken being named the "AL Les Sweetland Award winner" by SI writer Joe Posnanski for finishing the year as the worst starting pitcher in the American League.{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2009/11/20/anti-awards|title=Joe Posnanski: My Least Valuable Players, '09 'anti-award' winners|date=November 20, 2009 |publisher=}}

=Chicago Cubs=

On September 7, 2012, Berken was claimed off waivers by the Chicago Cubs.{{cite web|url=http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120907&content_id=38044402&vkey=pr_chc&c_id=chc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008162949/http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120907&content_id=38044402&vkey=pr_chc&c_id=chc|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 8, 2012|title=Cubs claim right-handed pitcher Jason Berken off waivers from Baltimore|website=MLB.com}} On September 20, Berken recorded four strikeouts in an inning.

=Chicago White Sox=

On April 2, 2013, Berken signed as a minor league free agent with the Chicago White Sox for 2013 season.

=San Francisco Giants=

On November 15, 2013, Berken signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants. On March 31, 2014, he was assigned to the Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies.

=Philadelphia Phillies=

On February 24, 2015, Berken signed a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. On March 2, 2015, he was assigned to the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs. He elected free agency on November 6.{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=l_trn&lid=117|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421150258/http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?sid=milb&t=l_trn&lid=117|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 21, 2012|title=International League Transactions|page=November 2015|work=Minor League Baseball|access-date=November 6, 2015}}

=Toronto Blue Jays=

On February 17, 2016, Berken signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays organization.{{cite web|url=http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2016/02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100209/http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/roster/transactions/2016/02|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|title=Toronto Blue Jays Transactions February 2016|work=MLB.com|accessdate=February 27, 2016}} In 29 appearances split between the Double–A New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Triple–A Buffalo Bisons, he accumulated a 2–9 record and 4.43 ERA with 63 strikeouts across {{fraction|105|2|3}} innings pitched. Berken elected free agency following the season on November 7.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2016|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2016/|access-date=August 4, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 8, 2016 |language=en}}