Peyton Cole Battenfield (born August 10, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Guardians.
| Peyton Battenfield | |
|---|---|
 Battenfield with the Columbus Clippers in 2022 | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: August 10, 1997 Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 12, 2023, for the Cleveland Guardians | |
| MLB statistics (through 2023) | |
| Win–loss record | 0–5 |
| Earned run average | 5.19 |
| Strikeouts | 27 |
| Teams | |
Amateur career
editBattenfield attended Verdigris High School in Verdigris, Oklahoma. As a senior he was The Oklahoman All-State Baseball Player of the Year.[1] After high school, he attended Oklahoma State University and played college baseball for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Professional career
editHouton Astros
editThe Houston Astros selected Battenfield in the ninth round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.[2][3] He made his professional debut that season with the Tri-City ValleyCats, going 2–1 with a 1.60 earned run average over 14 starts.[4]
Tampa Bay Rays
editOn January 9, 2020, the Astros traded Battenfield and Cal Stevenson to the Tampa Bay Rays for Austin Pruitt.[5] He did not play a minor league game in 2020 since the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] Battenfield began the 2021 with the High-A Bowling Green Hot Rods before being promoted to the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits.
Cleveland Indians / Guardians
editOn July 30, 2021, the Rays traded Battenfield to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Jordan Luplow and D. J. Johnson.[7] After the trade, he was assigned to the Double-A Akron RubberDucks.[8] Over 21 games (19 starts) between the three teams, he went 7–1 with a 2.53 earned run average and 131 strikeouts over 103 innings.[9]
Battenfield began the 2022 season with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. The Guardians selected Battenfield's contract as a COVID-19 replacement player on August 12, 2022.[10] He was returned to Columbus on August 15 without making appearance, becoming a phantom ballplayer. On the year, he started 28 games for Columbus, posting an 8-6 record and 3.63 ERA with 109 strikeouts in 153.2 innings pitched.
On April 10, 2023, the Guardians selected Battenfield's contract a second time.[11] He made his MLB debut as the Guardians' starting pitcher on April 12.[12] Battenfield pitched 42⁄3 innings, allowing no walks, striking out three, and allowing a single earned run.[13] He would go winless in his next four decisions, posting an 0–5 record and 5.19 ERA in 7 appearances (6 starts). On May 19, Battenfield was placed on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation.[14] He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 3.[15] On August 3, Battenfield was activated from the injured list and optioned to Triple–A Columbus.[16] The Guardians designated Battenfield for assignment on August 31.[17]
New York Mets
editOn September 2, 2023, Battenfield was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets, and was assigned to the Triple–A Syracuse Mets.[18] In 2 starts for the Mets, he allowed 6 runs on 10 hits with 4 strikeouts across 9.0 innings of work. Following the season on November 2, Battenfield was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Syracuse.[19] He elected free agency following the season on November 6.[20]
On February 28, 2024, Battenfield re-signed with the Mets on a minor league contract.[21] He was released by the organization on March 24.[22]
Colorado Rockies
editOn April 17, 2024, Battenfield signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies.[23] On November 6, he elected free agency.[24]
References
edit- ^ "All-State Baseball Player of the Year: Verdigris senior Peyton Battenfield grew into an unhittable force". June 18, 2016.
- ^ "Astros draft Verdigris alum Battenfield in 9th round". June 5, 2019.
- ^ "Verdigris alum Battenfield forgoes senior season at OSU, signs with Astros". June 17, 2019.
- ^ "ValleyCats pitcher". July 31, 2019.
- ^ "Rays complete three-player trade with Astros". mlb.com.
- ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com.
- ^ Bell, Mandy (July 30, 2021). "In 2 deals, Indians trade Eddie, get Straw". mlb.com.
- ^ "Peyton Battenfield makes impressive debut for RubberDucks".
- ^ "Thirteen Cleveland Guardians prospects who could break into the big leagues in 2022".
- ^ Franco, Anthony (August 10, 2022). "Guardians To Promote Peyton Battenfield". MLB Trade Rumors.
- ^ "Guardians' Peyton Battenfield: Called up from Triple-A". cbssports.com. April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
- ^ "Guardians' pitching prospect set to make MLB debut". WKBN.com. April 12, 2023. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- ^ "Battenfield's debut a blast on 'weird day' for Guardians". MLB.com. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- ^ "Guardians' Peyton Battenfield: Goes on IL with shoulder injury". cbssports.com. May 19, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- ^ "Guardians' Peyton Battenfield: Shifted to 60-day IL". cbssports.com. June 3, 2023. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
- ^ "Guardians' Peyton Battenfield: Activated from IL, optioned". cbssports.com. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
- ^ "Guardians grab Lucas Giolito as Angels castoffs find homes". ESPN.com. Associated Press. August 31, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
- ^ "Crawford's tiebreaking homer in 9th lifts 1st-place Mariners to 8-7 win over Mets". ESPN.com. Associated Press. September 2, 2023. Retrieved September 3, 2023.
- ^ Mets 2023 transaction tracker: Bryce Montes de Oca, Tim Locastro among six reportedly placed on outright waivers, 2023, retrieved November 3, 2023
- ^ "Peyton Battenfield: Heads to free agency". cbssports.com. November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
- ^ https://www.milb.com/player/peyton-battenfield-685410
- ^ https://www.milb.com/transactions/2024-03-24
- ^ "Rockies Sign Peyton Battenfield To Minors Contract". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2024/
External links
edit- Career statistics from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)