Steve Delabar

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Steve Delabar

| image = Steve Delabar 2012.jpg

| image_size = 250

| caption = Delabar with the Toronto Blue Jays

| position = Pitcher

| number =

| bats = Right

| throws = Right

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|7|17}}

| birth_place = Fort Knox, Kentucky, U.S.

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = September 11

| debutyear = 2011

| debutteam = Seattle Mariners

| debut2league = NPB

| debut2date =

| debut2year = 2016

| debut2team = Hiroshima Toyo Carp

|finalleague=MLB

|finaldate=May 21

|finalyear=2016

|finalteam=Cincinnati Reds

|final2league=NPB

|final2date=

|final2year=2016

|final2team=Hiroshima Toyo Carp

| statleague = MLB

| statyear =

| stat1label = Win–loss record

| stat1value = 15–9

| stat2label = Earned run average

| stat2value = 4.07

| stat3label = Strikeouts

| stat3value = 242

| stat2league = NPB

| stat2year =

| stat21label = Win–loss record

| stat21value = 0–0

| stat22label = Earned run average

| stat22value = 0.00

| stat23label = Strikeouts

| stat23value = 4

| teams =

Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2011}}–{{mlby|2012}})
Toronto Blue Jays ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2015}})
Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|2016}})
Hiroshima Toyo Carp ({{npby|2016}})

| awards =

All-Star (2013)

}}

Steven Edward Delabar (born July 17, 1983) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. A native of Kentucky, Delabar attended Central Hardin High School and Volunteer State Community College. He was selected late in the 2003 MLB draft by the San Diego Padres and began his minor league career in 2004. He played in the low minor leagues for several seasons until he sustained a severe elbow injury in 2009.

In 2010, Delabar worked as a substitute teacher and then became an assistant high school baseball coach. Delabar helped to implement an arm conditioning program for pitchers at the high school and found that his own pitching velocity improved significantly. After a tryout with the Seattle Mariners in early 2011, Delabar was assigned to the team's Class-A affiliate. He progressed to Advanced-A, Double-A, and Triple-A, then to the major leagues. His MLB debut came late in 2011 at the age of 28. He was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012, and played with them through the 2015 season.

Early career

Steve Delabar went to Central Hardin High School in Cecilia, Kentucky. where he was drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the 43rd round of the 2002 MLB draft, but elected to go to college. He attended Volunteer State Community College. After one year there, he was drafted in the 29th round, 851st overall, in the 2003 Major League Baseball draft by the San Diego Padres.

Professional career

=Minor league career=

Delabar did not play professionally in 2003. He started the 2004 season with the Arizona League Padres, going 3–4 with a 4.37 ERA before earning a promotion to the Single-A Short-Season Eugene Emeralds. He played all of 2005 with Eugene, going 4–6 in 16 starts with a 4.76 ERA. He played 2006 with the Single-A Fort Wayne TinCaps, then the Wizards, earning an 8–9 record with a 3.41 ERA in 27 starts with 118 strikeouts. He started 2007 with Single-A Advanced Lake Elsinore Storm, but was demoted back to Fort Wayne after registering a 5.59 ERA out of the bullpen. He started 2008 with Fort Wayne, but was cut after a 5.27 ERA as a relief pitcher.

On June 7, he signed a deal with the independent Florence Freedom of the Frontier League, where he played four games before signing with the independent Brockton Rox of the Canadian-American Association, going 3–3 in 11 starts with a 3.01 ERA. He played all of 2009 with Brockton, where he had a 3.36 ERA in 12 appearances. His 2009 season ended when he suffered a fractured right elbow.{{cite web |last=Baker |first=Geoff |author-link=Geoff Baker (journalist) |date=September 6, 2011 |title=Mariners | Mariner Steve Delabar goes from classroom to majors |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/mariners/2016127621_mari07.html |access-date=September 15, 2011 |work=Seattle Times |publisher=}} The injury was so serious that a steel plate and nine screws were embedded to stabilize the elbow during the surgery.

He did not play professionally in 2010, working as a substitute teacher in his hometown of Elizabethtown, Kentucky at John Hardin High School. He also played slow pitch softball, where he won the 2010 Louisville Invitational Tournament Miken Homerun Derby.{{cite web |last=Caple |first=Jim |author-link=Jim Caple |date=September 14, 2011 |title=Steve Delabar, Alex Liddi, Austin Romine exemplify great MLB stories of September |url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story/_/id/6968917/steve-delabar-alex-liddi-austin-romine-exemplify-great-mlb-stories-september |access-date=September 15, 2011 |website=ESPN |publisher=}} He began working as an assistant baseball coach at the high school. While introducing an arm conditioning program to his high school players, Delabar's own fastball returned to the 92-97 mph range.{{cite web |last=Baker |first=Geoff |author-link=Geoff Baker (journalist) |date=September 7, 2011 |title=Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: The Steve Delabar Story |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/coming-soon-to-a-theatre-near-you-the-steve-delabar-story/ |access-date=March 30, 2013 |website=Seattle Times |publisher=}} Delabar signed a minor league deal with the Mariners for 2011. He was assigned to Single-A Advanced High Desert Mavericks before being promoted to the Double-A Jackson Generals and the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers.

=Major league career=

==Seattle Mariners (2011–2012)==

Delabar was called up by the Seattle Mariners from the minor leagues on September 6, {{mlby|2011}}. He made his MLB debut on September 11 against the Kansas City Royals. Delabar recorded his first major league win on September 14, against the New York Yankees.

==Toronto Blue Jays (2012–2015)==

Delabar was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 30, 2012, for outfielder Eric Thames.{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=401918|title=Snider, Thames traded for Lincoln, Delabar in separate moves|work=TSN.ca|date=July 31, 2012|access-date=July 31, 2012}} On August 13, he struck out 4 batters in the 10th inning and recorded the win in a 3–2 victory over the Chicago White Sox.{{cite web|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/delabar-makes-history-in-blue-jays-walkoff-win/article4479881/|title=Delabar makes history in Blue Jays' walkoff win|work=TheGlobeandMail.com|last=Macleod|first=Robert|date=August 13, 2012|access-date=August 13, 2012}} In doing so, Delabar became the first pitcher in major league history to record four strikeouts in an extra inning.{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=403052|title=Cooper drives in winning run as Jays beat White Sox in 11th|work=TSN.ca|date=August 13, 2012|access-date=August 14, 2012}}

Delabar was named a Final Vote candidate for the 2013 All-Star Game.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.si.com/2013/07/06/2013-mlb-all-star-rosters-final-vote/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709213233/http://mlb.si.com/2013/07/06/2013-mlb-all-star-rosters-final-vote/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 9, 2013|title=2013 All-Star Rosters and Final Vote candidates|last=Corcoran|first=Cliff|publisher=mlb.si.com|date=July 6, 2013|access-date=July 6, 2013}} He posted a 5–1 record with a 1.58 ERA and 57 strikeouts, the most for an American League reliever,{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130706&content_id=52893174&vkey=news_tor&c_id=tor|title=Delabar goes from teacher to Final Vote candidate|last=Chisholm|first=Gregor|work=MLB.com|date=July 6, 2013|access-date=July 6, 2013}} in 40 innings over 35 games played prior to the All-Star Game roster announcement. Delabar earned his first career save on July 10. On July 11, it was announced that he had been elected to the All-Star game in the Final Vote contest, receiving 9.6 million votes.{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=427519|title=Jays' Delabar, Braves' Freeman elected to All-Star game|publisher=TSN.ca|date=July 11, 2013|access-date=July 11, 2013}} Delabar pitched {{frac|1|3}} of an inning and struck out Buster Posey on five pitches in the All-Star Game.

On July 30, 2013, while facing the Oakland Athletics, Delabar struck out all three batters in the eighth inning on nine total pitches. He was the 48th major league pitcher to accomplish an immaculate inning.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.thescore.com/djf/2013/07/31/steve-delabars-immaculate-inning-from-last-night/|title=Steve Delabar's "Immaculate Inning" from last night|last=Johnson|first=Scott|publisher=TheScore.com|date=July 31, 2013|access-date=July 31, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130801194553/http://blogs.thescore.com/djf/2013/07/31/steve-delabars-immaculate-inning-from-last-night/|archive-date=August 1, 2013}}{{cite web |title=Immaculate Innings: 9 Pitches – 9 Strikes – 3 Outs |url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/feats/feats17.shtml |access-date=April 28, 2013 |work=Baseball Almanac |publisher=}} Delabar also became the fourth pitcher in major league history to both strike out four batters in one inning and throw an immaculate inning, joining Bob Gibson, A.J. Burnett, and Félix Hernández.{{Cite web |title=Immaculate innings: 3 strikeouts on 9 pitches |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/immaculate-innings-c265720420 |access-date=January 27, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Pitchers with 4 strikeouts in one inning |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/four-strikeout-innings-c265544090 |access-date=January 27, 2025 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} On August 4, Delabar was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation.{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=429120|title=Jays RP Delabar placed on DL with shoulder inflammation|publisher=TSN.ca|date=August 4, 2013|access-date=August 4, 2013}} In total for 2013, he posted a 5–5 record, 3.22 ERA, and 82 strikeouts in 58{{frac|2|3}} innings.

After opening the 2014 season with a 4.68 ERA and 16 walks through 25 innings of work, Delabar was optioned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on June 17, 2014, to make room for Munenori Kawasaki.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/kawasaki-takes-delabars-place-on-jays-roster/|title=Blue Jays option reliever Delabar to triple-A|work=Sportsnet|date=June 17, 2014|access-date=June 17, 2014}} He was called back up on June 19, without pitching for Buffalo, after Brett Cecil was placed on the disabled list.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-expect-to-recall-reliever-delabar/|title=Blue Jays recall Delabar as Cecil hits DL|last=Nicholson-Smith|first=Ben|work=Sportsnet|date=June 19, 2014|access-date=June 19, 2014}} He was then optioned back to the Bisons on June 20. When the major league rosters expanded on September 1, Delabar was not among the names announced to be called up. On September 2 the organization announced that he had been sent home for the remainder of the season to rest in preparation for the 2015 season.{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20140902&content_id=92734990¬ebook_id=92747180&vkey=notebook_tor&c_id=tor|title=Delabar sent home to rest, regroup for 2015|last=Chisholm|first=Gregor|work=MLB.com|date=September 2, 2014|access-date=September 3, 2014}} In 2014, Delabar posted a 3–0 record, 4.91 ERA, 21 strikeouts, and a 1.48 WHIP in 30 appearances (25{{frac|2|3}} innings).

Despite a strong showing during 2015 spring training, Delabar was optioned to minor league camp on March 26.{{cite web|url=http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/114940850/blue-jays-option-reliever-steve-delabar-in-unexpected-move|title=Delabar optioned by Blue Jays; move shocks reliever|last=Chisholm|first=Gregor|work=MLB.com|date=March 26, 2015|access-date=March 26, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328182726/http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/114940850/blue-jays-option-reliever-steve-delabar-in-unexpected-move|archive-date=March 28, 2015}} He was recalled from Buffalo on May 3.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-option-castro-delabar-jenkins-recalled/|title=Blue Jays option Castro; Delabar, Jenkins recalled|work=Sportsnet|date=May 3, 2015|access-date=May 3, 2015}} He was optioned back to Buffalo on July 25 when Aaron Sanchez was activated from the disabled list. Delabar was recalled in September, but was not added to the Blue Jays postseason roster. He finished the 2015 campaign with a 2–0 record, 5.22 ERA, and 30 strikeouts in 29{{frac|1|3}} innings.

On January 15, 2016, Delabar and the Blue Jays avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $835,000 contract.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-avoid-arbitration-with-saunders-delabar/|title=Blue Jays avoid arbitration with six players, not Donaldson|last=Nicholson-Smith|first=Ben|work=Sportsnet|date=January 15, 2016|access-date=January 16, 2016}} On March 29, the Blue Jays released Delabar.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-release-former-star-steve-delabar/|title=Blue Jays release Choate, former all-star Delabar|work=Sportsnet|date=March 29, 2016|access-date=March 29, 2016}}

==Cincinnati Reds (2016)==

On April 2, 2016, Delabar signed a minor league deal with the Cincinnati Reds.{{cite web|url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2016/04/03/cincinnati-reds-pitching-notes-dan-straily-majors-steve-delabar-triple-/82581430/|title=Cincinnati Reds pitching notes: Dan Straily in majors, Steve Delabar in Triple-A|last=Buchanan|first=Zach|work=cincinnati.com|date=April 3, 2016|access-date=April 3, 2016}} On May 7, his contract was purchased by the Reds.{{Cite tweet |number=729028888920240128 |user=@Reds |title=The Reds have recalled from Class AAA Louisville RHP Drew Hayes (#53), selected from Louisville the contract of RHP Steve Delabar (#56)... |author=Cincinnati Reds |date=May 7, 2016}} On May 17, in a game against the Cleveland Indians, Delabar walked four consecutive batters with the bases loaded, allowing four runs to score. Delabar was designated for assignment by the Reds on May 21{{cite web|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2016/05/reds-designate-steve-delabar-for-assignment.html|title=Reds Designate Steve Delabar For Assignment|last=Byrne|first=Connor|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=May 21, 2016|access-date=May 21, 2016}} and sent outright to the Triple-A Louisville Bats on May 24. On June 24, Delabar was released by the Reds.{{cite web |date=June 24, 2016 |title=Steve Delabar: Leaves Reds |url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/steve-delabar-leaves-reds/ |access-date=June 24, 2016 |website=CBSSports.com |publisher=}}

==Hiroshima Toyo Carp (2016)==

On June 25, 2016, Delabar signed with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball.{{cite web|url=https://fan-interference.com/2016/06/25/steve-delabar-signs-with-npb-hiroshima-carp/|title=Steve Delabar signs with NPB Hiroshima Toyo Carp|work=fan-interference.com|date=June 25, 2016|access-date=June 25, 2016}} He became a free agent following the season.

==Cleveland Indians==

Delabar signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians on January 13, 2017.{{cite web |date=January 13, 2017 |title=Indians invite a pair to Major League camp |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/indians-invite-a-pair-to-major-league-camp-213480260?msockid=01c9434689f76690100f563d88de67cb |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |website=MLB.com}} The deal included an invitation to the Indians' 2017 spring training camp. On April 24, Delabar was suspended for 80 games after testing positive for ostarine.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/04/steve-delabar-suspension-peds-indians.html|title=Steve Delabar Suspended 80 Games For Failed PED Test|last=Adams|first=Steve|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=April 24, 2017|access-date=April 24, 2017}} Delabar was released by the Indians on July 5, 2017.

==Texas Rangers==

On January 4, 2018, Delabar signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers with an invitation to spring training.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rangers-steve-delabar-agrees-to-terms-with-rangers/|title=Rangers' Steve Delabar: Agrees to terms with Rangers|work=cbssports.com|date=January 4, 2018|access-date=January 4, 2018}} He was released on April 20.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/04/rangers-release-steve-delabar.html|title=Rangers Release Steve Delabar|last=Todd|first=Jeff|work=mlbtraderumors.com|date=April 20, 2018|access-date=April 21, 2018}}

=Retirement=

On February 4, 2019, Delabar announced that he would no longer pursue playing opportunities. He said this during an interview on the Outta The Park with Barry Davis podcast.{{Cite web |date=February 4, 2019 |title=The Spin: Monday Feb 4 2019. Steve Delabar, Perry Lefko, Damon Bennett. |url=https://www.nsrmedia.ca/posts/the-spin-monday-feb-4-2019-steve-delabar-perry-lefko-damon-bennett/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207015041/https://www.nsrmedia.ca/posts/the-spin-monday-feb-4-2019-steve-delabar-perry-lefko-damon-bennett/ |archive-date=February 7, 2019 |website=nsrmedia.ca}}{{Cite web |date=February 4, 2019 |title=Steve Delabar To Retire |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/02/steve-delabar-to-retire.html |access-date=January 27, 2025 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Steve Delabar talks about perfection, in everything from pitching, to lawn care.: Outta The Park {{!}} Podcast Episode |url=https://podbay.fm/p/outta-the-park/e/1628616600 |access-date=January 27, 2025 |website=Podbay |language=}}

Pitching style

Delabar threw three pitches: a four-seam fastball at an average of 95 mph, a slider averaging 87 mph that he threw occasionally to right-handed hitters, and a split-finger fastball that averaged 86.5 mph.{{Cite web |title=Steve Delabar - Stats - Pitch Type & Velo |url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/steve-delabar/11827/stats?position=P#pitch-type-velo |access-date=January 27, 2025 |website=FanGraphs Baseball |language=en}} All three pitches were excellent strikeout pitches, with whiff rates of 11 percent on his fastball, 17.6 percent on his slider, and 21.5 percent his the splitter.{{Cite web |title=Steve Delabar - Pitch Type Splits |url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/steve-delabar/11827/pitch-type-splits?position=P&data=pi&pitchtype=all |access-date=January 27, 2025 |website=FanGraphs Baseball |language=en}} The high whiff rates helped Delabar strike out 28.8 percent of batters he faced, above the major league average of 20 percent during his career.{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/delabst01.shtml|title=Steve Delabar Statistics and History – Baseball-Reference.com|work=Baseball-Reference.com|access-date=July 24, 2012}}