Joe Saunders

Lore & Background

Saunders played college baseball at Virginia Tech, where he compiled a 27–7 career record. He was drafted in the first round (12th overall) by the then Anaheim Angels. He made his MLB debut on August 16, 2005, against the Toronto Blue Jays. He was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks on July 25, 2010, in exchange for Dan Haren. He also played for the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers. He signed minor league contracts with the Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles in 2014, and with the Seattle Mariners in 2015.

In Their Own Story

The late-August evening sun was already going amber over the outfield wall when Saunders settled into his windup for the seventh inning. The count was 1-1 on a lefty, and the whole stadium had that low, hum-hum-hum energy you get when the crowd knows the pitcher is about to do something quiet and annoying. He pointed at the outside corner, nodded to the catcher, and delivered a slider that lived just off the black. The lefty took it. Strike two. The crowd didn't cheer—just exhaled, a collective *ahhh* that rolled down the stands. That was the Saunders sound. Not a roar. A sigh of relief. The next two batters swung early, both on the inside, and the seventh was over in three pitches. He walked off the mound, glove low, already thinking about the next lefty in the order.

Reader's Guide

Saunders is a right-handed pitcher. He relies on a fastball at around 89 to 91 MPH with sink, a curveball, a slider, and his best pitch, a changeup. He has never been a strikeout pitcher, with a K/9 of less than 6. He has been durable throughout his career.

Did You Know?

• Saunders was named the Angels Organization's Pitcher of the Year in 2005.
• He wore a Virginia Tech cap during a 2007 game to honor victims of the Virginia Tech massacre.
• He was the American League's first 9-game winner in 2008.
• He pitched the first major league complete game shutout of his career on May 9, 2009, against the Kansas City Royals.
• He was the winning pitcher for the Orioles in the 2012 Wild Card Game against the Texas Rangers.