Josh Collmenter

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Josh Collmenter

| team =

| number =

| image = Josh Collmenter (24687884243) (cropped).jpg

| width = 250

| caption = Collmenter with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2016

| position = Pitcher

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|2|7}}

| birth_place = Homer, Michigan, U.S.

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = April 17

| debutyear = 2011

| debutteam = Arizona Diamondbacks

| finalleague = MLB

| finaldate = May 24

| finalyear = 2017

| finalteam = Atlanta Braves

| statleague = MLB

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 38–35

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 3.64

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 494

| teams =

Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2011}}–{{mlby|2016}})
Atlanta Braves ({{mlby|2016}}–{{mlby|2017}})

}}

Joshua Michael Collmenter (born February 7, 1986) is an American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Atlanta Braves between 2011 and 2017, and currently acts as the color man for Diamondbacks Radio. He attended Central Michigan University and was the 2007 Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year.

Early life

Collmenter grew up in rural Homer, Michigan. He learned to pitch by watching baseball on television and reading about how to grip different pitches in Sports Illustrated. His pitching mechanics, however, are the product of a childhood spent with his brothers entertaining themselves by throwing tomahawks at things such as snakes and trees. The process resulted in the development of an unorthodox, extremely overhand pitching motion.

Collmenter attended Homer High School, where he played baseball, basketball and football and graduated as the salutatorian of his class in 2004.{{cite news|last1=Wenzel|first1=Matt|title=Unlikely Ace: Homer, Central Michigan graduate Josh Collmenter honored to make Opening Day start for Diamondbacks|url=http://www.mlive.com/sports/jackson/index.ssf/2015/04/unlikely_ace_homer_grad_josh_c.html|access-date=July 11, 2015|work=MLive.com|date=April 5, 2015}} Collmenter was one of the top pitchers in Michigan high school baseball history. In 2004, Collmenter led the Trojans to a 38–0 record and the first undefeated championship season in the state's history.{{cite web|last1=Humpherys|first1=Nathan|date=March 6, 2013|title=Collmenter carves own niche en route to D-backs|url=http://m.mlb.com/news/article/42357638/right-hander-josh-collmenter-carves-his-own-niche-en-route-to-the-d-backs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712143304/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/42357638/right-hander-josh-collmenter-carves-his-own-niche-en-route-to-the-d-backs|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 12, 2015|publisher=Major League Baseball|access-date=July 11, 2015}} That season propelled the Trojans to a national-record 75 game win streak. Collmenter won 18 games in the 2004 season, the third highest total in state history. He recorded a state-record 13 shutouts that season while striking out 223 batters and notching a 0.13 ERA. Collmenter finished his high school career with 49 wins, 23 shutouts, 546 strikeouts and a 0.99 ERA, all of which rank in the top six in state history. Homer compiled a record of 110–18 while Collmenter was with the team.{{cite web|url=http://www.homerbaseballbook.com|title=Homer: The Small-Town Baseball Odyssey|publisher=Homer: The Small-Town Baseball Odyssey|website=homerbaseballbook.com|access-date=August 13, 2015}}

College

Prior to playing professionally, Collmenter attended Central Michigan University, with whom he played from 2005 to 2007. In his first season with the Chippewas, Collmenter went 7–1 with a 2.70 ERA in 16 games (10 starts). The following season, Collmenter went 8–5 with a 3.41 ERA in 15 games (14 starts). In 2006, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Hyannis Mets of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=September 25, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2006&T=Hyannis_Mets |title=2006 Hyannis Mets |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |accessdate=September 23, 2021}} He went 9–4 with a 1.93 ERA in 15 starts in 2007. He was named the 2007 Mid-American Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Year.

Minor leagues

In 2007, Collmenter was drafted in the 15th round of the amateur draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He started his professional career that year, playing for the Yakima Bears in 2007, going 6–3 with a 2.71 ERA in 14 games (12 starts). In 2008, he pitched for the South Bend Silver Hawks, going 12–8 with a 3.41 ERA in 27 starts. He was a well-known figure that season for growing a mustache in the hope of turning the Silver Hawks fortunes around.

The following season, Collmenter went 8–10 with a 4.15 ERA in 27 starts for the Visalia Rawhide. As well, he struck out 152 batters in 145{{fraction|1|3}} innings that season. He split the 2010 season between the Rawhide, Mobile Bay Bears and Reno Aces, going a combined 14–8 with a 3.38 ERA in 25 starts.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=collme001jos |title=BR Minors |publisher=Baseball-reference.com |access-date=November 2, 2011}}

Major leagues

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

Collmenter made his major league debut on April 17, 2011, against the San Francisco Giants. Collmenter entered the game in the 11th inning of a 5–5 game. He pitched two perfect innings with two strikeouts. The Diamondbacks would go on to win the game in the bottom of the 12th when Stephen Drew drove in Justin Upton for the game's winning run, cementing Collmenter's first big league win.

File:Josh Collmenter on June 19, 2011 (cropped).jpg in 2011]]

Collmenter has caught the eye of some observers due to his unusual over-the-top delivery. It is thought that the deceptiveness of the delivery has attributed to much of his success thus far.{{cite web|last=Reddington |first=Patrick |url=http://www.federalbaseball.com/2011/6/4/2205858/nats-vs-d-backs-2-of-4-at-chase-field |title=Washington Nationals Can't Figure Out Josh Collmenter Either, Arizona Diamondbacks 4–0 Winners. |publisher=Federal Baseball |date=June 4, 2011 |access-date=November 2, 2011}} He is the first pitcher since earned runs were recorded in 1912 to have given up four or fewer total earned runs and 20 or fewer total hits in his first six starts. Although he does not possess superior velocity to his fastball (average 87 MPH), he relies on throwing a sizable amount of cutters and changeups to keep hitters off-balance. He also throws a curveball less frequently.

In 2011, Collmenter got his first chance to pitch in the playoffs when he faced the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the Division Series. The D-Backs won the game 8–1 and Collmenter got the win. However, the Brewers would go on to win the best-of-five series, 3–2. Collmenter began the 2012 season in the rotation, but after going 0–2 with a 9.82 ERA in 4 starts and an average of less than 5 innings per start, Collmenter was demoted to the long relief role on April 30, and Patrick Corbin was called up to take his place in the rotation.{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120428&content_id=29890050 |title=Corbin replaces Collmenter in D-backs' rotation |work=MLB.com |first=Steve |last=Gilbert |date=April 28, 2012 |access-date=April 30, 2012}} On November 3, 2015, the Diamondbacks exercised Collmenter's 2016 option.{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/11/dbacks-exercise-options-over-brad-ziegler-josh-collmenter.html|title=D'Backs Exercise Options Over Brad Ziegler, Josh Collmenter|last=Todd|first=Jeff|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=November 3, 2015|access-date=November 3, 2015}}

On July 30, 2016, the Diamondbacks designated Collmenter for assignment,{{cite news|last1=Gilbert|first1=Steve|title=D-backs designate Collmenter in flurry of moves|url=http://m.dbacks.mlb.com/news/article/192661734/d-backs-pitcher-josh-collmenter-designated/|access-date=September 14, 2016|work=MLB.com|date=July 31, 2016}} and released him on August 7.{{cite news|title=Diamondbacks put David Peralta on DL, release Josh Collmenter|url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/17240407/arizona-diamondbacks-put-david-peralta-back-disabled-list-release-josh-collmenter|access-date=September 14, 2016|agency=Associated Press|work=ESPN.com|date=August 7, 2016}} On August 10, the Cubs signed Collmenter to a minor league deal.{{cite news|last1=Broderick|first1=Bill|title=Collmenter reacts to joining playoff-bound Chicago Cubs|url=http://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/story/sports/2016/08/12/collmenter-talks-joining-playoff-contender-cubs/88612496/|access-date=September 14, 2016|work=Battle Creek Enquirer|date=August 12, 2016}}

=Atlanta Braves=

He was traded to the Atlanta Braves on September 14.{{cite news|last1=James|first1=Pat|title=Braves add pitching depth with two trades|url=http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/201388554/braves-acquire-josh-collmenter-joe-wieland/|access-date=September 14, 2016|work=MLB.com|date=September 14, 2016|archive-date=October 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024042737/http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/201388554/braves-acquire-josh-collmenter-joe-wieland/|url-status=dead}} Collmenter made his Braves debut three days later, starting a game for the first time since June 7, 2015, and earning a win against the Washington Nationals.{{cite news|last1=Ladson|first1=Bill|last2=James|first2=Pat|title=Braves cruise behind Collmenter's big spot start|url=http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/201860560/braves-beat-nats-despite-trea-turners-homers/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918084158/http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/201860560/braves-beat-nats-despite-trea-turners-homers/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 18, 2016|access-date=September 17, 2016|work=MLB.com|date=September 17, 2016}} He was the sixteenth pitcher to have made a start for the Braves during the 2016 season, breaking a franchise record for the number of starting pitchers used in a single season.{{cite news|last1=James|first1=Pat|title=Veteran Collmenter steps up after long absence|url=http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/201886892/josh-collmenter-steps-up-in-braves-spot-start/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918084200/http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/201886892/josh-collmenter-steps-up-in-braves-spot-start/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 18, 2016|access-date=September 17, 2016|work=MLB.com|date=September 17, 2016}} The team re-signed Collmenter to a one-year deal worth $1.2 million in November 2016.{{cite news|last1=O'Brien|first1=David|title=Braves sign Collmenter to one-year deal, avoiding arbitration|url=http://www.ajc.com/sports/baseball/braves-sign-collmenter-one-year-deal-avoiding-arbitration/wktY6JSrO8svBEdhe6XcML/|access-date=May 26, 2017|work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|date=November 7, 2016}} He pitched well to start the 2017 season, but began struggling in May and was designated for assignment on May 25.{{cite news|last1=Bowman|first1=Mark|title=Collmenter DFA'd; Braves recall Wisler|url=http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/232357700/braves-dfa-josh-collmenter-recall-matt-wisler/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525200011/http://m.braves.mlb.com/news/article/232357700/braves-dfa-josh-collmenter-recall-matt-wisler/|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 25, 2017|access-date=May 26, 2017|date=May 25, 2017|work=MLB.com}} He was outrighted to the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves on May 29, 2017. After pitching in five games for Gwinnett at the end of the season, he elected free agency on September 30, 2017.

=Career MLB statistics=

In 7 MLB seasons, Collmenter posted a 38-35 won-loss record with a 3.64 ERA. He appeared in 214 games, started 78 games and finished 56 games. In 695.1 innings pitched, he allowed 665 hits, 168 walks and struck out 494. Defensively, he handled 134 total chances (49 putouts, 85 assists) without an error for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.{{cite web|url=https://baseball-reference.com/players/c/collmjo01.shtml|title=Josh Collmenter Career Stats at Baseball Reference|website=baseball-reference.com|accessdate= January 5, 2024}}

=Auckland Tuatara=

In 2018, Collmenter has been added to the New Zealand national baseball team U15 development squad as pitching coach.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballnewzealand.com/newsarticle/63254 | title=Former Major League Baseball Pitcher Added to National U15 Coaching Staff | publisher=Baseball NZ | access-date=June 15, 2018 }} On August 27, 2018, Collmenter was the first player signed by the Auckland Tuatara, a new expansion team of the Australian Baseball League based in Auckland, New Zealand, for the 2018–19 season.{{cite web|url=http://www2.nzherald.co.nz/aucklander/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503376&objectid=12114221 | title=Baseball: Auckland Tuatara officially unveiled as New Zealand entry to Australian Baseball League | publisher=The New Zealand Herald | access-date=August 28, 2018 }} He returned to the club for the 2019–20 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.theabl.com.au/news/article.jsp?ymd=20190914&content_id=310733844&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t5405&sid=t5405 | title=Collmenter returns for second season | publisher=theabl.com.au | access-date=September 14, 2019 }}

Post-playing career

Collmenter was named as the New Zealand pitching coach for the 2021 World Baseball Classic Qualifier.{{Cite web |title=Naming of 2020 Diamondblacks to compete at World Baseball Classic Qualifier |url=http://www.newzealandbaseball.co.nz/baseballnz/newsarticle/87184 |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=www.newzealandbaseball.co.nz}} He was also announced as a broadcaster for a series of Spring Training webcasts of Diamondbacks games in 2023.{{Cite web |title=D-backs announce 2023 Spring Training broadcast schedule |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-d-backs-announce-2023-spring-training-broadcast-schedule |access-date=February 28, 2023 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}