Louis Head

Summary

Louis Gibson Head (born April 23, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He was drafted in the 18th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft by the Cleveland Indians. Head played college baseball for the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Texas State Bobcats. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Miami Marlins, and Baltimore Orioles.

Louis Head
Head with the Columbus Clippers in 2018
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1990-04-23) April 23, 1990 (age 33)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
April 25, 2021, for the Tampa Bay Rays
MLB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Win–loss record2–0
Earned run average4.10
Strikeouts58
Teams

Amateur career edit

Head was born in Houston and grew up in Katy, Texas and attended Cinco Ranch High School. Head played college baseball at Texas Tech University for two seasons before transferring to Texas State University.[1] As a junior, he went 2–2 with 4.20 ERA and three saves in 18 appearances.[2]

Professional career edit

Cleveland Indians edit

Head was selected in the 18th round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft by the Cleveland Indians.[3] He began his professional career with the Low-A Mahoning Valley Scrappers. He split the 2013 season with the Single-A Lake County Captains and the High-A Carolina Mudcats, also appearing in one game for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers, registering a cumulative 4–4 record and 2.48 ERA with 66 strikeouts. He split the next season between Carolina and the Double-A Akron RubberDucks. In 2015 and 2016, Head played in Akron, pitching to a 4.03 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 2015 and a 2.66 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 2016. He spent the 2017 season in Columbus, recording a 3–2 record and 3.23 ERA in 61+13 innings pitched.[4] Head was invited to Spring Training with the Indians in 2018, but did not make the club and was assigned to Columbus to begin the season. On August 2, 2018, Head was released by the Indians after pitching to a 12.64 ERA in 15+23 innings for Columbus.[5][4]

Los Angeles Dodgers edit

On February 23, 2019, Head signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. He was assigned to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers to begin the season. He split the 2019 season between four minor league affiliates, including the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, registering a 6.34 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 32+23 innings of work.[4] On November 4, 2019, Head elected free agency.[6]

Seattle Mariners edit

On February 27, 2020, Head signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners organization. He was assigned to the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers to begin the season but was released on May 27, 2020.[7] He did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and sold solar panels door-to-door in Arizona in his time away from affiliated ball.[8]

Tampa Bay Rays edit

On February 12, 2021, Head signed a minor league contract with the Tampa Bay Rays organization and was invited to spring training as a non-roster invitee.[9][10] In seven spring appearances, Head pitched to a 1.50 ERA and 0.67 WHIP in six innings of work, but did not make the club out of spring training. Head was selected to the Rays major league roster on April 23, 2021, which was also his 31st birthday.[11] On April 25, Head made his MLB debut against the Toronto Blue Jays, pitching a scoreless inning of relief.[12]

Miami Marlins edit

On November 14, 2021, the Rays traded Head to the Miami Marlins for Josh Roberson.[13] To make room on the 40-man roster, outfielder Brian Miller was designated for assignment.[14]

Baltimore Orioles edit

Head was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles on July 12, 2022.[15] He made five relief appearances with the Orioles and allowed one run and six hits in five innings of work. On October 14, Head was designated for assignment following the waiver claims of Aramis Garcia and Mark Kolozsvary.[16] He elected free agency following the season on November 10.[17]

Philadelphia Phillies edit

On January 11, 2023, Head signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies organization.[18] He pitched in 11 games for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs, struggling to a 10.80 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 11+23 innings of work. Head was released by the Phillies on May 30.[19]

Personal life edit

Head and his wife, Jenny, married in March 2021.[20]

References edit

  1. ^ McDaniel, Jason (June 13, 2012). "Katy Roundup: Cinco Ranch alum drafted by Indians". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  2. ^ Rollins, Brad (June 7, 2012). "Major league teams draft four more Bobcats". San Marcos Mercury. Archived from the original on December 11, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ "Lake County Captains outfielder Logan Vick and reliever Louis Head to play in Midwest League All-Star Game". Cleveland.com. 5 June 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "College, Minor, Fall & Winter League Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  5. ^ Hoynes, Paul (January 4, 2018). "Cleveland Indians invite eight non-roster players, including five pitchers, to big-league camp". Cleveland.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  6. ^ "Minor League Baseball Free Agents 2019". Baseball America. November 7, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  7. ^ Preusser, Kate; Trupin, John (June 1, 2020). "Mariners release 44 minor leaguers before 2020 season (updated list)". LookoutLanding.com. SB Nation. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  8. ^ Bradburn, Michael (April 23, 2021). "Rays call up Head, 31-year-old reliever who was selling solar panels last year". TheScore.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  9. ^ "Rays add three more pitchers to spring training roster". Tampa Bay Times. February 11, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  10. ^ "Rays announce additional invites to Spring Training". MLB.com. February 12, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  11. ^ "Rays give Louis Head a birthday gift: His first call-up". Tampa Bay Times. April 23, 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  12. ^ "Ryu exits early with strain, Jays 'pen finishes off Jays 1–0". ESPN.com. Associated Press. April 25, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
  13. ^ "Marlins trade Josh Roberson to Rays to complete Louis Head deal".
  14. ^ De Nicola, Christina (November 14, 2021). "Marlins land RHP Head in trade with Rays". MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021.
  15. ^ Kubatko, Roch. "Orioles claim Louis Head of waivers (plus some pregame notes)," Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), Tuesday, July 12, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  16. ^ Kubatko, Roch. "Orioles claim two catchers from Reds," Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), Friday, October 14, 2022. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  17. ^ "2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  18. ^ "MLB Transactions - Baseball Player Trades and Signings". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  19. ^ "Louis Head: Released by Philly". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
  20. ^ "Louis Head on Instagram: "Best day of my life 3/18/21 @jenny_zo89"".

External links edit

  • Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors), or Retrosheet
  • Texas State Bobcats bio
  • Texas Tech Red Raiders bio