Sam Selman

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Sam Selman

|image = Sam Selman (15202986366) (cropped).jpg

|caption = Selman with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2014

|team = Free agent

|number =

|position = Pitcher

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|11|14}}

|birth_place = Austin, Texas, U.S.

|bats = Right

|throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 1

|debutyear = 2019

|debutteam = San Francisco Giants

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = 2022 season

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 1–2

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 4.81

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 70

|teams =

San Francisco Giants ({{mlby|2019}}–{{mlby|2021}})
Los Angeles Angels ({{mlby|2021}})
Oakland Athletics ({{mlby|2022}})

}}

Samuel Ayres Selman (born November 14, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels, and Oakland Athletics. He played college baseball at Vanderbilt University. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the second round of the 2012 MLB draft.

Amateur career

Selman attended St. Andrew's Episcopal School in Austin, Texas.{{cite web|url=https://www.sasaustin.org/news-detail?pk=894984|title=Sam Selman '09|author=St. Andrew’s Episcopal School|publisher=sasaustin.org|date=August 31, 2017|access-date=August 1, 2019}} He was an ABCA/Rawlings All-American and two-time all-conference selection (2008 and 2009).{{Cite web|url=https://vucommodores.com/roster/sam-selman/|title=Sam Selman|date=May 4, 2019|website=Vanderbilt University Athletics - Official Athletics Website}}

He was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the 14th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft, but did not sign and played college baseball at Vanderbilt University.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/royals-sign-second-round-pick-sam-selman/c-33314574|title=Royals sign second-round pick Sam Selman|work=MLB.com|date=June 14, 2012|access-date=August 1, 2019}}

Professional career

=Kansas City Royals=

He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the second round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, and signed for a signing bonus of $750,000.{{cite web|url=https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/article326096.html|title=Selman has no regrets about being pulled from no-hitter|author=Pete Grathoff|work=The Kansas City Star|date=August 27, 2013|access-date=August 1, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www-1.kansas.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article1107679.html|title=Royals' minor leaguer earns degree in difficulty|author=Pete Grathoff|work=The Wichita Eagle|date=January 31, 2013|access-date=August 1, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/profile.asp?ID=148166|title=Sam Selman Player Card - The Baseball Cube|website=www.thebaseballcube.com}}

Selman pitched in the Royals organization from 2012 through the 2018 season. During his time with them, he played for the AZL Royals, Idaho Falls Chukars, Wilmington Blue Rocks, Northwest Arkansas Naturals, and Omaha Storm Chasers{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/sam-selman-572125|title=Sam Selman Player Page|work=MLB.com|access-date=August 1, 2019}} Selman elected free agency on November 2, 2018.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2018|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2018/|access-date=May 20, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 6, 2018 |language=en}}

=San Francisco Giants=

On March 22, 2019, Selman signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants.{{cite web|url=http://www.knbr.com/2019/06/28/unbelievable-giants-minor-league-strikeout-machine-is-on-their-radar/|title='Unbelievable': Giants' minor league strikeout machine is on their radar|author=Mark W. Sanchez|publisher=KNBR|date=June 28, 2019|access-date=August 1, 2019}} On August 1, the Giants selected Selman's contract and promoted him to the major leagues.{{cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/07/31/giants-bringing-armada-of-pitchers-to-philadelphia-in-preparation-for-possible-trades/|title=Giants bringing armada of pitchers to Philadelphia in preparation for possible trades|author=Kerry Crowley|work=The Mercury News|date=July 31, 2019|access-date=August 1, 2019}} He made his major league debut that day versus the Philadelphia Phillies, pitching one inning in relief.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1112029/2019/08/01/extra-baggs-sam-selmans-long-road-frustration-from-dereck-rodriguez-and-more-after-the-giants-lose-a-series-in-philadelphia/|title=Extra Baggs: Sam Selman's long road|author=Andrew Baggarly|work=The Athletic|date=August 1, 2019|access-date=August 2, 2019}} In 2019 with the Double–A Richmond Flying Squirrels and Triple–A Sacramento River Cats, he was a combined 3–2 with a 1.80 ERA in 43 games (1 start) in which he pitched 55 innings and struck out 94 batters (striking out 15.4 batters per 9 innings).{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=selman001sam |title=Sam Selman Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |date= |access-date=2019-11-14}} In 2019 with the Giants he was 0–0 with a 4.35 ERA in 10 relief appearances in which he pitched {{fraction|10|1|3}} innings and struck out 10 batters.

In his minor league career through 2019, in {{fraction|531|1|3}} career innings he averaged 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings. In 24 games for the Giants in 2020, Selman pitched to a 3.72 ERA with 23 strikeouts in {{fraction|19|1|3}} innings pitched.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/2020/12/2/22122534/san-francisco-giants-sam-selman-season-review|title=Sam Selman pitched more than you remember|first=Brady|last=Klopfer|date=December 2, 2020|website=McCovey Chronicles}}

=Los Angeles Angels=

On July 30, 2021, Selman was traded to the Los Angeles Angels along with Ivan Armstrong and José Marte in exchange for Tony Watson.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/angels/news/angels-2021-trade-deadline|title=Pitching talent comes Halos' way in 2 deals|work=MLB.com|date=July 30, 2021|first=Rhett|last= Bollinger}} In 18 appearances for the Angels, Selman struggled to a 6.35 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 17.0 innings pitched. On December 1, the Angels designated Selman for assignment.{{cite web| url = https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/32767034/los-angeles-angels-re-sign-closer-raisel-iglesias-58-million-deal| title = Los Angeles Angels re-sign closer Raisel Iglesias to $58 million deal| date = December 2, 2021}} However, Selman remained in DFA limbo for over 3 months after the 2021-22 Major League Baseball lockout froze transactions until March 10, 2022.{{cite web | url=https://aroundthefoghorn.com/posts/former-sf-giants-southpaw-stuck-in-dfa-limbo-01fp0vfd1c4p | title=Former SF Giants southpaw stuck in DFA limbo | date=December 4, 2021 }}

=Oakland Athletics=

On March 13, 2022, Selman was claimed off waivers by the Oakland Athletics.{{cite web | url=https://www.athleticsnation.com/2022/3/13/22975618/oakland-as-claim-waivers-sam-selman-angels | title=A's claim pitcher Sam Selman off waivers | date=March 13, 2022 }} On April 7, Selman was designated for assignment by the Athletics, and sent outright to the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators on April 11.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/athletics-select-five-players-designate-sam-selman.html|title = Athletics Select Five Players, Designate Sam Selman|last=Franco|first=Anthony|website=mlbraderumors.com|date=April 7, 2022|access-date=April 7, 2022}} On April 18, Selman was added to the Athletics' roster as a COVID-19 substitute.{{cite news |title=A's Place Six Players On COVID IL, Promote Three Players|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/04/as-place-six-players-on-covid-il-promote-three-players.html |access-date=April 18, 2022 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |date=April 18, 2022|last=Franco|first=Anthony}} Selman pitched {{frac|2|2|3}} scoreless innings with five strikeouts against the Texas Rangers in his only appearance before being returned to Triple-A on April 23.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/athletics-sam-selman-sent-back-to-minors/ | title=Athletics' Sam Selman: Sent back to minors | date=April 23, 2022 }} The Athletics promoted Selman back to the major leagues on May 29.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-a-s-recall-tapia-and-select-selman-and-rhp-markel-from-las-vegas | title=A's recall RHP Tapia and select LHP Selman and RHP Markel from Las Vegas; LHPS Kolarek and Logue and RHP Lemoine optioned to Las Vegas | website=MLB.com }} In 16 total appearances for Oakland, Selman registered a 4.91 ERA with 18 strikeouts across {{fraction|18|1|3}} innings pitched. On November 3, Selman was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple–A.{{Cite web|title=Athletics' Sam Selman: Outrighted to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/athletics-sam-selman-outrighted-to-triple-a-857752/amp/|access-date=June 29, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} He elected free agency following the season on November 10.{{Cite web|title=2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2022-23-minor-league-free-agents-for-all-30-mlb-teams/?amphtml|access-date=June 20, 2023|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 13, 2022 |language=en}}

=High Point Rockers=

On June 20, 2023, Selman signed with the High Point Rockers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.{{cite web | url=https://www.atlanticleague.com/stats/transactions/ | title=Transactions – Atlantic League Pro Baseball }} In 29 appearances for the Rockers, he posted a 2.79 ERA with 38 strikeouts across 29 innings pitched. Selman became a free agent following the season.