Joey Devine

Devine was the Braves' first selection (27th overall) in the first round of the 2005 Major League Baseball draft out of North Carolina State University, where he had set the Wolfpack record for saves with 24 and made the All-Atlantic Coast Conference team three times.{{cite news |last1=Morris |first1=Ron |title=Where Are They Now? Joey Devine |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/where-are-they-now-joey-devine/ |access-date=11 November 2020 |work=Baseball America |date=July 3, 2018}}{{cite web|title=North Carolina State University Baseball Players Who Made it to the Major Leagues |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/north_carolina_state_university_baseball_players.shtml |work=Baseball-Almanac.com |access-date=2 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051123093529/http://www.baseball-almanac.com/college/north_carolina_state_university_baseball_players.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 November 2005 }}{{cite web|url=http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20050607&content_id=1079764&vkey=pr_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl|title=Braves draft RHP Joey Devine with first selection|date=June 7, 2005|work=MLB.com|access-date=February 10, 2010|archive-date=September 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110917053933/http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20050607&content_id=1079764&vkey=pr_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl|url-status=dead}} After being drafted, Devine spent only two months in the minor leagues, pitching with the Single-A Advanced Myrtle Beach Pelicans and the Double-A Mississippi Braves, before being called up to the major leagues on August 20.{{cite web |url=http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050820&content_id=1177250&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl |title=Devine struggles in MLB debut |last=Bowman |first=Mark |date=August 20, 2005 |work=MLB.com |access-date=February 10, 2010 |archive-date=March 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306020904/http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050820&content_id=1177250&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl |url-status=dead }} He was the first player in his draft class to make his MLB debut.{{cite news |last1=Werner |first1=Joseph |title=First Player from the 2015 Draft to Make the Big Leagues |url=https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2015/6/16/8783185/first-player-from-the-2015-mlb-draft-to-make-the-big-leagues |access-date=17 June 2021 |work=Beyond the Box Score |publisher=SB Nation |date=June 16, 2016 |language=en}}

Devine encountered early struggles once being called up to the major leagues, becoming the first pitcher in major league history to allow a grand slam in each of his first two games.{{cite web|url=http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050927&content_id=1226585&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl|title=Notes: Furcal keys turnaround|last=Bowman|first=Mark|date=September 27, 2005|work=MLB.com|access-date=February 10, 2010|archive-date=June 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616121226/http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050927&content_id=1226585&vkey=news_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl|url-status=dead}} Braves manager Bobby Cox showed faith in Devine, however, by including him on the postseason roster despite his pitching only five innings with the big-league club during the regular season. In the 18th inning of Game 4 of the 2005 National League Division Series, Devine gave up a walk-off home run to Houston Astros rookie Chris Burke to end the Braves' season.

In {{mlby|2006}}, Atlanta planned to have Devine start the season at Triple-A Richmond as the closer,{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060401&content_id=1379541&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl|title=Braves make final cuts, roster set|last=Bowman |first=Mark |date=April 1, 2006|work=MLB.com |access-date=February 10, 2010}} but injuries to Horacio Ramírez and Blaine Boyer forced the Braves to call him up along with fellow reliever Ken Ray.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2399448 |title=Strained hamstring lands Braves' Ramirez on DL|date=April 6, 2006 |work=ESPN.com |access-date=February 10, 2010}} Devine struggled once again, however, pitching a total of one inning in two games against the San Francisco Giants and giving up seven runs on five hits, five walks, and two wild pitches. Devine was optioned back to Richmond afterwards, with Peter Moylan serving as his replacement in Atlanta's bullpen. Devine was called up again in September and continued to pitch in Atlanta until the end of the regular season. Baseball America rated Devine as the Braves' ninth-best prospect entering {{mlby|2007}}.{{cite web |url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2007/263052.html |title=2007 Top 10 Prospects: Atlanta Braves |last=Ballew |first=Bill |date=January 2, 2007|publisher=Baseball America |access-date=February 10, 2010}} Devine spent the majority of the 2007 season at Mississippi, though he was called up by Atlanta several times. On September 22, Devine earned his first major league victory against the Milwaukee Brewers. He finished the 2007 season 1–0 with a 1.08 ERA.

On January 14, {{mlby|2008}}, Devine was traded to the Oakland Athletics along with minor league pitcher Jamie Richmond for center fielder Mark Kotsay.{{cite web|url=http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080114&content_id=2345642&vkey=pr_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl|title=Braves acquire outfielder Mark Kotsay from Athletics|date=January 14, 2008|work=MLB.com|access-date=February 10, 2010|archive-date=June 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616121404/http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080114&content_id=2345642&vkey=pr_atl&fext=.jsp&c_id=atl|url-status=dead}} Devine had a breakout season with the Athletics in {{mlby|2008}}; in 45{{fraction|2|3}} innings, Devine gave up just 23 hits, walked only 15, struck out 49, held major-league batters to a .148 BA, and finished with a remarkable 0.59 ERA; the lowest ever in MLB history among pitchers with a minimum of 45 innings since ERA became an official statistic in {{mlby|1912}}. This record is not officially recognized because the MLB minimum is 50 innings.{{cite web |url=http://www.gopack.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=9200&ATCLID=1592310 |title=Devine Records MLB-low ERA of 0.59 |access-date=2008-10-09 |author=Tim Peeler |author-link=MLB.com |date=2008-09-29 |work=MLB.com}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}

Devine missed the 2009 season following Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. The operation was performed Tuesday, April 21, 2009, by Dr. James Andrews on Devine's ulnar collateral ligament.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=4087312 |title=Oakland RHP Joey Devine has elbow surgery|date=April 21, 2009|agency=Associated Press |work=ESPN.com |access-date=February 10, 2010}} On December 2, 2009, Devine, avoided arbitration and agreed to a 1-year contract with the Oakland Athletics.{{cite web|url=http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20091202&content_id=7744112&vkey=pr_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak|title=A's Agree to Terms with RHP Joey Devine|date=December 2, 2009|work=MLB.com|access-date=February 10, 2010|archive-date=March 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304021730/http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20091202&content_id=7744112&vkey=pr_oak&fext=.jsp&c_id=oak|url-status=dead}}

Devine remained inactive through the 2010 season while still recovering from the surgery. He finally returned to action in 2011. However, after struggling to find control in a flukish spring training game, Joey Devine was sent down to the A's Minor League Sacramento River Cats to work out the kinks. He instantly regained his 2008 form and commenced to not allow a single earned run over his first 12{{fraction|1|3}} innings, striking out a solid 17, giving up only 4 hits, and walking a mere one batter. He was recalled to the Oakland A's Major League Roster on May, 20th 2011.

Devines' longest streak of innings without yielding an earned run (33.2 innings) was broken on June 3, 2011, due to inherited runs acquired through reliever Brian Fuentes.

After pitching relatively well after his return to the MLB roster in 2011, Devine struggled in late July during his last three outings of that month (Devine attributed control issues to heat and lack of grip during a heat wave in which temps. were over {{convert|100|F-change}}). On July 22, 2011, he walked three consecutive Yankees, throwing a wild pitch behind Brandon Laird to initiate the latter's debut major-league at-bat.{{cite web|url=http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/as-demote-reliever-after-wildness-at-stadium/|title=A's Demote Reliever After Wildness at Stadium|author=Ken Plutnicki|date=July 28, 2011|work=New York Times |access-date=December 29, 2011}} His control issues lead to his being demoted back to Sacramento River Cats on July 28, 2011, despite the fact that many of the earned runs he had acquired to that point were inherited after he stepped off the mound. Prior to his last three outings, Devine was one of the leading pitchers on Oakland's MLB pitching staff statistically: 2.14 ERA and declining, over 9K/9 innings, and high octane pitch speeds of up to 97 MPH, with additional nasty off speed pitch movement in his slider, low hits/outs ratio, hitters average under .200, no homers allowed, and an average walk rate.

It was announced on April 10, 2012, that Devine had undergone his second career Tommy John surgery.{{cite news |last1=Stiglich |first1=Joe |title=Reliever Joey Devine has second Tommy John procedure; will miss season |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2012/04/10/reliever-joey-devine-has-second-tommy-john-procedure-will-miss-season/ |access-date=11 November 2020 |work=The Mercury News |date=10 April 2012}} Devine was placed on the disabled list for the 2012 season.

After leaving baseball, Devine worked for a sports agency, earned a degree from NC State while living in Raleigh, North Carolina and worked as a graduate assistant for his former college team.

In 2017, Devine told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that Brian McCann was still one of his closest friends.{{cite news |last1=Walton |first1=Carroll Rogers |title=Baby Braves are forever connected |url=https://www.ajc.com/sports/baseball/baby-braves-are-forever-connected/RxZFu0dMQFpm5VHzDdpFtN/ |access-date=11 November 2020 |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |date=January 27, 2017 |language=en}}

{{Asof|July 2018}}, he was married and had three young children.

{{Reflist}}

{{Baseballstats|mlb=457733|espn=6387|br=d/devinjo01|fangraphs=9862|brm=devine001jos}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070312102311/http://www.baseballdigestdaily.com/bullpen/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=26 Joey Devine Interview at Baseball Digest Daily]

{{2005 MLB Draft}}

{{Atlanta Braves first-round draft picks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Devine, Joey}}

Category:1983 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Junction City, Kansas

Category:Baseball players from Kansas

Category:Major League Baseball pitchers

Category:Atlanta Braves players

Category:Oakland Athletics players

Category:NC State Wolfpack baseball players

Category:Myrtle Beach Pelicans players

Category:Mississippi Braves players

Category:Richmond Braves players

Category:Sacramento River Cats players

Category:Peoria Javelinas players