Tommy Layne

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Tommy Layne

|image = Tommy Layne on May 1, 2015.jpg

|caption = Layne pitching for the Red Sox in 2015

|position = Pitcher

|team =

|number =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1984|11|2}}

|birth_place = St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.

|bats = Left

|throws = Left

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 14

|debutyear = 2012

|debutteam = San Diego Padres

|finalleague = MLB

|finaldate = June 10

|finalyear = 2017

|finalteam = New York Yankees

|statleague = MLB

|stat1label = Win–loss record

|stat1value = 8–5

|stat2label = Earned run average

|stat2value = 3.61

|stat3label = Strikeouts

|stat3value = 137

|teams=

San Diego Padres ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2013}})
Boston Red Sox ({{mlby|2014}}–{{mlby|2016}})
New York Yankees ({{mlby|2016}}–{{mlby|2017}})

}}

Thomas Kevin Layne (born November 2, 1984) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, and New York Yankees.

Amateur career

Layne attended Fort Zumwalt South High School in St. Peters, Missouri, where he played baseball and soccer.{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0FAF577EB12F7AAD&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Bulldogs Break Open a Close One|first=Joe|last=Lyons|page=19| work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch | date=May 10, 2003|access-date=August 9, 2016}} {{subscription required}}{{cite news| url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SL&p_theme=sl&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F69623179FEB250&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Bulldogs Goalkeeper Stops Warriors|first=Joe|last=Lyons|page=B3| work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch | date=October 9, 2002|access-date=August 9, 2016}} {{subscription required}} He then enrolled at Southwestern Illinois College where he played college baseball for two years. He then played at the University of Central Missouri for one year, before transferring to Mount Olive College in Mount Olive, North Carolina, where he played for the Mount Olive Trojans. In 2007, Layne was named an All-American and Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Year.{{cite web|title=Mount Olive's Layne Called Up To Major Leagues|url=http://www.witn.com/sports/headlines/Mount-Olives-Layne-Called-Up-To-Major-Leagues-166203566.html|publisher=WITN.com|access-date=March 4, 2013|date=August 14, 2012}}

Professional career

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

The Arizona Diamondbacks drafted Layne in the 26th round of the 2007 MLB Draft. Layne progressed steadily up the minor league ladder over five seasons in the Diamondbacks' system and was promoted to the Triple-A Reno Aces in early 2011. Over three seasons, Layne had posted a 3.82 earned run average (ERA) working exclusively as a starter in Double-A for the Diamondbacks, but struggled in his time at Triple-A, accumulating a 6.21 ERA in 15 games started and 17 relief appearances in 2011.

=San Diego Padres=

The San Diego Padres acquired Layne from the Diamondbacks on May 3, 2012, for cash considerations.{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/padres-call-up-lhp-tom-layne-from-double-a-designate-lhp-alex-hinshaw-for-assignment/2012/08/14/f41e2704-e652-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_story.html |title=Padres call up LHP Tom Layne from Double-A, designate LHP Alex Hinshaw for assignment |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2012-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201030431/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/padres-call-up-lhp-tom-layne-from-double-a-designate-lhp-alex-hinshaw-for-assignment/2012/08/14/f41e2704-e652-11e1-9739-eef99c5fb285_story.html |archive-date=February 1, 2019 |url-status=dead }} Layne made 5 starts and notched a 7.77 ERA for the Triple-A Tucson Padres before he was demoted to the Double-A San Antonio Missions and began working out of the bullpen. Layne was noted as having a "rubber arm" and he enjoyed having the chance to pitch every day, so he welcomed the transition to a reliever role.{{cite news|last=Jenkins|first=Chris|title=Life in the Fast Layne|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/aug/15/life-fast-layne/|access-date=August 19, 2012|newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=August 15, 2012}} Layne had more success at Double-A, posting a 3.28 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 35{{fraction|2|3}} innings.

The Padres promoted Layne to the major leagues on August 14.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_21311372/padres-call-up-left-hander-tom-layne-from |title=Padres call up left-hander Tom Layne from Double-A – San Jose Mercury News |work=Mercurynews.com |access-date=2012-08-14}} Layne made his Major League debut the same night against the Atlanta Braves, striking out the side in his one inning. Layne remained with the Padres for the rest of 2012, working out of the bullpen. He didn't allow a run in his first 11 appearances. Layne earned his first win as a Major Leaguer on September 4 when he struck out Adrián González, Matt Kemp, and Hanley Ramírez in order in the 10th inning.{{cite web|last=Moore|first=Jack|title=Tom Layne Emerges From Padres Bullpen|url=http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/tom-layne-emerges-from-padres-bullpen/|publisher=FanGraphs|access-date=March 4, 2013|date=September 6, 2012}} Layne finished the season with a 3.24 ERA and 25 strike-outs versus 3 walks in 16{{fraction|2|3}} innings over 26 appearances. Layne was designated for assignment on October 25, 2013.

=Boston Red Sox=

Layne signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox on November 10, 2013. He was called up for the night game of a day-night doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles on July 5, 2014.{{Citation

| last=Mullen

| first=Maureen

| title=Red Sox promote Tommy Layne for doubleheader

| newspaper=Boston.com

| url=https://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/extra_bases/2014/07/lhp_tommy_layne_joining_red_sox_for_game_2_of_doub.html

| access-date=July 5, 2014 }} After the game, he was optioned to the Triple A Pawtucket Red Sox.{{Citation

| title=Red Sox Transactions

| url=http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=bos#month=7&year=2014&team_id=111

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205012045/http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=bos#month=7&year=2014&team_id=111

| url-status=dead

| archive-date=February 5, 2007

| access-date=July 7, 2014}} As a result of a number of trades at the 2014 trade deadline, Layne was recalled back to the Boston Red Sox.{{Citation | last=Speier

| first=Alex

| title=SOURCES: RED SOX TO CALL UP LHP TOMMY LAYNE

| url=http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2014/08/01/sources-red-sox-to-call-up-lhp-tommy-layne/

| access-date=August 16, 2014 }}

In 2016, Layne pitched to a 3.77 ERA in 34 games for the Red Sox. After they acquired Fernando Abad at the trade deadline, the Red Sox designated Layne for assignment on August 2{{Cite web|url=http://www.csnne.com/boston-red-sox/benintendi-abad-added-red-sox-roster-layne-martinez-dfad|title = Benintendi, Abad added to Red Sox roster; Layne, Martinez DFA'd}} and released him on August 6.

=New York Yankees=

The New York Yankees signed Layne on August 9, 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2016/08/09/yankees-sign-former-red-sox-reliever-tommy-layne/GgfGGIsHrMOFa0nVpj6MvN/story.html|title = Yankees sign former Red Sox reliever Tommy Layne - the Boston Globe| website=The Boston Globe }}

Layne made 19 appearances for the Yankees in 2017, struggling to a 7.62 ERA with 9 strikeouts across 13 innings pitched. He was designated for assignment by New York on June 10, 2017. Layne cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders on June 13.{{Cite web|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 6/13/17|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/06/angels-outright-shane-robinson.html|access-date=January 27, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}} He was released by the Yankees organization on July 4.

=Los Angeles Dodgers=

Layne signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 19, 2017, and was assigned to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers. He pitched in three games for them and was released by the Dodgers organization on July 31.{{Cite web|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 7/31/17|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/07/minor-mlb-transactions-73117.html|access-date=July 19, 2024|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}

=Boston Red Sox (second stint)=

Layne signed a minor league contract to return to the Boston Red Sox on February 24, 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/02/minor-mlb-transactions-22418.html|title=Minor MLB Transactions: 2/24/18}} He was released on May 18, after failing to make an appearance in a game due to recovery from an injury.{{Cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/player/index.jsp?sid=t533&player_id=518927#/career/R/pitching/2018/ALL|title=Tommy Layne Stats, Highlights, Bio {{!}} Pawtucket Red Sox Stats|website=Pawtucket Red Sox|language=en|access-date=2018-05-19}}

=St. Louis Cardinals=

On June 15, 2018, Layne signed a minor league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. He spent the remainder of the year with the Triple–A Memphis Redbirds, also appearing in two games for the Double–A Springfield Cardinals. In 27 appearances for Memphis, Layne recorded a 1.35 ERA with 34 strikeouts and 3 saves across {{fraction|26|2|3}} innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 2.{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2018|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2018/|access-date=May 22, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|language=en}}

Layne re–signed with the Cardinals on a minor league contract on November 6, 2018. Layne was released by the organization on July 3, 2019.

Personal life

Layne is the youngest of four brothers. He currently resides in Rye, New York.{{cite news|last=Heilbrunn|first=Annie|title=Ten questions with Padres' Tom Layne|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/aug/25/tom-layne-padres/|access-date=March 4, 2013|newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=August 25, 2012}}