Tyler Olson (baseball)

Tyler Ray Olson (born October 2, 1989) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, and Cleveland Indians.

Tyler Olson
Olson with the Cleveland Indians
Pitcher
Born: (1989-10-02) October 2, 1989 (age 35)
Spokane, Washington, U.S.
Batted: Right
Threw: Left
MLB debut
April 7, 2015, for the Seattle Mariners
Last MLB appearance
August 1, 2019, for the Cleveland Indians
MLB statistics
Win–loss record5–3
Earned run average3.83
Strikeouts94
Teams

Amateur career

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Olson attended University High School in Spokane Valley, Washington. He enrolled at Gonzaga University and pitched for the Gonzaga Bulldogs baseball team. He pitched for the Bulldogs as a freshman in 2009, but took a redshirt in 2010 when he suffered a shoulder subluxation. In 2012, his junior year, he was added to the Bulldogs' starting rotation, and pitched 110 innings.[1]

The Oakland Athletics selected Olson in the 17th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft. Olson did not sign with Oakland, returning to Gonzaga for his senior year.[1] As a senior, Olson had a 9-4 win–loss record and a 2.48 earned run average (ERA) in 101+23 innings pitched. He was named the West Coast Conference's Pitcher of the Year.[2]

Professional career

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Seattle Mariners

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The Seattle Mariners selected Olson in the seventh round, with the 207th overall selection, of the 2013 MLB Draft.[3][4] He signed with the Mariners and began his professional career with the Everett AquaSox of the Low–A Northwest League.[5] He started the 2014 season with the High Desert Mavericks of the High–A California League, and was promoted to the Jackson Generals of the Double–A Southern League during the season.[6]

The Mariners invited Olson to spring training in 2015.[7] He made the Mariners' Opening Day roster.[8] He made his Major League debut on April 7, 2015 and worked extremely efficiently, throwing only one pitch and getting two outs on a ground ball double play.[9] He went on the disabled list with a knee injury in May.[10] He was activated and optioned to the Tacoma Rainiers of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League (PCL) on June 2.[11] Olson finished the 2015 season with a 1–1 win–loss record and a 5.40 ERA in 11 relief appearances for the Mariners.[12]

New York Yankees

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Olson was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for cash considerations on December 18, 2015,[13] but was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on January 6, 2016.[14]

On January 12, 2016, the Dodgers traded Olson and infielder Ronald Torreyes to the New York Yankees in exchange for minor leaguer Rob Segedin and a player to be named later or cash.[12] He began the 2016 season with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders of the Triple–A International League, and was promoted to the major leagues on April 15.[15] The Yankees designated Olson for assignment on June 7.[16]

Kansas City Royals

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On June 14, 2016, the Kansas City Royals claimed Olson off of waivers and optioned him to the Omaha Storm Chasers of the PCL.[17] In 5 games for Omaha, he recorded a 2.84 ERA with 2 strikeouts across 6+13 innings pitched. Olson was designated for assignment following the promotion of Brooks Pounders on July 5.[18]

Cleveland Indians

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The Cleveland Indians claimed him off waivers from the Royals on July 9, 2016, and assigned him to the Columbus Clippers of the International League. The Indians designated him for assignment on August 4. On August 14, he was sent outright to Columbus.[citation needed]

Olson began the 2017 season with Columbus. The Indians purchased his contract on July 21, 2017,[19] and he faced one batter against the Toronto Blue Jays that night. Olson remained on the Indians for the rest of the year. He appeared in 30 games, pitching 20 innings without giving up an earned run. He made the Indians' postseason roster and pitched in the postseason for the first time, appearing in 3 games without giving up an earned run.[20]

Olson made the 2018 Indians Opening Day roster. On May 11, he was placed on the paternity list as he went to be with his wife Shayna for the birth of their first child.[21] Olson finished the season with 43 appearances, logging in 27+13 innings. In 2019, Olson pitched in 30+23 innings, going 1-1 in 39 games. Following the 2019 season, Olson was outrighted off the Indians roster and became a free agent.

Chicago Cubs

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On January 17, 2020, Olson signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs. He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[22] Olson became a free agent on November 2, 2020.[23]

Boston Red Sox

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On April 6, 2021, Olson signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox organization.[24] He was assigned to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs. He elected free agency on November 7, 2021.

Personal

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Olson and his wife Shayna welcomed their first child, a son, in May 2018.[25][26]

Olson grew up a Seattle Mariners fan.[27]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Olson, Gonzales give Gonzaga potent combo". The Spokesman-Review. April 26, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  2. ^ "Mariners select in-state lefty Olson from Gonzaga". MLB.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  3. ^ "Mariners draft Gonzaga pitcher Olson - Spokesman.com - June 8, 2013". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  4. ^ "Mariner draft pick has Goldendale connection". The Goldendale Sentinel. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  5. ^ "Mariners' Olson lands in right spot - MiLB.com News - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  6. ^ "Local News". The News Tribune. Retrieved June 6, 2015. [permanent dead link]
  7. ^ "News and notes from Mariners pre-spring training conference - Mobile Sections - MyNorthwest.com". mynorthwest.com. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  8. ^ Divish, Ryan (April 5, 2015). "Reliever Tyler Olson realizes big-league dream". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
  9. ^ "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Seattle Mariners Box Score, April 7, 2015". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  10. ^ "Pregame notes and lineups: Same lineup, different day". The Seattle Times. May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  11. ^ "Pregame notes and lineups: Mike Montgomery makes his major league debut". The Seattle Times. June 2, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  12. ^ a b Rieber, Anthony (January 12, 2016). "Yankees acquire pitcher Tyler Olson, infielder Ronald Torreyes". Newsday. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  13. ^ Weisman, Jon (December 18, 2015). "Dodgers acquire LHP Tyler Olson". Los Angeles Dodgers. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  14. ^ Kruth, Cash (January 6, 2016). "Dodgers sign Beachy to one-year deal". mlb.com. Archived from the original on January 9, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  15. ^ "Yankees option Luis Cessa to Triple-A, call up lefty Tyler Olson". NJ.com. April 15, 2016. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  16. ^ "Yankees call up Anthony Swarzak, send down Luis Cessa, DFA Tyler Olson". Web.yesnetwork.com. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  17. ^ foxsports Jun 14, 2016 at 3:40p ET (June 14, 2016). "Royals claim P Tyler Olson off waivers, move Moose to 60-day DL". Fox Sports. Retrieved July 21, 2017.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ "Royals Place Wade Davis On DL, Select Contract Of Brooks Pounders". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  19. ^ "Cleveland Indians reliever Boone Logan indeed lands on disabled list; Tyler Olson promoted". The Plain Dealer. July 21, 2017. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  20. ^ "Tyler Olson Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  21. ^ "Cleveland Indians activate Andrew Miller from DL, move Tyler Olson to paternity list". cleveland.com. May 11, 2018. Retrieved May 11, 2018.
  22. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". mlb.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  23. ^ "Full List of 2020-2021 MiLB Free Agents". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  24. ^ "Red Sox Roster & Staff – Transactions". MLB.com. April 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  25. ^ "Spokane's Tyler Olson lives the good life while pitching for the Cleveland Indians". The Spokesman-Review.
  26. ^ "Tribe activates Miller, moves Olson to paternity list". May 11, 2018.
  27. ^ "Mariners Spotlight — Tyler Olson". October 27, 2016.
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