10. Andy Ashby in 2000
I quickly peeked at Ashby’s stats and saw the number 1810.20. For a second I thought it was his earned run average, but was relieved when I noticed I was looking under the innings pitched column. That sums up Ashby.
Ashby was originally signed by the Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1986. He made his major league debut with the Phillies in 1991 and went 1-5 with a 6.00 ERA. A year later, he was 3-10 with a 7.54 ERA and 1.70 WHIP.
The Colorado Rockies took him in an expansion draft and was eventually traded to the San Diego Padres, where he helped win the National League Division Series in 1998, winning 17 games. He made the National League All Star teams in 1998 and 1999.
As if he didn’t have enough success with the Phillies earlier in his career, he was brought back in 1999 in a trade involving Steve Montgomery, Carlton Loewer, and Adam Eaton.
Hoping he’d bring his Padre success to Philly, Ashby responded with a record of 5-7, 5.68 ERA and 1.49 WHIP. In the 101.1 innings he pitched, he allowed 113 hits and 75 runs, 64 earned.
At Veterans Stadium, Ashby had a 5.51 ERA. In 34.2 innings, he sported a 7.27 ERA in the month of May. Batters hit .288 off the right hander.
Prior to the trade deadline, Ashby was traded to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Bruce Chen and Jimmy Osting. Including his stint with the Braves in 2000, left handed batters compiled .312 average off Ashby. He also allowed a total of 29 home runs in 2000.
The highlight of his Phillies carrer was becoming the 24th pitcher in major league history to have a pefect inning, striking out 3 batters in 9 pitches against the Cinicinatti Reds in 1991. He had a 6.14 ERA during his Phillies career.
Ashby had Tommy John surgery in 2003 and last pitched with the San Diego Padres in 2004. The Padres signed him again in 2006, but was released from spring training, and eventually retired.
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