Nick Adenhart
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Nick Adenhart | |
|---|---|
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| Pitcher | |
| Born: August 24, 1986 Silver Spring, Maryland |
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| Died: April 9, 2009 (aged 22) Fullerton, California |
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| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| May 1, 2008 for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| April 8, 2009 for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | |
| Career statistics | |
| Win-Loss record | 1-0 |
| Earned run average | 6.00 |
| Strikeouts | 9 |
| Teams | |
Nicholas James Adenhart (August 24, 1986 – April 9, 2009) was a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
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[edit] Career
Adenhart was drafted straight out of Williamsport High School in Williamsport, Maryland by the Anaheim Angels. He had been projected as a top 10 draft pick, but an elbow injury two weeks before the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft forced him to have Tommy John surgery and dropped him to the 413th overall pick in the 14th round.[1]
Adenhart became a top-ranked prospect in the Angels organization, ranked by Baseball America as the 90th best prospect in baseball and the sixth in the Angels organization in 2006, as the 34th best prospect in baseball and second in the Angels organization in 2007, as the 24th best prospect in baseball and 2nd in the Angels organization in 2008 and as the best prospect in the Angels organization going into 2009.[2] In 2006, Adenhart played in the All-Star Futures Game and was a member of the United States Olympic Qualifying team.
He made his major league debut as the starting pitcher on May 1, 2008, against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, California. He gave up five earned runs and walked five in two innings, earning a no-decision.[3]
Adenhart earned his only career victory on May 12, 2008, against the Chicago White Sox in Anaheim, giving up four earned runs in 5⅔ innings en route to a 10-7 Angels victory.[4]
Adenhart opened the 2009 season as the third starter in the Angels' rotation. In his final game on April 8, 2009, he earned a no-decision, giving up seven hits and no runs while striking out five batters and walking three batters in six innings against the Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.[5]
[edit] Death
Shortly after midnight on April 9, 2009, Adenhart was killed in a car accident in Fullerton, California, hours after being the starting pitcher in a game against the Oakland Athletics. Police reported that an individual driving a red Toyota Sienna minivan ran a red light, hitting a gray Mitsubishi Eclipse in which Adenhart was a passenger, sending the Mitsubishi crashing into a telephone pole. The driver of the Mitsubishi and one passenger were pronounced dead at the scene.[6] Adenhart and the third passenger were taken to University of California, Irvine Medical Center, where Adenhart died as a result of his injuries.[7]
The driver of the minivan fled the scene on foot, but was later apprehended and identified as Andrew Thomas Gallo, 22, of Riverside, California.[8] On May 27, 2009, Gallo was indicted by the Orange County grand jury on three counts of murder, one count each of felony hit-and-run, driving under the influence and causing injury, and driving with a .08 percent blood alcohol or higher and causing injury. Gallo had a blood alcohol content of .19 percent two hours after the crash. He was also driving with a suspended license.[9] On June 8, 2009, Gallo entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment.[10]
[edit] Memorials
The Angels postponed the game for the day immediately after Adenhart's death. In remembrance of Adenhart, for the rest of the 2009 season, a black No. 34 patch will be placed above the heart on Angels uniforms, his locker in the Angel Stadium of Anaheim clubhouse will remain as it was, and a locker will be assigned to him on road games.[11] The team often hangs one of Adenhart's jerseys in their dugout during games.[12] A black and white photo of Adenhart along with his name and number was added to the center field fence at Angel Stadium of Anaheim.[11] The Angels established the Nick Adenhart Pitcher of the Year award given to an Angels pitcher for outstanding performance throughout the regular season.[13]
[edit] References
- ^ Kubatko, Roch (August 1, 2004). "Adenhart worth wait for Angels". Baltimore Sun. http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-adenhart20409,0,6232898.story. Retrieved on April 10, 2009.
- ^ "Nick Adenhart". Baseball America. http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/A/Nick-Adenhart.shtml. Retrieved on April 11, 2009.
- ^ Scarr, Mike (May 2, 2008). "Angels struggle in finale". MLB.com. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080502&content_id=2625889. Retrieved on April 11, 2009.
- ^ Klima, John (May 12, 2008). "Guerrero's big bat comes alive". MLB.com. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080512&content_id=2687510. Retrieved on April 11, 2009.
- ^ Spencer, Lyle (April 9, 1009). "A's rally off Angels bullpen". MLB.com. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090408&content_id=4170072. Retrieved on April 11, 2009.
- ^ Goffard, Christopher; Hanley, Christine (April 10, 2009). "For the Angels, a promising young arm arrives -- and then is lost". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-angels-adenhart10-2009apr10,0,118557.story. Retrieved on April 10, 2009.
- ^ Singer, Tom (April 9, 2009). "Angels' Adenhart killed in accident". MLB.com. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090409&content_id=4179446. Retrieved on April 9, 2009.
- ^ "Angels pitcher killed in crash". Associated Press. April 10, 2009. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4055343. Retrieved on April 10, 2009.
- ^ Welborn, Larry (May 27, 2009). "Grand jury indicts driver in crash that killed Angels pitcher". Orange County Register. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/gallo-driving-fullerton-2430648-alcohol-three. Retrieved on May 28, 2009.
- ^ Welborn, Larry (June 8, 2009). "Not guilty plea in crash that killed Angels pitcher". Orange County Register. http://www.ocregister.com/articles/fullerton-gallo-crash-2451378-student-trial. Retrieved on 2009-06-08.
- ^ a b Bollinger, Rhett (April 10, 2009). "Adenhart honored in pregame ceremony". MLB.com. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090410&content_id=4211894. Retrieved on April 11, 2009.
- ^ Curry, Jack (May 2, 2009). "Angels Are Maintaining Adenhart’s Presence". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/03/sports/baseball/03angels.html. Retrieved on June 21, 2009.
- ^ Quinn, Roberts (June 21, 2009). "Halos create Adenhart, Gomez awards". http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090621&content_id=5461160. Retrieved on June 22, 2009.
[edit] External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube
- MLB.com Tribute Page
- Nick Adenhart at Find a Grave
